13 Amazing Washington Day Trips That Are Worth The Drive
Often referred to as the “Evergreen State,” Washington is also known as the “Land of Sea and Sky,” capturing the state’s spectacular landscape, including the Pacific Ocean, the Cascade Mountains, and abundant natural beauty. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is between Seattle and Tacoma, the largest airport in Washington, and easily within a one to three-hour driving distance of some of the most amazing day trips in the US. With over 70,000 square miles to explore, what are you waiting for?
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. It is an episodically active volcano, also known as a stratovolcano, that last erupted in 1450 CE in the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest. There are five different areas in the park to explore. For a day trip, after a 2.5-hour drive from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, approach the park via the Nisqually Entrance, which will bring hikers to Paradise. The Skyline Loop Trail is a popular hike in the park for a good reason: epic views of Mount Rainier are visible the entire time. The 6.2-mile hike is moderately challenging, gaining 1,788 feet in elevation, and takes about 3.5 to 4.5 hours to finish.
Highlights along the way include Myrtle Falls and Panorama Point, and on a clear day, hikers can see Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood. On the trail, expect to see mountain goats and deer, but bears and mountain lions live there, too, so be prepared. At the end of the day, wander around the historic Paradise area and visit the Paradise Inn, built in 1917.
Pacific Science Center - Seattle
Only 14 miles from the airport, the Pacific Science Center in downtown Seattle has a rich history, starting with its first incarnation as the Science Pavilion as part of the 1962 World’s Fair (originally known as the “Century 21 Exposition”). The fair's theme was “Living in the Space Age,” and the fair’s most iconic symbol, the Space Needle, is next to the Pacific Science Center in an area called the Seattle Center.
Today, the center continues to feature exhibits on space and exploration but has expanded in the last 60+ years to include an IMAX theater, a Laser Dome, and a Planetarium.
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium - Tacoma
The Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is the only combined zoo/aquarium in the Pacific Northwest—30 miles from the airport. The park was established in 1905 on 29 acres of land, with unbeatable views of Mount Rainier, the Olympic Mountains, and Puget Sound.
The park is divided thematically, where animal lovers can visit an Arctic Tundra and meet the resident polar bears and arctic foxes, Sumatran tigers and clouded leopards in the Asian Forest Sanctuary, or meet the turtles, rays, and tropical fish in the Pacific Seas. Premier experiences like Eye-to-Eye Shark Dives are also available.
Snoqualmie Falls - Snoqualmie
The 40-minute trip from SEA to Snoqualmie Falls is a scenic, easy drive that offers day-trippers views of downtown Seattle and its iconic 605-foot tall Space Needle built for the 1962 World’s Fair. As drivers approach the falls, the foothills of the Cascades rise into view. The Snoqualmie Falls Trail takes hikers on a 1.4-mile route to the falls and is very family-friendly and suitable for beginners.
The stunning 268-foot waterfall is surrounded by two acres of lush green forest, where travelers will find an observation deck, a gift shop, and the spectacular Salish Lodge & Spa. Stop in for a casual bite at the Café & Coffee Bar within the Salish Visitors Center.
Seattle Aquarium - Seattle
Opened in 1977, the Seattle Aquarium is the ninth-largest in the US by attendance. The aquarium is on the Elliott Bay waterfront, minutes from other Seattle landmarks like the Pike Place Market, the Seattle Great Wheel, and the quirky Gum Wall. The aquarium includes three buildings, and one ticket gives visitors access to the entire aquarium campus: historic Piers 50 and 60 and the newly opened (August 2024) Ocean Pavilion, where aquarium goers will come face-to-face with tropical reef sharks, rays, schooling fish, mangroves, seagrasses and nearly 30 species of coral.
In Pier 60, visitors can meet the aquarium’s most beloved residents—sea otters, river otters, harbor seals, and fur seals. Pier 59 includes many hands-on exhibits, touch tanks, and a play space for younger visitors. Every day, there are various activities and presentations at the aquarium, where experts will present a deep dive on subjects including coral reefs, harbor seals, marine mammals, and more. It’s a 30-minute drive from the airport.
Rattlesnake Ledge Trail - North Bend
Outdoor enthusiasts looking for a scenic trail through the forest with spectacular views of the Cedar River watershed, Mount Si, and Rattlesnake Lake will enjoy the accessible 5.3-mile out-and-back Rattlesnake Ledge Trail, a 40-minute drive from SEA. Hikers will find the trailhead on the northwest side of Rattlesnake Lake.
The lake features a well-maintained picnic area for a post-hike lunch and a designated swimming area near the lake’s edge. Above the lake is a cool little education center about the watershed, which provides drinking water for people living in the greater Seattle area. The uphill hike to the three ledges is a good day trip for beginner hikers. It is moderately difficult in spots and reaches an elevation gain of 1,459 feet. There are a few wooden bridges to cross and a short detour to the watershed where hikers can catch their breath and see a waterfall.
Deception Pass State Park
Spanning two islands, Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands, and connected by a series of iconic bridges, Deception Pass State Park features a mix of rugged ocean cliffs, mysterious coves, and quiet old-growth forests. Renowned for its panoramic views and jaw-dropping sunsets, this park is about 90 miles from the airport and is a favorite among locals and visitors. Washington’s most-visited state park boasts 14.6 miles of saltwater shoreline and three lakes, giving adventure seekers a wealth of things to do, like hiking, fishing for salmon, or kayaking in any of the calm bays and lakes.
Ideal for families with younger beachcombers, consider taking a tide pool hike to explore various sea life, including anemones, sea stars, urchins, crabs, and more. After that, take a relatively flat 5-mile round-trip hike around Rosario Head. Along the way, hikers will have stunning views of Sharpe Cove and Bowman Bay, Whidbey Island, the Rosario Strait, and beyond. The reward is discovering the perfect place to sit and snack on a bluff overlooking Puget Sound and take a few Instagram-worthy photos.
LeMay - America’s Car Museum - Tacoma
Named after car enthusiast Harold LeMay, The LeMay - America’s Car Museum is in Tacoma, about 20 miles from the Seattle-Tacoma airport. A successful businessman, LeMay started collecting cars in the 1950s, and it grew to become one of the largest collections in the world, with over 3,000 vehicles. Today, America’s Car Museum showcases over 250 automobiles and various automotive artifacts in the 12 galleries on its 9-acre campus and ranked #10 in USA Today’s 10 Best Attractions for Car Lovers (2024).
Special exhibits at the museum include “British Invasion,” which covers cars and culture that invaded the US during the 1960s, like Jaguars, Minis, Austin-Healeys, and the Beatles. The “Dream of The Mother Road” is an immersive, interactive collection of cars and memorabilia to celebrate America’s iconic roadway, Route 66. Finally, the Shinka exhibit explores Japan’s automotive heritage with a rotating parade of the most iconic and important vehicles to come out of Japan. This museum is a must-see for serious automotive enthusiasts, car junkies, and petrolheads.
Bloedel Reserve - Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge Island is in Puget Sound and is under two hours from the airport (including a 35-minute scenic ferry ride from Seattle). The island has a vibrant arts scene, eclectic downtown shops, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities like paddle boarding, hiking, and kayaking. A top destination for nature lovers or gardeners on the island is the Bloedel Reserve.
This stunning 150-acre public garden blends natural and designed landscapes with forests, ponds, gardens, and shorelines. There is a moss garden, a Jurassic garden, a reflecting pool, and a Japanese garden, which serves as a defining feature of the gardens.
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Like Mount Rainer, Mount St. Helens is an active stratovolcano in an area known as the Pacific Rim of Fire—an underwater region on the edges of the Pacific Ocean with recorded earthquakes and volcanic activity. On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted, shaken awake by an earthquake registering 5.1 on the Richter scale. After the 9-hour eruption, nearly 150 square miles of forest were destroyed. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan and Congress created the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument for research, recreation, and education.
There are numerous areas to explore in and around Mount St. Helens. For a unique underground activity, head to the mountain's south side to the Ape Cave, where spelunkers can explore a chilly, pitch-black lava tube over two miles long. A short, paved, accessible trail leads to a stairwell into the cave. There are two routes to take through the cave: a relatively easy and family-friendly lower cave route and a more adventurous, 1.5-mile upper cave route. Ape Cave is the third longest lava tube (2.5 miles long) in North America, and the cave temperature is 42 degrees Fahrenheit year-round; it is a cool way to get a first-hand look at how volcanos work.
Hands-On Children's Museum - Olympia
This award-winning museum is the largest and most-visited children’s museum in the Pacific Northwest. The hands-on museum is in Olympia, the state capital, about 75 minutes from the Seattle-Tacoma airport. Ideally aimed at children from birth to ten years old, it is easy for families to spend an entire day discovering over 150 interactive exhibits spread out over a half-acre outdoor play space.
The themed exhibits encourage imaginative role-playing, collaboration, and gross motor engagement, like in the Emergency! The exhibit features a police K-9 car, a fire truck, an animal hospital, and more. The Outdoor Discovery Center includes a lighthouse lookout, Puget Sound Beach, a naturalist’s cabin, and more. There’s a family-friendly Play Day Café onsite.
Woodland Park Zoo - Seattle
About 30 minutes from the airport, depending on traffic, the Woodland Park Zoo was founded in 1899 and attracts more than one million visitors annually. The 92-acre Woodland Park Zoo is divided into different natural habitats ranging from the tropics and coastal deserts to temperate rainforests like those of the Pacific Northwest. The zoo is home to more than 800 animals and 250 species, including some of the world’s most critically endangered, like Sumatran and Malayan tigers, Western Lowland gorillas, and the Visayan Warty Pigs—one of the rarest wild pigs in the world.
Events like an OktoBEARfest, a Pumpkin Bash, and a magical holiday experience called WildLanterns, are held at the zoo throughout the year.
Olympic National Park
Hurricane Ridge is the most easily accessed mountain area within Olympic National Park, one of three gorgeous state parks in Washington State. It’s almost a 3-hour drive from SEA to Hurricane Ridge, but well worth the car drive. There are so many hiking trails at varying degrees of difficulty in the park, but here are three out-and-back trails to consider: the easy 1.8-mile Sol Duc Fall Trail that leads to a pretty waterfall; the moderate 3.5-mile out-and-back Hurricane Hill via Hurricane Ridge Trail; or the challenging 4.1-mile Mount Storm King Trail which involves some scrambling and use of ropes and is for experienced hikers only. Post-hike Lake Crescent is the perfect spot to watch the sunset over a well-deserved packed picnic.
There are so many places to visit on a day trip to Washington State, from natural wonders to cultural attractions. Nature lovers can explore the iconic Mount Rainier and its hiking trails or enjoy breathtaking views at Snoqualmie Falls and Deception Pass State Park. History and science enthusiasts will find plenty to see at the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Pacific Science Center, and LeMay America’s Car Museum in Tacoma. For animal lovers, Point Defiance Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, and Woodland Park Zoo offer interactive experiences. Olympic National Park and Bainbridge Island provide scenic retreats for outdoor exploration, while Olympia’s Hands On Children's Museum captivates young minds. Whether it's hiking, wildlife, or learning, these amazing destinations promise memorable experiences for every type of day tripper.
