The Best Beach Towns Near Seattle for an Easy Weekend Escape

Escaping to a beach town for the weekend is easy to do when you live in or near Seattle. The farthest are generally just a few hours away, but most can be reached within an hour or two, from towns along the Puget Sound to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean.

Having resided in the area for many years, I spent quite a bit of time in the region’s coastal gems, so much so that I ended up moving to one of them. After all, it’s hard to beat the laid-back lifestyle of a beach town where you can enjoy barefoot strolls on the sand while breathing in the salty sea air, taking advantage of the opportunities for outdoor adventures like paddling and sailing, and indulging in plenty of fresh seafood.

One of the closest beach towns to Seattle for a weekend getaway, Mukilteo lies along the shores of the Puget Sound just 25 miles north. Incredibly picturesque, some of the best views in the state can be enjoyed from here, not only of the Sound but the Olympic Mountains beyond. The historic waterfront area known as Mukilteo Old Town is home to Mukilteo Lighthouse Park with 1,500 feet of saltwater shoreline, scenic picnic spots, fire pits, a playground, and a still-operational Victorian lighthouse with tours available on weekends. This area is also home to the Mukilteo Chocolate Company and a number of enticing shops and eateries, including restaurants for waterfront dining with scenic views. 

Just 30 miles north of Seattle by ferry, Coupeville is the most charming beach town on Whidbey Island, with a Victorian waterfront and historic architecture housing local eateries and antique shops. In fact, if you’ve ever watched the movie “Practical Magic,” this is where much of it was filmed. It’s unique in that its historic district is set within Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, one of the largest of its kind in the country. There are nearly 100 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places here, along with parks, beaches, trails, and farmland. 

The beach at Ebey’s Landing is one of the island’s crown jewels, spanning several miles along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Hike the famous Bluff Loop Trail for panoramic views, go beachcombing, fly kites, and watch for wildlife like bald eagles, seals, otters, humpbacks, and orcas. If you like watching sunrises or sunsets, you can do both here with some of the most dramatic colors in the sky viewed right from the Coupeville Pier.

The small-town center on Vashon Island is often referred to as Uptown, although the entire island, roughly four miles wide and 13 miles long, is more like one big beach town. The perfect quick retreat from Seattle, it’s just a short ferry ride away, offering spectacular views of Puget Sound, the Olympic, and Cascade Mountains. On a clear day, Mount Rainier makes an impressive appearance too. When the sun is out, there are few better things to do than get out on the water and paddle on a stand-up paddleboard or in a kayak with the mountain soaring above.

Along Vashon’s coasts, there is a mix of sandy beaches, rocky areas, and bluffs, with Jensen Point on Burton Peninsula and Cove Park providing direct beach access near Uptown. Point Robinson Park offers access to the eastern shore, along with a lighthouse open for public tours. But no matter where you are on the island, a beach is never far away. You’ll also find farmstands, cideries, and several wineries to visit in between your time at the beach.

The village of Eastsound is on lush Orcas Island, the largest of the San Juan Islands, easily accessed by ferry from Anacortes, about 90 minutes north of Seattle. While it’s a small beach town, you’ll find bookstores, antique stores, and other shopping venues along with an apple brandy distillery, a brewery, a shellfish farm, and multiple eateries. On Saturdays from May through September, browse the local produce and arts and crafts at the Orcas Island Farmers Market. 

Nature is the star of the show here, including tranquil Crescent Beach, the perfect spot to launch a kayak and explore the beauty of the island’s coast. At Eastsound Waterfront Park, you can beachcomb, search through tidepools, and picnic just a stone’s throw from town. Just a short drive will bring you to Moran State Park, home to the archipelago’s tallest mountain, Mount Constitution, where you can hike to the top for a panoramic view.

Friday Harbor is the largest town and main hub of the most populous island in the archipelago, San Juan Island, also accessible by ferry from Anacortes. It boasts a charming small-town beach feel with numerous shops, art galleries, restaurants serving farm- and sea-to-table eats, attractions, and activities like kayaking and whale watching tours. The Whale Museum reveals the focus on cetaceans in the area, particularly on orca conservation, with orca family trees, whale and orca skeletons, and other displays on the local marine life. For potential whale sightings from shore, head to the waterfront, Spring Street, or Overlook Park.

Just a few minutes’ drive from downtown, you’ll find Jackson Beach, a sandy stretch strewn with driftwood that’s popular for picnicking, bonfires, and beachcombing. A bit further South, South Beach offers two miles of walkable beach with fire rings and picnic tables.

My home for many years, Port Townsend is one of the prettiest beach towns you’ll find anywhere. Surrounded by mountains and water at the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula, it’s only about two hours from Seattle. An artsy community with many magnificent Victorian buildings, it’s popular among creatives and outdoor adventurers, particularly those who enjoy getting out on the water, with a strong maritime culture that includes the annual Wooden Boat Festival in September. Sailing, kayaking, and whale-watching boat tours are all possible, while area beaches are popular for combing, tidepooling, and long strolls. You can walk the beach from downtown all the way to Fort Worden State Park simply by heading west along the waterfront. 

After a day at the beach or out on the water, you’ll find many venues for enjoying a cold brew and fresh seafood, along with an eclectic array of live entertainment for fun after dark.

About 45 minutes west of Port Townsend on the northern coast of the Olympic Peninsula, Sequim provides easy access to Dungeness Spit, a narrow strip of land jutting into the Salish Sea that’s ideal for saltwater fishing and long walks. At low tide, a 5-mile trek will bring you to the lighthouse at the end of the spit, where you can climb 169 steps for a stunning panoramic view and explore the area’s maritime history. There’s lots of wildlife to watch for here as well–in fact, it’s part of the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, offering the chance to spot everything from harbor seals and orcas to herons, bald eagles, and Roosevelt elk. 

Sequim Bay State Park is also worth visiting, with beaches along Sequim Bay, opportunities for boating, clamming, and crabbing, trails for hiking, and a campground. While not as charming as Port Townsend (admittedly, I’m biased), downtown has some unique local shops (many of which offer lavender products with the famous lavender fields nearby), art galleries, and a diverse range of restaurants. The Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market is worth making time for, open Saturdays from May through October, offering local produce, artisan goods, food, and live music. 

Many simply consider Port Angeles a base for exploring nearby Olympic National Park, but there’s plenty to do in town and its immediate surrounds, from exploring rugged beaches and taking in water sports to browsing shops and galleries. My favorite place to go for a beach day is the Salt Creek Recreation Area, which is great for tidepooling and beachcombing along the rocky shores with beautiful views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Right in Port Angeles, the City Pier & Hollywood Beach offers a pier for fishing, access to the Waterfront Trail, the Marine Life Center, and a sandy beach area ideal for relaxing or strolling along the water.

Ocean Shores is bordered by North Bay and the Pacific Ocean, about a 2.5-hour drive southwest of Seattle. Often named among the “Best Weekend Getaways” in the state, you’ll be surrounded by mountain and water views while enjoying access to six miles of sandy beach and activities like sandcastle building, kite-flying, clamming, and surfing. Beyond all the outdoor fun, you can check out the shops, sample brews in local taprooms, and enjoy all sorts of tasty eats from casual to fine dining.

This is also a town that loves its festivals. Several are worth planning a weekend around, like the Razor Clam & Seafood Festival in mid-March, late June’s Sand & Sawdust Festival featuring a sandcastle competition, and the Celtic Music Feis in mid-October.

Also along the Pacific coast, Westport is an hour from Ocean Shores, but about the same distance from Seattle at roughly a 2.5-hour drive. It offers a quieter beach escape, set on a narrow peninsula at the south side of the entrance to Grays Harbor. You’ll find 18 miles of unspoiled beaches for walking, beachcombing, whale watching, and trying your luck at some of the best clamming in the state. Westport is also renowned as a fishing town, home to the largest fish landing port. Deep-sea fishing for salmon, halibut, albacore, and other species can be enjoyed from April through September, but you can also fish or toss a crab pot right off the pier. Many come for the coho salmon in September and October that can be caught right from the dock. 

In late June, Westport hosts the annual Pirate Daze event. It’s the perfect excuse to dress up in your pirate finery and enjoy the parade, cannon battles, dockside tours, music, dancing, and food. Wine enthusiasts might want to visit in October when Westport Winery hosts the Crush Me, Squeeze Me, Make Me Wine at the Beach Festival right at the beach.

Long Beach is best known as the home of the self-proclaimed “World’s Longest Beach,” with its shoreline offering 28 miles of sand. Set at the southwestern tip of the Long Beach Peninsula, it’s the furthest beach town from Seattle, but it’s worth the roughly three-hour drive. You could easily spend hours enjoying barefoot strolls on the sand, tossing a frisbee, building sandcastles, fishing, surfing, or flying a kite. In fact, Long Beach hosts the world-famous Washington International Kite Festival annually in August.

In the town itself, there’s lots to do, including exploring the World Kite Museum, playing carnival games, and enjoying rides like bumper cars and a carousel. You’ll find many shops selling beach-related items along with eateries serving tasty seafood.