We’re so lucky to have so many islands near Seattle, WA. They dot the Puget Sound and Salish Sea starting at about the same latitude as West Seattle and going as far north as Bellingham about 2 hours north. Each island has its own vibe, but all of them offer a laid back retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
In this guide I’ll break down all the islands near Seattle, how long it takes to get there, and all the things you must do during your visit. Get ready for an adventure exploring the beautiful islands off Seattle!
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11 Islands Near Seattle, WA
Here are all the islands near Seattle that people generally visit, starting at the one closest to the city and extending from there. All except two of these require a ferry ride, which is calculated in the distance from Seattle. Here’s a map to give you a sense of space.
Bainbridge Island
tourism website | directions | distance from Seattle: ~1 hour
Bainbridge Island is the closest of the islands near Seattle, WA. It’s so close, in fact, that a lot of people commute into the city for work. The 35-minute ferry ride departs and arrives right in downtown Seattle, offering beautiful views of the Seattle skyline and Puget Sound.
Because of its proximity, it’s one of the best scenic day trips from Seattle. To give you an idea of what I mean, the last time we went, we decided at 11:30 AM to visit spontaneously. We were on the ferry departing around 12:30 PM and arrived on the island just after 1 PM.
We only spent 5 hours on Bainbridge Island that trip and we were able to fit so much in. That’s because it has a vibrant main street only a 5-minute walk from the ferry terminal. You’ll find a ton of cute shops and some of my favorite restaurants on Bainbridge Island right next to each other. Some of them are even on my list of best restaurants worth the drive from Seattle they’re so good.
Beyond the downtown area there are seven Bainbridge Island wineries, one brewery, and one distillery worth visiting. There are also a lot of awesome viewpoints, beaches, and short hikes for taking a break between eats and sips.
I have two go-to places for getting outside. The first is Bloedel Preserve. It’s a 150-acre nature park with gorgeous gardens, landscapes, and walking trails. The second is Grand Forest, a dense forest with peaceful trails weaving around the overgrown woods.
Read my full guide on taking day trip to Bainbridge Island for more ideas of what to do on this awesome island off Seattle.
Bainbridge Island tours & experiences
If you love wine, check out my guide to the best Seattle wine tours. Some of them go to Bainbridge Island.
Blake Island
park website | directions | distance from Seattle: ~1 hour and 15 minutes
Blake Island is a teeny tiny island only accessible by private boat or kayak since the Washington State ferry system doesn’t have a route there. The 1,127 acres of land was originally owned by the Suquamish Indian tribe, but it’s now a state park.
Most people use to come here to visit Tillicum Excursion (previously known as Tillicum Village), an Indigenous cultural exhibit that helped visitors experience the history and traditions of the tribe. However, the exhibit has since closed and the popular Argosy Cruises doesn’t operate there anymore.
You can still get there by hiring a boat charter from a company like Sail Bainbridge. Once there, you can explore 5 miles of coastline and even see the Seattle skyline from afar. There are plenty of outdoor activities like kayaking, crabbing, and fishing to enjoy, or you can walk the 8 miles of trails around the island. If biking is more your thing, there are 7.5 miles of bike-friendly trails.
Vashon Island
tourism website | directions | distance from Seattle: ~1 hour and 15 minutes
Vashon is one of my favorite islands near Seattle. First, you can get to it via a 30-minute ferry ride from West Seattle so it makes an excellent day trip (and an excuse to eat at some of the best restaurants in West Seattle on your way home!). In fact, it’s so close you can see the Seattle skyline across the Puget Sound.
Second, it has a huge food and maker vibe. Most of my favorite things to do on Vashon Island revolve around eating, drinking, and visiting shops, so it’s a place I highly recommend visiting…even if you only have 2 days in Seattle!
For example, last time I was on Vashon Island I learned there’s a whole weaving community. Considering how small the island population is, knowing there’s enough interest in fiber arts swells my heart.
There are a ton of other community programs for local artists of all mediums, such as the Vashon Island Visual Artists and the Vashon Island Center for the Arts. I like stalking their websites before I go on one of my day trips so I can see what exhibits, classes, or programs they’re offering.
In addition to the arts, there are a lot of places to cross off your Seattle foodies bucket list. There are about five wineries, two breweries, and two cideries on the island that make for a manageable day of tasting. Note most of these are only open on the weekend and a few are seasonal.
There are also a lot of yummy restaurants and farms you can visit. For restaurants, check out my guide to the best Vashon Island restaurants. If you like farms, here’s a map of farms you can visit for tours, u-pick, or farm stands around the island.
Read my full guide on things to do on Vashon Island for more reasons this island is such a gem.
Camano Island
tourism website | directions | distance from Seattle: ~1 hour and 15 minutes
Camano Island is one of two islands near Seattle, WA accessible by driving instead of a ferry ride. My first time visiting was actually for a bridal shower of some family friends. Since the island is a relatively quiet drive north of Seattle, it’s one of the better islands to visit for a day trip from Seattle.
To give you an idea of what I mean, it doesn’t have a downtown proper per say, but rather an area called Camano Commons Marketplace where shops and most of the best restaurants on Camano Island are located.
The island was named in 1790 after Spanish explore Jacinto Caamaño, but the original name of the island given by the indigenous Snohomish tribe was Kal-lut-chin, or “land jutting into a bay”. Before white settlement the island was shared between several local Coast Salish groups such as the Snohomish, Kikiallus, Lower Skagit, Sauk-Suiattle, and Stillaguamish. They were big into fishing and foraging, which makes sense given the island’s lush landscape.
Camano Island State Park is a great place for exploring that lushness, with 3 miles of walking trails and beaches. There’s also Cama Beach State Park 10 minutes north, another state park perfect for exploring.
Besides outdoor recreation, the island is full of artists. The two are mixed at Matzke Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture Park, where you can wander through forest and gardens dotted with sculptures. You can use this studio map and go on a self-guided tour of some of the best Pacific Northwest artists.
Read my full guide for ideas on what to do on Camano Island.
Whidbey Island
tourism website | directions | distance from Seattle: ~1 hour and 15 minutes
Whidbey Island is one of my favorite islands near Seattle, WA because of your options for how to get there. You can take a ferry ride out of Mukilteo north of Seattle, which gets you to the south of the island within a little over an hour. If you’re coming from the peninsula, you can also take the ferry from Port Townsend to Coupeville in he middle of he island.
Alternatively you can skip the ferry and drive through Fidalgo Island over the Deception Pass Bridge at the the north end of Whidbey (note, Fidalgo isn’t actually an island, but an area!). This is my preferred way to go because it gives me an excuse to explore my favorite things to do in Skagit County and restaurants in Skagit Valley. Considering I host a food retreat in this area, you know it’s one of my favorite spots in all of Washington!
Whidbey is rather large. It takes more than an hour to drive from north to south, making it ideal for weekend getaways and taking multiple day trips to visit different areas of the island. If you stay north of the town of Coupeville, Whidbey is also a great jumping off point for exploring Anacortes and getting to the San Juan Islands.
You don’t hear a lot of people talk about it, but there are low key some awesome restaurants on Whidbey Island. There are also about 10 Whidbey Island wineries, making it perfect for a wine weekend.
Another awesome thing about Whidbey is all the awesome beaches and viewpoints. One of my absolute favorite attractions is Fort Casey State Park. It’s an old military battery right on the beach which has super creepy ghost hunter vibes!
Read my full guide of things to do on Whidbey Island for more reasons why I love this island!
Whidbey Island tours & experiences
Guemes Island
community website | directions | distance from Seattle: ~2 hours
Guemes Island might win for being the sleepiest among the islands near Seattle, but that’s an awesome thing for those times you need to escape. Think a spot without grocery stores in favor of one general store, and mostly quiet outdoor recreation perfect for escaping the hustle and bustle of the city. The biggest business you’ll find is the Guemes Island General Store, which is the island’s main grocer and restaurant.
This tiny, 8.6 square mile island is only accessible by its own ferry system, not the Washington state ferry system. The ferry is only big enough to fit about 20 vehicles and takes 8 minutes to get there.
Guemes Mountain is the biggest draw in terms of things to do. It’s a 2.4 mile hike that takes you up to a beautiful viewpoint of the surrounding Salish Sea.
As far as its history, the island was the location of the Samish tribe’s winter villages, but they moved there permanently in the early 1870s because of government encroachment. Unfortunately they were forced out in 1912. The island was eventually renamed Guemes after Juan Vicente de Güemes Padilla Horcasitas y Aguayo, the “viceroy”, or governor, of Mexico.
Lummi Island
tourism website | directions | distance from Seattle: ~2 hours and 30 minutes
Lummi Island is near Bellingham, a great place to stop on the way. It’s the second quietest of the islands near Seattle, WA, with only 9.25 square miles and ~1,000 residents. To get there you take a small ferry that only fits 22 cars. Like Guemes, it’s operated independently from the Washington state ferry system.
There are no gas stations, no traffic lights, and no food stores on Lummi Island. There’s simply one general store near the ferry terminal and you can count the number of restaurants on one hand.
One of those restaurants used to be The Willows Inn, a destination restaurant that would for sure have been a Michelin-star restaurant if Michelin came up to Seattle. However, it was discovered that James-Beard winning chef and owner Blaine Wetzel mistreated employees, so the restaurant is now closed.
There’s more things to do on Lummi Island though even without his restaurant. Read more to learn why this island near Seattle is such a great spot for a quiet escape from the city.
Lopez Island
chamber website | directions | distance from Seattle: ~3 hours
Now we’re getting into the “San Juan Islands” to the north of Seattle. This is a chain of more than 170 islands in the Salish Sea between Washington state and Vancouver Island, BC. The 3 most common islands in the San Juans to visit are San Juan Island, Orcas Island, and Lopez Island.
Leaving from Anacortes on the mainland, the first of these three islands you’ll pass on your ferry ride is Lopez Island. It’s the quietest of the three, known for being the easiest to explore by bike.
Outdoor recreation is big here, with a few hiking trails, state parks, and beaches galore. Odlin County Park is one of the best sandy beaches on the island, and Spencer Spit State Park offers 2 miles of hiking trails and crabbing or clamming opportunities.
Shark Reef Sanctuary is another hidden gem. Tucked away on the west side of the island, it features a short 10-minute walk through a forest that leads to a rocky shoreline with stunning views over the water and an almost certain seal, sea lion, or otter sighting. You may even see some orcas!
Lopez Village is the big draw for food. This area with shops, restaurants, and cafes includes Ursa Minor, the finest dining spot on the island known for beautiful, hyper-local farm-to-table fare.
Wine-os like me will also want to seek out Lopez Island Vineyards, one of the best wineries in the Pacific Northwest making white wine using interesting, rare white grapes grown right on the island. Unfortunately they’ve closed their tasting room since Covid, but they’re still available at local grocers and he Saturday farmers market.
If you’re interested in checking out this island near Seattle, WA, see my guide on the best things to do on Lopez Island.
Lopez Island tours & experiences
Orcas Island
chamber website | directions | distance from Seattle: ~3 hours
The largest of the San Juan Islands is Orcas Island. This will be the next island you pass on your ferry ride from Anacortes on the mainland. I’ve been hooked ever since I went here for a wedding once and absolutely loved the farm and foodie vibe of this island.
Eastsound Village is Orca’s version of a downtown. It’s full of quaint shops, galleries, restaurants, and cafes. Make sure to stop at The Orcas Project for wine tasting, Crow Valley Gallery for gifts, and Houlme for food (previously known as Hogstone). On Saturdays May through September there’s also a quaint farmers market worth checking out.
Moran State Park is another must visit. It has five lakes and more than 38 miles of hiking trails worth exploring. You can stay at the park in funky safari tents and yurts, making it one of the most best glamping spots in Washington state.
You can also drive or hike up Mount Constitution, the island’s highest point, for a breathtaking view of the Salish Sea and Mount Baker. Don’t miss the detour to see Cascade Falls, a turnoff on the drive up to the summit. It’s often foggy at Mount Constitution in the morning, so this is best visited in the afternoon.
A trip isn’t complete without a visit to Orcas Island Winery. It’s the first and only winery on the island creating wines from eastern WA grapes that are used in many of the best Washington wines. They also planted their first vineyard on the island using biodynamic methods, which gets me even more excited to try their wines when they start harvesting!
Check out my guide to Orcas Island for even more ideas of what to do.
Orcas Island tours & experiences
San Juan Island
tourism website | directions | distance from Seattle: ~3 hours and 30 minutes
The last of the three San Juan Islands is the confusingly-named San Juan Island (singular). This is the most populous of the San Juan Islands because the local government is located at Friday Harbor, where you’ll arrive from the ferry.
San Juan Island is one of my favorite islands near Seattle, WA. It is stunning, with desolate hikes and water viewpoints seemingly everywhere. It’s also the best place for whale watching and kayaking with orcas because it has resident pods living there year round.
Lime Kiln State Park is known for being one of the best places in the US for seeing whales from the shore. Head here at sunset and pray for a stunning photo of an orca breaching among cotton candy-colored skies (wait, is that just my dream?!).
Another awesome outdoor option is South Beach on the opposite side of the island. It has golden grasses and easy walking trails weaving over dunes with beautiful photo ops. You may even see foxes darting around!
Art lovers will enjoy the San Juan Island Sculpture Park. It’s a nature preserve with gorgeous sculptures scattered throughout. They’re all for sale too, so it feels like you’re shopping at the same time!
Don’t miss dinner at Duck Soup, one of the best fine dining restaurants focused on farm-to-table dishes. Reservations a few weeks in advance are a must.
I have so much more awesome things to say about San Juan Island. To find out more, read my extremely thorough guide about things to do on San Juan Island. I even have tips for how to squeeze everything in on an epic day trip from Seattle!
San Juan Island tours & experiences
Vancouver Island, Canada
tourism website | directions | distance from Seattle: ~3 hours
The last of the islands near Seattle is Vancouver Island. The tip of it is only about 5 miles from San Juan Island, but it’s part of British Columbia, Canada. So while it’s technically quicker to get to from Seattle than San Juan Island, it requires a passport to visit.
However, it’s super easy to get to Vancouver Island. Victoria, BC’s capital, is the closest city to Seattle so that’s where most people arrive when visiting. From there you can drive to other parts of the island, such as the popular Cowichan Valley wine region an hour away or Tofino about 4 hours away.
The FRS Clipper ferry goes directly to Victoria from downtown Seattle daily. Since the departure is early in the morning, you’ll arrive in time to spend just about the whole day exploring.
I have a whole guide about the unique things to do in Victoria, BC, but if you can only do one thing, make it the Butchart Gardens. It’s one of the most famous botanical gardens in the world and has meticulously manicured landscapes to explore for a few hours. While it’s located a bit outside the city, there’s a shuttle that’ll easily get you there from downtown Victoria.
Another quintessential thing to do in Victoria is experience afternoon tea. Since the city was founded by Britain, the pub and afternoon tea culture runs strong here. Two popular spots for a tea experience is Pendray Inn & Teahouse and the Fairmont Empress.
If you have more time, make sure to spend a few hours farting around the city. Victoria is one of the most walkable and bike-friendly cities in Canada so you can easily get around. You’ll find the second oldest Chinatown in North America, great shops along “LoJo” Street in Old Town, and a ton of parks and water pathways to explore.
Vancouver Island tours & experiences
Tips for visiting islands off Seattle
Here is some general advice that’s applicable to exploring any of the islands near Seattle, WA.
If you Plan to drive, reserve your ferry ride ahead for some islands
While all of the ferry routes save room for people who show up without a reservation, I highly recommend making Washington State ferry vehicle reservations for the San Juan Islands if you plan to bring your car.
This is for the routes between Anacortes on the mainland and each of the islands. Vehicle reservations are not accepted for travel between the islands (for example, going from Orcas Island to San Juan Island). You simply check the schedule and show up for those. Similarly, you don’t need reservations if you plan to walk or bike onto the ferry (this goes for any route to all islands).
You should also make a reservation to get to Whidbey Island if you plan to take your car on the Port Townsend to Coupeville route. However, if you’re coming from Seattle you don’t need to make one for the Mukilteo to Clinton route. And remember you can just drive onto Whidbey Island via Deception Pass Bridge.
Blake Island requires a private boat, so you’ll definitely need to book ahead for that. All of the other ferries to the other islands don’t accept vehicle reservations, you just drive on first come, first serve.
You should also make an advance reservation for your Victoria, Canada ferry. While you can get walk-on ferry tickets to Victoria, it’s best to book these in advance too. You can’t drive onto the Clipper ferry from downtown Seattle, but it’s easy to rent a car once on the island since it’s a big city. If you want to bring your car, you’ll need to take the Black Ball Ferry departing from Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula.
Pro tip: Carefully check the WSDOT route schedule before making your reservation and buying tickets. There will oftentimes be some routes that don’t allow cars, don’t stop at certain islands (for multi-stop routes), and have other quirks that can affect your trip if you’re not careful.
Buy Tickets ahead online for all routes
What’s confusing with the WSDOT ferry system is that there are two steps you need to do for some islands if you plan to bring a car. Step one, discussed above, is make a vehicle reservation. Step two is purchasing tickets.
All island routes except those to Lummi Island and Guemes Island allow you to purchase tickets ahead of time online.
I encourage you to do this so you don’t have to think about it at the ferry terminal. If you’re bringing a car, you’ll need to buy a ticket for your vehicle. Note that the vehicle ticket also includes the price of the driver. Just don’t forget to add tickets for additional passengers.
Ticket purchases are roundtrip, so you only need to checkout once. Kids 18 and under ride free.
Pro tip for the San Juan Islands: They only charge tickets for westbound travel, so when you go to islands traveling east you don’t need to pay. Therefore, if you are planning a multi-island trip, start at San Juan Island (the west-most island farthest from Anacortes) and then go to Orcas Island and Lopez Island to the east (in that order). That way you only need to purchase your ticket for the route from Anacortes to Friday Harbor.
What about Shaw Island? When checking the ferry routes for the San Juan Islands, you’ll see many of your options stop at Shaw Island. You may be wondering why I didn’t mention that island in this list. The reason is that it’s a residential only island. There aren’t any hotels, stores, restaurants, etc. So while it may be beautiful, it’s not convenient for visitors.
Arrive 45-60 minutes before your ferry departure if you’re driving
Even with tickets and vehicle reservations, you’ll want to get to the boat at least an hour before the ferry departure time. This is especially important for the San Juan Islands and Whidbey Island during summer.
This is because drive-ons can still get onto the boat before you if you get there too late. It sucks to have to just sit in your car, but it’s worse having to watch a ferry take off and wait for the next one.
Note, walk-on and biking passengers only need to arrive ~20 minutes before departure.
Plan to bring a car
While some islands like Bainbridge and Victoria on Vancouver Island can be explored by foot, you’ll get the most out of the islands near Seattle if you bring a car. This will drive up your ferry ticket cost, but it’s definitely worth it.
To give you an idea of what to expect cost wise, adult passenger tickets are ~$10-$15 for most of the ferries, with discounts for seniors. The cost of a car drives your total trip cost up to between $30-$80 one way.
Bringing your bike is much cheaper, costing about $10-$20 per person, but honestly most of the islands are only accessible to extremely strong bikers if you want a regular bike to be your main form of transportation. Public transit isn’t really a thing on most of the islands, so it’s just easier to drive!
Plan Your Itinerary in Advance
There aren’t a lot of restaurants on the island, so it can be difficult to get reservations at some of the fancier ones. Plus sometimes they change their hours or close on a whim, and most are only open Thursday through Sunday.
Hiring a personal travel planner can be a great way to delegate the stress of travel planning to someone who’s familiar with the area. I’d love to help you plan your dream trip to the gorgeous islands around Seattle!
track the ferry routes in real time
The Washington state ferry system is the largest in the US, so it does a pretty damn good job at running on time. However, I’ve definitely experienced delays and waited in the ferry line for many hours as a result.
To counteract this, use WSDOT’s real-time ferry map to track your route. I also encourage you to check out the route schedules for a list of those that are inactive and the alert bulletin for more important real-time updates.
More getaways near Seattle
The islands near Seattle, WA are an awesome escape, but here are more ideas of fun places to visit that don’t require a ferry.
- Washington Coast Attractions You Must Visit in Your Lifetime
- Washington Wine Country Hotels With a Ton of Ambiance
- Why Columbia River Gorge Should Be Your Next Trip
- Escape to Washington’s Most Unique Hotels
- 21 Best Road Trips from Seattle
