6 best day trips from Seattle

Day trips compared

The day trips

140 km · About 2–2.5 hours each way by car to Paradise

1.Mount Rainier National Park

The 4,392-metre volcano dominates the region. Paradise on its south side has wildflower meadows in July and August, glacier views and trails such as the Skyline Trail; Sunrise on the northeast side is open only in summer.

Getting there

Car, or an organised tour

Best for

First-timers, Families, Couples

15 km · About 35 minutes by ferry

2.Bainbridge Island

The ferry crossing gives the best skyline view of the city. Winslow, the island's small town, is a short walk from the terminal, with cafés, wine-tasting rooms and the free Bainbridge Island Museum of Art; the Bloedel Reserve gardens are a short drive away.

Getting there

Washington State Ferries from Colman Dock

Best for

Couples, Quiet stays, First-timers

45 km · About 40 minutes by car

3.Snoqualmie Falls

An 82-metre waterfall on the Snoqualmie River, with an observation deck and a trail down to the base. The Salish Lodge sits at the top, and the town of Snoqualmie nearby has a railway museum and the diner seen in Twin Peaks.

Getting there

Car via Interstate 90

Best for

Families, Couples

30 km · About 35 minutes by car

4.Woodinville wine country

More than 100 wineries and tasting rooms, many making wine from eastern Washington grapes, cluster in this town northeast of Seattle, along with Chateau Ste. Michelle's estate and a few breweries and distilleries.

Getting there

Car or organised wine tour

Best for

Couples, Food lovers

190 km · About 2.5 hours by car

5.Leavenworth

A former logging town rebuilt in Bavarian style in the 1960s, set in the Cascade foothills, with German food, beer halls and riverside walks. It is known for autumn Oktoberfest events and its winter Christmas lights.

Getting there

Car via US Route 2 over Stevens Pass

Best for

Families, Couples

130 km · About 4 hours including the ferry from Anacortes

6.San Juan Islands

An archipelago in the Salish Sea known for orca and whale-watching, small farms and the harbour town of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. It works better as an overnight trip than a day trip.

Getting there

Car to Anacortes, then Washington State Ferries; or seaplane

Best for

Couples, Quiet stays

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• King County Metro buses cover the city, including frequent RapidRide lines to Ballard and West Seattle; they are the main option for Ballard and Fremont.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask