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Territory capital · United States

Port Townsend

Give it 1–2 nights on a road trip, not a dedicated trip: walk downtown and Uptown in half a day, Fort Worden in the other half.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (wet, short days)
Airports
SEA · CLM
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Port Townsend sits at the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula, where the Strait of Juan de Fuca meets Puget Sound. It is a small waterfront town (population about 9,100) known for Victorian-era buildings, a working marina and an arts calendar. Most travellers reach it by car in about two hours from Olympia or one hour from Port Angeles, and use it as a stop on an Olympic Peninsula loop rather than a destination on its own.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Port Townsend, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner mainTipping 18–22% expected.$18–35
  • Street or quick mealPizza slice$5–8
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Rothschild House or Jefferson Museum)$6 adults, $5 seniors, $1 children
  • Budget bedHostel or budget room, a night, per personUS$45
  • Mid-range bedInn or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$190
  • High-end bedInn or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$380

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$150 · High US$260

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Victorian-era downtown and UptownFort Worden Historical State ParkWooden Boat FestivalWaterfront and marina
Airports
SEA Seattle–Tacoma International (Dungeness Line bus to Port Townsend; or ferry plus bus via Bainbridge or Kingston) · CLM William R. Fairchild International (Port Angeles) (check: small regional airport with limited service; about 1 h by car)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Port Townsend: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C

2°C

16 rd

Feb

9°C

2°C

13 rd

Mar

11°C

3°C

15 rd

Apr

13°C

5°C

12 rd

May

16°C

7°C

10 rd

Jun

18°C

9°C

8 rd

Jul

21°C

11°C

5 rd

Aug

21°C

11°C

5 rd

Sep

19°C

10°C

7 rd

Oct

14°C

7°C

13 rd

Nov

10°C

4°C

17 rd

Dec

8°C

2°C

17 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is compact and gridded: Downtown along Water and Washington Streets, Uptown uphill to the northwest, Fort Worden about a mile north. Walk between Downtown and Uptown in 5–10 minutes. Jefferson Transit runs local routes (Route 2 to Fort Worden, Route 11A/11B looping Uptown and Downtown) with a $1.50 day pass; no service on Sundays or holidays. Bikes can be rented at two shops in town. Rideshare apps have historically not operated here — check current availability and book a local taxi if not.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Port Angeles

go

Door to door: About 1 h by car

US-101 west by car, or Clallam Transit Route 123 (Strait Shot) / Route 30 to Sequim then Route 8

Gateway to Olympic National Park; pair with a Hurricane Ridge or Lake Crescent day.

Sequim

go

Door to door: About 30–40 min

US-101 west by car, or Clallam Transit Route 30 to Sequim Transit Center

Lavender farms in July and a useful transfer point for buses west.

Whidbey Island (Coupeville)

go

Door to door: About 1 h plus wait

Washington State Ferries from Port Townsend, 35 min, departures about every 1½ h

Reserve a vehicle space on weekends; walk-ons rarely wait.

Forks

overnight

Door to door: About 2.5 h

US-101 west and north by car

Too far for a return day; sleep on the west side.

Aberdeen

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h

US-101 south by car

A 4 h return drive with no direct transit; better as a leg of a coast loop than a day out.

Neah Bay

overnight

Door to door: About 3 h

US-101 and SR-112 west by car

Cape Flattery trail needs a Makah recreation pass; plan a night.

Westport

overnight

Door to door: About 3 h

US-101 south then SR-105 by car

Coastal fishing town; combine with Aberdeen.

Harstine Island

skip

Door to door: About 2 h

Drive south via Shelton and SR-3

No ferry link and little to do without a specific reason; not worth the return drive.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown (Water and Washington Streets)

Walk to the ferry terminal, marina, galleries and most restaurants; the pick for one night without a car.

Uptown

Uphill from downtown, quieter, some hotels and cafés; 5–10 min walk down to the waterfront.

Fort Worden

On-site campground, cottages and houses inside the state park, about 1 mile north of downtown; car or Route 2 bus.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$120–190 excl. bed
High
$200+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Inn or hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$190US$190
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$150US$300
Jefferson Transit day pass2 × US$2US$3
Discover Pass, one day (state-park parking)1 × US$10 · checkUS$10
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$53
Trip total≈ US$293 per person per day, bed includedUS$586

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Flights and car rental excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Pizza slice$5–8
Sit-down dinner mainTipping 18–22% expected.$18–35
Museum entry (Rothschild House or Jefferson Museum)$6 adults, $5 seniors, $1 children
Movie ticket (Rose or Uptown Theater)Matinees about $1 less.$8–11
Ferry Port Townsend → Coupeville, car and driverWalk-on and bike fares are lower.check
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Port Townsend is a low-crime small town; the real risks are wet roads, wind on the water and winter darkness. Keep valuables out of sight in a parked car and check ferry and trail conditions before you set out.
  • Ferries to Coupeville take cars only with a reservation on busy weekends; walk-ons and bikes usually get on.
  • Jefferson Transit has no Sunday or holiday service — plan around it.
  • Rideshare apps have not operated in Port Townsend; check current availability and book a taxi or shuttle ahead.
  • Winter is wet and dark early; many seasonal businesses cut hours from November.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Port TownsendPort Townsend

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies in Port Townsend; nearest consulates are in Seattle (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Jefferson Transit day pass: $1.50; $1.00 seniors 60+, disabled, youth 7–18; free under 7
  • Ferry Port Townsend → Coupeville: 35 min, departures about every 1½ h; reserve a vehicle space (check)
  • Taxi in town: Book a local taxi; current fares check

US tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Port Townsend. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (wet, short days) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 8 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for SEA: Dungeness Line and ferry-plus-bus timings field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Downtown waterfront, Uptown, Fort Worden, Point Hudson.
  3. Place pages with verified hours and cutoffs (Fort Worden, Rothschild House, Jefferson Museum, Marine Science Center) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Ferry and storm fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources