6 Incredible Seattle Weekend Getaways

Are you ready to get out of Seattle for a bit? As great as Seattle is, sometimes you just to escape it temporarily. There are TONS of awesome Seattle weekend getaways within 3 hours of the city, so you have many wonderful options. I’d actually argue that one of the best things about living in Seattle is the proximity of incredible nature spots!

Here are 6 of the best Seattle weekend getaways. You’ll find information on where to stay, what to do, and other tips and tricks for each spot!

1. Leavenworth Weekend Getaway

Leavenworth is located about 2 hours, 15 minutes east of the city and one of the most popular Seattle weekend getaways. It truly has something for everyone, in every season!

The Icicle Ridge trail has incredible basalm root blooms in the spring, if you time it right, and the top provides beautiful views over the Leavenworth region.

What to do in Leavenworth

Leavenworth is one of the most popular spots to visit as a weekend trip from Seattle year round. There’s incredible hiking in spring, summer, and fall; there’s a famous Octoberfest celebration in the German breweries; there are countless cozy and luxurious cabin rentals; there are water sports in summer; and snow sports in the winter. 

Hike Lake Colchuk if you’re visiting in July-October, and Icicle Ridge and Sauer’s Mountain for gorgeous wildflower blooms if you’re visiting in spring. Check out Lake Wenatchee, a 25-minute drive from the city, for a swim or a snowshoe excursion.

This beautiful beach was all ours for a quiet morning on Memorial Day weekend. It’s a beautiful area to relax, and on warm days, take a swim!

Where to stay in Leavenworth 

If you’re interested in camping, there are various campgrounds nearby. I’ve stayed at the campground at Lake Wenatchee State Park (right by the lake, 25 minutes from Leavenworth) and also Eightmile Campground (closer to the Enchantments and Lake Colchuck trailhead, and 15 minutes from Leavenworth). There are also first come, first serve campgrounds in the area. 

For a more luxurious option, check out Bavarian Lodge and enjoy the comforts of a cozy atmosphere with real beds, gorgeous rooms, a pool, and more. For a more affordable but awesome option in a quieter area, check out the beautiful Beaver Valley Lodge.

When to go to Leavenworth

 Leavenworth is a year-round weekend getaway from Seattle, so anytime is great. You can see more on seasonal activities in Leavenworth here.

2. Orcas Island Weekend Getaway

Orcas Island is one of the famous San Juan Islands, a beautiful and peaceful coastal paradise 3 hours northwest of Seattle. You’ll get to take a ferry to get there! 
On a clear day, the waters around Orcas Island are stunning, with views of Mt. Baker and the cascades on the horizon.

What to do on Orcas Island

Hike the Ship Peak Loop at the Turtleback Mountain reserve for some gentle hills and expansive water views. Hike (or drive!) up to the top of Mount Constitution for sunset (bring a jacket for the wind). Stroll around Cascade Lake with your morning coffee and pastry Brown Bear Baking or Island Skillet. Rent a kayak at Crescent Beach and paddle around the coastline.

If you have a bigger budget, there are some great ocean-based activities you can do. Whale watching is a spectacular option, as are private sailing lessons. My friends and I really enjoyed Captain Natt’s outing and company when we took a sailing trip.  

The views are unreal at the top of Mount Constitution, the highest point on Orcas Island.

Where to stay on Orcas Island

Moran State Park has campsites available year round. If you’re visiting in the off season or shoulder season, you can find relatively affordable hotels on Booking.com. If you’re visiting in summer, prices are WAY higher. You’ll need to book months in advance to stay here in the summer. 

The Landmark is a gorgeous option with spacious rooms and apartment-style accommodations. Or for a very unique stay, check out The Treehouse.

Getting around Orcas Island

You will drive to Anacortes and then take a ~1 hour ferry to the island. You’ll need to book your ferry journey months in advance as well; this makes Orcas Island one of the most planning-intensive Seattle weekend getaways. Car ferry tickets will sell out, especially if you are traveling on a summer weekend with your vehicle (and you will need your vehicle to get around the island). Here’s the schedule of availability, courtesy of WSDOT:

When to go to Orcas Island

Summer is the best time to visit, particularly July-September. We went in June and got some rain, and some sun. I probably would not plan a winter getaway here due to cold, wet, and gray weather being highly possible.

3. Mount Rainier National Park Weekend Getaway

Mount Rainier National Park is an iconic destination located about 2.5 hours from Seattle, depending which part of the park you want to visit. There are three main areas: Longmire, Paradise, and Sunrise. Each area has attractions and reasons to visit. Mt. Rainier is an unforgettable Seattle weekend getaway spot.

The Sunrise area of Mt. Rainier is only open for a few months each year and has beautiful (and very exposed) trails to explore.

What to do in Mount Rainier National Park

The main attraction in Mt Rainier National Park is the hiking trails. There are endless breathtakingly beautiful hikes to explore. I can personally never get enough of Mt Rainier hiking, and every summer I make sure to visit at least a couple of times! Check out my post on the best hikes in Mt Rainier here.

Some of the best hikes are the Skyline Loop Trail, Fremont Lookout Trail, High Rock Lookout, and Dege Peak. Other activities include snowshoeing, skiing or taking the scenic gondola at Crystal Mountain Resort, backpacking, and swimming in local lakes.

With views that can’t be beat, you don’t want to miss visiting the Paradise area of Mt. Rainier National Park.

Where to stay at Mount Rainier National Park 

There are two reservable campgrounds within the park itself, during the summer months: Cougar Rock Campground and Ohanapecosh Campground. There is also a first come, first served campsites at White River Campground.

You can book reservable sites up to 6 months in advance, and you will want to do so, especially for weekends in the summer. La Wis Wis and Lodgepole Campgrounds are outside of the park itself, but close enough to easily access great trails.

For more refined accommodations, there are various lodges around Mt Rainier National Park. Check out Nisqually Lodge (14 miles from the Paradise park entrance), Paradise Village (23 miles from the Paradise visitor center) or the Packwood Lodge and Cabins (10 miles up Stevens Canyon Road to the park area). 

The snow makes Mt. Rainier National Park (dare I say?) even more beautiful. I’ve never been a winter girly, but this day we spent playing in the snow at Mt. Rainier was one of the most magical days in recent memory.

When to go to Mount Rainier National Park

Mt. Rainier is worth visiting year round, but roads will be closed in many areas of the park in November-April. Paradise Visitor Center is open year round, with occasional road closures depending on snowfall. 

My favorite time of year in the park is probably August-October. In August, you can see incredible wildflower blooms. In October, the park has cooled down significantly (and may even have a bit of snow) and you can enjoy vibrant fall colors. 

Picnicing at the entrances is another fun activity, as there are picnic tables available with views of Mt. Rainier right there. If you’re bold, you can take a dip in some of the waters around the park, like the Blue Hole near Ohanapecosh. In the winter, a snowshoe excursion up to Panorama Point is an absolute dream (be sure to check the forecast, have avalanche knowledge, and bring the 10 essentials for safety).

4. North Cascades Weekend Getaway

The North Cascades are underrated, and when you make it up to visit, you’ll wish you had come sooner (and probably be plotting your return visit before you leave). While it’s a bit longer of a journey to reach some of the highlights of the North Cascades as a Seattle weekend getaway than the other national parks, it’s worth the work to get here.

The trails at North Cascades are mind blowing. I can’t wait to return.

What to do in North Cascades National Park

The North Cascades is a destination for hikers and water sports enthusiasts. There are stunning trails, especially in the summer, and also opportunities for kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, and fishing in the Diablo Lake and Ross Lake Dam areas.

Spend a morning hiking to Blue Lake and enjoy the afternoon on the glacier blue waters of Diablo Lake. Relax in a hammock in your forested campsite and read your favorite book. Test yourself with a tough hike to Hidden Lake Lookout, one of the best trails in the entire state. The possibility are endless!

Where to stay in North Cascades National Park

Campsites are available at a few campgrounds in the area, depending on which region of the park you’re in. Newhalem Creek Campground, Gorge Lake Campground, and Colonial Creek Campground are all national forest or national park campgrounds near or in the park. 

There are not a lot of lodgings on the west side of the park for accommodations that aren’t camping. One option is the Glacier Peak Resort and Winery, about 45 minutes west of Diablo Lake. If you’re coming from east of the park (or want to visit the east side!) there are many options in the Winthrop area.

When to go to North Cascades National Park

Mainly you’ll want to plan for a summer or fall visit; the road through the park (Highway 20) is closed from about November through April or May due to snow. Heather Maple Pass Loop is a very popular place to see larches in October; we hiked it in summer and I can’t wait to hike it in the fall.
I have an entire post all about visiting North Cascades National Park, read it now.

5. Olympic Peninsula Weekend Getaway

The Olympic Peninsula is renowned for its diversity. It has the only rainforest in the continental US; it has moody and beautiful beaches with impressive rock stacks; it has glaciated rivers and lakes for admiring and swimming; and it has the Olympics, a snow-capped mountain range. 

What to do in the Olympic Peninsula

What to do depends enormously on where you are in the Peninsula. I am a huge fan of the Lake Crescent area in Olympic National Park. There are some awesome hikes, including Marymere Falls, Mt. Storm King, Pyramid Peak, and Sol Duc Falls. I also love having a picnic at the shores of Lake Crescent at the North Shore picnic area, and swimming near the dock by the Fairholme Campground. 

The Sol Duc Hotsprings are a fun place to spend a couple of hours basking in warm thermal waters or swimming in an outdoor heated pool and can be accessed by visitors by paying a day use fee. 

Another unbelievably beautiful place to explore is Hurricane Ridge, where you can take a few hikes and see countless snow-capped mountain tops. Hurricane Hill is an excellent and easy trail option to explore the area.

The Olypmic Peninsula has incredible, lushly forested areas resplendent with mosses. It’s gorgeous.

Where to stay on the Olympic Peninsula

Olympic National Park has a handful of campgrounds with reservable campsites that are available 6 months in advance. Fairholme and Sol Duc are close to Lake Crescent and Sol Duc Hotsprings areas, Kalaloch is on the coast, Hoh Rainforest is naturally in the rainforest, and Mora is on the Quillayute River near the famous town of Forks and La Push. Check the campground options here. 

If you’re looking for a more luxurious stay, there are a few great options in the Olympic Peninsula. Port Angeles is a fantastic base for adventures at Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent, and there are plenty of hotel options in Port Angeles. Forks/La Push is also a good base for exploring the coastal areas.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Dosewallips State Park cabins in the Hoodsport Canal area of the Peninsula, an area which makes for an incredible fall getaway in my opinion! Read about that experience here: Visiting Dosewallips State Park.

Note that you will need to reserve accommodations MONTHS in advance here, particularly for peak (summer) season.

When to go to the Olympic Peninsula

The Olympic Peninsula is a year-round destination, however, the warmest and sunniest weather is certainly in the months of July-September and when I’d recommend this particular Seattle weekend getaway desitination. Sol Duc Hotsprings would be especially nice in colder months, and climbing Mt. Storm King in January is one of my all-time favorite Washington hike memories. 

6. Deception Pass/Whidbey Island Weekend Getaway

Deception Pass State Park and Whidbey Island is a quick and easy weekend getaway from Seattle. It’s about 1.5 hours away from the city, and you almost never need to worry about snow, as the drive is coastal up highway 5.

What to do at Deception Pass

Hike Goose Rock Summit for sunset, explore the shores of Cranberry Lake, walk along the waves at North Beach, stroll around the Lighthouse Point Loop, relax in the sands of Bowman Bay, and head into the adorable town of La Conner for some brews or dinner.

Where to stay at Deception Pass

You can camp year round at Deception Pass State Park, near Bowman Bay (Fidalgo Island) or Cranberry Lake (Whidbey Island). The closest hotel to Deception Pass is The Bluff on Whidbey, and it’s quite luxurious. You can also stay farther out, in Oak Harbor, which is about 20 minutes from the park. There are a lot more restaurants and hotels in Oak Harbor.

When to go to Deception Pass

Deception Pass is a year round destination, but I’ve especially enjoyed going in off season (February and March) for fewer crowds and easy accessibility (ie, no concerns about snow!)

Final thoughts on Seattle Weekend Getaways

There are SO many incredible areas you can easily visit for the weekend from Seattle. Whether you’re looking for mountains, ocean, forest, or lakes, there is something for everyone.