A Lavender Day Trip
from Seattle

Seattle has a lot of good weekend escapes. Only one of them ends with you cutting your own bundle of lavender under snow-capped mountains in a valley that gets less rain than Los Angeles. Sequim sits in the Olympic rain shadow, ninety minutes northwest of the city, and from mid-June through mid-September its twelve family farms turn the valley violet. You can absolutely do it in a day — and this is the plan that makes the most of it.

Getting there: which ferry, what time

The drive is part of the magic. Two Washington State Ferry routes get you across Puget Sound and onto the Olympic Peninsula:

• Edmonds → Kingston (about 30 min on the water) — usually the fastest from north Seattle, then a scenic 50-minute drive west to Sequim.
• Seattle → Bainbridge Island (about 35 min) — the prettiest crossing, with downtown skyline views, then roughly 70 minutes to Sequim across the Hood Canal Bridge.

Either way, plan to leave Seattle by 8:00 AM. Summer ferries and festival weekend fill up — make a vehicle reservation at wsdot.com/ferries. Prefer to skip the car entirely? You can walk on and rent in Sequim, but a car makes the farm loop far easier.

The perfect lavender day, hour by hour

1. 8:00 AM — Catch the ferry. Coffee on the bow, skyline behind you.
2. 9:30 AM — Arrive in the valley as the fields open. Morning light is best for photos and the air is at its most fragrant.
3. 9:45–12:00 — Your first two farms. U-pick a bundle, watch a distillation demo, browse a gift shop you can't find anywhere else.
4. 12:00 PM — Lunch in downtown Sequim or at a farm café — many serve lavender lemonade and lavender ice cream.
5. 1:00–3:30 — Two or three more farms, spread across the valley. Save the most photogenic for golden afternoon light.
6. 4:00 PM — Optional detour: the Dungeness Spit (longest natural sand spit in the US) is fifteen minutes away, or point the car toward Hurricane Ridge for Olympic National Park views.
7. 5:30 PM — Head back to the ferry, bundle of lavender on the passenger seat.

Most people come for a quick farm visit and end up planning a return trip before they're back on the boat.

Which farms to choose

All twelve SLGA member farms are family-run, most are free, and most are within ten minutes of each other. Rather than pick favorites, build a loop that fits your day — our free trip planner lets you choose farms and groups them geographically so you're not zig-zagging the valley. Browse them all on the farm map.

Tips, parking & what to bring

• Parking is free at the farms; bring cash for u-pick bundles ($5–15) and vendor stalls.
• Wear real shoes — these are working farms, not manicured gardens.
• Sun hat, sunscreen, water. Sequim is the sunniest spot in Western Washington.
• Reserve your return ferry so the end of the day is stress-free.
• Coming in July? The 30th Annual Lavender Festival (July 17–19) turns the whole valley into a celebration — plan for bigger crowds and take the free shuttle.

Common questions

How far is Sequim from Seattle?

About 90 minutes via the Bainbridge or Kingston ferry, or roughly two hours by the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The ferry is more scenic and more relaxing.

Can you really see the farms in one day?

Yes — three to five farms plus lunch is a comfortable day. The farms cluster within a fifteen-mile radius.

When should I come?

Mid-June through mid-September, peak in mid-July. Early mornings and weekdays are quietest.

More planning help: Where to stay in Sequim · Make it a 3-day Olympic Peninsula trip · Bloom season & the 12 farms