There are a wide variety of famous and impressive Washington landmarks. Whether you prefer man made landmarks such as the Seattle Space Needle or one of the many landmarks made by Mother Nature herself such as the Hoh Rainforest, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for in Washington.
Wondering where to start your planning process? You’ve come to the right place. Below are the top ten Washington landmarks.
Top Landmarks in Washington
Washington Landmarks
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula offers visitors a chance to see and explore glacier-capped peaks, hot springs, 60 miles of Pacific coastline, and even a rainforest. It’s one of the most diverse national parks in the country and is home to over 650 archeological sites.
Be sure to visit Hoh Rainforest, one of the last remaining temperate rainforests in the country. You’ll also want to see the sun set at Ruby Beach.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Looking for more to do? Seattle is nearby, offering lots to explore, including the super fun Museum of Pop Culture. It’s also a short trip across the border into Canada to visit Victoria, British Columbia where you can see the Royal BC Museum.
When it’s time to get some rest, head to one of the in-park campgrounds for a totally immersive camping experience.
Space Needle
An iconic spire in Seattle, the Space Needle is both an observation tower and a restaurant. It is a must see if you’re looking for local landmarks and famous buildings.
A trip to the top of the Space Needle not only provides visitors with views of the Seattle skyline, but also of the Cascade and Olympic mountains, Mount Rainier, and Puget Sound.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
While in Seattle, make sure to take in all the sights. The aforementioned Museum of Pop Culture is amazing, as are the Chihuahua Garden and Glass Museum and Pike Place Market. On top of all that, you’re also right outside Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, and the Puget Sound for outdoor activities.
One of the best RV campgrounds near Seattle is Tall Chief RV Campground.
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is another famous natural landmark you’ll want to see. Not only is Mount Rainier an active volcano, it’s also the most glaciated peak in the continental United States.
The park offers amazing hiking through old growth forests and wildflower covered meadows. It’s open to visitors year round and provides plenty of adventures in all seasons.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
The first 3 landmarks on our list are all close together, so be sure to check out Seattle and Olympic National Park as well. If you’re on the eastern side of the park, it’s not too far to Yakima if you’d like to visit wine country.
As far as camping goes, we recommend staying in one of the onsite NPS campgrounds in order to experience the entire park.
North Cascades National Park
Washington has no shortage of amazing national parks. If you’re heading up to the northern part of the state, make a stop at North Cascades National Park. It’s one of the most remote national parks in the country and is full of views and hiking trails through the snow-capped Cascades Mountains with over 300 glaciers!
It’s important to note that you’ll need a backcountry pass to access some of this remote beauty. That said, whether you choose to explore the backcountry or not, North Cascades National Park isn’t to be missed!
Attractions and Camping Nearby
North Cascades National Park is pretty remote, and most of the things to do in the area are outdoors. The best time to go is in summer when you can visit Diablo Lake, and there are several smaller towns such as Mount Vernon to visit nearby.
You can camp in the national park, which is what we recommend doing. Just make your reservations as early as possible.
Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Falls is a 268 ft waterfall on the Snoqualmie River. It’s surrounded by a 2-acre park, observation decks, and hiking trails where you can view the waterfall, which is absolutely beautiful. After heavy rains, the water covers the entire falls, creating a curtain effect, making it an extra amazing sight to see.
If the falls look a bit familiar, that’s because they were featured in the TV show Twin Peaks!
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Snoqualmie is a small town about 25 miles from Seattle, so going into the city to explore is totally an option. Besides that, the Northwest Railway Museum is located in Snoqualmie and is the oldest and largest railway museum in Washington.
Blue Sky RV Park is just a few miles from Snoqualmie Falls and is a wonderful place to stay while you explore the area.
San Juan Island National Historic Park
The San Juan Islands are just off the coast of western Washington, with the second largest being San Juan Island itself. Here you’ll find San Juan Island National Historic Park, also known as the American and English Camps. The island was once a disputed territory between the British and Americans over a pig killed in the Pig War during the 1800s.
Today the island is home to the American Camp on the southern end of the island and the British Camp on the northwest side. It provides visitors with great hiking as well as bird and orca watching.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
While you’re there, explore the rest of the San Juan islands, visit Olympic National Park, and wander through Seattle. You can also visit Puget Sound.
There is no camping available in the park itself, but San Juan County Park is nearby and offers lovely campsites.
Puget Sound
Just south of the San Juan Islands is Puget Sound, a collection of waterways and islands in an inlet of the Pacific Ocean and part of the Salish Sea.
The sound is full of activities for adventurers. One of the best spots is Deception Pass State Park where you can hike, camp, boat, and explore tide pools. There’s also Blake Island State Park which is home to Tillicum Village, where visitors can learn about Pacific Northwest Native American culture.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Not sure what to do? Take advantage of the water and do some boating, whale watching, and island hopping. You can also head up to the San Juan Islands or back to the mainland and visit Olympic National Park and Seattle.
There are a number of RV parks near Puget Sound. One great pick is Thousand Trails La Conner, but you can also camp at many of the state parks in the area.
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Mount St. Helens is a majestic volcano that became a national monument after its eruption in the 1980s.
Today you can hike on the many trails, camp, picnic, and even climb to the summit of the volcano. Stop by the visitors center to learn about the local geology and natural history of the area. You can also explore the Ape Cave lava tube, which is the third longest lava tube in America.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
The main attraction is, of course, the volcano itself, and there are many visitor centers and museums in the area that will help you learn all about it. St. Helens also offers relatively easy access to both Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon, making it possible to get in some city fun if you so choose.
Mount St. Helen’s RV Park is one of many wonderful places to park your RV while sightseeing around the volcano.
Arthur Foss Tugboat
The Arthur Foss tugboat is likely the oldest wooden tugboat that is still floating. This boat was built in 1889 to tow ships over the Columbia River bar, was part of the Klondike Gold Rush, and was requisitioned by the U.S. Navy in World War II. It escaped bombing both at Pearl Harbor and Wake Island during WWII and is now a National Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places.
These days, it is docked at the Historic Ships Wharf at Seattle’s Lake Union Park and is available for tours in summer.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
You’ll be in Seattle, so check out the sights there. Stop by the Space Needle then head out of town to any of the great national and state parks nearby.
Another great Seattle area RV park is Vasa Park Resort, which offers a lovely, peaceful environment with easy access to the city.
Pacific Crest Trail
Hardcore hikers will be familiar with the Pacific Crest Trail that runs through Washington into Canada.
Also called the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, this long distance hiking and equestrian trail runs from just north of the Washington border down to the southern border of California. The trail is 2,653 miles long and is one of the trails that makes up the Triple Crown of Hiking.
Long distance hikers can hike the entire trail, but anyone can explore parts of it.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
The Pacific Crest Trail runs the length of the state and is pretty remote in some parts. It does pass close to Snoqualmie as well as east of North Cascades National Park though, meaning you want to hike a bit of the trail while visiting these spots.
There are several RV campgrounds along the trail. Ashland’s Creekside Campground and RV Park is one good pick.
Planning an RV Trip to Washington
An RV trip is an excellent way to tour the Washington landmarks and see all the other attractions the state has to offer. While you’re there, make sure to see the best state parks in Washington, as well as all the national parks the state plays host to.
