Washington state is a wonderland for outdoor adventures. It is home to 3 incredible national parks, 6 national forests, and over 140 state parks. The diverse ecosystems present encompass temperate rainforests, wild coastline, and glaciated mountains.
We recently spent 3 weeks in August in Washington piecing together the ultimate adventure road trip itinerary. In this post we outline the details of our trip step-by-step, but you can easily string together small portions based on your interests and time available. Happy exploring!
Washington Road Trip Map
Below is a map of our trip including points of interest, activities, and restaurants. It also includes an overview of the road trip itinerary. Toggle the sidebar for details.
Trip Overview
This trip begins and ends in Seattle, a city absolutely worth spending a few days in at the beginning or end of the trip. It also assumes you will rent a car for the duration of the trip.
- Olympic National Park | Days 1-4
- Mount Rainier National Park | Days 5-7
- Leavenworth | Days 8-10
- North Cascades National Park | Days 11-13
- Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest | Day 14
- Orcas Island | Days 15-17
- Seattle | Days 18-21
Days 1-3 | Olympic National Park
Within the boundaries of Olympic National Park you can see glacier-capped mountains, stroll through old-growth temperate rainforests dripping with moss, and admire sculpted driftwood along the Pacific coastline. Read our post on how to spend three perfect days exploring Olympic National Park.
Day 4 | State Parks & Travel to Mount Rainier NP
Although we had originally planned to spend an additional day hiking in Olympic National Park, active wildfires led us to find alternative plans. We ended up exploring some of Washington’s lesser-visited state park gems located along the driving route to Mount Rainier National Park.
Hike in Watershed Park
To our surprise and delight, just a short walk away from our hotel in Olympia, WA, lay Watershed Park. This wetland was actually the original source of Olympia’s drinking water, but today it makes for a great way to stretch your legs within the city limits. Although it was a steep descent to the creek below, the rest of the path was fairly flat and punctuated by sections of boardwalks and packed dirt.
Hike Millersylvania Northwest Loop
Millersylvania State Park has a maze of 8 miles of hiking trails and is a popular boating destination. We hiked an easy 4.5-mile loop around the park and loved walking through the old-growth cedar and fir trees. A bonus was spotting the humongous banana slugs! This was a magical place to visit and we hardly saw anyone else on the weekday we visited.
Need to Know
- Fees: All Washington state parks, including Millersylvania State Park, charge a fee to enter. You have the option to purchase either a day pass for $10 per car, or an annual pass for $45. We purchased an annual pass which more than paid for itself during our time spent in Washington.
- Parking: There was plenty of parking available near the entrance close to Deep Lake.
Hike Trail of the Deer and Old Growth Forest Trail Loop
Lewis and Clark State Park contains one of the last intact stands of old-growth forest remaining in the Cowlitz Valley. In fact, the park was established in the 1920s to protect what was left of old-growth forests along state highways. We hiked a 2-mile loop passing the massive trunks of western red cedars and Douglas-firs. We also enjoyed a picnic lunch near the rustic picnic area built of native logs and stone by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
Need to Know
- Fees: All Washington state parks, including Lewis and Clark State Park, charge a fee to enter. You have the option to purchase either a day pass for $10 per car, or an annual pass for $45. We purchased an annual pass which more than paid for itself during our time spent in Washington.
- Parking: There was plenty of parking along the main park road loop. We parked in a spot closest to the trailhead for this hike.
With no stops, the drive between Olympia and Packwood (the gateway to Rainier) takes just over 2 hours. But just as we did, you can easily make this into an all-day affair by stopping at scenic sights along the western portion of the White Pass Scenic Byway (US Highway 12).
Stay in Packwood
We stayed at an Airbnb in Packwood. Our little cabin was one of our favorite stays ever. Nestled in the woods, it was the perfect place to stay cozy and warm on a rainy day, and on fair weather days had an amazing porch where we watched elk wander through the yard. Although Packwood requires about an hour drive to most trailheads on this itinerary, we felt it was worth it for a comfortable stay in a town with amenities such as groceries, restaurants, and a brewery.
We ate all our meals at the Airbnb but did enjoy a quick stop for a pint at Packwood Brewing Co. on our way into town.
Days 5-7 | Mount Rainier National Park
Home to Washington’s tallest mountain, Mount Rainier National Park offers amazing hiking and awe-inspiring views. Extending 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier is an active volcano and the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S. This park is home to a trail with one of the best mileage to views ratios we’ve ever had the pleasure of hiking. Read our post on how to spend three perfect days hiking in Mount Rainier National Park.
Day 8 | Travel to Leavenworth
With no stops, the drive between Packwood and Leavenworth takes about 3 hours. But just as we did, you can easily make this into an all-day affair by stopping at scenic sights along the eastern side of the White Pass Scenic Byway (US Highway 12).
Some of the places we stopped and really enjoyed are below, each of which is marked on Google maps and easily found along Highway 12:
- Palisades Viewpoint: Here you can look at a view across the valley to a large basalt column.
- Lava Falls Viewpoint: View of falls across the canyon.
- Goat Rocks Wilderness Pullout: An amazing view of Mount Rainier on a clear day.
- Clear Creek Falls Overlook: Beautiful view of waterfall spilling into a canyon below.
- Tieton River Nature Trail Western Trailhead: The entire nature trail is 3.3 miles out and back, but we only did a 1/2 mile due to the heat and dust. From the western trailhead there is a really cool suspension bridge used to cross the river. Note a Discover Pass is required to park at the trailhead ($10 per day or $45 annually).
- Laredo Drive In: We had delicious burgers, fries, and milkshakes at this drive in/walk up joint in the town of Naches. We found it easier to just park our car and walk up to the window to order.
Stay in Leavenworth
We stayed at an Airbnb condo in Leavenworth located just at the edge of town. We loved the location because we could walk into the heart of town in about 15 minutes, helping to save on the expensive parking fees. The condo was also just a 10-minute drive to the Snow Lakes trailhead, making the drive at 3:30am just a tad easier.
Day 9 | Hike the Enchantments
The core Enchantments are located within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area of Washington’s central Cascades. Widely considered one of the best hikes in the world, it is also wildly popular. But with good reason. A hike in the Enchantments takes you past sublime alpine beauty in the form of icy blue lakes, towering rock formations, a roaring creek, and grazing mountain goats. Read our post about our experience thru-hiking the Enchantments in one day.
Day 10 | Explore Leavenworth
Breakfast at Bear Bar
Following a long day of hiking, in our opinion a hearty breakfast is essential. We loved our breakfast at Bear Bear. Order what you like, but don’t miss out on the potato latkes with herby creme fraiche. 
Bear Bear can get quite crowded so we recommend arriving close to opening time to avoid a wait. The location also puts you in the thick of town, a perfect jumping off point for some shopping.
Golf at the Enzian Falls Championship Putting Course
Just across the street from the Enzian Inn is an 18-hole championship putting course. Basically miniature golf without the gimmicks. We purchased a round of golf at the reception desk in the Enzian Inn and played through the well-manicured green course. This was a great post-breakfast activity!
Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery
If you’re looking for an activity slightly outside of town, the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery is a great place to visit in the afternoon. Free and open to the public, when it opened in 1940 it was the largest fish hatchery in the world. They currently raise 1.2 million Chinook salmon each year.
We stopped in the office to get some advice on how to navigate our self-guided tour. Map in hand, we spent about an hour exploring the grounds and salmon ponds located along the banks of Icicle Creek, learning so much about the salmon-raising process.
Days 11-13 | North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is a vast wilderness of jagged mountain peaks, distant glaciers, lakes, and forested valleys. The hiking trails here are superb as are the scenic viewpoints located along North Cascades Highway (20). Read our post on how to spend three perfect days hiking in North Cascades National Park.
Day 14 | Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Hike Ptarmigan Ridge Trail
Traversing the rocky trail to Ptarmigan Ridge is practically the closest you can get to the east side of Mount Baker without climbing the mountain itself. We had such high hopes for this trail but alas, the weather did not cooperate. We only had one day in the Mount Baker area, however, so we sucked it up and hiked anyway! We actually had the clearest views early in the morning and we were grateful we got to see Baker in all her snow-covered glory. It was a beautiful sight!
From here on out we were totally socked into a thick fog, like pea soup. We could barely see the rocks in front of us at times, let alone any of the surrounding views. On the bright side, the path was lined with colorful wildflowers, so it gave us time to appreciate the small stuff.
After crossing a wide plateau the trail climbed steeply and we countered 10 fairly significantly snowfields we had to cross. We never used our microspikes, though we did consider it for a couple of them. The final push to the summit was along a narrow ridgeline and dead-ended at a precipice with sheer drops. We sat on the rocks staring into the nothingness, laughing at our situation. What can you do?
We made our way back to the car by early afternoon having hiked 11.55 miles with a gain of 2,300 feet over 6 hours and 20 minutes. We definitely have this on our re-visit list when there are clearer conditions.
When we left the Artist Point parking lot and headed down in elevation the weather cleared significantly. In the distance we got this great view of Mount Shuksan, located directly east of Mount Baker and less than 12 miles from the Canadian border.
Need to Know
- Fees: You park at this trailhead, located within the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, using a day ($5) or annual Northwest Forest Pass ($30), or an America the Beautiful Pass. If you will be visiting several national parks or national forest sites in a year, we highly recommend purchasing the $80 America the Beautiful Pass.
- Parking: There is a large parking area at Artist Point near the trailhead.
Stay in Deming
We stayed in an amazing Airbnb in Deming that was hand-built by the hosts. We loved the light-filled cabin with its artistic touches throughout. The location was also perfect, just a 45-minute drive to the trailhead near Mount Baker.
While we cooked our meals at the cabin, we did stop at Joe’s Fine Coffee in nearby Maple Falls. I had an iced honey and pistachio latte that was perfection.
Day 15 | Orcas Island: Travel & Hike
Take the Ferry from Anacortes to Orcas Island
It is possible to get to Orcas Island by seaplane, but it comes at a hefty price tag with a very small luggage allowance. We opted to use the Washington State ferry system to make the crossing from Anacortes to Orcas Island with our rental car.
During the popular summer months, ferries sell out quickly, often as soon as they go on sale. We highly recommend marking your calendar for the date and time ferry reservations go on sale and then on the day of joining the virtual queue a half an hour in advance. Yes, they are rock concert-level popular. One nice feature is that you do have a limited amount of opportunities to change the time of your ferry reservation, for free, in advance. With poor weather in the forecast, we took advantage of this feature to change our ferry to a later time that same day.
Lunch in Eastsound
Eastsound is the charming village that serves as the commercial hub of Orcas Island. It is lined with galleries, cafes, and restaurants…and very popular, especially around lunch time. Our ferry arrived around noon and we had a lovely lunch of sandwiches from Olga Rising.
Hike Orcas Knob via North Trail and Turtlehead Trail
A hike to Orcas Knob promises some of the best views in the San Juan Islands. Unfortunately, fog and rain continued to plague our trip, so we only hiked a portion of this trail before turning around. The hike involved a very steep climb up an old logging road and while there were no views, we found plenty of slugs to admire. They were out in full force. At least something was enjoying the weather!
The full hike is 6 miles with 1,300 feet of elevation gain. On a clear day at the summit you should have views of not only the San Juan Islands but of Canada’s Gulf Islands and far in the distance, Vancouver Island and the Olympic mountains could be visible.
Need to Know
- Fees: There is no fee to hike in this preserve or park at this trailhead.
- Parking: The parking lot at the trailhead off Crow Valley Road is very small with room for about 10 cars.
Stay on Orcas Island
To get the most out of your visit to Orcas Island, we definitely recommend staying a few nights. We rented at Airbnb off Raccoon Point Road. When the weather was clear, our house had amazing views across the sound given its position on a highpoint of the island. We loved our stay here.
Day 16 | Orcas Island: Whale Watching & Hike
Whale Watching
Whale watching is a quintessential activity while on Orcas Island. The best chances to see whales are between May and October, and orcas in particular are a frequent sighting thanks to their non-migratory nature. We set out on a whale watching cruise with Deer Harbor Charters, known for their small group charters and having a naturalist onboard. We departed the dock from Deer Harbor and motored out along the sound for about 45 minutes. This cruise in and of itself was beautiful; we even saw seaplanes.
Eventually the stars of the show arrived and we spent the next hour observing a pod of 6 orcas as they headed north, hugging the shoreline. Notable family members included one huge 13 year old male those fin was massive, and a mom who kept her tiny calf, just born that same year, close to her side at all times. We loved our experience whale watching on Orcas Island and would highly recommend the activity with a reputable company. Even if you’re not staying on Orcas Island, there are (long) day trips from Anacortes.
Need to Know
- Tours: We booked our 3-4 hour whale watching tour with Deer Harbor Charters directly on their website. When we went on our tour in August there were departures daily.
- Directions: There are two departure locations so make sure to pay attention to directions/location when booking.
Hike Cascade Lake Loop
The area within Moran State Park offers many activities including swimming at Cascade Lake beach, non-motorized watersports, and hiking trails. There is an easy trail around the lake with lots of secluded viewpoints. We did this 2.75-mile hike in the afternoon. It only gained 200 feet of elevation and took just over an hour.
Need to Know
- Fees: All Washington state parks, including Moran State Park, charge a fee to enter. You have the option to purchase either a day pass for $10 per car, or an annual pass for $45. We purchased an annual pass which more than paid for itself during our time spent in Washington.
- Parking: There are plenty of parks spots along the lake, near the trailhead.
- Pro tip!: If you’re looking for some post-hike refreshments in the summer, The Sugar Shack on the shores of Cascade Lake serves amazing ice cream from Lopez Island Creamery! We had cones of the London Fog, oatmeal chocolate chip, and maple pecan flavors.
Enjoy Oysters at Buck Bay Shellfish Farm
Open seasonally, Buck Bay Shellfish Farm is located beyond Moran State Park in the town of Olga. They have live gourmet Pacific Oysters and clams, but their small bistro menu also features other fresh locally harvested seasonal products. We stopped by after a hike to enjoy a mouthwateringly delicious half dozen shucked oysters. The property has an amazing waterfront view and casual vibe with picnic benches. This would be the perfect spot to linger with a local beer or glass of wine, watching the sunset.
Day 17 | Orcas Island: Hikes
Mount Constitution Loop Hike
Fittingly, it was still cloudy and raining on our last day on Orcas Island, but even still we drove back to Moran State Park to check another hike off our list. We were headed out on a hike to the summit of Mount Constitution, the highest point in the San Juan Islands. The beginning of the trail took us along shores of Mountain Lake which, with the fog, looked moody and slightly spooky. We then hiked a series of very well-graded switchbacks all the way to the top.
Spoiler: You can also drive to the summit of Mount Constitution, but that’s not as fun! Nonetheless, at the summit there are amenities such as restrooms and a small visitor center. There is also a stone tower offering 360-degree views. We only wish is was clearer because you can typically see views of Mount Baker, the North Cascades, and the other islands of the San Juan Archipelago. Next time!
From here, the trail headed down further and occasionally views opened up. We really liked the view at the flat, wide plateau of Little Summit. We didn’t stop for too many breaks, so this 8.10-mile hike with 1,800 feet of elevation gain took us just under 4 hours.
Need to Know
- Fees: All Washington state parks, including Moran State Park, charge a fee to enter. You have the option to purchase either a day pass for $10 per car, or an annual pass for $45. We purchased an annual pass which more than paid for itself during our time spent in Washington.
- Parking: There were several small parking lots near the Mountain Lake trailhead.
Obstruction Pass Loop Hike
If you’re looking for an easy 1.5-mile loop hike to round out a day on Orcas Island, we recommend the trail out to Obstruction Pass. We looped together the Highlands Trail, through the forest, to the beach and then headed back to the trailhead via the Beach Trail. The beach was the perfect place to dip our toes in the water, rest on a piece of driftwood, and admire the views across the open water. We even spotted some seals popping their heads out of the water!
Need to Know
- Fees: All Washington state parks, including Obstruction Pass State Park, charge a fee to enter. You have the option to purchase either a day pass for $10 per car, or an annual pass for $45. We purchased an annual pass which more than paid for itself during our time spent in Washington.
- Parking: There is a large parking area near the trailhead.
Day 18 | Boeing Factory Tour & Travel to Seattle
Take the Ferry from Orcas Island to Anacortes
Return to Anacortes using the Washington State ferry system, again making sure to book advance reservations.
On the way to the dock we stopped for iced maple cardamon lattes at the Dragonfly Coffee House in Eastsound. We highly recommend this bustling cafe!
Boeing Everett Factory Tour
Boeing offers an 80-minute guided tour of their 777/777X assembly line which just so happens to be inside the world’s largest factory. Taking part in the tour was an incredible experience and something you have to experience to believe. No phones were allowed on the tour at all (we had to store them in lockers) so there are no pictures, but trust us, standing on the viewing gallery above cargo planes being assembled in Bay 6 of the factory was amazing. The space was filled with busy workers, cranes, and workstations, all of which are modular. Our tour guide was great and answered all of our questions.
Aside from the tour, we had the chance to walk through the on-site museum and stand on the outdoor SkyDeck overlooking nearby Paine Field. Here we could see a bunch of planes without their livery, awaiting testing, and we even saw one such test plane coming in for a landing. Even if you’re not an aviation enthusiast, we think you’ll love a visit to the Boeing site. It’s hard not to be impressed!
Need to Know
- Tours: We booked our tour in advance directly on the Boeing website. Tickets routinely sell out, so purchasing advance tickets is highly recommended.
- Hours: Tour times and dates are best checked on Boeing’s website. Note if you are not able to score tickets for the tour, you can still visit the “museum” called Future of Flight (requires $14 tickets).
- Directions: Future of Flight is located a one hour drive south from Anacortes. It is then only a further 45 minutes to Seattle, making it the perfect way to break up the drive.
Stay in Seattle
We stayed at an Airbnb in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. We loved the cottage and it came with a parking spot, which was very handy. Most days we drove into the center of Seattle and paid to park near whatever attraction we were visiting that day. We love using SpotHero to find and book a spot in advance!
Day 19 | Seattle: City Bike Tour & T-Mobile Park
Emerald City Bike Tour
Seattle is an incredibly bike-friendly city, so what better way to tour the sprawling sites than by bike? We booked a 3-hour morning tour with Seattle Bicycle Tours and had a fantastic experience. After meeting our guide and getting fitted on our bikes, our small group set off to explore the city. This ended up being the perfect orientation to Seattle because we biked through most of the neighborhoods on a 12-mile loop.
Highlights for us included biking around the Space Needle and stopping at the Ballard Locks. At the locks we visited the underground fish ladder viewing point and watched boats go through the lock system. Most of the tour was on dedicated bike paths and we had such a blast. One of the best bike tours we’ve ever gone on! To cap it all off, as the locals say, the mountain was out! Seeing Rainier from downtown? Epic.
Need to Know
- Tours: When we visited in August tours were offered daily at 9:30am. Advance reservations are required and can be made directly on the website for Seattle Bicycle Tours.
T-Mobile Park Tour
When we visit a new city in baseball season, we try to catch a game if we can. When we visited Seattle the Mariners were on the road (playing the Phillies!), but we still had the opportunity to take a non-game day tour of T-Mobile Park. Our 75-minute tour was impressive in terms of the number of places within the park we got to visit. It felt like an all-access pass!
On our tour we got to see:
- The inside of the fancy club lounge
- Post-game interview room
- Walk on the field and step inside the visitor dugout
- Visitor locker room
- Broadcast booth
- Owner’s suite
- Mariners Hall of Fame
- Rooftop Boardwalk which had amazing views of the city, nearby Lumen Field, and Mount Rainier
It was a beautiful day so the roof was open, adding to the atmosphere. We’d love to see a game here someday and experience Hot Dogs from Heaven (parachuted hot dogs dropped to fans during games).
Need to Know
- Tours: While we did the non-game day tour, shorter tours are available on game days. It’s best to check the Mariners tour website for current information and availability. Make sure to book in advance!
- Pro tip!: If you’re looking for a tasty bite to eat, or a beer, nearby, we really liked the Hall on Occidental near Lumen Field.
Check Out Seattle's Craft Beer Scene
Seattle has some great craft beer and breweries we visited that we enjoyed include:
- Great Notion Brewing (Ballard location)
- Holy Mountain Brewing (Phinney taproom)
- Cloudburst Brewing (Shilshole Ave location)
Day 20 | Seattle: Space Needle, Pike Place Market & Underground Tour
Space Needle
An icon of Seattle’s skyline, the Space Needle was built for the 1962 World’s Fair. Rising 605 feet above the city, it offers the best views, and we were lucky to visit on a clear morning. Before taking the elevator to the top, we reviewed some interesting exhibits showcasing the construction of the Space Needle. Once at the top, we took plenty of time to explore indoors and outdoors. Inside, we had a lot of fun standing on the rotating glass floor. It was pretty trippy!
Outside, the observation deck had tilted, open-air glass walls and glass benches which made for some really fun photo opportunities. We loved the views of the city and were so glad we went to the top!
Need to Know
- Tickets: While advance tickets can be purchased on the Space Needle website, we elected to wait until the day-of to ensure good weather. While time slots can sell out, we showed up at the opening time of 9am and had no problem purchasing them at one of the kiosks for immediate use.
Pike Place Market
From the Space Needle, we walked along the waterfront to Pier 62 where Pike Place Market is located. Home to the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the country, this is a food lovers paradise. If you only visit for one day, like us, you’ll have some tough choices to make! We settled on a few classics: Manhattan clam chowder with sourdough bread from Pike Place Chowder, smoked salmon mac n’cheese & kimchi grilled cheese from Beecher’s, and blackberry & peach ciders from a local orchard.
Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour
To round out our day, we walked to the historic Pioneer Square and purchased tickets for Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour. This 75-minute guided tour took us through the interconnecting tunnels lying one layer under present-day Seattle. We saw and learned about the subterranean storefronts and sidewalks entombed when the city rebuilt on top of itself after the Great Fire of 1889. Our tour guide was very informative, and humorous, and it was a fun way to see a different side of the city.
Need to Know
- Tours: Tours are generally offered daily, at least once per hour. Advance tickets can be purchased on the Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour website, but we also had no problem walking up and purchasing same-day tickets in person.
Day 21 | Onward Travel
After three weeks spent crisscrossing the great state of Washington, it’s time to head home.
