Table of Contents:

• Where is Ruby Beach?
• Ruby Beach Elopement FAQ’s
• Why Elope at Ruby Beach?
• When to Elope at Ruby Beach
• Ruby Beach Elopement Permits
• Where to Stay Near Ruby Beach
• Ruby Beach Elopement Packing List
• Ruby Beach Elopement Photographer

When you’re picking a place to elope on the Olympic Peninsula, Ruby Beach is an OBVIOUS choice for so many reasons. It’s literally like you’re walking into a freaking postcard, with its endless sandy beaches, majestic sea stacks, and insane sunsets. I could go on forever about how much I love this place, which is why I made this entire guide to how to elope at Ruby Beach for couples who are considering eloping there! Since there are some logistics to keep in mind, such as permits, passes, and accessibility, I want to make sure you know all there is to know before choosing it as your elopement location. Get excited, you’re about to fall in love with this moody and magical place!!

Where is Ruby Beach?

Ruby Beach is located on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, within Olympic National Park—ever heard of it? It’s only one of the most breathtaking parks in the Pacific Northwest! Ruby is one of the most iconic beaches on the southwest coast of the peninsula, located on the scenic Highway 101 about 27 miles south of the town of Forks (yes, the Forks from Twilight!). It takes around 3.5 hours to get from Seattle to Ruby Beach, depending on traffic of course, driving along US-12 W and Highway 101. It’s definitely a trek to get out to the peninsula but it’s SO worth every minute once you arrive and see the spectacular landscapes for yourself.

If you’re going to be coming to Washington from out of state for your elopement, you’ll probably want to fly into SeaTac and then rent a car to drive out to Olympic. Alternatively, if you want to explore more of the park, you could take the ferry from Seattle to Port Angeles, and then spend some time seeing more iconic places like the Hoh Rain Forest and Hurricane Ridge as you make your way west to Ruby Beach. Totally up to you and how much of the park you want to see (and how much you’re willing to drive).

Note that since Ruby Beach is a fairly remote spot on the coast, there isn’t any cell service for most carriers. Make sure you check the tide schedule in advance and download offline maps so that you’re prepared!

If you want to learn more about Olympic National Park and how to plan your elopement there, check out this guide!

Ruby Beach Elopement FAQ’s

Can you get married at Ruby Beach?

Hell yes! As long as you get the proper permits, you can totally get married at Ruby Beach. Make sure to follow Leave No Trace principles so that you leave the beach just as beautiful as you found it and so you don’t disrupt the vegetation/wildlife.

Do you need a permit to get married at Ruby Beach?

Yep! You’ll need a Special Use Permit to get married at Ruby Beach—more on that later in this guide (click here to skip to it).

Can you swim at Ruby Beach?

I mean sure, if you’re down to be cold! Ruby Beach isn’t like the beaches you’ll find in California or Hawaii—the water is FREEZING all year round, and depending on the season, the weather gets pretty chilly too. While you technically could go swimming at Ruby Beach on your elopement day, most of my couples just take their shoes off and walk along the shores instead!

Are dogs allowed at Ruby Beach?

Yes! One of the reasons I love Ruby Beach so much is that it’s dog-friendly. That immediately makes it a win in my book! Definitely bring your pups along to celebrate with you, they’ll have a blast running around the beach and enjoying the adventure with you.

Why is it called Ruby Beach?

Ok time for a quick geology lesson! The sand at Ruby Beach actually has these cool minerals in it called almandite, which are known for their red color. They’re not super visible most of the time, but some patches of the sand do have a reddish tint if the light is right!

Is Ruby Beach the same as Rialto Beach?

No! They both start with R’s and are pretty close to each other though, so I could see how people might get confused. Rialto Beach is a whole separate beach about an hour up the coast from Ruby, and it’s JUST as beautiful. 

Why Elope at Ruby Beach?

I feel like you probably already know why I think you should elope at Ruby Beach. . . but just in case, here are the top reasons it’s such an amazing elopement location!

1. The moody beach vibes are to die for

Duh!! NOTHING beats the moody beach vibes of the PNW, where you trade the warm temperatures and palm trees of tropical beaches for fog, mist, clouds, and driftwood everywhere you look. Like, literally EVERYWHERE. There’s a reason that Ruby Beach is one of the most visited spots in Olympic National Park; it’s got sandy shores, pebbles and rocks, rugged cliffs, coastal forests, tidepools, and these giant sea stacks that have become such iconic landmarks of the peninsula. You don’t even have to worry about what the weather is like because this beach looks amazing in any conditions—if it’s sunny, you’ll get bright blue skies, a magical golden hour, and unique shadows cast on the beach from the trees. And if it’s cloudy, you’ll get all those classic PNW vibes with fog rolling in through the sea stacks and mist gathering above the ocean! 

Loving this dark and gloomy beach atmosphere? The PNW has sooo many more amazing coastal locations to offer—here are a few of my faves for elopements!

2. It’s pretty easy to access

Another great thing about Ruby Beach is that it’s superrrr easy to get to. There’s a parking lot you can park in (but it can get pretty busy), and even from there the views are really beautiful! Then all you have to do is walk along a short path lined with lush, moss-covered trees to reach the beach—and bam, you have miles of coastline to explore!

3. It’s close to tons of other beautiful spots

Finally, when you elope at Ruby Beach, you also have PLENTY of other amazing spots to explore nearby. The entire Kalaloch area is stunning, with a variety of beaches and other scenic places that are great for portraits + hikes. Here are some of the prettiest spots in Olympic National Park that are within a 2-hour drive of Ruby Beach:

• Rialto Beach
• Kalaloch
• Tree of Life
• Lake Crescent
• Marymere Falls
• Sol Duc Falls
• Mount Storm King

Want a full list of all the most epic locations in the park? I’ve got a whole guide to the Best Places in Olympic National Park for Your Elopement!

When to Elope at Ruby Beach

What is the best time of year to elope at Ruby Beach?

Eloping on the coast is so great because it’s honestly beautiful all year round – and accessible, too! Unlike most of the mountainous locations around Washington, the coast is almost always accessible no matter the weather, since it doesn’t get much snow and temperatures usually stay pretty mild. With that said, if you want warm weather then you should elope in the summer months, but if you’d prefer fewer crowds, then fall, winter, or spring may be best for you!

What is the best time of day to elope at Ruby Beach?

While Ruby Beach looks gorgeous any time of day, sunrise and sunset are the PRIME times for breathtaking lighting. The area gets pretty crowded during the day in the summer months (as does the parking lot), so if you elope in the summer you may want to try and hit the beach at sunrise instead!

Ruby Beach Elopement Permits

So if you want to elope at Ruby Beach, you’re gonna need a couple of things: an entry pass to get into Olympic National Park, and a Special Use Permit that allows you to have your ceremony within the park. Below are all the deets to getting both of these and making sure you follow all the park rules!

Olympic National Park Entry Pass

First, you need an Olympic National Park entry pass to go ANYWHERE in the park. If you’re a frequent national park visitor and already have an America the Beautiful Pass, then you’re good to go—just display that on your dashboard when you park! 

If you don’t have an America the Beautiful Pass and only plan to visit Olympic once, you can get a Standard Pass for $30, which covers the entrance of all passengers in one private vehicle for seven consecutive days.

If you plan on visiting Olympic multiple times throughout the year, then you can save some money by getting a $55 Annual Pass instead!

Olympic National Park Special Use Permit

Along with the park pass, you’ll need a Special Use Permit to have your ceremony inside of the park. You should apply for this permit as early as you can to make sure the office has plenty of time to process it, but 3-4 weeks ahead of your date at MINIMUM. There’s a $50-$100 non-refundable permit processing fee so make sure to budget for that!

To apply for this permit, you can fill out this application and then send it to the park via their website contact form. They’ll help ya out from there!

Where to Stay Near Ruby Beach

Kalaloch Lodge

First of all, you can stay at Kalaloch Lodge, which was voted the Best Northwest Escape! It’s the only coastal lodging available in Olympic National Park, so if you don’t want to camp or head further inland, then this is the place for you! They have tons of cute cabins and cozy suites available for you to choose from, some of which are even dog-friendly.

Airbnbs & VRBOs

If you’d rather stay somewhere more private, where you have exclusive use of the space, there are so many cute Airbnbs and VRBOs in the area! Make sure that if you want to have your ceremony or any kind of reception at the rental, that you check with the host first and get their permission—a lot of places don’t allow any kind of elopements or parties so you have to be careful. It’s honestly easier to just elope in the park itself and then have a nice place to come back to at the end of the day where you can cook, cuddle, relax, stargaze, etc!

• Family-Style Lodge in the Woods
• Secluded Oceanfront Olympic Cabin
• Off-Grid Forest Den
• Mushroom Haven
• Hoh Chalet
• Homestead on the Hoh River

Campsites

Or you could totally choose to camp if you’d rather keep it simple and low-budget! This is such a fun option and there is SO much camping available on the Olympic Peninsula. There are 175 campsites available at the Kalaloch campground alone, and there are many nearby campsites as well! There are even 10 group sites available at Kalaloch if you want a small group of people to camp with you. Book far in advance if you want a summer or weekend date, though, as campsites get swooped up quickly!

Ruby Beach Elopement Packing List

Before I send you off to elope at this magical place, here are a few things you should pack for your Ruby Beach elopement to make it as epic and memorable as possible!

• A small speaker for your first dance
• Snacks! Maybe a fun picnic!
• Champagne or your drink of choice. Cheers!
• LAYERS LAYERS LAYERS. Put insulated leggings under your dress, bring a sweater, a coat, gloves, hat, hand warmers and hot drinks to keep you warm!
• Towels for if its warm enough to wade in the water
• Extra socks and shoes because yours will always get damp out here!
• Your National Park pass, obviously
• Offline trail and road maps for when you lose cell service
• Umbrellas (clear ones look the cutest in photos!)

Ruby Beach Elopement Photographer

Okay! You are READY to plan your dream Ruby Beach elopement! First step? Hit me up! I’m gonna give you all the deets and help you with EVERYTHING. Let’s make your elopement dreams come true y’all!

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Still not sure where you want to elope? I’ve got TONS more location guides up on my blog for places all across Washington and Oregon—here are a few of my faves:

5 Best Fire Lookout Elopement Locations in Washington

7 Best Hot Springs in the PNW for Elopement

10 Cozy + Cute Airbnb Wedding Venues in Washington State