Traveling from Seattle

Tacoma and Everett are good choices for day trips. Tacoma is only 30–40 minutes by car or train from Seattle; Everett are also easy to reach in under an hour, plus seeing their major attractions (exhibits on flight history) doesn’t require an overnight. Just don't get stuck driving the Interstate 5 corridor during weekday rush hours or on Sunday night in summer—the chaotic and heavy traffic will sour any outing.

Snoqualmie is also easily visited in a day, as it's close to Seattle, but because it's a popular base for outdoor recreation, many visitors overnight here.

Olympia is far enough from Seattle—it's only about 60 miles, but during the day you’ll nearly always hit traffic, so expect a solid 1½ hours in the car—that it's often better for an overnight visit or as a stop on the way to the southern part of the Olympic Peninsula (Ocean Shores or Moclips, for example). You can pick up U.S. 101 on the outskirts of the city. Olympia is also a good leg-stretch between Seattle and Portland and can be part of an itinerary to Mount Rainier National Park or Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument—it’s a good idea to spend the night near these parks if planning a visit, as they’re a good drive from Seattle, and you’ll want to get an early start if planning a hike or driving along these winding, narrow forest roads.