Whidbey Island, WA Travel Guide

Updated: Mar 11

A forested view of the Puget Sound with a beach cove, tall trees, blue skies and ocean with a tiny island in the distance for Whidbey Island WA travel guide on Manifesting Travel.

The view from Deception Pass Bridge ©AlonzoWright

A haven for wild berry brambles, stretches of green pastures, tall grasses and sweeping water views are what you can expect from Whidbey Island, the largest of the islands in the Puget Sound. It’s a great place to get back to the simplicity of nature and all the physical, mental and spiritual benefits that come from salt water and rolling green hillsides. So, if you’re feeling cooped up and like you need a little bit of room to breathe, some long lonely stretches of beach to walk down, or to hit pause and uncomplicate things for a little while, Whidbey Island may be just what you’re looking for. Check out this quick overview of our Whidbey Island Travel Guide.

Check out more things to do on Whidbey Island

A snow capped mountain in the background with thick alpine forests lining the Puget Sound with boats floating through the coves for the Manifesting Travel Whidbey Island travel guide.

The Deception Pass Bridge connects Whidbey Island and Fidalgo Island. ©AlonzoWright

How to get to Whidbey Island, WA

If you’re coming from Seattle, you’ll drive north up the I-5 for a little over half an hour to the Mukilteo ferry terminal. There’s a decent chance the Seattle traffic will be gridlock, so you could take the 405 north through Kirkland if the traffic is lighter. The Mukilteo ferry comes every 30 minutes, and it only takes 15 minutes to get across to the Clinton ferry terminal on Whidbey Island. It’s important to note, if it’s a busy holiday weekend, the ferry fills up quickly so you could be waiting for upwards of 90 minutes for a spot on the boat. The fee is per person and per vehicle, so if you’re a group of four in a standard car, you’ll pay somewhere around $50 for a roundtrip ferry ticket.

If you’re going to Whidbey Island from the Bellingham Airport, you’re in for a pretty, albeit slightly longer drive south on the I-5 to WA-20. It’s only an hour (roughly 43 miles) from Bellingham to Deception Pass at the bridge from Fidalgo Island to Whidbey Island. And you’ll pass through some really picturesque sights along the way, like the Skagit Valley tulip fields if you’re traveling in the spring, Fidalgo Island with several good choices for lunch in Anacortes, and the worth-pulling-over-for Deception Pass State Park. If you’re staying on the southern end of Whidbey Island, the drive could take you closer to 90 minutes to two hours. Honestly, it’s still worth it for the scenery alone.

A dirt trail winds through the thick green forest with soaring trees and fallen trunks lining the trail, a blue sea and sky through the trees in the distance on Whidbey Island Washington travel guide for Manifesting Travel.