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Major city · United States

Neah Bay

Go for one night, two if you hike Shi Shi Beach: Cape Flattery is a 20-min walk, the museum 1 h, and you need a $20 vehicle permit.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Apr (storms, mudslides, closures)
Airports
SEA · YYJ · 11S
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Neah Bay is a town of about 900 people on the Makah Indian Reservation, at the northwest tip of the Olympic Peninsula and the most northwesterly town in the contiguous United States. It faces the Strait of Juan de Fuca toward Vancouver Island, and Cape Flattery — the northwesternmost point of the lower 48 — is a short trail from the road end. Almost everything here is tribal land: you need a Makah Recreation Permit for the attractions, alcohol is banned on the reservation, and cell signal is patchy. Come for the coast, the museum and the smoked fish, not for nightlife.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Neah Bay, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–5
  • Street or quick mealSandwich or frybread taco$10–16
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
  • Museum or sight ticketMakah Museum entry$10 adults, $8 students, seniors and military, free under 5
  • Budget bedTent site, a night, per personUS$25
  • Mid-range bedCabin or motel room, a night, per roomUS$130
  • High-end bedCabin or motel room, a night, per roomUS$180

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$140 · High US$260

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Cape Flattery, northwesternmost point of the contiguous USMakah Museum and Cultural & Research CenterShi Shi Beach and its sea stacksSmoked salmon and frybread
Airports
SEA Seattle-Tacoma International (Nearest big commercial airport; about 4.5–5 h by car via US-101 and WA-112 (check)) · YYJ Victoria BC (Closer by water but needs a ferry and border crossing; check current schedules) · 11S Sekiu Airport (General aviation and air taxi only; short runway)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Neah Bay: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C

2°C

20 rd

Feb

9°C

2°C

17 rd

Mar

11°C

3°C

19 rd

Apr

13°C

4°C

16 rd

May

16°C

6°C

13 rd

Jun

18°C

8°C

11 rd

Jul

20°C

10°C

8 rd

Aug

20°C

10°C

8 rd

Sep

19°C

9°C

10 rd

Oct

15°C

6°C

16 rd

Nov

11°C

4°C

20 rd

Dec

8°C

2°C

21 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town itself is walkable. Cape Flattery, Shi Shi Beach and Hobuck Beach all need a car. The Makah Tribe runs a single local bus route; Clallam Transit Route 16 links Neah Bay with Sekiu, Sappho and Forks, and Route 14 connects Port Angeles with Sappho for the transfer.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Cape Flattery

go

Door to door: About 30 min from town

Drive Cape Flattery Rd to the end, then a 0.7 mi forest trail

Boardwalk lookout over Tatoosh Island; go early, the lot is small.

Shi Shi Beach

go

Door to door: About 1 h plus the hike

Drive to the trailhead, then a 2 mi overland hike

Overnight cars park at a private home 0.5 mi from the trailhead, $10 cash (check).

Sekiu and Clallam Bay

go

Door to door: About 30 min

WA-112 east, about 30 min

The nearest place to eat out and drink alcohol.

Forks

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

WA-113 to US-101, about 1 h

Services and motels, but little reason to go beyond that.

Port Angeles

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h

WA-112 to US-101, about 2 h

Too far for a comfortable return day; use it as your gateway stop.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Neah Bay town centre (Bayview Ave)

Walk to the museum, marina and most food; motels and cabins here.

Hobuck Beach / Makah Passage

Quieter beach area south of town; cabins, RV hookups and tent sites.

Clallam Bay and Sekiu

About 30 min east on WA-112; more beds, alcohol served, cheaper in winter.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$110–180 excl. bed
High
$180+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Cabin or motel room1 × 1 night × US$130US$130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$140US$280
Makah Recreation Permit, per vehicle, valid one year1 × US$20US$20
Overnight parking near Shi Shi trailhead, cash1 × US$10 · checkUS$10
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$47
Trip total≈ US$259 per person per day, bed includedUS$517

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–5
Sandwich or frybread taco$10–16
Wood-fired salmon plate$22–32
Smoked fish, per poundcheck$25–40
Gas, per galloncheck$4–5
Makah Museum entry$10 adults, $8 students, seniors and military, free under 5
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are storms, mudslides, power cuts and getting caught out without a permit or cash. Alcohol is banned on the reservation, and signal can vanish near the cape.
  • A Makah Recreation Permit is required for every vehicle visiting the attractions: $20, valid one calendar year, sold at the marina, museum, mini mart, tribal centre and resorts.
  • Alcohol and marijuana are prohibited on the Makah Reservation even though both are legal in Washington state.
  • Some dog breeds are banned from roaming the reservation, and dogs are not allowed on Shi Shi Beach (Olympic National Park).
  • No big-bank ATMs; small ATMs at fuel stations. Carry cash — some parking is cash-only.
  • Mobile signal is spotty near Cape Flattery and phones may lock onto a Canadian network: turn off roaming.
  • Winter brings rain, high wind, power cuts and mudslides; check forecasts and road status before driving.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Neah BayNeah Bay

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies here; nearest consulates are in Seattle. US visitors: your own embassy is not relevant.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Makah Recreation Permit: $20 per vehicle, valid one calendar year
  • Overnight parking near Shi Shi trailhead: $10 cash (check)
  • Clallam Transit Route 16, Sekiu to Neah Bay: check current fare and timetable

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is there a permit required? — Is there a permit required?
  • Where is the nearest ATM? — Where is the nearest ATM?
  • Is there cell signal here? — Is there cell signal here?

Alcohol is banned on the reservation — do not bring it in.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Neah Bay. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Apr (storms, mudslides, closures) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for SEA: last Clallam Transit departures field-checked, drive-time fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Bayview Ave core, marina, museum, Hobuck Beach.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Cape Flattery trail, Makah Museum, Shi Shi Beach) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Permit, alcohol-ban and roaming fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources