8 Epic Kid-Friendly Weekend Getaways Within a 5-Hour Drive from Seattle 2024

1. Long Beach

Distance from Seattle: 171 miles (114km)

Travel Time from Seattle: 3 hour, 4 minutes

Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Long Beach is between May and September because the weather is warm and the summer tourists are nowhere to be found. That being said, there is never a truly bad time to visit: Long Beach's temperate climate makes it a great year-round destination.

Long Beach is best known for its urban waterfront attractions, like the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific, but despite being the sixth largest city in California, it has a small-town, provincial feel, with bike-friendly streets, active neighborhood associations, and artist collectives.

Things to do in Long Beach with Kids

1. Walk Back in Time at Rancho Los Alamitos

2. Get Out on the Water

3. Gondola Ride Around Naples Island

4. Explore the Colorful and Quaint Shoreline Village

5. Discover the Long Beach Art Scene

6. El Dorado Regional Park

7. Enjoy Some Sweet Treats

8 Have a Beach Day

9. Explore the Aquarium of the Pacific

10. See the Queen Mary

Hotel Options: 

We highly recommend the Hyatt Regency Long Beach. 

Located 1 minutes’ walk from Long Beach Convention Center, this hotel features an outdoor pool and a 24-hour reception. Guests can also enjoy the on-site restaurant.

A flat-screen cable TV is provided in each guest room at Hyatt Regency Long Beach. Each room offers a coffee machine, ironing facilities and an private bathroom with free toiletries.

Guests have several dining options at Long Beach Hyatt Regency. Serving breakfast and lunch, Tides restaurant offers California cuisine in a casual atmosphere that includes Al Fresco dinning with pool views. If they prefer, guest can enjoy a drink and appetizers at The Cove Lounge, which features 4 plasma-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi.

Business services are provide to all Hyatt Long Beach guests which include: iMac Desktops, Laptop Connectivity, Word Processing, 24 Hour telephone help desk, and complimentary internet access in public areas. Our Front Office staff can provide document preparations services, photo copying and facsimile services. A tour desk and a gift shop are also available.

The Queen Mary is 2 miles away from this hotel. The Port of Long Beach is 8 minutes’ drive away. Los Angeles International Airport is 22 miles away.

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2. Bainbridge Island

Distance from Seattle: 39.7 miles (64km)

Travel Time from Seattle: 1 hour, 43 minutes

Best Time to Visit: May 7th to October 21st.

Bainbridge Island is an island west of Seattle that is entirely surrounded by salt water and known for its outstanding natural beauty, rustic character and close location to Seattle. A ride with one of the Washington State Ferries from Pier 52 takes you to the island in no time.

Things to do in Bainbridge Island with Kids

• Kids Discovery Museum

• Fay Bainbridge State Park

• Battle Point Park

• Bainbridge Island Historical Museum

• Fort Ward State Park

• Lynwood Theatre

• Pritchard Park

• Fort Ward Park

• Bainbridge Cinemas at the Pavilion

• Eagledale Park

Hotel Options: 

We highly recommend the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle . This hotel features a full spa, rooftop infinity pool, and outdoor fireplace. Every guest room features Northwest-style decor with wood and stone details.

3. Portland

Distance from Seattle: 174 miles (280km)

Travel Time from Seattle: 2 hour, 46 minutes

Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Portland is from June to August, when consistently warm weather allows the city's outdoorsy culture to thrive. Plus, summer is when the city's roses (especially at the International Rose Test Garden) are in full bloom.

Portland is a kid-friendly city with beautiful green parks, diverse attractions and fun activities, perfect for a weekend getaway filled with new adventures. Ride the Aerial Tram to get a unique view of the city from above, snack on fresh fruit at the farmers market, see rare animals at the zoo, and spend an afternoon at the world-renowned Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. On a sunny day, a picnic in Washington Park, followed by a mouthwatering dessert at a local café or bakery are some of the best things to do in Portland with kids. 

Things to do in Portland with Kids

• Oregon Zoo

• World Forestry Center

• Portland Aerial Tram

• Portland Children's Museum

• OMSI

• Pine State Biscuits

• Floating World Comics

• Tiffin Asha

• The Portland Farmers Market

• Voodoo Doughnut

• Washington Park

• Grand Central Baking Company

• Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

• Oaks Amusement Park

Hotel Options: 

We highly recommend the Inn at Northrup Station. The Moda Center, Memorial Coliseum, and Convention Center are 1.6 mi from the hotel. Since property is conveniently located along the Portland Streetcar lines, Inn at Northrup Station offers free passes to guests. The nearest airport is Portland International Airport, a 15 mi drive from the property.

4. Whidbey Island

Distance from Seattle: 35 miles (56km)

Travel Time from Seattle: 1 hour, 49 minutes

Best Time to Visit: Whidbey Island Weather in May-June: An excellent season to visit Whidbey Island, the average temperature falls around 56℉. The weather is great for outdoors, the air being moderately humid. This is most likely one of the best times to visit Whidbey Island and also a tourist high season.

One of the five longest islands in the Lower 48, Whidbey seems as if it were shaped to maximize the number of rental houses with hot tubs perched overlooking the beach that could be squeezed onto one landmass. Said homes are interrupted occasionally by charming local towns (check out Langley!) full of quaint diners, adorable ice cream shops, and restaurants serving the island’s most famous mollusk, Penn Cove mussels.

Things to do in Whidbey Island with Kids

• The Ferry Ride

• Escape to the Parks and Beaches

• Walks and Hikes

• Windjammer Park – Oak Harbor

• Cama Beach State Park

Hotel Options: 

We highly recommend the Country Cottage of Langley. 

5. Friday Harbor

Distance from Seattle: 103 miles (165km)

Travel Time from Seattle: 3 hour, 6 minutes

Best Time to Visit: Each June, the ferries run on a summer schedule departing from Anacortes. And when the summer schedules start, the islands swell with visitors. The best time to visit the San Juan Islands is between April and October. July and August are the warmest months to visit and also the busiest.

Friday Harbor is a small charming historic town on San Juan Island in San Juan County, Washington State. Friday Harbor is the major commercial center of the San Juan Islands archipelago and a perfect base for exploring this fascinating area. Reachable only by a ferry, Friday Harbor is relaxed, walkable and lively, with small shops, galleries, restaurants and pubs, surrounded by wild, spectacular nature. After sailing with one of the tour boats to see whales that live in the waters around the island, learn more about these magnificent animals by visiting The Whale Museum. The San Juan Islands Museum of Art features works of local artists and the San Juan Community Theatre is a surprisingly high quality theatre offering free plays to everyone. The San Juan Historical Museum and American and British Camps tell the story of the town and island’s past. 

Things to do in Friday Harbor with Kids

• WHALE WATCHING

• SCOOT COUPE RIDE

• THE WHALE MUSEUM

• VISIT THE ALPACA FARM

• KAYAKING

• FLOWER EXTRAVAGANZA

• DONUTS AT ROCHE HARBOR’S LIME KILN CAFÉ

• LAND-BASED WHALE WATCHING AT LIME KILN

• EXPLORE THE LOCAL BEACHES

Hotel Options: 

We highly recommend the Hillside House Bed and Breakfast. 

6. Olympic National Park

Distance from Seattle: 84.8 miles (136km)

Travel Time from Seattle: 2 hour, 31 minutes

Best Time to Visit: The best time of year for sightseeing in Olympic National Park is spring through fall. This time of year is ideal because the rainforests can experience up to 50 inches of rain in the winter, and by late spring, the landscape is lush and vibrant with life.

Towering conifers, lush rainforests, alpine meadows and a rugged coastline, Olympic National Park is unlike any other national park. With four distinct ecosystems, there are tons of activities to keep the whole family happy.

Things to do in Olympic National Park with Kids

• Earn Ocean Steward Badges

• Borrow a Discovery Backpack

• Examine Sea Stars Up Close at Kalaloch Beach

• See Wildflowers and Views from Hurricane Ridge

• Hug an Ancient Tree

• Take a Dip at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort

• Check Out the Town that Inspired Twilight Book Series

• Explore One of Olympic’s Four Rainforests

• Go Sledding at Hurricane Ridge

Hotel Options: 

We highly recommend the Misty Valley Inn. 

7. Diablo Lake

Distance from Seattle: 124 miles (199km)

Travel Time from Seattle: 2 hour, 19 minutes

Best Time to Visit: Diablo Lake's best season for hiking and water sports runs from May through September (late May to early September for camping).

It’s hard to believe a lake could really be that green, until you pull off the North Cascades Highway just to stare at it, slack-jawed. If you need to snap yourself back to the real world, though, just dip a toe in -- the absurdly turquoise color comes from the frigid glacial melt that feeds the lake. For the best views, take the easy 1.5-mile hike up to the Diablo Lake Vista, then either come back down for a beer at the campsite, or keep going for scenic mountain views, giant waterfalls, and an avalanche track.

8. Vancouver

Distance from Seattle: 165 miles (265km)

Travel Time from Seattle: 2 hour, 39 minutes

Best Time to Visit: The best times to visit Vancouver are from March to May and from September to November when the weather is mild and hotel rooms can be found at bargain rates.

Vancouver USA is a great place to connect with your family. Perhaps it’s the relaxed pace of our friendly town, or maybe it’s the abundance of exciting and educational activities that will delight all of your family members, from toddlers to teens. Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is simply a must-see for all visitors to the area. Aside from touring through a working blacksmith shop, wood shop, and other period trades at the reconstructed fort, kids can actually dig for artifacts on site. Make sure to stop next door at Pearson Air Museum to get a historic perspective on aviation or even take a ride in one of the restored airplanes. There are plenty of outdoor attractions to keep kids busy: The Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center is a 100-acre space that is designed to entertain kids with nature trails and a fish hatchery, and the Water Resources Education Center has hands-on activities designed to give children a closer look at our drinking water and where it comes from. There are also indoor options for those days when the weather won't cooperate. The Vancouver Community Library boasts one of the largest discovery zones in the nation and a viewing deck on the fifth floor. If the little ones really need to burn off some energy, try the indoor trampoline park Sky Zone or the rock walls at the Source Climbing Center.

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