State park · 53 min west
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 Mount Vernon
Day trips from Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon sits in the Skagit Valley, home of the spring tulip fields, with La Conner, Deception Pass and the start of the North Cascades Highway all close by. The best day trips from Mount Vernon, by drive time.
59 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Mount Vernon
- Skagit Valley tulip fields 34 min west
- La Conner 42 min west
- Deception Pass State Park 53 min west
- Skagit River bald eagles 1 hr 2 min east
- Anacortes and Washington Park 1 hr 3 min west
- Woodland Park Zoo 1 hr 36 min south
- Diablo Lake Overlook 1 hr 54 min east
- Artist Point 2 hr 2 min northeast
- Port Townsend and Fort Worden 2 hr 12 min southwest
- Friday Harbor 2 hr 31 min west
Within an hour from Mount Vernon 5 spots
Farm · 34 min west
Skagit Valley tulip fields
Miles of tulip and daffodil fields in bloom.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Late March-April
- Farm entry fees
Town · 42 min west
La Conner
A waterfront town of shops and museums on the Swinomish Channel.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- No pass or fee needed
Scenic drive · 52 min northwest
Chuckanut Drive and Larrabee State Park
A cliffside road over Samish Bay with tide pools and trails at the state park.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Discover Pass
Town · 51 min east
Concrete
A small town with old cement silos, a historic theater and eagles on the Skagit.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- No pass or fee needed
1 to 2 hours from Mount Vernon 20 spots
Viewpoint · 1 hr 54 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
Wildlife · 1 hr 2 min east
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
Town · 1 hr 3 min west
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
Zoo · 1 hr 36 min south
Woodland Park Zoo
Washington's largest animal collection, with savanna, rainforest and Northern Trail habitats plus a big playground. An easy full day for all ages.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- See website (prices shown at checkout). 10% off full-price general admission bought 4+ days ahead; $2 off for persons with disabilities, 1:1 aides free; included in Seattle CityPASS
Market · 1 hr 38 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
Park · 1 hr 49 min south
Discovery Park
Seattle's biggest park, with bluffs, beaches and a lighthouse.
- 2-3 hrs · Moderate
- Year-round
- No pass or fee needed
Waterfall · 1 hr 50 min southeast
Wallace Falls State Park
A forest trail to a string of waterfalls above Gold Bar.
- 3-4 hrs · Moderate
- Year-round
- Discover Pass
Trail · 1 hr 54 min east
Thunder Knob Trail
A family-friendly hike with views over Diablo Lake.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy to moderate
- Late spring-fall
- No pass or fee needed
2 to 3 hours from Mount Vernon 34 spots
Town · 2 hr 12 min southwest
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 31 min west
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 2 min northeast
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
Waterfall · 2 hr 8 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 34 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
Viewpoint · 2 hr 42 min east
Washington Pass Overlook
A short paved walk to a view of Liberty Bell Mountain and the hairpin highway below.
- 30 min-1 hr · Easy
- Late spring-fall
- No pass or fee needed
Museum · 2 hr 5 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
Aquarium · 2 hr 17 min southwest
Port Townsend Marine Science Center
Small Salish Sea aquarium with touch tanks, kelp-forest exhibits and a full orca skeleton, by the beach at Fort Worden.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Adults $7, youth (6-17) $5, 5 and under free; PTMSC and Burke Museum members free
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 98273 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.