Explore the varying landscapes of Washington on a day trip to Whidbey Island! Set in the scenic waters of Puget Sound, this island offers great hiking trails through forests, rugged beaches, and quaint coastal towns. This beautiful island is just an hour from Seattle, so get ready for an amazing day!
Luckily, I’ve had the pleasure of spending lots of time in Washington these last few years and I was able to visit Whidbey Island on multiple occasions. It’s the perfect area to go for a day, enjoy the cute shops, and get out for a hike! 🥾
I’ve got you covered for everything you need to know about planning a day trip to Whidbey Island. This blog includes directions on taking the ferry, where to stay overnight, and what to see on your day trip. So, get ready for a wonderful time in this scenic area of Washington!
WHIDBEY ISLAND IN A NUTSHELL
Short on time? Read this quick overview for your trip to Savannah with everything you need to know!
- Where to Stay: Whidbey Island has a number of cute places to stay, but I recommend the Saratoga Inn or the Anchorage B&B
- Getting there: You can on Route 20 or take the Ferry into Whidbey Island
- How to Get Around: Whidbey Island is very long and things are far apart so you will want to drive or rent a car before going
- Best Time to Visit: Spring to Fall
- Things to Do: Visit the Langley Whale Center, go shopping in Langley & Coupeville, and hike in Deception Pass State Park
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Table of Contents
Planning Your Whidbey Island Day Trip
Whidbey Island is a gorgeous spot just off the coast of mainland Washington. In fact, ferries here can take as little as 15 minutes. So, taking a Whidbey Island day trip is the perfect way to explore! 🙌🏻
Whidbey Island is separated between the North part of the island and the South part. In the North, there is a more conservative vibe with the Naval Army Base being located up there. In the South, you’ll find a more quaint and artsy area with tons of great shopping.
But, I recommend exploring the length of the island to really see what it’s all about. You can read more about what I’d explore in a day below!
How to Get to Whidbey Island
Whidbey Island is just over an hour from Seattle by car of ferry, which makes it a wonderful place to visit! I’ve done both the drive and the ferry, so you can read about those two options below to see which you would prefer.
Ferry
Ferries leave for Whidbey Island from Mukilteo and Port Townsend in Washington on the Clinton line. If you are coming from Seattle, then you will to drive 35 minutes to Mukilteo. While Port Townsend is perfect if you’re going from the Olympic Peninsula.
Ferries on both lines run to Clinton in the South part of Whidbey Island. They leave about every half hour, so you can show up on the day of and buy a ticket. Tickets are under $25 round trip for a standard car, so it’s not too expensive.
By Car
If you are heading to Whidbey Island by car, then you will need to take US 20 West. This route will start from the North of the island and continue South. So, you will drive through before going over the bridge and getting onto Whidbey Island.
From there, you can follow US 20 until it turns into state route 535 through the rest of the island. It’s a very easy direction to follow!
Getting Around Whidbey Island
Whidbey Island is 37 miles from North to South, which means that things are spread out and far apart. So, the best way to visit Whidbey Island and all the sights is to have a car.
You can go on a day trip from Seattle with your personal car or rent a car in Seattle if you’re coming from out of town. 🚗 We were even able to bring our camper van around the island, which was a fun way to see it!
Best Time to Visit
Whidbey Island sits in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, meaning it gets less rain than other areas in Washington. That being said, the rainiest time of year is the winter where it drizzles or mists often.
So, the best time to visit if you want to stay dry is from the late spring through early fall. Spring and Fall are beautiful with mild temperatures and less crowds. Plus, in the spring you get the added bonus of possible whale sightings!
Spring and Fall on Whidbey Island are especially beautiful! 😍
Although summer is beautiful and sunny, it’s also the most crowded time of the year. So, you may want to plan further ahead or just know that areas may have a lot of people.
Where to Stay in Whidbey
If you want to extend your day trip to an overnight one, then there are tons of great options of where to stay. I recommend basing yourself either in Langley or Coupeville, because these towns have more things to do and places to eat. 🍔
Stay in Langley at the Saratoga Inn. It’s a beautiful inn with views of the water and Cascade Mountains right from your rooms!
For Practical Magic fans or people who want to stay in Coupeville, check out the Anchorage B&B. It’s a lovely Victorian style inn near the scenic Penn Cove.
Best Hotels Whidbey Island:
- Anchorage B&B (Coupeville)
- Saratoga Inn (Langley)
- Inn at Langley
- Captain Whidbey (Coupeville)
How to Spend One Day on Whidbey Island
I’ve done a few day trips to Whidbey Island, so now I’m going to help you plan yours. The itinerary below starts from the South (besides the coffee stop), so if you are driving in from the North, you’ll just want to flip it. I hope you enjoy exploring this wonderful island!
Coffee & Breakfast
Once you get off the ferry or onto the island, you’ll want to get a cup of java ☕️ to jump start your day.
For people driving in from the North, I recommend stopping in Fredonia. There are a number of options including Whidbey Coffee and Whidbey Island Bagel Factory.
If you’re coming in from the Ferry, then you can stop at Mukilteo Coffee Roasters or the Flower House Cafe. The Flower House Cafe is adorable and it has great food, so if you have the time I recommend stopping there for breakfast or lunch!
Langley
Start your day exploring Langley, an adorable town in the Southern part of the island, just 30 minutes from Clinton. Unlike the North of the island, this town is very artsy with tons of fun shops and art centers throughout.
Spend time walking through the shops, eating at the great restaurants, and looking out for whales from the edge of town. Langley is one of my favorite areas on Whidbey Island and definitely a place you must stop!
Luckily, if there’s ever a whale spotted, someone will ring the large “whale bell” 🔔 in the middle of town. So, you may get lucky and see a whale passing by this adorable town.
Places to Eat in Langley:
Langley Whale Center
While walking around Langley, make sure to stop at the Langley Whale Center. You can learn all about gray whales, orcas, and humpbacks in this small exhibition run by volunteers.
Here you can track migration patterns, learn about the lives of whales, and listen to whale calls. 🐋 They also keep all of the details on the most recent whale sightings in the area. So, you should definitely stop in if you are interested in whales at all!
Fort Casey
From Langley, drive 30 minutes to Fort Casey. This fort was built in the 19th century to protect the states from any invasions. But it never saw any action, so now it’s a beautiful state park along the water.
Spend time walking along the water, admiring the old fort, and enjoying the views here. Many people come here to fly kites and there is even a yearly kite festival. 🪁 But, you can’t stop here without visiting the lighthouse, which has a public museum.
Ebey’s Landing
Continue just 5 minutes further to go on a hike through Ebey’s Landing Historic Preserve. Journey on the Bluff Trail to a gorgeous view overlooking Puget Sound. This 3. 5 mile trail is the perfect way to stretch your legs and see some of the natural beauty in the area.
Coupeville
Coupeville gained fame from the 90s film Practical Magic, but it’s much more than that. This adorable coastal town has plenty of wonderful places to visit, eat, and explore.
Refuel at one of the restaurants before walking through town to see many of the sights from Practical Magic and great shops. Plus, visit the Coupeville Wharf on the edge of the main street where there is a coffee shop, restaurant, and great views of the water.
Best Food in Coupeville:
- Molka Xete
- Whidbey Tides & Taps
- The Oystercatcher
- Phad Thai
Price Sculpture Forest
Just outside of the downtown of Coupeville is the Price Sculpture Forest. Art meets nature in this wonderful sculpture garden that winds its way through the forest. It’s open from 9 am to 7 pm every day and is free, but accept donations.
Walk through the forest along the trails to see sculptures nestled in the forest. Some of these sculptures even camouflage themselves so well, that you will have to keep your eyes peeled. It’s an incredibly peaceful place to stroll. 😌
Deception Pass State Park
End your day in the stunning Deception Pass State Park that spans the area between Fidalgo Island and Whidbey Island. Venture into this park that includes over 4100 acres of water and shoreline with stunning cliffs and old growth forests.
There are tons of different ways to spend your time in this state park, whether that’s going on a long hike or camping overnight. 🏕 If you have already had a long day, you may just want to stop in the park to see some sights before heading back down to catch the ferry!
Things to Do in Deception Pass State Park:
- See the Rosario Tide Pools
- Go beach combing on the shores
- Take a swim
- Go fishing
- Spend time hiking on one of these great trails:
- Goose Rock Trail (2.2 miles, 560 feet)
- Sand Dunes Trail (.8 miles, 20 feet)
- John Tursi Trail (5 miles, 1200 feet)
- Hoypus Point Loop (5 miles, 525 feet)
Final Tips for Taking a Day Trip to Whidbey Island
So, now you’re all set for your day trip to Whidbey Island! Head out onto this island to explore the adorable coastal towns, thick forests, and great food here. Before you go, just make sure to plan ahead for your ferry and know where you’re heading!
Let me know how you enjoyed this guide in the comments!
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