The Best Day Trips From Seattle (Mountains, Waterfalls, and Small Towns)
Here’s something I tell guests all the time:
Seattle is great.
But the stuff just outside Seattle is why people fall in love with this place.
Within an hour, you can go from city streets to waterfalls, mountains, forests, and tiny towns that feel straight out of a movie.
That’s not normal. And it’s kind of amazing.
My go-to recommendations
Snoqualmie Falls is the easiest win. It’s a massive waterfall, super scenic, and close enough that you don’t have to commit your whole day.
Mount Rainier National Park is the “wow” option. On a clear day it doesn’t even look real. Wildflowers in summer, snow in winter — it always delivers.
If you want something quirky and fun, Leavenworth looks like a Bavarian mountain town dropped into the Cascades. Beer gardens, bakeries, mountain views — it’s a vibe.
You can also just hop a ferry and explore the islands for a slower, scenic day.
The catch
Most of these places are tough without a car.
Public transit doesn’t really reach them, and rideshares get expensive fast.
That’s why a lot of visitors end up booking day tours — someone else handles the driving while you just stare out the window at mountains all day.
Honestly, it’s a pretty good trade.
