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27 Finest Day Journeys from Seattle in 2023


This Pacific Northwest metropolis is a dream for day-trippers; Seattle is about subsequent to the Olympic Peninsula and located on Puget Sound. When visiting Seattle, you’re surrounded by water and rainforest. And whenever you enterprise out of the town limits, you will have the Canadian border, many nationwide park selections, and islands galore you may entry by ferry. Day journeys from Seattle are adventurous by default. So out of doors journey lovers, put together for the intense temptation to go away Downtown Seattle.

High Day Journeys from Seattle

Top Day Trips from Seattle

On this information, we’ve received absolutely the creme de la creme of day journeys from Seattle. We’re speaking Olympic Nationwide Park classics like Hoh Rain Forest and ferry experience Seattle day journeys to locations just like the San Juan Islands. You’ll be able to hop on a ship, seize mountaineering boots and climbing gear, ebook an tour, or lease a automotive. These day journeys from Seattle are all price pushing your self.

Planning Your Journey To Seattle Proper Now?

Beneath are a few of the high day journey excursions from Seattle. Don’t overlook to plan forward when visiting Washington!

High Day Journey Actions and Excursions from Seattle:

Best Day Trips From Seattle Whatcom Falls Park

This little metropolis park would possibly sound unassuming, nevertheless it is among the finest day journeys for waterfall mountaineering trails and ornate gardens. You stroll alongside tiny paved mountaineering trails via closely mossed forests – sometimes navigating stone bridges that appear to be one thing from a fairytale.

The entire park is atmospheric, and you’ll’t go incorrect for a serene mountaineering expertise. We added it to this information as a lesser-considered possibility than the ‘main Seattle day journeys’ like Mount Rainier. Whatcom Falls Park is a beautiful day journey from Seattle, involving a 1.5-hour drive or a 2.5-hour Greyhound journey. By automotive, it is a perfect distance from Seattle, and as a superb bonus, it’s free to enter.

On the way in which, you may incorporate stops at Samish Park, which has a chosen swimming space, and northern Seattle points of interest like Unhealthy Canine Brewery and Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Museum. Bellingham is a gorgeous coastal metropolis and has lots extra to supply when you’ve visited Whatcom Falls Park. As a winter day journey detour, you possibly can even go snowboarding on the close by Mount Baker. Whatcom Falls is simply a place to begin.

2. Columbia River Gorge Nationwide Scenic Space

Best Day Trips From Seattle Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Columbia River Gorge Nationwide Scenic Space is the place to go for a dramatic waterfall. Whatcom Falls is ideal for cutesy forest waterfalls, however Columbia River Gorge has a number of colossal falls. The protect is about round an 80-mile-long canyon as much as 4000 toes deep. The Columbia River crashes via the canyon, and you’ll select from varied mountaineering trails to embrace the surroundings.

Visiting Columbia River Gorge Nationwide Scenic Space is sort of an endeavor, almost 4 hours in distance from Seattle. However it’s undoubtedly undertakable when you have a number of drivers to rotate between driving shifts. Apart from, you may even stopover in Portland en route.

For us, Columbia River Gorge Nationwide Scenic Space stood out for its mighty waterfalls, that are probably the most spectacular (force-wise) within the area. If you happen to fancy some extra adventurous waterfall hikes, it’s the better of the day journeys from Seattle.

3. Level Defiance Park

Best Day Trips From Seattle Point Defiance Park

Level Defiance Park is to not be skimmed over. This 760-acre monster of a park is about within the close by metropolis of Tacoma and is the basic nod to an ‘city oasis’ that many city-dwellers crave. Level Defiance Park juts into Puget Sound, with viewpoints sprinkled round its edge.

Vashon Viewpoint and Dalco Passage Viewpoint – these views all deserve a glance in, particularly in the event you coincide your go to with dawn or sundown. Apart from the scenic strolls, Level Defiance Park has loads of main points of interest. When you can enter the park free of charge, you may pay to go to points of interest like Fort Nisqually Dwelling Historical past Museum and the Level Defiance Aquarium.

Level Defiance Park is barely any distance from Seattle. You might be speaking 45 minutes by automotive, and by public transport, about 2 hours. To be sincere, Level Defiance most caught our eye as a result of it entails bypassing Tacoma and getting a contemporary metropolis perspective. After a couple of days in Seattle, shaking off one metropolis and refreshingly embracing one other for a day is sweet. This park is probably the most stunning place to take action, incorporating a little bit of inexperienced area.

4. Whale Watching

Best Day Trips From Seattle Whale Watching

Whereas we’re on the subject of marine life, it might be a criminal offense to go with out mentioning whale watching. Whale watching is among the finest day journeys from Seattle, and between Might and October, you’re in for a deal with. Seattle’s surrounding waters have the whole lot from grey and humpback whales to the beloved orca. E-book a whale-watching tour and check out your luck with sightings; Seattle is a whale hotspot.

Best Day Trips from Seattle Whale Watching Tour

Your journey distance from Seattle is determined by your boat journey selection. Many boats supply a half-day expertise, like this 4-hour afternoon zodiac cruise. It is very important notice that what boat sort you select additionally massively impacts your day journey expertise. Zodiacs are a lot nearer to the water’s floor, so you will get a way more intimate expertise, however wrap up heat since you’ll be uncovered to all the weather.

Coated boats supply a extra comfy, heat expertise, however you’re a lot additional away from the whales. We’d suggest the zodiacs for optimum expertise, that are additionally deemed barely extra moral and fewer intrusive than the massive boats, the place whales can injure themselves on large propellers.

5. Boeing Way forward for Flight

Best Day Trips From Seattle Boeing Future of Flight

Boeing Way forward for Flight is one in all our shortest day journeys from Seattle. In reality, it is just a 30-minute distance from Seattle metropolis middle by automotive. Flight fans searching for a fast addition to your itinerary, that is it. The museum is a ridiculously informative immersion into the world of economic jets. You wander via corridor after corridor of detailed reveals. However, maybe most excitingly, additionally get up-close and private with jets-in-the-making on the business jet meeting plant. Boeing Way forward for Flight is the closest you will get to business aviation motion within the US – if not the world. For that motive, we simply had so as to add it to this information.

Time-wise, we’d permit a couple of hours to get to the museum, go searching, seize a espresso, and return to Seattle. It truly is a bitesize day journey.

6. Skagit Valley Tulip Pageant

Best Day Trips from Seattle Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Let’s preface this by saying that Skagit Valley is all the time a gorgeous day journey from Seattle. The valley is minimize in half by 150 miles of river and has gorgeous, sweeping inexperienced grasslands. Nonetheless, it actually comes into its personal in the course of the Skagit Valley Tulip Pageant – which runs from March to Might yearly. In the course of the tulip pageant, there are seas (and we imply seas) of bobbing tulips in oranges, pinks, yellows, whites, and extra. The flowers are painstakingly organized in color-coordinated rows and are a shocking place to go to from Seattle. You’ll be able to simply spend a number of hours strolling between the completely different tulip fields.

Best Day Trips From Seattle Skagit Valley Tulip Festival  flowers

The valley is an hour and 10 minutes from Seattle metropolis middle by automotive. You can too take a number of guided excursions to see the tulip shows, like this one on Viator. If you happen to don’t drive, a guided tour is your best choice.

7. Victoria, BC

Best Day Trips From Seattle Victoria BC

Victoria, BC, is situated throughout the Canadian border and is a famously old-world vacation spot. Sat on the sleepy, grizzly bear and leaping salmon-filled Vancouver Island, Victoria is pleased with its early ancestry and never but able to shake off the outdated structure and even transport strategies like horse-drawn carriages. The British affect in Victoria can also be closely leaned into, with tearooms and double-decker buses all through the town. As a day journey, it’s nice enjoyable.

By land, Victoria is a substantial distance from Seattle. However by high-speed clipper ferry, the journey takes lower than 3 hours. Should-visit points of interest in Victoria embrace visiting the brightly-colored floating pier of outlets at Fisherman’s Wharf Pier, Hatley Citadel, and Craigdarroch Citadel. Don’t overlook the Malahat SkyWalk both; this attraction is a 10-story tower that brings you to a 600-meter elevated walkway amidst Arbutus and Douglas Fir forests. It is among the finest out of doors points of interest the town has to supply.

8. Mount St Helens

Best Day Trips From Seattle Mount St Helen

Mount St Helens is an energetic stratovolcano simply south of Seattle. Scary? Maybe slightly. Its final explosion was in 1980, and this disaster marked the deadliest volcanic eruption ever in US historical past. And whereas it hasn’t erupted since, it’s nonetheless probably the most adrenaline-junkie day journeys from Seattle. You’ll be able to go to any of its surrounding viewpoints, together with Johnston Ridge Observatory and Windy Ridge Viewpoint. However solely superior climbers and mountaineers can sort out the climb-only path to the summit. Non-climbers get the views, whereas climbers get the problem of summiting an energetic volcano.

Best Day Trips From Seattle Mount St Helen2

Mount St Helens could also be one of many longest day journeys from Seattle, taking 3.5 hours by automotive from Seattle’s metropolis middle. Don’t let that section you although, particularly when you have drivers to rotate driving shifts between. Mount St Helens is an interesting and difficult place to your subsequent hang-out if you’re a complicated climber and mountaineer. You’ll move via Olympia in your technique to the volcano, which makes an awesome midway stopping level. You’ll be able to all the time cease for some political historical past and well-earned espresso after getting face-to-face with one of many US’ most feared volcanoes.

9. La Push Seashores

Best Day Trips From Seattle La Push Beaches

Twilight followers will in all probability be aware of La Push Seashore. It’s that moody-aesthetic, angsty teen-style seashore with battered black sprinkled sand, crashing waves, and washed-up driftwood. Probably the most spectacular factor about driftwood is that generally it may be virtually full tree trunks. Out of all of the day journeys from Seattle, La Push seashores actually have the environment all the way down to a tee. You’ll be able to go to (creatively named) First Seashore, Second Seashore, Third Seashore, or Rialto Seashore.

Best Day Trips From Seattle La Push Beach2

The space from Seattle is fairly excessive; you’ll catch a ferry experience along with your automotive throughout Puget Sound earlier than driving via the Olympic Nationwide Park if you wish to go the adventurous route. In any other case, drive via Tacoma and over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, throughout the highest finish of the Olympic Peninsula – passing Port Angeles. The entire drive takes underneath 4 hours, with an 8-hour return journey. Due to this fact, you’ll want a number of drivers or an in a single day keep and a few flexibility over the time period ‘day journey.’

10. Port Angeles

Best Day Trips from Seattle Port Angeles

Port Angeles is excess of a metropolis squeezed onto the shoreline by the looming presence of Olympic Nationwide Park. The tiny metropolis is correct on the high of the Olympic Peninsula and, for many, merely a bolt-hole to discover the close by nationwide park and forest. Don’t be that individual, although; Port Angeles is a day journey in its personal proper. Town is an actual cultural hotspot – extremely celebratory of its heritage and humanities. You’ll be able to go to the Port Angeles Nice Arts Middle, Elwha Klallam Museum on the Carnegie, and the Port Angeles Underground & Heritage Tour.

Best Day Trips from Seattle Port Angeles Downtown

Port Angeles is among the most underrated day journeys from Seattle. The Port Angeles distance from Seattle is simply 2.5 hours; you’ll want a automotive and can be crossing the Puget Sound by automotive ferry (which even sounds thrilling). If in case you have a day or two to spare, you possibly can keep in a single day in Port Angeles and use it as a base to catch the ferry to Victoria the next day as a second-day journey. There’s a direct ferry line between the 2 that’s simply too tempting to not use when you have the time.

11. Olympia

Best Day Trips From Seattle Olympia

There’s all the time pure magnificence and a mountaineering path to be discovered inside straightforward distance from Seattle. However this present day journey presents one thing barely completely different. Olympia is the state capitol of Washington, DC. This title implies that the town, which is humbly situated on the southern finish of Puget Sound, simply an hour’s drive from Seattle, homes an important buildings in Washington.

The Washington State Capitol Campus, Legislative Constructing, and a 1909-built Governor’s Mansion are in Olympia. Relating to political historical past and American tradition, Olympia presents rather more in-depth perception than Seattle. So day journey all the way down to Olympia and get all of it found out.

It’s free to enter the Washington State Capitol Constructing and Campus. You’ll be able to simply spend an hour or two wandering round this political attraction. Then you may see extra of the issues to do in Olympia. Undoubtedly permit a complete day for the go to, particularly in the event you attain the town by 1.5-hour prepare. Olympia is understandably widespread for its political and American historical past. And if these are issues that float your boat, then Olympia has your title written throughout it.

12. North Bend

Best Day Trips From Seattle North Bend

North Bend is a perfect day journey for railroad historical past and delightful pure surroundings. The city has Northwest Railway Museum and its conventional prepare line. Plus, the gorgeous Three Forks Pure Space. It’s a excellent spot to go to for a couple of hours of wandering and enjoyable. North Bend can also be the one day journey on this information that may be accomplished by a single, short-distance bus journey. You’ll be able to catch the Trailhead Direct Mt. Si for 35 minutes and arrive straight in North Bend – which undoubtedly beats navigating the Seattle metropolis middle in a rental automotive.

Best Day Trips From Seattle North Bend2 Mount Si

North Bend is a cute allrounder, primarily suited to these with an curiosity in railway heritage or lifeless set towards driving to go on a day journey from Seattle. We’ve added this present day journey as it’s a simple bus experience possibility for non-drivers visiting Seattle. Oh, and we’ll drop within the enjoyable incontrovertible fact that the city was additionally used as a set for Twin Peaks, a big film; be ready to identify all of the acquainted backdrops.

13. Go Wine Tasting

Best Seattle Day Trips Wine Tasting

Going wine tasting is a enjoyable day journey from Seattle – and you’re undoubtedly by no means wanting guided wine-tasting excursions from Seattle. Woodinville is among the hotspots for wine-tasting day journeys from Seattle. Woodinville Wine Nation is famed for its reds; cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and merlot are all on the tasting menus. And with over 130+ wineries within the area, visiting all of them in a day is inconceivable. Choose your tasting expertise properly. If you happen to go for this present day journey, you’re in for an thrilling time.

Best day trips from Seattle Wine Tasting Tours

Most wine-tasting excursions final roughly 7 hours and embrace 4-6 wineries. Tempo your self, as you’ll be making an attempt round 5 glasses of wine at every cease, and it’s hilariously straightforward to get too tipsy. Woodinville is simply a 25-minute drive from Seattle metropolis middle, so most of your time can be spent within the tasting experiences. It’s straightforward to see why wine tasting is so prevalent in Seattle. Woodinville Wine Nation is shut, well-run with a lot of tour choices, and famend for tasty reds.

14. Gig Harbor

Best Day Trips from Seattle Gig Harbor

Gig Harbor is a blink-and-you-miss-it city in dimension, however in character, it’s price a go to. The city is linked to its previous and has a robust sense of maritime neighborhood. Gig Harbor is easy and filled with candy native points of interest for a healthful escape for a day. The Harbor Historical past Museum is an absolute should, with an immersive historical past that features an 1893 schoolhouse and a 65-foot fishing vessel.

Climbing Finholm View provides you a shocking view of the city and water, and catching a Gig Harbor gondola is a should if you would like stunning views from the water. Even simply strolling via Gig Harbor is worth it; recognizing the homes with overwater verandas and making an attempt the contemporary catch dishes is a deal with.

Best Day Trips from Seattle Gig Harbor Museum

The Gig Harbor distance from Seattle is subsequent to nothing, taking simply 45 minutes by automotive or 2.5 hours by public transport. It’s a widespread day journey that additionally bypasses Tacoma – win, win.

15. Snoqualmie Falls

Best Day Trips From Seattle Snoqualmie Falls

Snoqualmie Falls is one other stunning waterfall, this time located alongside the Snoqualmie River inside strolling distance of its namesake city Snoqualmie. That’s a whole lot of ‘Snoqualmies’. In additional sensible phrases, although, the waterfall is only a 30-minute drive from Seattle, making it one of many shortest Seattle day journeys. It’s widespread as a sundown attraction, because the falls are superbly illuminated presently with a pastel backdrop. Between the billowing waterfall spray and the sheer energy of the crashing water, it is among the most impactful falls you may go to inside a brief distance from Seattle.

For us, we love how shut this waterfall is. It’s the kind of day journey you possibly can nonetheless wrangle after a busy day in Downtown Seattle – zipping throughout to catch the sundown at Snoqualmie Falls is the proper late-afternoon journey.

16. Tiger Mountain State Forest

Best Day Trips From Seattle Tiger Mountain State Forest

Tiger Mountain State Forest spans 13,745 acres. And we’d recommend experiencing it on horseback or by bike if you wish to cowl some floor. You’ll be able to lease bikes and manage horseback path rides on-line beforehand. In any other case, embrace the handfuls of mountaineering trails Tiger Mountain State Forest presents.

Probably the most spectacular is Chirico Path to Poo-Poo Level, which is 6.4km out and again and takes round 3 hours to finish. You’ll be able to often spot grasp gliders and paragliders having fun with the valley, and this path additionally provides you stunning views of Mount Rainier within the distance. Tiger Mountain State Forest is good for countless hours on forest tracks.

The space from Seattle is minimal, taking solely half-hour by automotive. You’ll be able to add Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park to your day journey whenever you drive to Tiger Mountain State Forest. The park has tons of mountaineering trails and is situated midway alongside the precise driving route you’ll be utilizing.

17. Wallace Falls State Park

Best Day Trips From Seattle Wallace Falls State Park

Wallace Falls State Park is jam-packed and filled with old-growth forests, spreading over an enormous space of 1,380 acres. However its profitable issue is its 265-foot waterfall, which you’ll be able to rise up near on the Wallace Falls Center Falls Overlook. The waterfall plunges dramatically towards a thick backdrop of coniferous bushes – visually actually putting. The overlook is a 5-mile hike however price each sweaty step for the ultimate view.

Wallace Falls State Park is the proper place to exhaust your self for probably the most untouched pure views. The park is someplace to go for an final waterfall hike. In fact, there are prolonged trails alongside the riverbank, too, together with the close by stunning Wallace Lake. So you will have loads of mountaineering choices.

The Wallace Falls State Park distance from Seattle is an hour by automotive or 3 hours by a sketchy public transport mixture. For apparent causes, we’d recommend driving. If in case you have time to remain at Wallace Falls State Park in a single day, do, because it presents campgrounds that make for an pleasing in a single day base.

18. Portland

Best Day Trips From Seattle Portland

When mentioning our different day journeys from Seattle, Portland has popped up a couple of instances. So what precisely does this powerhouse of Oregon supply to visiting vacationers? In brief, eco-friendly recreation, microbreweries, and extra coffeehouses than you possibly can ever depend. Portland is inherently stylish, and Oregon’s largest metropolis is overdue a status makeover. Visiting Hoyt Arboretum, Worldwide Rose Check Gardens, and Witch’s Citadel are all sensible out of doors issues to do in Portland to attach with nature. Then simply head to the microbreweries or seize a caffeine repair.

Top Day Trips From Seattle Portland Oregon

You’ll be able to drive to Portland in simply over 3 hours from Seattle. However we’d truly recommend catching the Amtrak Cascade. The prepare takes 3.5 hours however means you keep away from driving via the congested metropolis middle or worrying about having to park and experience in on public transport. Catch the primary prepare from Seattle to Portland so as to arrive at round 10 am, catching the 7 pm service again to Seattle. You’ll be again in Seattle by 11 pm and get a full day of 9 hours to sightsee Portland.

19. Diablo Lake

Best Day Trips From Seattle Diablo Lake

Diablo Lake is a shocking alpine attraction and delightful addition to our day journeys from Seattle. We’d recommend pinpointing the Diablo Lake Vista Level, aka the Diablo Lake Overlook, which has probably the most spectacular view of the electrical blue lake. As a result of Diablo Lake is stuffed with glacial water, its waters seem virtually cloudy in coloration.

And the brightness is an actual draw, too, making the lake probably the most photogenic day journeys from Seattle. You can begin on the viewpoint after which embark on one of many many hikes across the lake’s perimeter; a digicam is critical.

When it comes to distance from Seattle, Diablo Lake is 2.5 hours by automotive and requires you to drive – it’s in the course of nowhere. It’s sandwiched between the rest of Ross Lake Nationwide Recreation Space and North Cascades Nationwide Park. Be ready for a desolate wilderness expertise of pure magnificence.

20. Vancouver

Best Day Trips from Seattle Vancouver

Vancouver is among the most unbelievable day journeys from Seattle, and it’ll take little to persuade you to agree with us. You’ll be able to zip over from Seattle to Vancouver in simply 2.5 hours by automotive. Vancouver is the darling of the Pacific Northwest coast of Canada. It has shut ties to its First Nations historical past, unmatched orca-watching alternatives, and a superb cultural scene. It truly seems like you may museum-hop perpetually in Vancouver. Or you may head simply exterior the town to hikes and out of doors recreation points of interest like Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, which snakes via the treetops of a 30-acre park.

Best Day Trips from Seattle Vancouver Capilano Suspension Bridge

It doesn’t take a genius to see why Vancouver is so widespread – there are such a lot of issues to do. And for anybody eager to sneak Canada into their US journey, it’s a sensible technique to mix two nations in a restricted time. Vancouver is so iconic that we simply needed to embrace it amongst the most effective Seattle day journeys. How may you miss it if you find yourself so shut?

21. Whidbey Island

Best Day Trips From Seattle Whidbey Island

Whidbey Island is one other of the most effective Seattle day journeys – famously appearing because the boundary for the northern finish of the Puget Sound. The island is huge, enjoying residence to over 70,000 everlasting residents. It’s beloved for its shoreline and small coastal communities. It’s such a gorgeous instance of coastal dwelling that it has been utilized in movies resembling Free Willy 2, The Battle of the Roses, and High Gun: Maverick. Whidbey Island has the whole lot from seashores to lakes and farmland. You go to this kind of place since you need to discover farm-to-table eating places and have a healthful, off-the-grid weekend.

Deception Move Bridge

Best Day Trips From Seattle Deception Pass Bridge

With solely a day journey, although, it is advisable to suppose virtually. It’s best to undoubtedly drive Deception Move Bridge, go to Deception Move State Park, cease by arty Langley, get some historical past at Fort Casey, and, with youthful youngsters, go to Worth Sculpture Forest for some family-tailored enjoyable.

Whidbey Island is a surprisingly quick distance from Seattle. The Whidbey Island distance varies by prepare and automotive, however each choices take round 1.5 hours. The prepare takes 1.5 hours whereas driving takes an hour. Its proximity to Seattle partly makes it a well-liked getaway and day journey.

22. Bainbridge Island

Best Day Trips from Seattle Bainbridge Island

Keep in mind Bainbridge Island from earlier? This time, we’ll deal with the entire island, not simply Fort Ward’s scuba diving alternatives. The island is reached by ferry from Seattle, taking solely an hour. You’ll be able to convey a automotive (which we extremely suggest as a result of the island is a nightmare on foot or public transport), and ticket value varies based mostly on car dimension. With regards to out of doors recreation, whenever you arrive, you’re spoiled for selection, and that extra cash to convey a automotive can be tremendously appreciated.

Best Day Trips from Seattle Bainbridge Island Coast

On a day journey from Seattle, you may plan slightly highway journey round Bainbridge Island to hop between its completely different points of interest. The Bainbridge Island distance by ferry is so quick that you just barely dissipate any vitality on the ferry part. So, a couple of hours of driving is completely nothing and a possible possibility. Bainbridge Island has the attractive Bloedel Reserve, a nature protect 150 acres in dimension. The reserve has manicured paths to go to the forests, ornate backyard, and reflection pool inside its limits. The island additionally has the Grand Forest West and Gazzam Lake reserves. Whereas for tradition, there’s the Bainbridge Island Historic Museum and Museum of Artwork.

23. San Juan Island

Best Day Trips From Seattle San Juan Island

San Juan Island is slightly animal-watching hotspot simply off the coast of Seattle. You’ll be able to meet its resident alpacas, take a kayaking tour to identify its common orca guests, or simply embrace hen watching from a scenic lavender discipline. The ferry experience drops you in Friday Harbor, the place you may museum hop and benefit from quite a few wildlife-themed excursions across the island.

When it comes to distance from Seattle, this present day journey is prolonged. Whereas it’s best visited on a multi-day journey, probably the most formidable and rigid-scheduled of you may sort out this as a day journey from Seattle. San Juan Island is reached by a 3-hour 45-minute ferry that departs from Seattle Harbor.

Deal with this ferry experience as your first wildlife-watching expertise. You’ll be able to see whales, orcas, dolphins, seals, and lots of sea birds. So don’t waste this ferry journey – pack binoculars and a digicam with a great lens. You should have a great few hours on the island earlier than catching a return ferry.

24. North Cascades Nationwide Park

Best Day Trips From Seattle North Cascades National Park

Banff has everybody flashing coronary heart eyes however North Cascades Nationwide Park is your finest wager if you would like a Banff-style expertise with out crossing the Canadian border. And as a super mid-length journey North Cascades Nationwide Park is simply 2 hours away from Seattle by automotive.

It’s most spectacular when it has snow-capped peaks in full glory, however its brilliant blue and inexperienced alpine lakes are gorgeous year-round. North Cascades has that alpine attract whereas being manner much less busy than a few of the different nationwide park selections close to Seattle. These within the know adore it for its quieter trails and alpine surroundings – particularly these electric-colored lakes.

Best Day Trips From Seattle North Cascades National Park2

North Cascades is an absolute given in a listing of the most effective day journeys from Seattle. It has greater than 300 glaciers and dozens of mountains, primarily a photographer’s paradise. You might have many trails to select from, and even simply driving via ensures stunning views. Permit a full day in North Cascades to embrace the expertise absolutely.

25. Olympic Nationwide Park

Best Day Trips from Seattle Olympic National Park

Olympic Nationwide Park is an unbelievable addition to your Seattle expertise, and you’re seemingly already planning a visit or, on the very least, aware of it. Olympic Nationwide Park staggeringly covers a close to million acres. Predominantly, this encompasses old-growth rainforests, waterfalls, and some multi-day mountaineering trails that go away you in any other case minimize off from the surface world.

In a super world, you’d have greater than a day to go to the park, particularly with its proximity to Rialto Seashore and the Twilight-famed black sand shoreline. There are simply so many issues to do in Olympic Nationwide Park. However in a day, you may at the very least cowl its highlights – Hoh Rain Forest and its Corridor of Mosses Path, Hurricane Ridge, and trail-lined shores of Lake Crescent.

Best Day Trips from Seattle Olympic National Park Views

The Olympic Nationwide Park’s distance from Seattle varies relying on the place you intend to go to (it’s virtually one million acres in dimension, keep in mind). Nonetheless, to get to the principle customer middle is a 2.5-hour drive. We suggest renting a automotive for this journey. You’ll be able to ebook guided excursions, however they’re extortionate in value and really restricted in your itinerary. As an alternative, lease a automotive and get exploring independently.

26. Mount Rainier Nationwide Park

Best Day Trips From Seattle Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier Nationwide Park is clustered round an energetic volcano with a glaciated peak – Mount Rainier itself. The mountain basks in each glory and a focus, with unbelievable mountaineering trails zig-zagging its slopes and surrounding space. And whereas it’s gorgeous in spring with all of the mountain flowers, Mount Rainier Nationwide Park is unquestionably extra of a winter day journey from Seattle. You’ll be able to ski or snowmobile.

When you may even take guided snowshoe walks in the event you fancy one thing with a bit extra of a sightseeing angle. If you happen to go to Seattle in winter, Mount Rainier Nationwide Park is the place you need to be. It has a status for being a snow lover’s heaven.

Fun Day Trips From Seattle Mount Rainier National Park

When it comes to distance from Seattle, the Mount Rainier Nationwide Park distance varies barely relying on the place you go to. As a common rule although, permit simply over 2 hours to succeed in the park by automotive, with additional time in case of poor circumstances. If you happen to ebook a guided tour with transport from Seattle (you will have a automotive to entry the nationwide park), count on to be driving for a couple of hours to permit for potential pick-ups and stop-offs.

27. Fort Ward Park

Relating to waterfront parks, Fort Ward Park will not be one to overlook. The park is simply an hour’s drive or a 1.5-hour bus and ferry experience from Seattle, nevertheless it provides you a completely completely different impression of the area. However it’s most well-known for its underwater park for scuba divers. For anybody PADI certified, there are tons of corals and marine life to work together with. Laborious to not love, proper? Fort Ward Park is a hidden gem for a lot of, so think about it the darkish horse of this information on the most effective day journeys from Seattle.

Fort Ward Park is about on Bainbridge Island, which we’ll cowl as a day journey attraction later. Nonetheless, we wished to first spotlight Fort Ward Park as a standalone attraction – primarily as a consequence of its huge scuba diving potential. It is among the finest dive spots in miles round. And whereas a PADI is required to scuba dive at Fort Ward Park, you may nonetheless benefit from the 4,300 toes of shoreline with a scenic footpath with out getting your toes moist.

Day Journeys from Seattle: FAQs

Fun Day Trips From Seattle FAQ

It’s so straightforward to really feel impressed by these day journeys from Seattle; pure magnificence is a assure, which we love. Earlier than you go, although, pay attention to these additional snippets of information. These are our Seattle day journeys FAQs.

What to go to exterior of Seattle?

Undoubtedly squeeze in some nationwide park visits when visiting Seattle. Olympic Nationwide Park and Mount Rainer Nationwide Park are the 2 huge ones. You must also make time to go whale watching as nicely.

What cities are one hour from Seattle?

Olympia, Bremerton, and Tacoma are all inside an hour of Seattle. With three hours, you may attain cities like Portland and Vancouver.

Is Bainbridge Island price visiting?

Bainbridge Island is famend for its nature and has the forested Bloedel Reserve to go to. It additionally has some cultural points of interest just like the Bainbridge Island Museum. It’s a good allrounder relating to day journeys from Seattle.

What’s 5 hours away from Seattle?

Siuslaw Nationwide Forest and lots of different main Oregon points of interest are 5 hours away from Seattle. You can too enterprise throughout the Canadian border and into the agricultural areas round Vancouver and Vancouver Island.

To Conclude

Best Seattle Day Trips San Juan Islands

Day journeys from Seattle are thrilling – however you don’t want us to inform you that. Now you realize the total extent of the town’s day journey potential for your self. If you happen to fancy tradition, there’s Port Angeles, rainforest hikes, Olympic Nationwide Park, and snowboarding, Mount Rainier. Oh, and you’ll see humpback whales and generally even orcas from Might to October. Seattle is someplace the place it is advisable to permit additional days simply to make use of the town as a base.

Wait, have you ever received lodging already? If not, selecting a Seattle neighborhood is simply as vital as planning a Seattle day journey or two. Which neighborhood you select will massively influence your expertise, so make sure that to tell apart your Fremont out of your West Seattle. You’ll additionally need to pay shut consideration to your neighborhood of selection and the way it impacts your distance to sure day journey points of interest.

Have a superb time visiting Seattle. Whether or not you go to Mount Rainier or Whatcom Falls, you’ll have a spectacular time embracing all its thrilling environment.

Plan Your Subsequent Journey to Washington State With these Sources

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