Embarking on day trips from Seattle in winter is not only possible, but highly encouraged. That’s because Seattle is only about an hour away from snow and countless adventures, whether you’re in the mood for cross-country skiing, hiking, birding, or wine tasting. Plus, let’s face it: Seattle gets gloomy post holidays. So why not get away for a day when it’s this easy?
To make sense of the numerous options, here’s a roundup of the best places to visit for a quick day trip from Seattle in the winter, listed in order from closest to Seattle to furthest.
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Day Trips from Seattle in Winter
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Vashon Island
distance from Seattle: ~20 min (get directions) | has snow? no | best for: food & beaches
I love popping over to Vashon Island when I need to get away, but only have time for a short-and-sweet day trip. The 22-minute ferry takes off from the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal in West Seattle or Point Defiance in Tacoma. This means you need little-to-no notice to pop over for a day of low-key island fun. Plus winter means you don’t have to fight ferry traffic and can experience the island like a local.
Vashon has developed a reputation as a little foodie hub. Most of the best restaurants in Vashon are within walking distance from downtown, so you can do a little food crawl to try them all. There’s also a handful of shops, breweries, cideries, and wineries to fill the time between eats.
Overall, spending a carefree day on Vashon Island is too easy, so it’s one of the best day trips from Seattle in winter.
Woodinville
distance from Seattle: ~30 min (get directions) | has snow? no | best for: wine tasting
If your idea of the perfect Seattle day trip involves wine tasting, you can’t beat the experience of going to Woodinville. Many of Washington’s best wineries have a tasting room here. Plus, its proximity to Seattle means you could easily split a car service with some friends and not have to spend a fortune on hotels.
For a full breakdown of the must-visit wineries in Woodinville, check out my guide and map to help plan your next trip!
Available tours
Bainbridge Island
distance from Seattle: ~35 min (get directions) | has snow? no | best for: good food, wine tasting & shopping
It’s easy to spend a long and fruitful day on Bainbridge Island. I love visiting because it feels like you’re a million miles away when, in reality, this quaint island town is right in Seattle’s back door.
To get to Bainbridge Island, you take a short ferry ride from downtown Seattle. If you’re only looking to explore a few excellent Bainbridge restaurants and boutiques, bringing your car isn’t necessary as its downtown is walkable from the ferry terminal.
That said, if you’re up for some wine tasting, you’ll want to bring your vehicle to check out the wineries on Bainbridge Island. A car will also help you explore the islands many beaches and leisurely walks.
Available tours
Snoqualmie Pass
distance from Seattle: ~52 min (get directions) | has snow? yes | best for: skiing & sledding
Ask anyone in Seattle where they ski, and the Summit of Snoqualmie is sure to be on their list. It’s the closest ski pass to Seattle, so it’s one of the best day trips from Seattle in winter. Expect incredible views of the Cascade Mountain Range and numerous winter activities for all skill levels, including snow tubing, snow biking, and snowshoeing.
If you want to avoid the resort fee, Hyak Sno-Park is a state park that offers cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding. Franklin Falls in North Bend is one of my favorite hiking spots near Seattle if you want to snowshoe with a bit of elevation. When you’re thirsty, dip into town for a beer at the neighborhood watering hole, Dru Bru.
Available tours
Want to avoid the snow altogether? The famous Snoqualmie Falls is a must visit.
Skagit Valley
distance from Seattle: ~1 hr 15 min (get directions) | has snow? no | best for: birding & food
Most people know Skagit Valley for their annual Tulip Festival, which runs every April in Mount Vernon. While I agree it’s worth a day trip from Seattle in the springtime, there are plenty of things to do in Skagit Valley over the winter.
Being one of Washington’s largest agricultural hubs, there are a lot of amazing Skagit restaurants. Plus, its proximity to the coastline makes it a beautiful drive, with expansive farmland seamlessly transitioning into a gorgeous coastline. You can even see the San Juan Islands and the snow-dusted Olympic Mountains!
Aside from being a foodie destination, the Skagit Valley is also known as one of the major wintering grounds for snow geese and bald eagles between November and March. The geese are massive in number (over 50,000!) and can be found almost anywhere, though they congregate heavily on the Fir Island Farm Reserve, which is free to enter but requires a Discover Pass. The eagles are a bit more tricky, so your best bet is to go on a guided nature hike for the Skagit Bald Eagle Festival in January.
Available tours
- Bald Eagle Nesting Area Tour
- Skagit Birding & Deception Pass Tour
- Private Intro to Rock Climbing for Two
- Anacortes Whale Watching Tour
Suncadia Resort
distance from Seattle: ~1 ½ hrs (get directions) | has snow? yes | best for: hiking trails & snowshoeing
I’ll look for any excuse to stay at the Suncadia Resort. It’s one of my favorite resorts in the Pacific Northwest for gorgeous mountain landscape, 40+ miles of hiking and biking trails, and an onsite winery, spa, and restaurant. Luckily, even if you can’t swing a weekend away, you can still enjoy 99% of the resort for free!
The only amenities you won’t have access to are the fitness center and pool. Other than that, the over 6,000 acres of forestry, outdoor ice skating rink, hiking trails, and snowshoeing trails are completely open to the public, including rentals. Plus, it’s close to the adorable town of Roslyn that’s perfect for a stroll and window shopping.
For more insight on all there is to love about Suncadia and the surrounding area, check out my guide.
Granite Falls
distance from Seattle: ~1 ½ hrs (get directions) | has snow? yes | best for: easy snowshoeing and hiking trails
Known as the gateway to Mountain Loop Highway, Granite Falls is a small town near Skykomish known for its outstanding hiking trails within the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. You’ll need a Northwest Forest Pass to enter, which can easily be purchased online or at the park’s entrance.
One of the most popular hikes is the Big Four Ice Caves, an easy 2.4-mile out-and-back trail that offers stunning views of ice caves accessible via snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Lake 22 is a slightly more challenging 6-mile round-trip hike that, weather permitting, offers gorgeous views of Mount Pilchuck.
Mt. Baker
distance from Seattle: ~1 ½ hrs (get directions) | has snow? yes | best for: downhill skiing & snowboarding
Of all the city guides I’ve come up with, my guide to Bellingham is probably one of my favorites. Known for outdoor recreation and a lively college-centric downtown, it’s a town that screams cool.
Bellingham as a standalone trip is great if you want to sip on the local brews and dine in good restaurants, but you’ll want to head east to the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest to partake in the winter fun. The forest has a variety of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails (which you can read more about in this guide), while the Mt. Baker Ski Area has epic downhill skiing and snowboarding trails suitable for all skill levels.
Pro tip: Mt. Baker has the longest season in the state, so consider visiting later in the season to beat the crowds.
Available tours
Whidbey Island
distance from Seattle: ~2 hrs (get directions) | has snow? no | best for: shoreline view
This may be a hot take, but if I had to pick my favorite island in the Puget Sound, I think it would be Whidbey Island. That’s because there’s so much to do on Whidbey, whether you’re in the mood for wine tasting, great food, hiking, beach views, or just window shopping downtown.
Stretching 45 miles long, Whidbey Island is the Puget Sound’s longest island. There are 5 state parks and 69 public access points to the island’s 150 miles of shoreline. If you bring layers and don’t mind a gloomy hike, Fort Casey State Park is my favorite park on the island. It’s an abandoned military base circa the 1900s and gives Ghost Hunters vibes when the fog rolls in.
Of course, even the best of us can only hike in the cold for so long. Luckily, many of the island’s best restaurants offer epic shoreline views, but from the comfort of a warm and cozy dining room.
Available tours
Stevens Pass
distance from Seattle: ~2 hrs (get directions) | has snow? yes | best for: downhill skiing
Stevens Pass is another wildly popular ski resort for all skill levels. It’s higher in elevation than Snoqualmie, which means it’s colder and gets slightly better conditions. People visit mostly for downhill skiing and snowboarding, though they also have a Nordic center if you’re more into cross-country skiing.
When you’re hungry, the resort has several bars and restaurants to choose from. Though I’ll be honest, if you only have one day on the mountain, I’d suggest fueling up before you arrive and then ending the day in nearby Leavenworth for some seriously good eats…and maybe some wine tasting.
Available tours
Leavenworth
distance from Seattle: ~2 ½ hrs (get directions) | has snow? yes | best for: winter sports & lively downtown
Few towns in the Pacific Northwest manage to be equally as captivating in the summer and winter as Leavenworth. Known for its adorably Bavarian-themed downtown, it puts on a winter wonderland experience that’s totally unique and worth a day trip.
If you’re not an outdoorsy person, you can putz around this town for hours. There are numerous wine tasting rooms, boutiques, and restaurants ranging from fine dining to fast and casual.
Now, if you do feel like embarking on some winter fun, Leavenworth has some of the best cross-country skiing in Washington. There’s also snowshoeing, hot springs, downhill skiing, snow tubing, and even horse-drawn sleigh rides. For all the details, check out my roundup of the top things to do in Leavenworth in winter.
Available tours
Mt. Rainier
distance from Seattle: ~2 ½ hrs (get directions) | has snow? yes | best for: snowshoeing & cross-country skiing
Even after living in Seattle for over 15 years, getting up close and personal with Mount Rainier never gets old. It’s one of my favorite road trips to take from Seattle for its awe-inspiring mountain views and endless hiking trails.
Most people choose to spend the day in Mt. Rainier during the spring and summer, but I’m partial to visiting in the winter when the crowds are practically non-existent. Only two entrances are kept open in the winter: the Nisqually entrance in the park’s southwest corner and the Carbon River entrance in the northwest corner.
From Paradise, you can go sledding or sign up for a ranger-led snowshoe walk. There’s also some of the best cross-country skiing in Washington at the White Pass Nordic Center and unbeatable snowshoeing at Reflection Lakes. Of course, rentals are offered, so make sure to check the list of rental equipment locations before you get too close to the mountain.
Available tours
- Winter Day Tour to Longmire
- One Day Tour to Mt. Rainier from Seattle
- Mt. Rainier & Leavenworth 2-Day Tour
More winter activities around the PNW
After you make plans to take one of these day trips from Seattle in winter, check out my other guides for more winter getaways perfect for staying a few night. Don’t have time for a vacation? Check out the best things to do in Seattle during winter.
- Best Winter Getaways in Washington State
- Things to Do in Lake Chelan in Winter
- Winthrop Winter Activities
- Washington’s Only Winter Hot Air Balloon Festival
- Guide to All Mt. Hood’s Ski Areas
- What to Do in Bend in Winter
- Best Winter Cabins in Washington
- Cozy Winter Cabins in Oregon
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