Are you a Twilight fan and looking for an experience that will connect you closer to Bella, Edward & Jacob (Or simply someone who will be intrigued by all this unique area has to offer)?
A major bucket list item for every Twilight super fan definitely has to be a visit to Forks, Washington! The moody setting of Stephanie Meyer’s popular vampire novel (and film) series, Twilight.
In the centre of the Olympic Peninsula, between the Olympic Mountains and the Pacific Ocean beaches, is Forks, Washington. As you tour the Northwest region of the Pacific Northwest, Forks, and the surrounding area, you will be provided with an outstanding variety of natural attractions, hiking trails and more. With an average annual rainfall of 120 inches, Forks is the wettest town in the contiguous United States!
Before deciding to set her books in Forks, author Stephenie Meyer had never been there. She chose the town after Googling the “wettest places in the US” (since vampires hate sunshine, obviously), which makes rainy Forks the perfect place for the story to take place. The small town was forever changed because of it and it is now full of tons of unique things to see and do.
Surprisingly, nothing for the film adaptations was actually filmed in Forks. In reality, just two significant locations in the state of Washington were featured, and not a single scene was filmed in Forks. Filming actually took place in Oregon and British Columbia, which look a lot like Forks. But the town still has so many Twilight-themed things to experience, and you will still feel like you’ve been teleported right into the stories!
Keep reading to learn about the best places to visit for a fantastic and unforgettable Twilight saga experience in Washington state!
How To Get To Forks, Washington
The best way to experience Washington State is by car. Whether you decide to plan a whole road trip around your Forks adventure or rent a car once you arrive, getting around will be much easier with your own set of wheels!
Driving Time
Calgary to Forks: Approximately 15 hours
Edmonton to Forks: Approximately 17 hours
Vancouver to Forks: Approximately 6 hours
Victoria to Forks: Approximately 3 Hours (1.5 hour ferry & 1.5 hour drive)
Flying
If you don’t want to go on a road trip, it is easy to fly into Seattle and then drive to Forks; the drive takes just under 4 hours. Or you could also fly into Victoria and take the ferry to Port Angeles; this way, the drive is only an hour and a half!
Best Time to Visit Forks, Washington
The best time to visit is from October to May, especially if you want to enjoy the relaxing rain that Forks is famous for. The rainfall only enhances the beauty and vibrancy of the lush rainforests that surrounds this area. Additionally, beaches and hiking paths won’t be busy and prices for accommodation will be more affordable.
If you don’t want to deal with as much rain, then Mid-June to mid-September is the ideal time to explore Forks, Washington. The weather is at its warmest and there is a lower likelihood of rain during this time.
How Long to Stay in Forks
You could plan your trip for as long or as short as you want and there would still be lots of new things to do the next time you choose to visit. If you love the outdoors, you might want to stay longer to explore more of the national parks, beaches and lakes. But if you are mostly visiting to see the familiar sights of your favourite books and movies, you can easily plan a shorter trip.
We think the sweet spot for visiting this area of Washington State is 5 days. This will give you a fill of the outdoor wonders and visit all of the sights from the Twilight series!
Things To Do in Forks, Washington
Forever Twilight in Forks Festival
This annual gathering, which takes place in the city of Forks, the weekend closest to Bella’s birthday (September 13th), is a great opportunity for fans to get together and explore this stunning region that served as the location for the beloved book series.
At Forks High School, there are themed parties, events, movie showings, and much more. Get to know the characters by hanging out in a panel discussion with Saga actors. The Cullens, Jacob Black, the Volturi, and other characters from the story are portrayed by an acting group.
The 2023 Forever Twilight in Forks Festival will take place Sept 14-17, 2023.
The Forks Collection
The largest collection of Twilight Saga costumes and props features real items used by your favourite Saga actors as well as screen-worn costumes! View the costumes and set decorations from the five Twilight movies, including the Bella, Edward, and Jacob costumes used onscreen! Take a picture with Chuckesmee, the international Twilight editions, and Bella’s Graduation Quilt. Bring your camera!
Other Forever Twilight in Forks featured products include fan-made quilts, one-of-a-kind Forks-centric pieces, and a ton of photo opportunities. Located at Alcove 11, N. Forks Avenue, Rainforest Arts Center, entry to the collection is free and open all year round.
La Push
Large stretches of unspoiled, picturesque beaches on the Pacific Ocean can be found in the secluded community of La Push. Visitors can appreciate viewing the unusual seashells and enormous pieces of driftwood on the beautiful beaches or take a kayak out to explore the amazing sea stacks and islands that are nearby. This area is also known for its surfing and whale-watching, and there are with 3 beaches in this area.
Before going to La Push, visitors must buy a $15.00 Olympic National Park Entrance Pass.
La Push is a sacred place for the Quileute tribe. The tribe welcomes visitors to La Push but requests that visitors respect their culture and traditions.
Forks Outfitters
Forks Outfitters is a one-stop shop for basically everything, conveniently located near the Pacific Ocean beaches and the Olympic National Park. The merchants are happy to provide visitors with a one-stop shopping experience that consists of a full-service Thriftway Supermarket, Ace Hardware, Sporting Goods, Clothing, and Shoes for the whole family.
This is the best spot to buy anything you would need for a day of travelling through a dense rainforest, or gathering materials to fight a vampire army. Bella’s after-school job location was also located here!
Hoh Rainforest
The beautiful, verdant surroundings of the Hoh Rain Forest are well-loved. The ground is covered with ferns, the trees are shrouded in mosses, and the tree canopy is evergreen. The region is also home to some of the tallest trees in the world, including old-growth Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and douglas fir, which may reach dizzying heights of up to 300 feet.
The Hoh is located on the western edge of Olympic National Park, about a two-hour drive from Forks and Port Angeles, respectively.
Olympic Peninsula
With its deep forests, swift rivers, jigsaw-like shorelines, and stunning waterfronts, the Olympic Peninsula is a stunning and charming location. Of course, there are also the snow-covered mountains that tower above glacial fjords and sapphire lakes. Definitely worth exploring!
Check out the amazing views with the live Olympic Peninsula Web Cams
Olympic National Park
Within an hour’s drive of Forks, you could be canoeing glacier-carved lakes, kayaking a tidal estuary, trekking or bicycling through a rain forest. A National Park in the United States that is among the five largest and has three quite different eco-systems. The Olympic Mountains, temperate rainforests, and wild ocean beaches are all included in the park. There are 600 miles of hiking trails, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and more throughout the park. 923 acres, or 95% of the park, are designated as wilderness. In Port Angeles, there is also a visitor centre.
Port Angeles
Just a 1-hour drive from Forks is the Olympic Peninsula’s hub Port Angeles, where tourists from near and far come to enjoy a magical adventure. This modest seaside-meets-mountain town serves as the entryway to the Olympic National Park. The town offers tidbits of history, hints of fame, mesmerizing beauty, and adventure waiting to be explored. The characters in Twilight often hang out in Port Angeles, including when Edward takes Bella to an Italian restaurant. La Bella Italia is an actual restaurant you can go to and have a delicious dinner!
Rialto Beach
Rialto Beach is notable for its rocky beaches, enormous drift logs, crashing waves, and vistas of outlying islands known as “seastacks.” Rialto Beach is located about 36 miles southwest of Lake Crescent, 75 miles from Port Angeles, and less than 30 minutes by driving from the town of Forks.
Forks Chamber of Commerce
The Forks Chamber of Commerce also acts as the Forks Visitor Information Center. Here you can find TONS of information about the local area, the national forest, the Olympic National Park, and Twilight, too! They have maps, tour recommendations, and souvenirs for sale, including Forks High School t-shirts. You can even see Bella’s trucks parked outside and the “The City of Forks Welcomes You” sign. You can also check out the Forks Timber Museum which is right next door.
John’s Beachcombing Museum
See what the sea brings to its shores in terms of treasures from many countries! Since 1976, the beachcombing museum has expanded its collections to the point where a huge number of things have been gathered and displayed from both nearby and far-off beaches.
Find everything from bowling balls and whale bones to hockey gloves and sea glass. Along with driftwood, books, walking sticks, jewellery, and crafts, they also have a lovely collection of glass orbs, some of which are for sale. And don’t miss the impressive sculptures that can be found outside the museum.
Tree of Life
A tree unlike any other that can be found about 45 minutes from Forks (near Kalaloch Campground), known as the Tree of Life, or the Tree Root Cave. This seemingly floating tree is thriving along the coast despite not having a life source to keep it from dying. People from all over come to see this rare and unique sight.
Where To Stay
The city of Forks has unique homes and cabins for rent, bed & breakfasts, RV parks and campgrounds, as well as glamping, in addition to hotels and motels. Contact us to book your favourite at a great rate!
Three Rivers Resort
Located on the Olympic Peninsula in northwest Washington, the historic Lake Crescent Lodge was constructed in 1915 and serves as a charming base camp for exploring Olympic National Park.
On the shores of stunning Lake Crescent, the cozy, roomy guest rooms are tucked away among the enormous fir and hemlock trees. Sit back and relax in front of the stone fireplace in the antique-furnished lobby, or take a seat on the quaint sun porch and take in a breathtaking sunset over the lake.
Quileute Oceanside Resort
The Quileute Oceanside Resort & RV Park provides 15 deluxe oceanfront cabins, 18 standard oceanfront cabins, two oceanfront motel units, 10 camper cabins, a campground, and 2 full-service RV parks. Each unit has a kitchen, and it is nicely decorated in a traditional Native American design. All units are close to First Beach’s roaring waves and most of them have breathtaking ocean views. There are no televisions or wi-fi in their units so it is easy to get away from the commotion of the outside world.
Miller Tree Inn
Forks has named the Miller Tree Inn the “Cullen House.” This inn closely resembles Stephenie Meyer’s depiction of the Cullen family house, even if it doesn’t look anything like the movie version. Although they have worked to preserve the elegance and history of the inn, which dates back to around 1916, the guest rooms are equipped with all the latest amenities.
Eight rooms are available, including quaint ones with king beds that are excellent for one or two guests as well as two-room suites with jacuzzi tubs and gas fireplaces that are ideal for a romantic getaway, a getaway with girlfriends, or a trip with a family of up to four.
Bogachiel State Park
If you love camping, this might be the perfect spot to stay for your Forks adventure! This state park is about a ten-minute drive from Forks. On the banks of the Bogachiel River, 127 acres of densely forested camping land make up Bogachiel State Park. The park offers a fantastic starting point for exploring the western Olympic Peninsula!
In the park, you can explore the rainforest, and hang out along the Bogachiel River, all while being close to the best things to do around Forks, Washington.
LET US HELP YOU PLAN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE
When you’re ready to travel again, contact one of our TierOne Travel consultants. They have extensive experience in life-changing travel experiences and will be able to craft something incredible that is suited to your unique needs!
One call; endless experiences!
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” – Anonymous
