Washington mid October

[Searching_Ut]

We're having to change our Arizona October vacation to Washington state. Very open to suggestions as to where to go, with an itinerary driven by the following constraints:

Week 1, depart the Salt Lake City area Saturday morning, destination???? Open to suggestions for a week and a half. The Wed of the second week we need to be close enough to Seattle that I can drop the wife off mid day for a conference downtown, and I'll pick her up mid day Friday. The dogs and I will be camping solo for those two nights, preferably camped maybe an hour or two away to the southwest being as how we'll have leave Saturday morning to be back in Utah by Sunday evening so we can return to work Monday morning. I'd like to try and keep that part of the trips driving distances as reasonable as practical hence being southwest of Seattle at that time.

I'm very open to suggestions, especially regarding what to see and where to go given the time of year.

[Searching_Ut]

DW is really interested in Gig Harbor as we've been researching it. Don't know why we haven't explored this area much being as how we generally travel an average of 7k miles a year. We've taken two cruises out of Seattle, and flown in the day prior so we could hit the market etc. and drove through once when we took a week heading up into Canada for another Alaskan cruise (Cruise ships are really just big RV's) Like all to many other areas though, never really explored in depth.

Thanks again for all the suggestions folks. DW is even interested in the reactor site which surprised me being as how I had to drag her kicking and screaming to hit places like reactor 1 at INEL, or the Thiokol site up near promitory point. So far the only recommended places we've actually been to are the ones in the Burley area being as how we hit that area multiple times in any give year. We get a lot of 3 day weekends and explore southern Idaho a great deal.

[Us_out_West]

RVcrazy wrote:
No one has mentioned Gig Harbor RV resort. It is in a good location for dropping a big rig and touring the Seattle area. For the coast, take a look at Ocean City RV park for being near Ocean Shores, although the Grayland beach is better. The Quileute RV park in La Push has a few long pull throughs. It is good for seeing the Hoh & has beautiful beaches nearby. I would suggest driving to the Southworth ferry in Port Orchard to Seattle. You can walk on and park the truck at Southworth. You could also take the ferry from Port Townsend if you were heading to the north Cascades. Different choices and different routes. Enjoy!

Think it was mentioned somewhere before but I agree with you Gig Harbor RV Resort is a great place to headquarter to visit all the places in the area.

Here was our visit last year in July.

[RVcrazy]

No one has mentioned Gig Harbor RV resort. It is in a good location for dropping a big rig and touring the Seattle area. For the coast, take a look at Ocean City RV park for being near Ocean Shores, although the Grayland beach is better. The Quileute RV park in La Push has a few long pull throughs. It is good for seeing the Hoh & has beautiful beaches nearby. I would suggest driving to the Southworth ferry in Port Orchard to Seattle. You can walk on and park the truck at Southworth. You could also take the ferry from Port Townsend if you were heading to the north Cascades. Different choices and different routes. Enjoy!

[ol__yeller]

Mid October is a perfect time to visit/camp in the Great Northwet! generally the rains don't start until November and a sunny 70 degree day is very possible. I live on the Eastside of Seattle and I avoid going into the city at all costs. I'm retired so I have that luxury. There is a lot to see and experience on both sides of the mountains (Cascades). Generally we camp on the Westside but avoid travel during rush hour which is between 6Am and 11AM and again from 1PM to about 7PM. Fridays are always bad to try to leave especially on 405 and I5 around Tacoma and again JBLM.

On the positive side our coast is unlike many you have seen. There are sandy beaches you can drive on as well as rocky craggy beaches that can only be accessed on foot. October may bring a storm in which makes beach combing interesting. There are beautiful sights around the rain forest on the Olympic Peninsula including Heart of the Hills and Hurricane Ridge. There are many State Parks along the Puget Sound that give access to Hood Canal and the scenic Olympic Mountains.

I too recommend the North Cascades Highway for a trip across the Cascade Mountains. A favorite National Campground is Colonial Creek on the banks of the amazingly beautiful Lake Diablo. The lake is the most unusual shade of green. Be warned there are no hook ups there and the North Cascades Highway will close for the winter. Further south is Highway 2 which is a beautiful drive over Steven's Pass and takes you to the enchanting Bavarian town of Leavenworth. Blewett Pass and Interstate 90 will also carry you over the Cascades. There is a beautiful campground just East of Snoqualamie Pass called Lake Easton.

There are also many sights to see along the Columbia River. I can't remember the name of it but there is a State Parks campground at Vantage that has many great views from your site of the river valley.

The best part is when you are travelling because most of the seasonal travelers have winterized their RVs and have to stay near home because the kids are in school.

Our state is a beautiful place that has mountains, lakes large and small, an amazing desert, and a gorgeous coastline with ocean beaches that generally have few folks on them. If you like to hike, there are so many options your head will spin. C'mon up, enjoy yourself but don't tell anyone.

[Bruce_and_Sue]

obgraham wrote:
I highly recommend going on a tour of the historic Hanford B Reactor, north of Tri-Cities, on your way to Seattle.

Google "Hanford tours" for the government website where you have to sign up, as the tours are very popular. But you will visit a place like nothing you have ever seen.

Free, too. Can't beat that!

I'd go along with that, for sure. My dad came from Denver to the Tri-Cities in 1944 and his first stop was the "B" Reactor. Hanford was the place where the plutonium was made that ended WW II. Fantastic tour!!

[Searching_Ut]

Thanks again for all input guys. In researching all the recommendations so far, the DW and I have definitely concluded we need to spend a lot more time exploring Washington state. We're planning to retire next year, and this area is high on our list now to explore. We've flow to Seattle a couple times, and driven through hitting key points like Multnomah falls, Mt Saint Helens, Mt. Hood etc.

After showing the DW the suggestions, we're leaning to spending the first week on the coast as she loves the Ocean and doesn't get the chance to see it very often. We're also really interested in Exploring the Hoh Rain forest for a couple days. Still trying to figure out the time period DW will be in Seattle, Since it appears based security might be an issue at some of the Southern campgrounds southern campgrounds we might just try to book the FamCamp at McCord, but are still exploring staying west of Seattle and taking the Ferry, or staying on the West side of the Cascades and doing a longer commute on the Wed and Friday. Pick up and Drop off will be noon both of those days.

[obgraham]

That said, I don't seek it out. If we concentrate on the dry side of the cascades, what can we expect temperature wise, and will we still find a lot of great places to sightsee?

October is a great time here in Eastern Washington. Can get chilly at night, but still lots of sunny days.
Things to see/do:
Hanford site -- I referred o it earlier. Take a tour.
LIGO lab at Richland, also has tours. If you're interested in physics.
Wineries and tasting rooms -- by the hindreds
Hiking -- up in the Tucannon in Eastern Washington.
Palouse Falls
Dayton WA has a superb French restaurant (I kid you not!)
Fishing, if you're into that.

Very little rain in October. As snowbirds we head out to Arizona in late October.

[catkins]

Dash Point State park is about 20-30 minutes away from I5 at 320th S plus the drive into Seattle that generally takes about one hour from down here as an average. There has been an issue with homeless at the park living in both Dash Point State park and Salt Water State park moving between the two. Not sure what it is currently.

Alternate thoughts - there are several concrete parks in Issaquah adjacent to I-90 with a straight shot into Seattle. There is also a KOA in Kent with quick access to I5 near the Kent Boeing Plant.

Lots to see and do in and around Seattle - Seattle is not RV friendly. Museum of Flight, Pike Place Market, Seattle Waterfront, the Ballard Locks, Experience Music Project, Waterfront Boat tour, Seattle Art Museum, Wooden Boats Museum and so much more.

Port Townsend has a park at the point where you can watch ferries and ships coming and going. Fun town to walk around. Lots of choices of where you might like to be

Lake Pleasant RV park gets great reviews. A little bit farther north in Marysville you can stay for free at the Tulalip Casino in a lot behind the casino. From there you can do Anacortes, Deception Pass, Whidbey Island, catch a ferry to the San Juans to Friday Harbor for lunch and then back. Love Washington, just not Seattle traffic so much anymore...........

Long time RVer and lifelong WA resident. Feel free to PM if I can answer any questions. Live south of Seattle as an FYI. Enjoy our beautiful state but don't tell anyone else!

[Searching_Ut]

Thanks for the inputs so far guys. Looks like I may have to re-think the desire to be only an hour or two from Seattle the last few days of the trip. It's looking like that will really limit our options. I didn't realize the traffic was so bad, and thought that would give me a hundred or so mile radius of the city. As I research, it appears The recommendation to stay west of Seattle as recommended may be an option being as how it looks like the ferries dock pretty close to the Hotel where the DW will be staying Wed-Fri of the second week. Are the ferries pretty reliable Mid October?

It looks like the Saltwater State park closes the end of Sept, but the Dash Point SP has spots available big enough for us. I didn't mention our rig is a fifth wheel slightly over 38ft actual length, and right about 13ft 6in in height which means tree branches can be troublesome sometimes. I'm a very experienced mountain driver and quite comfortable in the mountains. I've never been much of a fan of heavy traffic though, especially when towing. The million dollar hwy in CO doesn't bother me, SLC rush hour traffic drives me nuts.

Finally, I lived in England for 9 years, so rain doesn't keep me from enjoying the outdoors That said, I don't seek it out. If we concentrate on the dry side of the cascades, what can we expect temperature wise, and will we still find a lot of great places to sightsee?

[Marine_By_Choic]

In October you will/could/should encounter the beginning of the rainy season on the west side of tne Cascades, so, in my humble opinion (unless you like rain) I recommend staying east and coming to the wet side when required.

There are 2 state parks south of Seattle that are fairly easy to get to from downtown Seattle. I recommend using old highway 99 or 1st avenue south to avoid traffic on I-5. There will be traffic, it is narrower, but you will be moving! The 2 state parks are Dash Point State Park anf Saltwater State Park.

Plenty of hiking trails and on the beach of Puget Sound, both parks are heavily treed, and are, it seems, within your required 1 to 2 hiurs from Seattle. http://www.parks.state.wa.us

Be safe.

Searching_Ut wrote:
We're having to change our Arizona October vacation to Washington state. Very open to suggestions as to where to go, with an itinerary driven by the following constraints:

Week 1, depart the Salt Lake City area Saturday morning, destination???? Open to suggestions for a week and a half. The Wed of the second week we need to be close enough to Seattle that I can drop the wife off mid day for a conference downtown, and I'll pick her up mid day Friday. The dogs and I will be camping solo for those two nights, preferably camped maybe an hour or two away to the southwest being as how we'll have leave Saturday morning to be back in Utah by Sunday evening so we can return to work Monday morning. I'd like to try and keep that part of the trips driving distances as reasonable as practical hence being southwest of Seattle at that time.

I'm very open to suggestions, especially regarding what to see and where to go given the time of year.

[George_H]

There are many places to see and do on the West side of Puget Sound, might consider having your wife cross the sound as a foot passenger on one of the many ferries and head South on highway 101 as you head home (I5 from Olympia to I84 in Portland as a start).

[profdant139]

Have you considered the North Cascades? Or is that too far? If you are interested, let us know and I will post some suggestions for that area. Great hiking and scenery.

[obgraham]

I highly recommend going on a tour of the historic Hanford B Reactor, north of Tri-Cities, on your way to Seattle.

Google "Hanford tours" for the government website where you have to sign up, as the tours are very popular. But you will visit a place like nothing you have ever seen.

Free, too. Can't beat that!

[jamesu]

diazr2 wrote:
What ever you do give yourself at least two to four hours of sitting in traffic while your in Seattle I am up there at least three times a year and I have yet to go and enjoy the highways. The 405 is outrageous highway 5 is horrendous. It is nothing to travel 20 miles in an hour. Wish I was kidding but I am not. Once your in the city it's marvelous. Pikes market always puts a smile on my face. The Sound is beautiful just a magical place... But when you see the sign 405 be fearful my friend be fearful.. Day Night weekend middle of the day middle of the night Packed always. It once took me 4 hours to travel from Seattle to Bellevue (10 miles of nothing but freeway) oh there I go bragging again.. Yes 4 hours is a pretty darn fast pace for that place.. Oh yeah and 90 should also be avoided.. 🙂

What he said. My beloved Puget Sound region is broken. Seattle is LA now.

To get to the Washington coast west of Olympia now I leave my home 50 north of Seattle at 3am to get to Olympia and the route to the ocean before the traffic jams hit. It's no joke.