Washington State, located in the Pacific Northwest corner of the United States, is a land of dramatic contrasts — from the rain-soaked temperate rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula to the volcanic peaks of the Cascades and the arid shrub-steppe of the east. Home to Seattle, one of America's most dynamic cities, the state blends state-of-the-art technology culture with stunning wilderness, world-class food and coffee scenes, and some of the continent's most diverse outdoor adventure.
Local currency: US Dollar (USD).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Washington.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $30-50/night (dorm bed)
- Budget
- $80-120/night (budget motel/hotel)
- Midrange
- $150-250/night (mid-range hotel)
- Luxury
- $300-600+/night (luxury hotel/resort)
Food
- Street
- $8-15 (street food/food truck meal)
- Local
- $15-25 (casual restaurant meal)
- Midrange
- $30-60 (mid-range restaurant with drinks)
- Fine
- $80-200+ (fine dining with wine)
Transport
- Bus
- $2.75 (King County Metro single ride)
- Taxi
- $15-30 (typical Seattle Uber/taxi ride)
- Airport
- $35-55 (taxi from SEA airport to downtown)
- Daytrip
- $40-100 (rental car for a day trip)
Activities
- Museum
- $20-30 (most Seattle museums)
- Sites
- $11-35 (Discover Pass or National Park entry)
- Tour
- $25-80 (guided city tour)
- Excursion
- $80-150 (whale watching or guided national park trip)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Washington costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$525 for 7 days
Midrange traveller
$1,400 for 7 days
Luxury traveller
$3,500+ for 7 days
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Purchase the America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80) for unlimited access to all national parks — pays for itself after two visits
Washington State Discover Pass ($30/year) covers all state parks
Seattle CityPASS ($79 for adults) includes Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, Chihuly, and more
Take the ferry to Bainbridge Island as a cheap excursion — the ferry ride itself is scenic
Visit national park visitor centers for free ranger programs and talks
Eat at Pike Place Market vendors for fresh, affordable local food
Happy hour dining (typically 3-6PM) at upscale Seattle restaurants offers significant savings
Costco is headquartered in Washington — membership ($65/year) can save on groceries and gas
Many Seattle museums offer free first Thursday evenings
Link Light Rail from SEA airport to downtown ($3.50) beats a taxi ($45+)
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Olympic Sculpture Park
Free outdoor sculpture park along Seattle's waterfront with stunning mountain views
Pike Place Market wandering
Free to wander and watch the fishmongers; just buy what looks good
Discovery Park
Seattle's largest park with forest trails, bluffs, and ocean views
Fremont neighborhood
Wander through Seattle's quirkiest neighborhood and see the Fremont Troll and monuments
Chihuly Garden (exterior)
Partial views of the glass art from outside Seattle Center are free
Kerry Park viewpoint
The best free view of the Seattle skyline with Space Needle framed by Mount Rainier
Gasworks Park
Iconic Seattle park on Lake Union with views of downtown and the Space Needle
Burke-Gilman Trail
27-mile multi-use trail through Seattle neighborhoods along Lake Washington
North Cascades Highway (SR-20)
One of America's most scenic drives, free to drive (seasonal)
Chuckanut Drive
Free scenic coastal highway with panoramic bay and island views
Washington State Capitol Campus
Free to visit the impressive state capitol building and grounds in Olympia
Spokane Riverfront Park
Beautiful urban park along the Spokane River with falls views
Columbia River Gorge scenic areas
Many viewpoints and short trails are free along this stunning river canyon
Fort Worden State Park
Historic fort with beaches and bunkers on the Olympic Peninsula