Has anyone ever measured to which way is shorter to Forks from Seattle? Over the Narrows, Hood canal & up through Port Angeles. Or down to Olympia to Aberdeen & up the coast. Both are long drives, but usually worth it.

I always felt that from Seattle, it was quicker to take the Edmonds-Kingston Ferry and then over the Hood Canal Bridge.

I live in Ballard and it is shorter to go thru edmonds-kingston ferry - but it takes about the same time frame unless you hit the ferry just right...seems I always end up waiting for the next boat.

Edmounds/ Kingston Ferry definateley the fastest Route.
Peace
Superfly

I thought waiting in line, then the boat ride I'd be way ahead, time wise. I know I'd be way ahead on gas money vs. ferry fees. If I drag my boat they want an arm & leg to get on the ferry. How about the drive leaving from south Seattle or Tacoma?

Narrows bridge up highway 16 past Bremerton then over the Hood canal bridge then on to Port Angeles and Forks.

If in doubt, try a Yahoo driving map and see where it sends you.

I should have did the Yahoo thing 1st. 181 miles through P.A. 204 miles through Aberdeen. But I think you can go faster on the longer route. More traffic lights & that winding road along Cresent lake slows you down. Thanx

Not really... Aberdeen/Hoquium will eat that up in a hurry... as well as the bit thru kalaloch... best off going thru PA.

From Tacoma or south Seattle the P.A. route would be better.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

It is so expensive to drag the boat there and back that I have taken to leaving the boat in Forks. West End Motors will rent you a spot for $20 a month or at least they used to.

If leaving from Ballard on a Friday Evening I will usually take the Bainbridge Route. I especially like coming home that way as I can stop by the Clearwater and pay for the trip!

Even taking advantage of the Wynoochy cutt off its a longer drive going the southern route.

Does that cutoff (Wynoochie) save much time? I've thought about taking it in the past but figured I would end up on a slow, windy road that would probably cost me time, any info much appreciated.

I never went that way unless I was going to Olympia but yeah is saves a little time and the sceenry is better than Aberdeen.

Cool, thanks, looking forward to seeing some new scenery, heading that way in a month or so.

A smart guy once told me:
"If you live south, go south. If you live north, go north"

I make a lot of drives between Bellevue and Neah Bay. My all time best drive time is exact to the minute, between the two routes. The key would be to time the Edmonds-Kingston run perfectly, and time wise, both routes will take approximately the same amount of time.
South to Gig Harbor, then to the Hood Canal BR is about 65 more miles total driving distance than taking the ferry.
(For me, the Bainbridge run, and the Kingston run usually take the same time as well, traffic dependent.)
Pick your poision; ferry costs, or fuel costs.
(When towing, I go down and around exclusively.)

If you are forced into driving around, Bremerton to Port Angles is quicker than driving around on the coast. I can make it from the east side early in the morning in just over 3 hours. I've done it many times.

I hate to mention this one, but I will. I live in Muk. so I have options, one Spring the wife and I hook up the driftboat and are headingto the coast for three days-leaving very early on a Saturday. We decide lets go check out the Edmonds ferry. There are maybe 10 cars starting to load on the ferry, I get to the booth and ole Toll Booth Willy says --oh, oh -thats gonna be $68. Im like come on give me a break--NO NO cant do that-$68. I said this ferry is practically empty I could have the second deck to myself. --Sir $68. I said screw it lets drive around--South. We grab a bite at Mc D's and switch cause Im groggy.

Well, we get just about to Oly- I guess it would be Lacey, eh. And there is a speed trap--long story short. $75 speeding ticket. The State got what they wanted.

Needless to say-we hooked a pig on the Hoh. Then drove North and took the ferry.