State park · 1 hr south
Deception Pass State Park
The famous bridge, swirling tide currents, beaches and forest trails.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Discover Pass
Day Trippin' › Washington › From Bellingham
Day trips from Bellingham
Bellingham sits between the San Juan Islands and Mount Baker. Head east for alpine lakes and waterfalls, south for Chuckanut Drive, tulip fields and Deception Pass, or take the ferry to Friday Harbor.
49 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Bellingham
- Skagit Valley tulip fields 45 min south
- La Conner 49 min south
- Deception Pass State Park 1 hr south
- Anacortes and Washington Park 1 hr 10 min southwest
- Skagit River bald eagles 1 hr 22 min southeast
- Artist Point 1 hr 39 min east
- Pike Place Market 1 hr 51 min south
- Diablo Lake Overlook 2 hr 14 min east
- Port Townsend and Fort Worden 2 hr 19 min south
- Friday Harbor 2 hr 39 min southwest
Within an hour from Bellingham 3 spots
Farm · 45 min south
Skagit Valley tulip fields
Miles of tulip and daffodil fields in bloom.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Late March-April
- Farm entry fees
Town · 49 min south
La Conner
A waterfront town of shops and museums on the Swinomish Channel.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- No pass or fee needed
1 to 2 hours from Bellingham 11 spots
Viewpoint · 1 hr 39 min east
Artist Point
Drive to the end of the Mount Baker Highway for close views of Baker and Shuksan.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Usually late June or July to first fall snow
- NW Forest Pass
Town · 1 hr 10 min southwest
Anacortes and Washington Park
A loop road and trails along rocky headlands with island views.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- None for day use
Wildlife · 1 hr 22 min southeast
Skagit River bald eagles
Hundreds of bald eagles gather along the river to feed on salmon.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- December-February
- No pass or fee needed
Market · 1 hr 51 min south
Pike Place Market
Seattle's busy public market with fish throwers, produce stalls and the waterfront below.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- None; parking fees
Waterfall · 1 hr 10 min east
Nooksack Falls
A powerful falls dropping into a gorge, a minute from the road.
- 30 min · Easy
- Year-round
- No pass or fee needed
Lake · 1 hr 32 min east
Picture Lake
The classic reflection of Mount Shuksan in a small lake, with an easy loop.
- 30 min-1 hr · Easy
- Summer-fall
- NW Forest Pass (Discover Pass not accepted)
Historic site · 1 hr 34 min south
Coupeville and Ebey's Landing
Bluff trail over farmland and the sea, then a historic waterfront town with mussels.
- Half day · Moderate
- Year-round
- Discover Pass at the beach lot; the Prairie Overlook lot may need none (check)
Trail · 1 hr 50 min east
Sauk Mountain
A switchbacking trail to a summit with views of the Skagit and the Cascades.
- 3 hrs · Moderate
- July-October
- NW Forest Pass
2 to 3 hours from Bellingham 34 spots
Town · 2 hr 19 min south
Port Townsend and Fort Worden
A Victorian seaport town plus a fort with bunkers, beaches and a lighthouse.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round
- Discover Pass at Fort Worden
Town · 2 hr 39 min southwest
Friday Harbor
Ferry ride through the islands to a walkable harbor town with a whale museum.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round
- Ferry fare
Viewpoint · 2 hr 14 min east
Diablo Lake Overlook
Pull off Hwy 20 to see the lake's unreal turquoise water under jagged peaks.
- 30 min-1 hr · Easy
- Late spring-fall
- No pass or fee needed
Waterfall · 2 hr 21 min south
Snoqualmie Falls
A 268-foot falls with an overlook a short walk from the parking lot.
- 1 hr · Easy
- Year-round
- Free upper lot (cross the sky bridge); the lower lot charges for parking
Park · 2 hr 47 min south
Point Defiance Park
A huge Tacoma park with old forest, beaches, gardens, a zoo and an aquarium.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free park; zoo has a fee
Museum · 2 hr 19 min south
Snoqualmie and the Northwest Railway Museum
Ride a vintage train and see the old depot in the town from Twin Peaks.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round; trains run seasonally
- Train ride fee
Wildlife refuge · 2 hr 56 min south
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
A boardwalk out over the delta with herons, eagles and huge flocks of ducks.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round; birds best fall-spring
- Refuge entry fee or America the Beautiful pass (Discover Pass not accepted)
Trail · 2 hr 12 min southeast
Big Four Ice Caves
An easy trail to caves of snow at the foot of a huge mountain wall.
- 1.5-2 hrs · Easy
- Summer-fall (view only)
- NW Forest Pass
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 98225 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.