We love Seattle, from the hustle and bustle of Pike Place Market to the incredible coffee scene—and don’t forget the amazing museums found in the city (we’re looking at you MoPOP)! That said, sometimes the city becomes too much and you really just need to get away into nature.
The good news? There are tons of amazing places for weekend trips from Seattle that allow you to completely immerse yourself in the beauty of the natural world. Keep reading for the itinerary that’ll get you there.
We absolutely love the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and while the cities in the area are great, we can’t imagine living in Washington State and not taking advantage of the many short and long weekend trips from Seattle.
Not sure how to begin exploring this incredible area? Here are the best weekend getaways from Seattle to get you started. We recommend taking these trips in an RV in order to get the full experience (and save some money on lodging while you’re at it).
RVs For Rent Near Seattle
A Nature-Lover’s Dream: Olympic National Park
Drive time: 2 hours
Let’s start with one of our all-time favorite national parks: Olympic National Park. This is an amazing place where you can climb mountains, explore rainforests, and play on the beach, all in the same day. It’s beautiful, diverse, and the perfect place to spend a few days no matter what you like to do in the great outdoors.
Things to Do
As mentioned above, Olympic National Park is home to several different ecosystems and landscapes. This means there are a lot of different options when it comes to what to do in the park.
Obviously, you will want to check out a visitor center or two in order to learn something about the park. We also highly recommend walking the iconic Hall of Mosses Trail through the Hoh Rainforest in order to see some seriously beautiful old-growth forest and plenty of moss.
You will want to make sure to take in the incredible views at Hurricane Ridge and give yourself at least half a day to explore the sea stacks and tide pools of Ruby Beach (be sure to go during low tide).
Where to Stay
Our favorite place to stay in Olympic National Park is the Hoh Campground. Although this campground does not have any hookups, there are clean restrooms and potable water is available. On top of that, you get to sleep in the middle of a rainforest, and we can’t think of anything much cooler than that.
A Mountain Retreat: Mount Rainier National Park
Drive time: 2 hours
Next up, Mount Rainier National Park. Though this park doesn’t boast beaches or rainforests, the mountainous terrain found there is incredible. Believe it or not, Mount Rainier is actually an active volcano and is also the most glaciated peak in the contiguous US, making it an awesome place to explore for a weekend.
Things to Do
Wondering what to do once you get to Mount Rainier National Park? Start at the Paradise Visitor Center in order to gather some information about the park. From there, be sure to take in the lush beauty of the meadow. If you visit in the spring and summer, you will be treated to a colorful display of wildflowers!
Next, choose a hike to a viewpoint. We really like the Skyline Trail to Myrtle Falls. This one-mile trail is easy enough for most visitors and gives you some beautiful views. Of course, the waterfall at the end of the hike is pretty spectacular as well.
Other great things to do include scenic drives, rock climbing, and of course, more awesome trails.
Where to Stay
We love the awesome location offered by Cougar Rock Campground. This NPS campground doesn’t offer any hookups, but there is potable water available and a dump station onsite. The low camping fees don’t hurt anything either!
A Hiker’s Paradise: North Cascades National Park
Drive time: 2 hours
Last on our list is North Cascades National Park. Because it’s so far north, this park seems to be forgotten a lot of the time. That’s unfortunate because it is absolutely incredible. Here you’ll find some of the magically greenest waters in the country, incredible greenery around every corner, plenty of wildlife, and enough hiking to fill much more than a weekend.
Things to Do
One of the main things to do in North Cascades National Park is taking scenic drives along the North Cascades Highways. There are plenty of amazing viewpoints along the way, so there is no shortage of pretty places to take some photos while you enjoy a snack or pull out the picnic basket.
Of course, you will also want to check out the visitor center in order to learn about the park and chat with the rangers. Once you’re done there, be sure to head out on at least one hike, as there are tons of amazing trails in this park. Some of the best ones include Rainbow Loop Trail, Blue Lake Trail, and our favorite, Thunder Knob Trail.
Where to Stay
One of the best places to stay when visiting North Cascades National Park is Newhalem Creek Campground. This is yet another NPS-run campground and it is beautiful. Flush toilets, potable water, and a dump station are available, and there are plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation nearby.
Yes, we absolutely think these three national parks offer the very best weekend trips from Seattle. That said, they are far from the only awesome places nearby. Once you’ve spent some time in these lovely places, be sure to branch out and find even more magical gems.
Of course, you will need someplace to stay while you are away. As we mentioned before, these natural areas are best when experienced from an RV. Therefore, we highly recommend a Seattle RV rental. This awesome coach is perfect for a family or a group of friends. We also really like this campervan for those who want to get a taste of vanlife.
