Road Trip to Twilight Saga Destinations in Washington’s Olympic Peninsula

“You can’t trust vampires… Trust me.”

Just like Jake says in the famous Twilight Saga, listen to me! While none of the scenes from the Twilight Saga described by Stephenie Meyer were actually filmed on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula, it’s still an amazing destination. The towns of Forks and Port Angeles are charming, and La Push Beach, accesible by a road nestled between them, is absolutely breathtaking. Most of the filming took place in Oregon at sites that perfectly capture the book’s descriptions, but the real-life book locations in Washington still hold a special magic for fans.

I haven’t gone road-tripping in a while with flying being so convenient. However, with Washington, where we have family, nearly bordering Montana, it provides the perfect opportunity for a “quick” road trip. Port Angeles is a 13-hour drive from where I live, and with relatives along the way, it becomes a manageable, enjoyable, and beautiful journey.

Here are some of the sights we visited while on the Olympic Peninsula:

Forks

As you approach Forks from either the Southwest or Northeast entrance, you’ll be greeted by a charming welcome sign—perfect for stopping and snapping a selfie!

Bella’s Truck: Situated near the Southwest Welcome sign and the Forks Chamber of Commerce, you’ll find the actual truck used by Bella in the Twilight movies! There’s also a quaint gift shop nearby where you can pick up memorabilia from both the town and the Twilight saga.

Forks High School: Forks High school is worth a visit, but since it’s still in use, be careful not to photograph the students!

The Swan House: The house was inspiration for the Charlie/Bella Swan House as described in the book. It can also be rented through airbnb.

Forks Hospital: At this still-operating hospital, there’s even a parking spot reserved for Dr. Cullen.

The Cullen House: This charming house in Forks, called the Miller Tree Inn, is said to have inspired Stephenie Meyer. It offers a cozy bed and breakfast stay for Twilight fans or travelers passing through.

La Push

La Push is an absolute must-visit, and I 100% recommend stopping here on your way! This beautiful land, home to the Quileute Tribe, should not be overlooked. As you drive down the road on 110, you’ll come across a sign marking the treaty line between the vampires and the werewolves.

Continuing further, you’ll encounter spectacular views at three different beaches, two of which require about a four-mile hike. We drove directly to the first beach in La Push, where no hike was necessary. The other two would make great camping destinations if you have a permit.

The beach in the films is located on Indian Beach in Ecola State Park, Oregon.

Port Angeles

Port Angeles is a charming town with a stunning lakefront view of Lake Crescent and plenty of great hiking opportunities. Although the Twilight scenes set in “Port Angeles” were filmed in the Olde Towne District of Saint Helens, Oregon, the town itself is worth a visit.

Dress Shop: In the story, Bella and her friends visit a dress shop for prom shopping, basically the whole reason they came to Port Angeles in the first place.

Book Store: After dress shopping, Bella heads to what is reputed to be the Port Book and News bookstore, where she purchases a book about the Quileute tribe. Shortly afterwards, she is rescued by Edward in a nearby alley.

Bella Italia: This is the restaurant where Bella and Edward had their first date. The mushroom ravioli that Bella ordered is on the menu.

Booked through Hotels.com, we stayed at the Quality Inn – Port Angeles to end the night.

It was a brief but enjoyable road trip, with stunning scenery along the way. Although none of the Twilight movie scenes were filmed here and some aspects were a little cheesy (picture below), if you love the books or simply appreciate beautiful landscapes, this is an ideal destination!