Driving and/or Car Rental are a must!
You can reach Sequim either by driving up I‑5 and looping around the south end of Puget Sound, or by combining the drive with a Puget Sound ferry from Edmonds–Kingston or Seattle–Bainbridge. The all‑road route is usually the most predictable, while the ferry routes are more scenic and give visitors the classic Washington experience. Instructions for ways to get to Sequim are below.
Travel from the Airport
Traveling from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Sequim is one of those classic Pacific Northwest journeys where the distance is short but the route choices shape the experience. The two main ways to get there—driving around the peninsula or taking a ferry.
Overall distance and travel time: Sequim is roughly 85–100 miles from SEA depending on the route. Typical travel time ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 hours, with ferries adding variability.
Option 1: Drive around the south end of Puget Sound
This is the no‑ferry, all‑road option. Travel time is 2.5–3 hours, depending on traffic around Tacoma and the Hood Canal Bridge. The Hood Canal Bridge occasionally opens for marine traffic, which can add 10–30 minutes.
What the route looks like
- WA‑104 → US‑101 west into Sequim
- SEA → I‑5 south through Tacoma
- Tacoma → WA‑16 across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge
- WA‑3 → WA‑104 across the Hood Canal Bridge
- WA‑16 → WA‑3 north through Bremerton and Poulsbo
Option 2: Take a ferry across Puget Sound
This is the classic Washington experience and often the most scenic. Ferries take time, more so in the summer. Ferries are beautiful—views of Seattle, the Olympics, and sometimes whales. They run frequently but can have wait times, especially summer weekends. You stay in your car or walk around the boat. Ferries are easy—you just drive on and off. The “drive around” route is more consistent but can be slow near Tacoma. Total time: usually 3–3.5 hours, depending on ferry wait times.
There are two practical ferry routes from the airport area:
A) Seattle (downtown) → Bainbridge Island
- Drive SEA → downtown Seattle (20–30 minutes)
- Ferry crossing: 35 minutes
- Drive Bainbridge → Sequim via WA‑305 → WA‑3 → WA‑104 → US‑101 (1.5 hours)
B) Edmonds → Kingston
- Drive SEA → Edmonds (45–60 minutes)
- Ferry crossing: 30 minutes
- Drive Kingston → Sequim via WA‑104 → US‑101 (1 hour)
Travel from I-5
Traveling to Sequim from either Portland (south) or Bellingham (north) using I‑5 and US‑101 follows two clean, highway‑based routes that meet near Olympia before heading up the Olympic Peninsula. The directions below give an out‑of‑towner a clear sense of the path, the transitions between highways, and what the drive feels like. 3.5–4.5 hours, depending heavily on Seattle/Tacoma traffic.
From the South: Portland, OR → Sequim (via I‑5 and US‑101)
Route overview
- Take I‑5 North out of Portland and continue through Vancouver, Longview, and Centralia.
- Approaching Olympia, take the exit for US‑101 North toward Shelton/Port Angeles.
- Stay on US‑101 North as it curves along Hood Canal through Shelton, Hoodsport, and Quilcene.
- Continue on US‑101 across the open, sunny stretch of the Olympic rain shadow until you reach Sequim.
What the drive feels like
- The I‑5 portion is straightforward interstate driving.
- Once on US‑101, the scenery shifts to forests, water views, and small towns along Hood Canal.
- The final 20–30 miles flatten out into Sequim’s sunny valley.
Typical travel time
- 4.5–5 hours depending on traffic around Olympia.
From the North: Bellingham, WA → Sequim (via I‑5 and US‑101)
Route overview
- Take I‑5 South from Bellingham through Mount Vernon, Everett, and Seattle.
- Continue south past Tacoma until you reach the Olympia area.
- Take the exit for US‑101 North toward Shelton/Port Angeles.
- Follow US‑101 North along Hood Canal and continue all the way to Sequim.
Side Quest – Victoria BC
Bring your Passports and visit Victoria BC!
This is a day trip and so wonderful – as if you are in Europe for the day. We love our neighbors to the north! It is just a 1.5 hour trip ferry ride over and you walk on.
