Day Trippin' › Washington › From Seattle › Best hikes
Our picks for the best hikes within 3 hours of Seattle: 49 places, 12 under an hour away, 13 between 1 and 2 hours and 24 between 2 and 3 hours, counted by road time from ZIP 98101.
We put first the places with a real photo, a well-known name, a family-friendly note and an official site, then list the rest by drive time. The closest is Twin Falls, 35 min east of Seattle.
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0
#1 · State park · 1 hr 26 min north
The famous bridge, swirling tide currents, beaches and forest trails.
Heads-up: Bridge parking pullouts fill fast; walk on the bridge sidewalk only.
Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0
#2 · Viewpoint · 2 hr 16 min southeast
Wildflower meadows and glaciers on Mount Rainier's south side, with a visitor center.
Heads-up: No timed entry in 2026; summer weekend lots fill by late morning.
Photo: Jennifer Snoek-Brown, CC BY-SA 4.0
#3 · Waterfront · 44 min south
Tacoma's waterfront promenade: a flat, paved path along Commencement Bay past little beaches, old pier pilings and Mount Rainier views, ending at Point Ruston's plaza of restaurants, ice cream and shops next to Point Defiance.
Heads-up: Free parking along Ruston Way fills fast on sunny weekends; at Point Ruston, check the posted parking rules (shops validate). Dogs on leash. In summer, give seal pups on the beaches plenty of room.
Photo: Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 3.0
#4 · Waterfall · 1 hr northeast
A forest trail to a string of waterfalls above Gold Bar.
Heads-up: Parking fills fast on weekends.
Photo: Zach Taiji, CC0
#5 · Town · 1 hr 6 min east
A tiny town under granite walls, with river views and climbing.
Photo: Cody Logan (aka clpo13), CC BY-SA 3.0
#6 · Scenic drive · 1 hr 29 min north
A cliffside road over Samish Bay with tide pools and trails at the state park.
Heads-up: Narrow road with few pullouts.
Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY 2.5
#7 · Town · 1 hr 33 min north
A loop road and trails along rocky headlands with island views.
Heads-up: The ferry terminal traffic can be heavy in summer.
Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
#8 · Museum · 2 hr south
Exhibits on the eruption, plus a lakeside wetland trail.
Heads-up: Open Wednesday-Sunday only from November to March.
Photo: Thayne Tuason, CC BY-SA 4.0
#9 · State park · 2 hr 11 min east
Sandstone spires with a short trail and orchard views.
Heads-up: Hot in summer; rattlesnakes possible.
Photo: Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0
#10 · Town · 2 hr 13 min northwest
Gateway town with a waterfront trail, the ferry to Victoria and good food before or after the park.
Heads-up: The Victoria ferry needs a passport.
Photo: SounderBruce, CC BY-SA 4.0
#11 · Town · 2 hr 36 min southwest
A quiet river town and a flat island loop, linked to Oregon by a tiny ferry.
Photo: EncMstr, CC BY-SA 3.0
#12 · Park · 2 hr 49 min south
The Japanese Garden, the Rose Test Garden, the zoo and Hoyt Arboretum in one hilltop park.
Heads-up: Parking is paid and fills on weekends; the MAX train stops at the zoo.
Photo: Chrismiceli, CC0
#13 · Park · 2 hr 50 min south
Miles of forest trails in the city and a historic mansion with a view of five volcanoes on a clear day.
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided, Public domain
#14 · Cave · 2 hr 53 min east
A short trail to shallow caves used by early peoples above a coulee lake.
Heads-up: Rattlesnakes possible.
Photo: Wilderness trespasser, CC BY-SA 4.0
#15 · Waterfall · 35 min east
A riverside trail to a tall falls and a footbridge over the gorge.
Little Si (36 min), Mount Si (37 min), Rattlesnake Ledge (40 min), Carbon River (43 min), Snoqualmie Tunnel (46 min), Snoqualmie Pass (49 min), Franklin Falls (52 min), Bloedel Reserve (52 min), Gold Creek Pond (57 min), Bridal Veil Falls and Lake Serene (1 hr 5 min), Tumwater Falls Park (1 hr 6 min), Big Four Ice Caves (1 hr 26 min), Iron Goat Trail (1 hr 27 min), Coupeville and Ebey's Landing (1 hr 28 min), Mountain Loop Highway (1 hr 32 min), Silver Falls (Ohanapecosh) (1 hr 56 min), Longmire (1 hr 57 min), Mowich Lake and Tolmie Peak (2 hr 2 min), Sauk Mountain (2 hr 3 min), Comet Falls (2 hr 4 min), Staircase (Olympic National Park) (2 hr 11 min), Newhalem and Trail of the Cedars (2 hr 12 min), Frenchman Coulee (2 hr 15 min), Icicle Gorge Loop (2 hr 15 min), Thunder Knob Trail (2 hr 24 min), Apple Capital Loop Trail (2 hr 29 min), Ross Lake and Ross Dam Trail (2 hr 30 min), Picture Lake (2 hr 32 min), Colchuck Lake (2 hr 32 min), Saddle Rock (2 hr 40 min), Cascade Pass (2 hr 44 min), Lake Quinault (2 hr 50 min), Maple Pass Loop (2 hr 58 min), Rainy Lake (2 hr 59 min)
Our top picks are Deception Pass State Park (1 hr 26 min), Paradise and the Skyline Trail (2 hr 16 min), Point Ruston and the Ruston Way waterfront (44 min), Wallace Falls State Park (1 hr) and Index (1 hr 6 min). The page lists 49 places in all.
49: 12 under an hour away, 13 between 1 and 2 hours and 24 between 2 and 3 hours, by road from ZIP 98101.
Twin Falls, about 35 min east of Seattle.
12 need no pass or fee, including Index, Rattlesnake Ledge and Cascade Pass. Fees change, so check each place.
24 of the 49 list themselves as open year-round. Places with a season say so on their card; check hours before you go.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner); places under 25 minutes away count as in town. Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.