The Ultimate 7-Day Washington Itinerary: Seattle, Olympic National Park & Mount Rainier (2026)

Updated: September 2026

If we had one week to show someone the best of Washington, this is the trip we would plan!

It starts with two days in Seattle, where you’ll explore Pike Place Market, the waterfront, Ballard, Fremont, and Lake Union. Then the trip changes completely as you take a ferry across Puget Sound and head for the mountains, rainforests, beaches, and alpine trails of Olympic and Mount Rainier National Parks.

This itinerary is based on the kind of Washington trip we actually enjoy taking, so it is hiking-heavy. There is some driving!

In these seven days, you’ll experience an incredible cross-section of what makes Washington so special: ferries, city neighborhoods, Olympic Mountain views, old-growth rainforest, wild Pacific beaches, waterfalls, wildlife, Mount Rainier, alpine meadows, and some of our favorite hikes in the state.

We’ve updated this 7-Day Washington Itinerary in 2026 after spending considerably more time traveling around Washington since this was first published in 2018 and this is now much closer to the trip we would personally recommend to friends visiting for the first time.

If hiking is one of the main reasons you’re coming to Washington, also check out our Best Hikes in the Pacific Northwest — Ranked & Sortable before your trip.

Is This Washington Itinerary Right for You?

This itinerary is best for travelers who:

• Want to experience both Seattle and Washington’s national parks

• Enjoy hiking

• Don’t mind changing accommodations frequently

• Are comfortable with a few longer driving days

• Want to see a lot in one week

• Prefer scenery, wildlife, beaches, and mountains over spending most of the trip in cities

  
  

This is not the Washington itinerary we would choose if your dream vacation involves sleeping late, wineries, spas, and spending four nights in the same hotel.

There are certainly more relaxing ways to see Washington. This just isn’t one of them.

For us, one of the best parts of traveling around Washington is waking up somewhere that feels completely different from where you were the day before. And this itinerary definitely delivers that.

7-Day Washington Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1: Pike Place Market + Seattle Waterfront

If this is your first trip to Seattle, we’d start with the city’s most famous neighborhood: Pike Place Market and the waterfront.

Yes, Pike Place is touristy. It is also one of our favorite places in Seattle, and we spend time down here all the time! One of the best way to enjoy the market is to slow down and wander.

We’ve been coming here for years and still feel like there are corners of the Market we haven’t fully explored.

Start With Breakfast at Lowell’s

Our first stop would be Lowell’s!

Order your food, head to the third floor and, if you can, wait for a window seat. The views over Elliott Bay are fantastic, with ferries moving across Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains visible on clear days.

It’s one of our favorite ways to start a Seattle morning!

Wander Pike Place Market

After breakfast, don’t over-plan it. Walk through the produce and flower stalls, browse the small shops, sample whatever looks good, and explore the lower levels.

If it’s warm outside, stop at Hellenika Cultured Creamery for something cold.

Eventually, make your way toward Post Alley and Seattle’s famous Gum Wall. Whether you think it’s cool or disgusting, it is a must see!

More importantly, right beside it is Ghost Alley Espresso, one of our favorite coffee shops in the city. It’s tiny, quirky, and exactly the kind of place that makes Pike Place fun to explore.  We recommend ordering their mystery latte, and guessing their flavors!

Walk Down to Seattle’s New Waterfront

From Pike Place, make your way toward Overlook Walk and the waterfront.

This is one of the best additions to downtown Seattle in recent years and creates a beautiful connection between the Market and Elliott Bay.

Grab your latte, find a place to sit, and take in the view.

On a clear day, you can look across Puget Sound toward the Olympic Mountains while ferries travel back and forth to Bainbridge Island.

From here, walk north toward Pier 62 and Myrtle Edwards Park for quieter shoreline views, or south along the busier waterfront for shops, people-watching, and classic Seattle scenery.

This is one of those places where we wouldn’t rush.

Dinner Around Pike Place

For dinner, we’d stay near the Market.

Our Pick: The Lonely Siren

If we were choosing based purely on food and drinks, we’d probably go to The Lonely Siren. 

We take all of our family and friends here, and it has been an absolute hit every time!

It feels less formal than some of the better-known Pike Place restaurants, but the food is excellent and the cocktails are fantastic!

Romantic Option: Place Pigalle

For something a little more polished, try Place Pigalle. If you can get a window seat, the views over Elliott Bay make this a great date-night option.

Dinner + Entertainment: The Pink Door

For a classic Seattle experience, consider The Pink Door. The focus is Italian food, but depending on the night, there may also be live music or other entertainment.

This one can book up, so reserve ahead if it’s high on your list.

After Dinner

If you still have energy, check local listings for live music or consider a show at Can Can Seattle.

It’s immersive and fun, but definitely more risqué than your standard tourist attraction.

Day 2: Ballard + Fremont + Lake Union

Day 2 is where we’d leave Seattle’s biggest tourist attractions behind and spend more time in neighborhoods we actually love hanging out in.

Start in Ballard, work your way through Fremont, get one great skyline view, and then finish the day on Lake Union.

Start in Ballard

If you’re here on a Sunday, begin at the Ballard Farmers Market.

This is much more than a produce market at this market. You’ll find prepared food, baked goods, local crafts, street performers, and plenty of people simply spending a slow Sunday morning wandering around historic Ballard.

Even on non-market days, Ballard Avenue is worth visiting for its independent shops, vintage stores, breweries, cafes, and restaurants. Our favorites stores in Ballard are Woodland Mod, Standard Goods, LUCCA, Venue, Good & Well Supply Co., and Ballard Consignment.

Visit the Ballard Locks

Next, head to the Ballard Locks.

Watching boats move between Puget Sound and Seattle’s freshwater lakes is surprisingly entertaining, and you never really know what is going to pass through.

During salmon season, stop at the fish ladder. And keep an eye on the water. We regularly see seals here, and this stretch of Seattle can produce some surprisingly good wildlife sightings.

Relax at Golden Gardens

From the Locks, continue to Golden Gardens Park.

Along with Alki Beach, this is probably our favorite beach in Seattle.

The beach has wide views over Puget Sound toward the Olympic Mountains and is a great place to sit for a while and slow the day down. People do swim here in summer.

Eat at Local Tide

Next, head to Fremont for lunch at Local Tide.

This has become one of our favorite casual meals in Seattle.

We’d order two things: The salmon sandwich and the shrimp toast.

The shrimp toast did not sound particularly exciting to us the first time either. We were very wrong.

It was absolutely incredible!

Wander Fremont

After lunch, spend some time exploring Fremont.

Check out the Fremont Troll, browse the neighborhood shops, and stop at Fremont Vintage Mall if you enjoy vintage clothing, records, furniture, or strange collectibles.

We can easily lose an hour in there.

Get One Great Seattle View

Before heading to Lake Union, choose one classic skyline view.

Free Option: Kerry Park

If the weather is clear, Kerry Park is hard to beat.

You get the classic view of downtown Seattle and the Space Needle, with Mount Rainier behind the skyline when conditions cooperate.

The surrounding Queen Anne neighborhood is also worth a short walk for its older homes and additional viewpoints.

Splurge Option: Space Needle

Yes, it is extremely touristy. We still think the Space Needle is worth it.

The glass floors and updated observation areas make the experience much better than it used to be, and on a clear day you can see Puget Sound, the Olympics, the Cascades, Mount Rainier, and much of the city.

If you want to save money, choose Kerry Park.

If this may be your only Seattle trip, we’d strongly consider the Space Needle.

Finish on Lake Union

Seattle is built around water, so before leaving the city, we recommend actually getting onto it.

In summer, rent a kayak or paddleboard and explore Lake Union.

You can pass houseboats, watch seaplanes, paddle near Gas Works Park, and get excellent views back toward downtown.

If you’re visiting during colder weather, Seattle has another option: hot tub boats.

They are expensive, but they are also ridiculous and incredibly fun!

Floating around Lake Union in a hot tub while looking at the Seattle skyline is about as uniquely Seattle as it gets. Afterward, head back to your hotel. Tomorrow, the city portion of the trip ends.

It’s time for the Olympic Peninsula.

Where to Stay in Seattle

We’d stay somewhere downtown or close to Pike Place Market for these first two nights.

Some places we've stayed at in Seattle and would recommend include:

• Palihotel Seattle: Fun boutique option just steps from Pike Place Market.

• The Charter Hotel: Comfortable, convenient, and an easy walk to the Market and waterfront.

• Hotel 1000: Our pick if you want to splurge on a more upscale stay.

• Populus Seattle: A beautiful, design-focused hotel in historic Pioneer Square, with easy access to the waterfront and downtown. It also has a rooftop bar and a strong Pacific Northwest feel (we would definitely recommend checking it out!)

  
  

For a first visit, we’d probably choose Palihotel or The Charter for the easiest access to Pike Place. If the hotel itself is part of the experience, Hotel 1000 or Populus would be our splurgeier choices.

Day 3: Seattle → Bainbridge Island → Hurricane Ridge → Port Angeles

Today, it’s time to leave the city behind and head toward one of the wildest corners of Washington: Olympic National Park.

The Olympic Peninsula is huge, and this part of the trip will involve a little more driving. But the scenery changes constantly, and today includes one of our favorite introductions to the Olympics.

Take the Ferry to Bainbridge Island

If you’re staying downtown, we recommend starting the day by taking the Seattle–Bainbridge Island ferry.

You could drive around Puget Sound, but where’s the fun in that? Taking a Washington State Ferry is part transportation and part sightseeing. Head outside during the crossing and watch the Seattle skyline slowly disappear behind you while the Olympic Mountains come into view ahead.

In our minds, you haven’t really experienced Washington until you’ve taken a ferry somewhere!

From Bainbridge Island, continue toward Port Angeles, which will be your home base for the night.

Head Up to Hurricane Ridge

Once you reach Port Angeles, we’d make Hurricane Ridge your priority.

The drive climbs quickly out of town and into the mountains, eventually reaching expansive views across the heart of the Olympic range. On a clear day, it is spectacular!

This is also one of our favorite areas in Olympic National Park for wildlife. Deer are common around the meadows, and we always keep an eye out for marmots and other wildlife along the trails.

Even if you don’t want to hike much, simply driving up and exploring the viewpoints is worth the trip.

Our Pick: Hike Hurricane Hill

If you’re up for a hike, we highly recommend Hurricane Hill.

It gives you an incredible amount of scenery without requiring an all-day adventure.

The trail climbs through open alpine terrain with huge views of the Olympic Mountains and, on clear days, across the Strait of Juan de Fuca toward Vancouver Island.

It’s one of our favorite shorter hikes in the Olympics and a great first taste of hiking in Olympic National Park.

Spend the Evening in Port Angeles

After Hurricane Ridge, head back into Port Angeles.

A lot of travelers treat Port Angeles as nothing more than a gateway to Olympic National Park, but we think it’s worth spending a little time downtown.

There are local restaurants, antique shops, bookstores, and small businesses that are fun to browse for an hour or two.

Grab dinner and enjoy a slower evening before another big day tomorrow.

Optional Evening: Dungeness Spit at Sunset

If the weather is nice and you still have energy, consider driving out to Dungeness Spit.

The long stretch of sand reaches into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and is a beautiful place for an evening walk. You absolutely do not need to hike the whole thing.

Walk as far as you feel like, watch the water, and turn around whenever you’re ready.

On a clear evening, it can be a fantastic sunset stop.

Another Option: Whale Watching

If seeing orcas or whales is high on your Washington bucket list, Port Angeles is also a good place to consider a whale-watching trip.

The Strait of Juan de Fuca is one of the region’s major marine wildlife corridors, and while sightings are obviously never guaranteed, this is one area where we would consider dedicating a few hours to looking.

If you choose whale watching, we’d probably skip Dungeness Spit and keep the rest of the day simple.

Where to Stay in Port Angeles

We recommend staying in or close to downtown Port Angeles.

It keeps you near restaurants in the evening and puts you in a good position to head west toward Lake Crescent first thing tomorrow morning.

We wouldn’t overthink the lodging here — this is primarily a convenient home base between Hurricane Ridge and the western side of Olympic National Park.

Tomorrow, the scenery changes again.

You’ll trade alpine mountains for Lake Crescent, waterfalls, old-growth forest, and one of our favorite beaches on the Olympic Coast.

Day 4: Lake Crescent → Marymere Falls → Second Beach → Forks

Today is where the Olympic Peninsula really starts showing off.

You’ll go from one of the prettiest lakes in Washington to old-growth forest, a waterfall, and finally one of our favorite beaches on the Pacific Coast.

Stop at Granny’s Cafe

On your way west from Port Angeles, we’d definitely stop for brunch at Granny’s Cafe. Since Granny's is out of town, we should check their hours before departing from Port Angeles.

This cafe is casual, quirky, and exactly the kind of roadside place we like finding on a road trip!

Then continue toward Lake Crescent.

Explore Lake Crescent

Lake Crescent is one of the most beautiful roadside stops in Olympic National Park.

The water can be an unbelievable blue-green, surrounded by steep forested mountains.

We recommend stopping near Lake Crescent Lodge, walking along the shoreline, and just taking your time. If Granny's wasn't open for brunch, you can check out the restaurant at the lodge.

From here, you have two very different hiking options.

Easy Option: Marymere Falls

For most people following this itinerary, we’d choose Marymere Falls.

It’s a short hike through beautiful forest to a roughly 90-foot waterfall and is easy to fit into a full sightseeing day.

This is the best option if you want to save your legs for later.

Hard Option: Mount Storm King

If you want something much more adventurous, consider Mount Storm King.

This is not just a harder version of Marymere Falls.

It is very steep, strenuous, and the upper unofficial section includes ropes and exposed terrain.

The views over Lake Crescent can be incredible, but for this itinerary we would only choose Storm King if it’s specifically high on your bucket list.

Head to Forks

After Lake Crescent, continue toward Forks, where you’ll spend the night.

Check in, grab some food, and then head toward the coast.

Sunset at Second Beach

If we had to choose one beach around La Push for a first-time visitor, we’d pick Second Beach!

There’s a short hike through coastal forest before the trail opens dramatically onto the beach.

Once you reach the sand, you get:

• Huge sea stacks

• Driftwood-covered shoreline

• Forested cliffs

• Crashing Pacific waves

• Incredible sunset potential

You can walk for miles if you want (make sure to pay attention to the tide charts) or find a piece of driftwood and sit down.

Tomorrow, you’ll trade the coast for one of the most unique forests in the country.

It’s time for the Hoh Rain Forest.

Day 5: Hoh Rain Forest → Olympic Coast → Lake Quinault

Today is one of the most varied days of the trip.

You’ll start under enormous moss-covered trees and finish beside a mountain lake surrounded by rainforest.

Start at the Hoh Rain Forest

We’d head to the Hoh Rain Forest relatively early.

This is such an unique and special place in Olympic National Park!

Huge old-growth trees tower overhead, moss hangs from nearly every branch, and some sections feel almost prehistoric. You could spend days hiking here. For this itinerary, we wouldn’t.

Keep it fairly short so you still have time for the coast.

Walk the Hall of Mosses

For a first visit, we’d start with the Hall of Mosses.

It gives you the classic Hoh experience without requiring a long hike.

If you want a little more mileage, add part of the Hoh River Trail. We’d aim for just around 2–5 miles total here.

Slowly Work Your Way Down the Coast

From the Hoh, return to Highway 101 and begin heading south.

This is one of those stretches where we would intentionally avoid over-planning.

There are so many beaches that it’s better to stop when something looks interesting.

Ruby Beach

Ruby Beach is one of the most recognizable beaches in Olympic National Park.

Expect sea stacks, huge driftwood, and classic Pacific Northwest scenery.

It’s absolutely worth a stop!

Explore the Kalaloch Beaches

Continue south through the Kalaloch area.

There are several numbered beaches along the way, and we’d treat them as flexible stops rather than trying to visit every single one. Some are more dramatic. Some are quieter.

All of them are a great excuse to get out of the car and walk along the Pacific for a little while.

End at Lake Quinault

Eventually, continue toward Lake Quinault.

If you can get a reservation, we love the idea of ending the day at Lake Quinault Lodge.

Walk around the grounds, look over the lake, and enjoy the slower pace after a full day of exploring.

See the Giant Sitka Spruce

While you’re here, don’t miss the enormous Sitka spruce near Lake Quinault.

It’s one of our favorite trees in Washington.

Pictures don’t really show how massive the trunk feels in person. It’s an easy stop and absolutely worth seeing if you stay near Lake Quinault.

Where to Stay

If you prefer forest and mountain-lake scenery:

Stay at Lake Quinault.

If you’re more of a beach person:

Stay near Kalaloch.

Either works well for the next day.

Tomorrow comes with more driving, but also one of the biggest scenery changes of the trip.

You’re heading to Mount Rainier.

Day 6: Lake Quinault → Ashford → Paradise

Today is one of the bigger driving days.

But it’s also one of the best transitions of the entire trip.

You’ll leave temperate rainforest and end the day underneath the glaciers of Mount Rainier.

Take Your Time Leaving Lake Quinault

We wouldn’t rush out first thing. Grab breakfast. Walk by the lake.

Then begin the drive toward Ashford, which will be your home base tonight.

This is a longer drive, so we’d keep the first half of the day simple.

Check Into Ashford

Ashford sits just a few miles outside the Nisqually Entrance of Mount Rainier National Park and is one of our favorite places to stay on the Paradise side of the park.

Check into your accommodations and grab something to eat before heading into the park.

Eat at Paradise Village

One of our favorite unexpected food stops in the area is Paradise Village.

It’s a small Ukrainian restaurant with excellent food and a cozy atmosphere.

We especially like it after a long driving day when you want something warm and filling.

For quicker options, Copper Creek and the area around Whittaker’s are also easy choices.

Head to Paradise for Sunset

If you arrive with enough daylight, don’t call it a day yet.

Drive into Mount Rainier National Park and head toward Paradise.

This is one of the classic Washington landscapes:

• Wildflower meadows in summer

• Brilliant fall color later in the season

• Waterfalls

• Glaciers

• Huge views of Mount Rainier

If conditions are good, sunset here can be incredible.

Short Option: Nisqually Vista

If you’re tired from the drive, hike Nisqually Vista.

It’s short, easy to fit into the evening, and still gives you fantastic views of Mount Rainier.

Longer Option: Skyline Trail

If you arrive early and still have energy, consider part or all of the Skyline Trail.

This is one of the park’s best-known hikes and one of the best ways to experience Paradise!

For this itinerary, though, we would not force the full loop if you’re arriving late.

The goal is to enjoy the evening, not turn it into a race against sunset.

Tomorrow is one of the biggest days of the trip.

You’ll cross Mount Rainier National Park and finish at Sunrise and Mount Fremont Lookout.

Day 7: Paradise → Reflection Lakes → Packwood → Sunrise

Today gives you two completely different sides of Mount Rainier National Park.

You’ll start around Paradise, cross the park, check into Packwood, and then head up to Sunrise.

Spend a Little More Time at Paradise

If you didn’t get much time here the previous evening, use the morning to explore a little more.

You can walk through the meadows, do more of the Skyline Trail, or simply take in the views.

Then begin heading east.

Stop at Reflection Lakes

One of the easiest worthwhile stops is Reflection Lakes.

When the water is calm, Mount Rainier can reflect almost perfectly across the lake.

It’s one of the classic Rainier photos for a reason.

There are also waterfalls and viewpoints along the drive, so we’d stop whenever something catches your eye.

This is one of those roads where the drive itself is part of the experience.

Check Into Packwood

Continue toward Packwood, where we’d spend the final night.

Drop off your bags, grab some food if needed, and get ready to head back into the park.

This time toward Sunrise.

Explore Sunrise

Despite the name, you absolutely do not need to visit Sunrise at sunrise.

The scenery here feels completely different from Paradise. It’s drier. Rockier. And the views across the Cascades are fantastic.

Even if you only have time to drive up and walk around, it’s worth seeing.

Sunset at Mount Fremont Lookout

If you’re comfortable hiking back after dark, we’d finish the trip with Mount Fremont Lookout.

This is one of our favorite hikes in Mount Rainier National Park.

The trail travels through high alpine terrain to a historic fire lookout with huge views across the northeastern side of the mountain. Mount Rainier fills one direction. Layers of Cascade peaks stretch into the distance in the other.

At sunset, the light can be unbelievable and make for one unforgettable evening!

Important: Bring a Headlamp

If you stay for sunset, you will be hiking back in the dark.

Bring:

• A real headlamp

• Extra layers

• Water

• Proper hiking gear

Temperatures can drop quickly after sunset. This is not the place to rely on your phone flashlight.

Celebrate in Packwood

After the hike, head back to Packwood.

We’d finish the evening at Packwood Brewing Co. if the timing works. Grab something to eat, have a drink, and celebrate what has been a pretty incredible week.

Day 8: Optional Naches Peak Loop → Seattle

If your flight isn’t until later in the day, you may have time for one final adventure.

And fortunately, one of the best short hikes in the area fits nicely into the drive back toward Seattle.

Stop at Tipsoo Lake

Head toward Tipsoo and Little Tipsoo Lake.

Even if you don’t have time to hike, this is worth a quick stop for the views.

In summer, the area can be covered in wildflowers.

Optional Hike: Naches Peak Loop

If you have a few hours, hike the Naches Peak Loop.

It’s a relatively short loop with a huge amount of scenery packed into just a few miles.

You’ll get:

• Wildflowers in summer

• Mountain views

• Meadows

• Beautiful views toward Mount Rainier

It’s one of the best effort-to-reward hikes in the area.

Head Back to Seattle

From here, continue toward Seattle and the airport.

Then start thinking about your next trip.

Because even after a week covering Seattle, the Olympics, the Pacific Coast, and Mount Rainier, you’ll still have barely scratched the surface of Washington.

And that’s exactly why we love it.

What We'd Prioritize If You're Running Behind

Washington road trips rarely go exactly according to schedule.

Traffic happens.

You sleep in.

You spend two hours somewhere you expected to spend twenty minutes.

The mountain disappears behind clouds.

That's okay!

If we had to protect only the most important experiences from this itinerary, these would be our priorities:

Seattle: Pike Place Market + the waterfront

Olympic Mountains: Hurricane Ridge

Lake Crescent: Lake Crescent shoreline + Marymere Falls

Olympic Coast: Second Beach

Rainforest: Hall of Mosses

Mount Rainier — Paradise: Paradise meadows

Mount Rainier — Sunrise: Fremont Lookout

Everything else can flex around those experiences.

What We'd Change With More Time

If you have 8–10 days instead of seven, the first thing we would do is slow this itinerary down.

We wouldn't necessarily add a dozen more destinations.

Instead, we'd add time.

Spend another night around Forks to explore more of the coastline.

Give Mount Rainier another day to Paradise and/or Sunrise to explore more of Mount Rainier.

Or add a trip into the North Cascades.

You can absolutely see an incredible amount in seven days. But honestly, almost every place on this itinerary could easily justify another day!

When Is the Best Time for This Washington Road Trip?

For the itinerary exactly as we've written it, summer through early fall is generally the easiest time.

That gives you the best chance of accessing the high-elevation areas around Hurricane Ridge, Paradise, Sunrise, and Tipsoo Lake.

Summer brings wildflowers. Early fall brings cooler temperatures and spectacular fall color.

The Olympic Coast and rainforests can be visited during much more of the year, but higher-elevation mountain roads and trails are much more seasonal. For example, the Sunrise side of Mount Rainier is typically accessible by car from late June or early July until late September or early October. If you are traveling outside of that time, we would recommend staying in Ashford for an additional night.

Always check current road, trail, wildfire, and weather conditions before heading into the mountains.

How Much Hiking Is In This Itinerary?

That is mostly up to you.

We intentionally designed the trip so you can adjust the hiking difficulty almost every day.

You could keep things relatively easy with:

• Hurricane Hill

• Marymere Falls

• Second Beach

• Hall of Mosses

• Nisqually Vista

• Naches Peak

  
  

Or make the trip considerably harder by adding:

• Mount Storm King

• Skyline Trail

• Mount Fremont Lookout

• Longer Hoh River hikes

  
  

We'd describe the itinerary overall as: Active but customizable.

If you're looking for even more hiking ideas, see our Best Hikes in the Pacific Northwest — Ranked & Sortable, where we rank our hiking experiences based on scenery, solitude, variety, wildlife, sense of adventure, trail conditions, and several other factors.

Where Should You Spend the Night?

Our preferred overnight progression is:

Night 1: Seattle

Night 2: Seattle

Night 3: Port Angeles

Night 4: Forks

Night 5: Lake Quinault

Night 6: Ashford

Night 7: Packwood

Yes, that is a lot of moving around. But that's intentional.

Olympic National Park is enormous, and trying to explore it from one home base creates significantly more driving.

Likewise, splitting Mount Rainier between Ashford and Packwood allows you to experience the Paradise and Sunrise sides of the park without constantly backtracking.

Is Seven Days Enough for Washington?

Honestly, No! But it's enough for an incredible trip.

Washington is one of those states where every trip seems to create ideas for more and more trips!

You'll drive past trailheads you want to explore. See mountain roads you'll want to follow. Discover beaches you didn't know existed. And probably leave with a list of places that somehow became longer than the one you arrived with.

That's part of the fun.

For a first trip, though, we think this itinerary gives you an incredible introduction to the state.

You'll experience Seattle. Ride a ferry. See the Olympic Mountains. Walk through temperate rainforest. Stand on wild Pacific beaches. Explore Mount Rainier. And hike through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Washington!

If someone asked us how to spend one unforgettable week in Washington?

This is pretty close to what we'd tell them to do.