If you’re looking for the perfect coastal getaway near Seattle, Washington then Whidbey Island should be at the tip of your list! This beautiful island has charming historic towns, hikes through lush forests, amazing locally produced food, and a stunning coastline for exploring or relaxing. Located just a short ferry ride or a two hour drive from Seattle, Whidbey Island offers abundant opportunities to relax, hike, and escape the crowds of the city. In our Whidbey Island weekend itinerary we share the perfect way to spend two days exploring Whidbey Island, including all the best activities on Whidbey Island! We also share the best times of year to visit Whidbey Island, how to get to the island, and what to pack for a weekend getaway to Whidbey.

Looking for more Whidbey Island weekend itinerary inspiration? Click here for our list of the 11 best hikes on Whidbey Island.

Whidbey Island weekend itinerary

Everything you need to know before visiting Whidbey Island

Below you’ll find everything you need to know when preparing for a weekend getaway to Whidbey Island, including the best times of year to visit, how to get to Whidbey Island, and what to pack.

The best times of year to visit Whidbey Island

Whidbey Island’s location on the coast means that the island is fairly temperate year-round. That makes Whidbey a perfect year-round Pacific Northwest destination!

If weather is a big factor in your travel plans then here are a few facts to keep in kind. The coldest months to visit are in winter, when the average highs are in the mid 40s (Fahrenheit). August is the hottest month on the island, with an average high in the upper 60s. According to U.S. Climate Data, precipitation on Whidbey island is highest in November, December, and January. We visited in February and had a mix of rain, clouds, sun, and wind.

How to get to Whidbey Island

There are two main ways to get to Whidbey Island. The first option is to drive up to Mount Vernon, Washington and then cut west on highway 20. This will bring you through Deception Pass State Park and onto the island. Driving from downtown Seattle to Coupeville (which is located in the middle of the island) takes about 2 hours without traffic.

Another option is to take the ferry, which is a quintessential Washington experience! You can catch a ferry from Mukilteo or from Port Townsend. We’ll go over ferry logistics below. Note that the ferries fill up quickly on weekends during peak hours. To avoid long trips, you can find the best travel times here. 

What to pack for a weekend on Whidbey Island

The island is fairly casual, so I recommend packing cute and cozy basics from Toad & Co. for your trip, including sweaters (year-round), pants, and shorts (for summer). Toad’s high quality basics are easy to mix and match, making them an ideal choice for all styles.

For hiking, I recommend bringing gear that is appropriate for windy and rainy weather. You can find all of our hiking gear recommendations below.

2 day Whidbey Island weekend itinerary

This two-day Whidbey Island weekend itinerary is filled with fantastic hikes, cute coastal towns, and delicious local food. This itinerary starts at the southern end of Whidbey at the Clinton ferry terminal, and ends at the northern end of the island at Deception Pass State Park. The lodging we suggest, which is described below, is centrally located on the island. 

Note: this itinerary starts on a Friday evening so that you can pick up some delicious local food from the Whidbey Island Grown Cooperative. This is perfect for making some of your own meals while on the island! If you’re not planning to order from the co-op (or if you plan to stay in a hotel without a kitchen) you can arrive later in the evening.

Friday evening itinerary for Whidbey Island

Catch the ferry to Whidbey Island

Start your trip late Friday afternoon by taking the ferry to Whidbey Island. If you are coming from the Seattle area you’ll want to take the Mukilteo ferry to Clinton, which is a 20 minute ride; if you are coming from the Olympic Peninsula, you’ll want to take the Port Townsend ferry to Coupville, which is a 35 minute ride. Alternatively, you can skip the ferry and drive.

Travel tip: Keep an eye on the water during your ferry ride! Depending on the time of year, you may be able to see migrating whales swimming in the Puget Sound! 

Pick up local food from the Whidbey Island Grown Cooperative

One of my favorite things about Whidbey Island is the abundance of locally grown, farm-fresh food. If you opt to stay at a lodging location with a kitchen or kitchenette, I recommend ordering some food from the Whidbey Island Grown Cooperative. This is a local food hub that sells an array of local food items from various farmers, bakers, and makers on and around the island. They sell a wide range of products, including fresh bread, eggs, locally roasted coffee, fresh pasta and sauces, and salad greens. This is a great way to support the island and its producers!

The Food Hub allows people to place online orders from Friday through Tuesday each week, with scheduled pickups on Friday evenings. There are six pickup spots on the island each Friday – we picked up our order from 4-6 PM in Coupeville (Scenic Isle Farm), which was conveniently located near our rental house. If you cannot make it to the island in time on Friday, or are looking for other food options, the Greenbank Pantry has a great selection of local food!

Check in to your vacation rental

I recommend staying in or around Coupeville during your visit to Whidbey Island. With great views of Puget Sound, Coupeville is quaint, walkable, and has delicious food. Some great lodging options nearby include Heron House on the Cove or the Admiralty Retreat, which are both located on the water and have full kitchens. Coupeville is centrally located near a ton of great hiking options, which is why we recommend this area as a home base. 

Saturday itinerary for Whidbey Island

Breakfast at Flower House Cafe

Start your day off with breakfast at Flower House Cafe. This adorable cafe in a garden center prioritizes fresh, locally sourced ingredients. We enjoyed their specialty coffees, as well as their pastries. However, they also have hearty menu options like egg scrambles, breakfast burritos, and granola bowls.

Hike the Possession Point State Park Loop

The Possession Point State Park Loop is a 1.7 mile hike located at the southernmost tip of Whidbey Island. Highlights of this trail include beautiful woodland, a hike along the beach, and abundant shorebird viewing opportunities. Along this wooded trail you’ll get periodic glimpses of the Puget Sound and, on a clear day, the mountains. Once you do a loop through the forest you will descend down to the beach. Here you will find beautiful rocks, sweeping views of the nearby mountains, and an abundance of shorebirds and ducks. We even saw a bald eagle sitting in one of the trees, and a beaver swimming in Puget Sound! You’ll also pass by towering cliffs left behind by ancient glaciers.

Travel tip: this hike requires a Washington Discover Pass. You can purchase one online here. Pets are allowed, but they must be on leash at all times.

Hike the Trustland Trails Multi-use Trail Loop

Maintained by the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation Department, the Trustland Trails Multi-use Trail Loop is a 1.7 mile loop trail that takes you through dense forest. This is a great casual trail for families, and includes lots of great coastal shrubs and plants. This path is relatively flat and includes a very few tripping hazards, making it a great option for families or people looking for a casual stroll. The trail is also wider, making it easy to walk side-by-side with another person. 

Travel tip: The Trustland trails ‘Serenity Loop’ leaves from the same parking lot and is ADA accessible. It goes up a gentle slope on tightly packed gravel. The wide trail offers excellent views of the fungi, moss, and trees in the area. More ADA accessible trails on Whidbey Island can be found here.

Lunch at Greenbank Pantry & Deli

Grab a fresh sandwich at the Greenbank Pantry and Deli. Their deli sandwiches are generously sized, they use fresh house made bread rolls, and they have a variety of options for meat-eaters and non-meat eaters alike. This is always our go-to lunch spot when we’re on Whidbey Island. We both ordered the ‘roasted veggie’ sandwich which came with seasonal roasted veggies, feta, arugula, lemon tahini on a fresh semolina roll. Delicious! 

Hike Ebey’s Landing Trail

The Ebey’s Landing Trail is 3.6 miles and features stunning, sweeping views of the nearby mountains, ocean, and forest. This hike is part of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, which is jointly managed by several entities, including the National Park Service.

From the parking lot, this hike immediately begins to ascend up a cliff overlooking the water and farmland. During the hike you’ll get sweeping views of the ocean and the Olympic mountain range before beginning a gradual descent along the bluff back down to the beach. The end of the trail is along the beach, which has lots of beautiful rocks and driftwood. 

Travel tip: this hike requires a Washington Discover Pass. You can purchase one online here. 

Relax and make dinner at home

If you opted for lodging that has a kitchen – and especially if you picked up food from the Whidbey Island Grown Cooperative – end your day by making a delicious homemade meal. With beach houses, there is something extra relaxing about making your own dinner while watching the waves crashing on the beach from your house. Using our ingredients from the food hub, we made a homemade meal of locally-produced tortellini, marinara sauce, and a side salad, with a delicious dessert of marionberry pie from Whidbey Pies!

Sunday itinerary for Whidbey Island

Breakfast at rental

Start off your second morning with a slow breakfast at your hotel or rental. Some local food options you can order from the Whidbey Island Grown Cooperative include locally roasted coffee from Foxglove Farm, eggs and microgreens from Whidbey Island Mushroom, and fresh bread from Little Red Hen Bakery. We made egg sandwiches with microgreens, and a side of kimchi from Britt’s Fermented Foods.

Explore Fort Casey

Fort Casey Historical State Park preserves historic military batteries and a beautiful 1903 lighthouse. The 1.9 mile Fort Casey loop trail is a great way to explore the area, and the trail will take you by the ocean, the batteries, and the lighthouse. 

Visit the Price Sculpture Forest

This short 0.6 mile hike is a personal favorite, and one I’ve done many times! The Price Sculpture Forest is a green space with abundant public art and sculptures tucked into the forest. It’s truly a unique experience, and it’s also totally free to visit!

Have lunch at Goldie’s in Coupeville

Goldie’s in downtown Coupeville is known for their delicious wood-fired artisan pizzas and pastas. They source most of their ingredients locally – the wheat for their pizza dough is grown just a few miles away from the restaurant! Goldie’s is open for lunch and dinner. 

Explore historic Coupeville

After lunch, take a stroll around downtown Coupeville. This quaint, oceanside town has some amazing little shops which are perfect for window shopping – our favorite was the Kingfisher Bookstore. The Island County Historical Museum is also located on the waterfront and tells about the history of Whidbey Island, including the indigenous people, local ecology, and colonial settlements. It was closed when we were in town, but admission is free!

Hike at Del Fairfax Preserve Trail or Strawberry Point Preserve 

Next, choose your own adventure at one of two sites managed by the Whidbey Camano Land Trust: Del Fairfax Preserve or Strawberry Point Preserve. The Del Fairfax Preserve Trail is an easy 1.2 mile loop hike that is perfect for families. The 244-acre Strawberry Point Preserve has a lovely 1.8 mile hiking trail that winds through forest and a meadow. This is a “lollipop” style trail, and features some elevation gain. 

Hike at Dugualla state park

End your day with a hike at Dugualla State Park. There are a number of trails in Dugualla State Park, with varying lengths. We opted to do the 4 mile Wetland to Big Loop to North Loop. Note that this particular hike had nearly 500 feet of elevation gain, which is mostly concentrated on the portion of trail that takes you to the beach. 

I hope you found this Whidbey Island weekend itinerary helpful! Looking for more Whidbey Island weekend itinerary inspiration? Click here for our list of the 11 best hikes on Whidbey Island.