6 Best Things To Do In Anacortes: Daytrip from Seattle

Anacortes—a charming coastal town on Fidalgo Island—is more than just a ferry stop on the way to the San Juan Islands. Just 75 miles (1.5 hours) north of Seattle, this classic PNW getaway is worth exploring on its own!

Thanks to its location in a rain shadow, Anacortes is said to get lesser rain and snow, making it an ideal year-round destination for families looking to escape the city.

In this guide, you’ll discover six must-do activities in Anacortes, plus seasonal itineraries for the perfect Seattle-to-Anacortes day trip—whether you’re visiting in summer or winter. These recommendations come straight from our own family adventures in every season!

Map of Things To Do in Anacortes

Anacortes Guide – Things To Do

Here are all the things you can see / expect to do in Anacortes.

1. Mt.Erie [1 hour]

Mt.Erie, the highest point on Fidalgo island at ~1200ft, is located ~15 mins drive south of Anacortes downtown. Here’s what you can expect at Mt.Erie

1.1 Scenic lookouts and views

There are stairs and walkways to 4 lookout points which are built for viewing but you can go off the trail as well. The expansive views of the water, islands, the surrounding landscape is something you want to sit and stare at for quite a while.

On a clear day, you can see Mt.Baker and Mt.Rainier. If visiting in the evening, you will enjoy the sunset views and colors. You can easily spend an hour here.

There are some parts of the summit without guardrails. So those with very young kids may want to hold and watch your kids at all times. Also when it is raining, the walkways can get slippery.

1.2 Mt.Erie Hiking Trails and Climbing

There are many trails here such as Mt.Erie loop trail with Sugarloaf mountain (~7 miles/ 1200 ft elevation gain) and Whistle lake trail (~3.7 miles in length but a bit of a challenging route).

Given their length and difficulty level, these trail may not be apt for famlies with young kids. However, these hiking trails near Mt.Erie are an activity option to consider for anyone looking for more activity. Mt.Erie is also popular for its multiple climbing routes.

1.3 Getting to Mt.Erie

Coming from Seattle, take exit I-5 near Mt.Vernon and join SR 20 which takes you to Erie Mountain Drive. From the base, the road will take you up the summit within 5-10 mins drive. Road is narrow at the top and parking is limited.

2. Washington Park [2-3 hours]

Washington Park is a 220-acre city park located on the northwest tip of Anacortes by Rosario strait.

This large area (see map pic below, link here) can be explored along its 2.25 mile long one-way loop road – the big yellow path looping around the park. 

Here’s what you can expect at Washington Park driving along its one-way loop road –

2.1 Sunset Beach

Starting from the north shore, you will first arrive at Sunset beach which also has a playground for kids.

• Beach – The beach is not all sand, but not filled with big rocks either. It is a great spot to launch your kayak or paddle board. With ferries passing by, otters hanging by the shore, views of Decatur Island across from the beach and other islands in the distance, you can sit here for hours and not get tired. There are a couple of shaded spots under the trees but most of the beach is exposed. So carry an umbrella if you go on a hot sunny day.
• Playground – The play area has monkey bars and slides. It is modest but enough to keep kids busy.
• Other amenities – There is a sheltered picnic table, a boat launch area and restrooms near the beach. Parking is easy to find near Sunset Beach.

2.2 Green Point and West Beach

1 mile up the road from Sunset Beach is Green Point and West Beach with car pullouts, picnic tables and fabulous views.

• Getting to Green Point – At the 1 mile mark is Green Point, which is like a low cliff / rock outcropping with amazing views of the water. There are car pullouts to park your car amidst the trees which feels beautiful. Spots are limited, but people rotate out frequently so we’ve always found a spot here.

• At Green Point – There are many picnic tables strewn across which makes it a great spot to eat some snacks with fantabulous views. We really enjoyed taking a stop here and sitting and taking in the fresh air and the views. There is a path to get to West Beach from Green Point but it is not as straightforward as the access to Sunset Beach.

• Sunset Beach to Green Point – If you are looking to fit in some easy hiking / walking on your visit, then the 1-mile stretch from Sunset Beach to Green Point is very doable with kids.There will be a bit of a climb (~2 mins) to transition from the beach to a cliff, but after that you can walk along the loop road which is mostly flat upto Green Point. You can see the water views through the thicket of forest surrounding the loop road.

2.3 Junpier Point or Fidalgo Head

From Green Point, drive 0.5 miles further on the loop road to access the trail to Juniper Point (labeled Fidalgo Head on Google Maps) which is the westernmost tip of Washington Park.

2.4 Burrows Channel Viewpoint

The last stop on this loop road is Burrows Channel Viewpoint (labeled Washington Park Overlook on Google Maps). There is Havecost monument a little after the Viewpoint for another quick stop after which you complete the loop drive and exit near the park entrance.

• Scenic overlook – From the overlook, you get stupendous views of Burrows island. You can sit at the benches here and stare at the scenery for hours. Sunset views would be great from the overlook or from any of the stops at Washington Park.

• Hiking path – There is a path to hike down from the overlook to the waters. The path can be a bit narrow, steep and may feel a bit slippery at some points. But if you are looking to add in some hiking activity for the day, then this is your chance. While hanging out at the bottom of this overlook, we’ve had luck spotting porpoises and seals from here.

• Parking and amenities – The Overlook does not have a lot of parking space, but a couple of spaces on both sides of the road. There is a portable toilet here.

• Green Point to Burrows Channel Viewpoint – We saw many hikers along the loop road and many trails leading into the forest. The stretch from Green Point upto the Burrows Channel Viewpoint has quite a bit of incline, so I would probably stick to driving this route vs. walking / hiking unless you specifically came here to hike.

2.5 Hiking Trails / Boat Launch / Campground

There are many trails within the park that you can explore as well. The trails are numbered and can be hard to navigate, so recommend taking a map before going on a hike. There is a campground at the park for those looking for some nature adventure. There are 68 campsites for RVs and tents to choose from which can be booked here.

2.6 Getting to Washington Park

Washington Park is a 20-min drive north of Mt.Erie, 10-min drive from Anacortes downtown and 2-mins from the Anacortes ferry terminal. If you ever find yourself missing your ferry and need something to do for an hour or two, then this could be a good nearby outing. 

3. Cap Sante Park [30 mins – 1 hour]

Cap Sante Park is a 37-acre park situated on a rocky outcropping jutting out on the eastern corner of Anacortes, ~5 mins from downtown. This park is more of a scenic viewpoint, not a park or playground for kids.

There are plenty of rocks that make for good spots to sit on and take in the views of the marina, boats, seagulls. The rocky terrain means you want to watch any little ones you have from getting hurt.

Great if you can time your visit with the sunset to get some great photo-ops. This can be a quick stop from the parking lot and doesn’t require too much walking or hiking.

4. Deception Pass State Park

A visit to Deception Pass State Park is always a fun visit when you are in the area. Deception Pass State Park is spread across Whidbey Island and Fidalgo Island (where Anacortes is located).

One of our favorite spots is Rosario Beach and Rosario bluff for stunning sunset views.

Additional activities in Deception Pass State Park include

• Hiking from Rosario beach to Bowman Bay, which is about 1 mile.
• Kayak / paddleboard in Bowman bay.
• Hike Bowman Bay to Lighthouse Point with a simple scavenger hunt for kids.
• Hike to Lottie Point.
• Enjoying scenic views from Deception Pass bridge.
• Visit North Beach for some more beach time and views of the bridge. 

5. Whale Watching Cruise and Boat Tours

You can plan a whale watching trip or a boat tour from near Anacortes. There are also kayaking tours from Deception Pass State Park.

• Anacortes Waterfront Festival (June) – This is an annual festival celebrating Anacortes’ maritime heritage. You will find boat rides, boat-building competitions, children’s activities, marine wildlife displays, food vendors, live music, etc.

• Oyster Run (Sept) – This is PNW’s largest motorcycle run drawing bikers and spectators from around the region.

Calendar of Anacortes events can be found here.

Anacortes Trip Planning

• Seattle to Anacortes Drive – The drive from Seattle to Anacortes is about 1.5 hours. The stretch near Everett sometimes gets backed up with traffic, but for the most part, we’ve managed this drive in under 2 hours.

• Anacortes Summer Daytrip –
  • We’ve started our summer day trip itinerary with Mt. Erie as our first stop followed by packed lunch.
  • We then spend the afternoon at Washington Park beach and through its scenic loop road. Munch on fruits and snacks along the way.
  • Squeeze in a stop at Cap Sante Park to enjoy the sunset. End the day with dinner at Aancortes downtown before heading back home.
  • This would be a 10am-10pm kind of summer daytrip. All of these locations are within 15-min driving distance of each other, so you can shuffle them in your itinerary.

• Anacortes Weekend trip – For a weekend trip, I would keep Day 1 as above. An then visit Deception Pass State Park or North Cascaeds National Park daytrip on Day 2.

• Anacortes as a pit stop on a longer road trip – Aancortes and its attractions are a great pit-stop if you are on a longer roadtrip from Seattle to Vancouver B.C. or beyond. It is a beautiful spot to break the drive.

• Winter Day Trip to Anacortes from Seattle – We have visited Anacortes in non-summer months. With a late start and a shorter day ahead, we chose to spend all of our time at Washington Park or Rosario Beach at Deception Pass State Park only during those visits. A wintry but sunny day at the beach makes it a worthwhile outing. More of a half-day itinerary but a refreshing change to the otherwise dreary cold weekends.

• Best time to visit – Year-round – summer, spring, fall, winter

Tips for Visiting Anacortes

Kid and Family Trip Report

• Infants (upto 1 year) – Very easy for parents to carry in a carrier across all of the attractions listed above.
• Toddlers (1-3 years) and Pre-school (3-5 years) – All locations are safe and hassle-free for toddlers and pre schoolers. However, you want to watch them at all times while on Mt.Erie, Cap Sante Park and Rosario Bluff.
• Older kids – Can enjoy the beaches, the trails and overlooks independently.
• Families – Great for older parents, group or family activity. My 70+ years old parents enjoyed the trip to Aancortes.

Amenities

• Restroom facilities – available at almost all the attractions listed above.
• Cellular network – available

Food

• Anacortes Downtwon – After a busy tired day, head to Anacortes downtown for a dinner of your choice. Adrift, Dad’s Diner, A’Town Bistro are some popular options.

• Along I-5 – Or you also have an option to grab a quick meal from the many quick service restaurants along I-5 on the drive back to Seattle, which would be 1.5 hrs.

Stay

There are many campgrounds, hotels, motels, and Airbnbs around this area stretch. Any stay option around Anacortes or Burlington or Mt.Vernon will make for a convenient stay location.

Final Thoughts

Anacortes is a small but mighty destination for a fun day trip from Seattle. We have visited Anacortes in every season and cherished our time all year round.

Given it lays roughly in the rainshadow area, it is said to receive less rainfall and it is largely snow-free which makes it an aswesome outing for winter.

If you like bayside attractions, then you will love exploring these other places too –

• The sceninc Chukcanut Drive with its many hikes, beaches and coves. It is just 30 mins drive north of Anacortes.

• The beautiful Bellingham with its waterfront parks, walkways, and many more family attractions. It is located ~45 mins north of Anacortes.

• For a daytrip down south, consider visiting Olympia for family friendly activities such as waterfall trails and bayside parks.