Seattle Day Trips Sorted by Travel Time
A good day trip from Seattle is one where the trip itself does not eat the day. This page lists the options in order of travel time, shortest first, and ends with the places that really need a night away. Amounts are in US dollars before sales tax.
Vashon Island, about 22 minutes
The King County Water Taxi carries foot passengers from Pier 50 (801 Alaskan Way) to Vashon in about 22 minutes. An adult fare is $7, or $6 with an ORCA card, and youth ride free. A new schedule runs from 10 October 2026 to 9 April 2027, so read the day’s sailings on the Vashon water taxi page . Vashon car ferries use Fauntleroy in West Seattle instead, which is a different trip.
Bainbridge Island, 35 minutes
Washington State Ferries sail from Colman Dock at Pier 52, 801 Alaskan Way. Pier 55 belongs to Argosy cruises, so do not head there. The crossing takes 35 minutes. On foot, the adult fare is $11.35 and is paid only in Seattle, which covers the trip back as well. Seniors pay $5.65 and riders 18 and under are free. With a car you pay both ways, and the amount rises in summer, so allow roughly $20 to $27 each way. The village of Winslow is walkable from the dock on the island side. Check the last sailing home before you settle in for a long lunch.
A separate stop on the island is the Japanese American Exclusion Memorial at Pritchard Park, 4192 Eagle Harbor Dr NE. It marks 30 March 1942, when Japanese Americans from Bainbridge became the first community removed from their homes, and its Story Wall carries the names of 276 islanders. Admission is free and the site is open from dawn to dusk. It lies about 3.7 miles from the ferry, an 11 minute drive, and there are no sidewalks, so go by car, taxi or the BI RIDE service, which needs a call two hours ahead and does not run on Sunday. A park ranger is usually present Thursday to Sunday between March and November. The main lot is closed during construction, so use the signed street parking on Taylor Ave. Visit with care and quiet, and read the memorial’s visitor page first.
Mukilteo, 30 to 40 minutes
The Boeing Future of Flight is at 8415 Paine Field Blvd and opens daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Factory tours sell out, so book before you drive up. Visitors must be at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall for the tour, and the ticket desk does not take cash.
Snoqualmie Falls, 30 to 45 minutes
Drive east on I-90 to reach the falls, which are open from sunrise to sunset every day. There are two observation decks. The lot across the street is free and the paid lot costs $7 an hour. The Salish Lodge sits at the top of the drop. Hours and parking are on the Snoqualmie Falls site .
Mount Rainier, a full day
Count on about two to two and a half hours each way to Paradise, with no public transit. The park charges $30 per vehicle for seven days and does not take cash at the gate. No timed entry reservation applies in 2026. The National Park Service suggests entering before 10 a.m. or after 2:30 p.m. on busy summer days, and says parking at Paradise can be difficult or impossible on a sunny weekend. Paradise is at about 5,400 feet, trail snow can last into July, and phone coverage is patchy. Pack layers, water and food, and read the park planning page for road alerts. From 1 November the road between Longmire and Paradise closes overnight. If you would rather not drive, guided day tours cost roughly $148 to $250, and you can compare them in Mount Rainier day trip listings .
Better with a night away
Leavenworth is about 2.5 hours from SeaTac. Its Bavarian look comes from a 1960s economic makeover. Oktoberfest takes place on three October weekends only, and the 2026 weekends are over. The Christmas lighting is reported for 27 November to 24 December 2026.
Olympic National Park is not a realistic day trip, because the ferry, the drive through Port Angeles and the climb to Hurricane Ridge take roughly 3.5 to 4.5 hours each way. Portland is about 3.5 hours by Amtrak Cascades or 3 hours by car. Vancouver, British Columbia is about 4 hours by train and requires a passport.
Read more: attraction tours in Seattle explains the Boeing and aircraft options, and the 3 day itinerary shows where a day trip can slot into a longer stay.