Photo: Roc0ast3r, CC0
#1 · Town · 2 hr 11 min east
Leavenworth
A Bavarian-style village with river walks and mountain views.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Paid parking
Heads-up: Very busy in December and October.
Day Trippin' › Washington › From Seattle › Best mountains and viewpoints
Best Mountains & Views near Seattle
Our picks for the best mountains and viewpoints within 3 hours of Seattle: 36 places, 5 under an hour away, 5 between 1 and 2 hours and 26 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 Snoqualmie Falls, 34 min east of Seattle.
Map: mountains and viewpoints within 3 hours of Seattle
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Our top 15 mountains and viewpoints near Seattle 36 in all
Photo: Cody Logan (aka clpo13), CC BY-SA 4.0
#2 · Viewpoint · 2 hr 48 min northwest
Hurricane Ridge
Drive right up into the Olympic Mountains for meadow walks, deer and big views across to Canada.
- 2-4 hrs
- Summer best; winter road open some days
- NPS entrance fee
Heads-up: The day lodge burned in 2023 and isn't rebuilt. In winter the road opens Friday-Sunday only, weather permitting, with chains required; check road status before you go. Bring water (none at the Ridge…
Photo: Meher Anand Kasam, CC BY-SA 3.0
#3 · Waterfall · 34 min east
Snoqualmie Falls
A 268-foot falls with an overlook a short walk from the parking lot.
- 1 hr
- Year-round
- Free upper lot (cross the sky bridge); the lower lot charges for parking
Heads-up: Lower trail is steep.
Photo: Eggbones, CC BY-SA 4.0
#4 · Viewpoint · 2 hr 4 min southeast
Sunrise
The highest point you can drive to in the park, with huge views of the mountain.
- Half day
- July-September
- NPS entrance fee
Heads-up: The road is usually open early July to late September, depending on snow. No timed entry in 2026.
Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0
#5 · Viewpoint · 2 hr 16 min southeast
Paradise and the Skyline Trail
Wildflower meadows and glaciers on Mount Rainier's south side, with a visitor center.
- Half day
- July-Sept flowers; winter snowplay
- NPS entrance fee
Heads-up: No timed entry in 2026; summer weekend lots fill by late morning.
Photo: Bob Collowan, CC BY-SA 3.0
#6 · Viewpoint · 2 hr 24 min northeast
Diablo Lake Overlook
Pull off Hwy 20 to see the lake's unreal turquoise water under jagged peaks.
- 30 min-1 hr
- Late spring-fall
- No pass or fee needed
Heads-up: Hwy 20 closes over the passes in winter.
Photo: anonymous, Public domain
#7 · Viewpoint · 2 hr 37 min north
Artist Point
Drive to the end of the Mount Baker Highway for close views of Baker and Shuksan.
- 2-4 hrs
- Usually late June or July to first fall snow
- NW Forest Pass
Heads-up: The last 2.7 miles of road open late (most years late June or early July) and close with the first snow.
Photo: Unknown, Public domain
#8 · Viewpoint · 2 hr 44 min south
Coldwater Lake and Johnston Ridge
The west-side view straight into Mount St. Helens' blast zone.
- Half day
- Summer-fall
- NW Forest Pass
Heads-up: Coldwater Lake is open. SR 504 past milepost 45 and Johnston Ridge Observatory stay closed for bridge rebuilding after the 2023 landslide (target spring 2027).
Photo: Zach Taiji, CC0
#9 · Town · 1 hr 6 min east
Index
A tiny town under granite walls, with river views and climbing.
- 1-2 hrs
- Year-round
- No pass or fee needed
Photo: Cody Logan (aka clpo13), CC BY-SA 3.0
#10 · Scenic drive · 1 hr 29 min north
Chuckanut Drive and Larrabee State Park
A cliffside road over Samish Bay with tide pools and trails at the state park.
- 2-4 hrs
- Year-round
- Discover Pass
Heads-up: Narrow road with few pullouts.
Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY 2.5
#11 · Town · 1 hr 33 min north
Anacortes and Washington Park
A loop road and trails along rocky headlands with island views.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round
- None for day use
Heads-up: The ferry terminal traffic can be heavy in summer.
Photo: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 4.0
#12 · Viewpoint · 1 hr 41 min southeast
Crystal Mountain Gondola
Ride the gondola to a summit restaurant with a close-up view of Rainier.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round
- Gondola ticket
Heads-up: Check gondola days and hours before you go; it can close for wind. Leashed dogs ride in summer only.
Photo: Steve Andersen from Seattle, WA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
#13 · State park · 2 hr 1 min east
Lake Wenatchee State Park
A glacial lake with beaches and mountain views.
- Half day
- Summer; snowshoe in winter
- Discover Pass
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Justinleif~commonswiki assumed (based on…, Public domain
#14 · State park · 2 hr 5 min southeast
Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park
Petrified logs and a view over the Columbia at Vantage.
- 1-2 hrs
- Year-round
- Discover Pass
Heads-up: Hot in summer; bring water.
Photo: Thayne Tuason, CC BY-SA 4.0
#15 · State park · 2 hr 11 min east
Peshastin Pinnacles State Park
Sandstone spires with a short trail and orchard views.
- 1-2 hrs
- Spring-fall
- Discover Pass
Heads-up: Hot in summer; rattlesnakes possible.
More mountains and viewpoints near Seattle, by drive time
Mount Si (37 min), Snoqualmie Pass (49 min), Bloedel Reserve (52 min), Gold Creek Pond (57 min), Mountain Loop Highway (1 hr 32 min), Mowich Lake and Tolmie Peak (2 hr 2 min), Sauk Mountain (2 hr 3 min), Baker Lake (2 hr 4 min), Tumwater Canyon (2 hr 4 min), Wild Horses Monument (2 hr 8 min), Reflection Lakes (2 hr 14 min), Frenchman Coulee (2 hr 15 min), Ohme Gardens (2 hr 24 min), Thunder Knob Trail (2 hr 24 min), Ross Lake and Ross Dam Trail (2 hr 30 min), Salt Creek Recreation Area (2 hr 41 min), Lan Su Chinese Garden (2 hr 46 min), Washington Park (2 hr 49 min), Forest Park and Pittock Mansion (2 hr 50 min), Maple Pass Loop (2 hr 58 min), Windy Ridge (2 hr 59 min)
Questions about mountains and viewpoints near Seattle
What are the best mountains and viewpoints near Seattle?
Our top picks are Leavenworth (2 hr 11 min), Hurricane Ridge (2 hr 48 min), Snoqualmie Falls (34 min), Sunrise (2 hr 4 min) and Paradise and the Skyline Trail (2 hr 16 min). The page lists 36 places in all.
How many mountains and viewpoints are within 3 hours of Seattle?
36: 5 under an hour away, 5 between 1 and 2 hours and 26 between 2 and 3 hours, by road from ZIP 98101.
What is the closest of these to Seattle?
Snoqualmie Falls, about 34 min east of Seattle.
Are any of these free?
9 need no pass or fee, including Wild Horses Monument, Index and Snoqualmie Falls. Fees change, so check each place.
Are these mountains and viewpoints open all year?
16 of the 36 list themselves as open year-round. Places with a season say so on their card; check hours before you go.
More about Seattle
- Day trips from Seattle, by drive time
- Seattle weather by month
- Places within 2 hours of Seattle
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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.