Budget-Friendly Vacation Ideas in Washington State

Scrolling through Instagram pictures of tropical resorts, luxury lake homes and international excursions, you might think everyone is taking high-dollar vacations this summer. In fact, even with inflation and layoffs, 49% of Americans plan to travel more in 2023, according to Forbes.

As if the travel FOMO (fear of missing out) wasn't bad enough, the prospect of spending thousands of dollars on a summertime getaway can be even more frustrating if you're trying to save money and stick to a budget.

The good news is, if you live in Washington, you're surrounded by great opportunities to explore and have fun. Here are some ideas to help you control costs in four main vacation budget categories: entertainment and activities, food, lodging and transportation.

Entertainment and Activities

One way to control costs on your vacation is by being selective about your entertainment choices. Here are some ideas.

Go Hiking

Enjoy trails ranging from easy to expert in Washington's diverse geography. The cost for trail access is typically tied to parking and park entrance fees. Some trails in backcountry and wilderness areas require permits (some of which have fees), and access may be limited through a permit lottery. Check the requirements before you get to the trailhead. If you're new to hiking, learn how to stay safe before you go.

Go for a Scenic Drive

If you're looking for a great view and have gas money as part of your vacation budget, Washington has some spectacular options. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Mount Baker Highway, or Highway 542, winds east from Bellingham through Whatcom County, ending at an elevation of 5,140 at Artist Point, with stunning views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan. If you're coming from the south, consider taking Chuckanut Drive to Bellingham.
• Olympic Peninsula Loop on U.S. Highway 101 is a 300-mile route around the perimeter of Olympic National Park. Drive the whole loop or pick sections to see rainforests, Pacific Ocean beaches and lakes. Highway 101 is also the road to Forks, made famous by the "Twilight" movie series.
• Highway 14 along the Columbia River Gorge is the Washington counterpart to the popular I-84 route on the Oregon side of the gorge. You'll be treated to views of the Columbia River and Mount Hood, see the top windsurfing spots in the world, and you can visit a Stonehenge replica, built as a World War I memorial, at Maryhill.

Tour a Bunker

During World War II, military forts were built along the Strait of Juan de Fuca to defend Puget Sound. You can visit many of these sites, whether you're interested in learning some history, or you like the spooky factor of walking around old bunkers.

Many locations require a Discover Pass or other paid parking permit. Here are some of the bunkers you can visit:

• Camp Hayden in Port Angeles.
• Fort Worden in Port Townsend.
• Fort Casey on Whidbey Island.
• Fort Ebey on Whidbey Island.
• Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island.
• Fort Ward on Bainbridge Island.

Food

Whether you stay in a hotel, camp in a tent or crash with friends, meals can be one of the most expensive parts of any travel plans. Here are some ideas to control food costs:

Make Your Own Meals

If you pack your groceries (or buy them when you get to your destination) and limit yourself to one restaurant meal per day, you can reduce your food expenses and treat yourself to some truly delicious dining experiences.

Pack Your Meal as Part of the Fun

Combining packing along your meals as part of your vacation can make eating part of your outdoor experience. Whether you're hiking, road-tripping, beachcombing or visiting a park, plan to take in your surroundings while you take in a meal. Bonus: You don't have to take a break from your activity to go find a restaurant.

Prepare Local Food

The diversity of Washington's geography supports a wide variety of food. Here are a few suggestions for places to pick up local food that you can take back to your kitchen and prepare:

• Pike Place Market in Seattle.
• Shellfish farms like Hama Hama and Taylor Shellfish.
• Berry and apple farms in Whatcom County.
• Farmers Markets across Washington.
• Dungeness crab at dockside fish markets and grocery stores.
• Farm stands, orchards and other produce in Yakima Valley.

Lodging

Lodging can be another big chunk of vacation expenses. The average nightly cost of a mid-range hotel is $167 in the U.S., according to Forbes, but that number varies widely depending on where you stay and when you stay there.

Staying with friends and family can be fun — and economical. If you take your friends out for a meal or two to repay their kindness, you'll still spend less than the cost of a hotel stay.

But what if you don't know anyone who lives in your vacation destination or just prefer not to stay with friends? Here are a few money-saving options.

Go Camping

Washington is home to beautiful camping options, offering an array of mountain, rainforest, desert, beach, lake and river locations.

If you're a new camper and starting from scratch, getting geared up can be an investment. You'll want to build savings goals into your budget for purchases like a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, stove and cooler. But once you have your setup, you'll have plenty of options for low-cost accommodations.

Here are a few examples:

• Washington State Parks campsites cost $12 for a primitive campsite, up to $50 for a full-utility campsite.
• National Parks campsites cost $5 to $30 per night, according to Advnture.com. Olympic National Park, for example, costs $15 to $24 for a campground spot. National Parks also have entrance fees. Olympic National Park charges $30 for a standard vehicle entrance fee.
• Washington Department of Natural Resources manages 80 campgrounds in the state. Campsites are free, but you do need to have a Discover Pass.
• If you're not quite ready for tent camping, you can spend a little more for a "glamping" experience in a yurt or cabin, but be aware: Some cabin rentals can rival the cost of a hotel stay.

Sort by Hotel Price

If you don't already have your heart set on a destination and you just want to get away for a few days, consider choosing your vacation spot based on the price of lodging.

Go to a hotel or vacation rental website, enter your vacation dates and sort by price. For example, a search on Booking.com for three-star accommodations in Washington, July 8 - 11, for two adults, yielded 719 properties. The lowest price was $180 a night for a hotel room in Yakima, including breakfast — so maybe a winery tour is in your future.

To get the best rate on your room, our friends at Consumers' Checkbook say to be patient and remain flexible about which hotel you stay at and the dates you stay. For more tips on getting a deal on hotel stays, check out their article, "Hotel Intel: How To Find the Best Rates for Rooms."

Transportation

Transportation costs — including flights, rental cars, gas and vehicle rides — account for about 44% of vacation costs, according to Bankrate.com, citing Hopper, AAA, Ridester and Bankrate's own research.

Airfare alone averages $306 for U.S. domestic flights, $1,100 for flights to Europe and $1,800 for flights to Asia, according to Hopper, so you're already cutting out a big chunk of your vacation expenses by finding fun and relaxation closer to home.

Here are some transportation suggestions to get you to your local vacation spot and enjoy the sights once you've reached your destination.

Take Local Public Transit

Many Washington cities and counties offer bus services and other types of public transportation.

King County Metro is the largest local public transportation agency in the region, serving Seattle and all the surrounding cities and unincorporated areas of King County. An adult single-ride fare is $2.75 and a regional day pass is $8.

You can even take the bus to popular hikes along I-90 near North Bend using Metro's Trailhead Direct service. No gas or parking money required.

Other fun and affordable public transit options include Seattle's South Lake Union Streetcar and Seattle Center Monorail and Sound Transit's Link light rail.

Ride the Ferry

In addition to being a great option for getting you to and from a destination, ferries are an affordable option for just getting out on the water and enjoying the view.

Washington State Ferries are a division of the Washington State Department of Transportation and an extension of the state highway system. Ferry routes (PDF) connect passengers to locations throughout the Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands.

Prices vary, but as an example, from Seattle, an adult can walk on the ferry to Bainbridge Island for less than $10. The ride back to the city is free. If you decide to drive on the ferry with two adults and two kids under the age of 18, you'll pay less than $50. That's a pretty good deal, considering you aren't paying for airfare.

If you're planning to travel to Port Townsend or the San Juans, you can save yourself a long wait during busy travel times by making a reservation.

Find Activity-Based Transportation

If your vacation involves a specific activity, like hiking, mountain biking, wine tastings or brewery tours, check if shuttle services are available.

Here are three examples:

• To The Mountain Shuttle offers rides from Seattle to Snoqualmie Pass and the Gorge Amphitheater.
• Little Hopper provides shuttle service for craft brewery and winery tours in Yakima Valley.
• Visit Walla Walla's website has a list of wine tours and transportation options.

Resources

Figuring out where to go and what to do can be overwhelming. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• Local newspaper entertainment guides: The Seattle Times, for example, has an event and entertainment guide called "The Ticket."
• Tourism bureaus and organizations: State of Washington Tourism, Visit Seattle, Visit Spokane and Yakima Valley Tourism are examples.
• Bargain-based listings: Greater Seattle on the Cheap has a whole website dedicated to low-cost fun.
• The local library: Public libraries are great places to find free entertainment, festivals, classes, art and history.

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