Overview
Forks is a city in the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. This little charming town of 3,300 people (2020) serves primarily as a hub for visitors exploring the beaches and mountains of Olympic National Park. Forks is the rainiest town in the contiguous U.S., averaging 120 in, which led to it becoming well-known as the setting of the Twilight saga.
Due to its distance, attractions in the Quillayute area, including La Push, are included here.
7 sights · 4 things to do · 5 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Forks
Forks High School
While not open to the public, the school is the setting for Bella and Edward's school in Twilight. The school sign was replicated for the movie and is popular with visitors for photos. Filming of the school took place at…
Rialto Beach
An iconic beach with lines of sprawling sea stacks. The lines of sand has an access to Little James Island and has a view of the La Push Marina.
Forks Timber Museum
Before Forks was known for Twilight, it has been a sleepy town known for its timber and farming industry. Here you can see the machines used for the process up close.
Forks Community Hospital
The workplace of Edward Cullen's father in the Twilight series, there is a reserved spot in the parking lot for Dr Cullens. The filming scenes for the emergency room, hallway outside of emergency, and later when Bella is…
Forks City Police Department
This is the setting in Twilight for the workplace of Bella's father Charlie Swan. The filming location for the police station is at the Wauna Credit Union Building (1010 Bridge St) in Vernonia, Oregon.
Cullen House
Similar to the written description offered by author Stephenie Meyer in her first "Twilight" book (page 321), the house is nearly "a hundred years old... painted a soft, faded white, three stories tall", with a "porch...…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 70°F; winter lows dip to about 33°F. Wettest: Dec and Nov. (climate data from nearby Port Angeles)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- FRD Friday Harbor Airport, Friday Harbor — 74 mi away. Directions
- ESD Orcas Island Airport, Eastsound — 86 mi away. Directions
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 103 mi away (major hub). Directions
US-101 is the main route through the town. Forks is about 77 mi (roughly 90 minutes) west of Port Angeles, 2 hours north of Aberdeen and Hoquiam, and at least 4 hours from Seattle.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $65–$115 a night (typical $90), from 7 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $8 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$90, mid-range ~$140, comfortable ~$220.
Options are grouped as Bed and breakfast, Motels, Camping in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Forks Timber Museum, Swan House
- Lunch South North Gardens
- Afternoon Forks Community Hospital, Forever Twilight in Forks
- Dinner In Place
- Evening Westend Taproom Tip and Sip
Day 2
- Morning Forks High School, Forks City Police Department
- Lunch Pacific Pizza
- Afternoon Cullen House, Third Beach
- Dinner Sully's Burgers
Day 3
- Morning Rialto Beach, Second Beach
- Lunch D&K BBQ
- Afternoon Elk Creek Conservation Area
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
US-101 is the main route through the town. Forks is about 77 mi (roughly 90 minutes) west of Port Angeles, 2 hours north of Aberdeen and Hoquiam, and at least 4 hours from Seattle.
By bus
Buses travel more or less along US-101 and do not go into the Olympic National Park itself, such as Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center or the Olympic National Forest. They can only drop off along the road, and you have to hike into the park.
- The following routes operate Monday to Saturday:
* Route 14 from Port Angeles, a regional transit hub * Route 15 from La Push, three trips daily * Route 16 from Neah Bay via Sappho, Clallam Bay
Go Jefferson Transit-Olympic Connection
Travels along US-101 between Forks and Amanda Mercantile at Amanda Park on Mondays through Saturdays. Connection with Grays Harbor Transit Rt #50 to Hoquiam & Aberdeen from Amanda Park. Passengers can also transfer buses in Aberdeen to continue further south along the coast or east towards Olympia and Shelton.
By plane
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), the nearest commercial airport to Forks, is 4 hours away.
The Forks Airport (S18) (for general aviation only) is 1 mi south of the city. While there is no commercial air traffic, the airport has a lot of general aviation traffic every day.
An alternative is Quillayute Airport UIL, 10 mi, 20 minutes to the west of Forks, which has quieter traffic but a longer runway.
By bicycle
The Olympic Discovery Trail passes through Forks, from Port Townsend in the east part of the peninsula to La Push on the Pacific Ocean. West of Port Angeles is the "adventure" part of the trail, for which a cross-country mountain bike is recommended. The trail is non-technical single track, making it an introductory level XC, challenging but doable on a loaded touring bicycle.
Get around
The town of Forks is compact and can be easily covered on foot.
By car
The local roads are designed more or less around a grid system, where most roads are numbered based on their distance from the city center. Addresses also conform to the numbering of the roads around them. Nearly all streets run with the compass directions. Forks Ave (US-101) divides east from west while Division St divides north from south.
By bus
See
Twilight
Forks is the key setting of the Twilight series of novels and movies by author Stephenie Meyer; the constant rain provides cover for a family of sparkling vampires, as well as a community of werewolves. The novel series has sold over 160 million books since 2005. Five movies, released from 2008 to 2012, grossed over $3 billion worldwide. Several sites in town are featured in the novels, and a few sites made it into the films, which were largely shot elsewhere.
See Forks High School
While not open to the public, the school is the setting for Bella and Edward's school in Twilight. The school sign was replicated for the movie and is popular with visitors for photos. Filming of the school took place at Kalama High School in Kalama, WA for the exterior scenes while some of the interior shots like the cafeteria was filmed at Madison High School in Portland. In New Moon (2009) the school scenes were filmed at David Thompson Secondary School in Vancouver, BC. Other interior scenes of the high school were also filmed in Saint Helens, Oregon and Pasadena, California too.
See Forks Community Hospital
The workplace of Edward Cullen's father in the Twilight series, there is a reserved spot in the parking lot for Dr Cullens. The filming scenes for the emergency room, hallway outside of emergency, and later when Bella is actually in a hospital room was filmed at Vibra Specialty Hospital in Portland. Interior access to either Forks Community Hospital or Vibra is limited.
See Forks City Police Department
This is the setting in Twilight for the workplace of Bella's father Charlie Swan. The filming location for the police station is at the Wauna Credit Union Building (1010 Bridge St) in Vernonia, Oregon.
See Cullen House (Miller Tree Inn Bed & Breakfast)
Similar to the written description offered by author Stephenie Meyer in her first "Twilight" book (page 321), the house is nearly "a hundred years old... painted a soft, faded white, three stories tall", with a "porch... wrapped around the first story". The public is welcome on the front porch for a free view of the note left by Esme. Inside photo opportunities of the graduation caps and Carlisle's Office are available for $3 per person. In the movie the Cullen House was exaggerated in a private residence in Portland (3333 NW Quimby) while in New Moon the Cullen House is in another private residence in West Vancouver BC (118 Stevens Dr). (The filming locations are in privates residences. Please respect the privacy of the occupants).
See Swan House
Bella & her father Charlie Swan are described to live here in the novel. Bella's house in Forks is a private residence and offer no public tour inside. It can only be seen from the outside. The filming location for the Swans House in 2008 was filmed in Saint Helens, Oregon; 30 mi north of Portland at 184 S 6th St. The "Swan House" in St Helens is available for rent to travelers on a short term basis on Air BnB. In New Moon (2009) the Swan House was recreated on a vacant lot in Surrey, BC which was torn down after filming.
Do
Forks is a transit point for travelers exploring Olympic National Park, especially the Hoh Rainforest area, the Pacific beaches, and Lake Ozette. If you wish, you can visit all of them in a single day!
Within Olympic National Park
Do Second Beach
Fabulous 1.5 mi walk on a safe easy path through beautiful tall trees to Tealwhit Point. Great beach, tide pools and driftwood.
Do Third Beach
A quieter beach accessible after a 1.5 mi-hike. No seastacks but wide enough for camping.
Elsewhere
Buy
Shop Native to Twilight
Local art & craft and souvenirs from Forks, including thematic items related to the Twilight saga.
Eat
Eat South North Gardens
Decent Chinese food option in this small city. Offers both family and individual combos, and a wide array of both meat-based and vegetarian-based main courses. Popular as a to-go option.
Eat In Place
Diner style restaurant that also offers assorted breakfast plates, burgers and sandwiches.
Eat Pacific Pizza
Provides not only pizza, but also sandwiches and pasta, including its special black angus beef tips.
Eat Sully's Burgers
A small restaurant with extensive choices of burgers. Gluten free options available.
Eat D&K BBQ
A small shack serving Southern Texas style hardwood smoked barbecue. To-go only.
Drink
Drink Westend Taproom Tip and Sip
A small bar featuring tap beer or flights. Also sells sandwiches if you crave for something more substantial.
Sleep
In addition to the usual bed & breakfast and motels, vacation homes are also up for grabs in the summer, perfect for groups.
Bed and breakfast
Stay Miller Tree Inn Bed & Breakfast
Historic 1916 farm house with 8 guest rooms, all with private baths and TV/DVDs. Two rooms have fireplaces and whirlpool tubs, while the Orchard Suite also features a small kitchen. The inn plays the part of the Twilight Series' Cullen House, which however looks nothing like the Hollywood version, which is located in Portland, OR. Hearty breakfasts, soft drinks, cookies, wireless internet and parking included.
Stay Misty Valley Inn Bed & Breakfast
A stone and cedar home nestled on a ridge in the rain forest overlooking the Sol Duc River Valley. Antique furniture and collectibles are set off by the hand rubbed natural woods, rock work and unusual lighting. Guests can select their own menus and meal times, in addition to a wake-up call. All rooms have private baths. The gardens feature plants accented with seasonal flowering perennials and annuals, with an adjacent outdoor spa. A dessert and beverage bar is available to guests in the afternoon into the evening.
Motels
Camping
Campgrounds, especially in the Olympic National Park grounds, are ubiquitous.
Respect
If visiting the Quileute Tribe along the coast in La Push, you will find them very welcoming of visitors, but note that the tribe requests some rules of etiquette common to visiting any Native land. Ask before photographing or recording a person or activity, do not remove natural or human-made objects, and pay attention to signs that, for example, ask non-tribal members to keep out of burial grounds.
Go next
Explore Olympic National Park:
- Hoh Rainforest is one of the lushest temperate rainforests in North America. The entrance into the park is 18 mi south of town along US-101, then another 13 mi to the visitors center.
- Kalaloch, to the south, features a park lodge, a campground, and amazing views of the Pacific Ocean.
Continue along US-101:
- Neah Bay and Cape Flattery is the most northwestern point of the contiguous United States.
- Port Angeles is the largest city in the Olympic Peninsula, just an hour drive away northbound on US-101.
- Queets is a small town about 40 mi south of Forks along US-101, on the border of the Quinault Indian Nation.
- Aberdeen is the birthplace of "grunge" music.
Round out your Twilight tour:
- La Push is the home of the Quileute Tribe in the stories. It is 14 mi west of Forks along State Route 110.
- Parts of the story were also set in Port Angeles.
- Actual filming of Twilight (2008) took place in Portland, and Twilight: New Moon (2009) was filmed in Vancouver, BC. Other locations in British Columbia, Oregon and Washington state were also used to depict the settings of the story in both films.
- Later scenes for Volterra in New Moon were filmed in Montepulciano, Italy.
Nearby
Olympic National Park
Park · 69 listings · 29 mi away
Neah Bay
City / town · 20 listings · 31 mi away
Port Angeles
City / town · 65 listings · 45 mi away
Moclips
City / town · 1 listings · 51 mi away
Pacific Beach
City / town · 52 mi away
Sequim
City / town · 33 listings · 60 mi away
Ocean City
City / town · 62 mi away
Ocean Shores
City / town · 6 listings · 69 mi away
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