Welcome to the North Olympic Peninsula!
The Dungeness Crab Festival is held in the community of Port Angeles, located along the northern edge of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Approximately two hours west of Seattle across scenic Puget Sound (also known as the Salish Sea), visitors to this beautiful section of the state travel along US Highway 101, passing through the city of Sequim before arriving in the heart of Port Angeles.
Those festival visitors traveling from the western side of the Olympic Peninsula along the Pacific coast will transit Highway 101 as well, driving through the town of Forks and traversing stunning Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park before reaching Port Angeles.
Canadian travelers to the festival are treated to a 90-minute ride aboard the Black Ball Ferry Line’s M/V Coho from Victoria, BC. Docking just steps from The Dungeness Crab Festival activities, this is an excellent way to experience both the event and the Port Angeles community, and we love to visit with our neighbors across the Strait of Juan de Fuca!
Traveling from the east side of Puget Sound (Everett, Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia areas)
Take the ferry
Washington State Ferries offers several trips per day departing from Edmonds and downtown Seattle. See the agency’s website for specific times and destinations. *Note: It is highly recommended that passengers make reservations well in advance of travel, in both directions, and be prepared for long waits. Ferry trips vary from 30 minutes to one hour, depending upon the departure location.
Drive
From the I-5 corridor between Seattle and Olympia, it takes between 2.5 and three hours to reach Port Angeles by car. If you’d like to take a scenic drive from the Olympic area, take US Highway 101 north along Hood Canal. Be aware that the road is winding and slippery when wet. Drive with caution.
Motorists from the Tacoma area should access US Highway 16, crossing the beautiful Tacoma Narrows bridge and connecting to US Highway 3 near Bremerton before turning left to the Hood Canal floating bridge and then merging onto Highway 101 for the rest of the journey to Port Angeles.
Ferry riders will connect with Highway 101 after they reach their destination, check with Olympic Peninsula Tourism for specific routes and cities.
Fly
Dash Air Shuttle offers private charters to and from Seattle’s Boeing Field. Skip the drive and spend more time enjoying the festival food and fun!
For private pilots, William R. Fairchild International Airport in Port Angeles has capacity for aircraft up to 115,000 lbs.
Traveling from the west side of Port Angeles (Aberdeen, Lake Quinault, Klaloch, Forks, Lake Crescent areas)
Take US Highway 101 from Aberdeen and travel north, making sure to stop along the way at several Olympic National Park sites like Lake Quinault, Ruby Beach, the Hoh Rainforest, and Lake Crescent.
Traveling via Black Ball Ferry Line M/V Coho from Victoria, BC
The M/V Coho offers three sailings per day from Victoria to Port Angeles, and vice versa. Passengers are encouraged to make reservations to accommodate as many CrabFest visitors as possible. Please review important ferry information, including entry requirements for the United States and Canada, HERE.
Public transportation
Clallam Transit is the public transportation provider for Clallam County and covers a series of routes between Forks, Port Angeles, Sequim, and outlying communities of the of the county. Its Port Angeles transit station delivers riders to the heart of The Dungeness Crab Festival and is completely FREE of charge in 2024. Please note that service is not available on Sunday.
Phone: (360) 452-4511
Clallam Transit also offers Route 123, known as “The Strait Shot,” with motorcoach service transporting passengers between the Winslow/Bainbridge Island ferry terminal and downtown Port Angeles. Find route information, fees, and schedules HERE.
Clallam Transit has bike lockers available at The Gateway Transit Center (on festival grounds) for your convenience. The lockers may be reserved via the Movatic app (available through Google Play or the App Store) or online HERE.
Spend the weekend on the Peninsula!
There are many overnight accommodations available on the north Olympic Peninsula, so we encourage festival-goers to make the most of their time spent in this beautiful region of Washington state.
Port Angeles is not only home to The Dungeness Crab Festival, but it also boasts a wide range of lodging, restaurants, and activities to enjoy over the festival weekend. Visit Port Angeles is a city website dedicated to helping travelers “Boldly Roam” our wonderful community.
Or, stop by the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, located at 121 Railroad Avenue, directly adjacent to all of the CrabFest fun. Their friendly volunteers will be able to provide information and recommendations about accommodations, activities, and places to dine during your stay.
The entire Olympic Peninsula also offers endless activities for those wanting to travel beyond Port Angeles. In every direction, outdoor pursuits ranging from kayaking to mountain biking and hiking are available, as well as plenty of stops for taking in some stunning scenery. Visit the Olympic Peninsula Tourism Bureau website for trip ideas, itineraries, and stories from local residents eager to help you decide on the perfect activity during the CrabFest weekend.
