Port Townsend
Discover Port Townsend
Port Townsend is a city at the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula, in Washington, where the Strait of Juan de Fuca meets the Puget Sound. In addition to its natural scenery, it is known for its Victorian architecture and thriving arts scene. 48.10908-122.773261 Port Townsend Visitor Center, 2409 Jefferson St (off Sims Way, between Benedict St and Decatur St), ☏ +1 360-385-2722. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-4PM. Maps, brochures, ferry reservations, customized itineraries and information from local experts
Taste of Port Townsend...
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Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Port Townsend.
Fort Worden is on 433 acres on a former military base, on the north side of Port Townsend. Three forts—Fort Worden, Fort Flagler, and Fort Casey—were built at the entrance to Puget Sound, creating a "Triangle of Fire" to thwart any invasion attempt by sea. Fort Worden features more than two miles of beachfront and high bluffs, with views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It contains a number of accommodations, from simple campgrounds (albeit with views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca for some of them) to cottages, houses, and even a small castle. The buildings of the former military base have been repurposed into a number of attractions, listed below:
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple Optionsto From U.S. 101 at the tip of Discovery Bay, State Route 20 (SR-20) splits off and runs 30 mi (48 km) into downtown. Port Townsend is roughly a two-hour drive north of Olympia, and one hour east of Port Angeles. to SR-19 comes up from SR-104 west of the Kingston Ferry Terminal near the Hood Canal Bridge and terminates at SR-20 just south of town. Traffic coming from the Seattle area will want to take the Downtown to Bainbridge Island or the Edmonds to Kingston Ferries towards the peninsula. Travelers make connections between Jefferson Transit buses at Haines P&R south of town. See schedules here. Washington State Ferries (WSF) operates the Port Townsend / Coupeville route, connecting Whidbey Island to the Olympic Peninsula. SR-20 continues north from Coupeville (at the other side), around Whidbey Island, through Deception Pass and Anacortes, to I-5 (exit 230) in Burlington. Reservations are recommended for vehicles....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Port Townsend has a compact, walkable, gridded center, divided into Downtown and Uptown. Jefferson Transit, ☏ +1 360-385-4777, toll-free: +1-800-371-0497. Jefferson County's local transit agency operates bus routes within the county to Brinnon, Port Hadlock, Port Ludlow, Port Townsend, and Quilcene. Some bus routes travel to and from destination beyond the county, including Poulsbo (route 7), Sequim (route 8), Kingston Ferry Terminal (route 14). Bus routes terminate in Port Townsend at 48.10897-122.781333 Haines Place Park and Ride. There is no service on Sundays or holidays. (updated Jun 2023) Fares are $1.50 for a daily pass; $1.00 for seniors 60+, disabled, and youth 7-18; and free for children 6 and under. The most useful routes for visitors, running hourly, are: As of December 2020, ride-sharing services such as Uber or Lyft are banned, and not available. Fort Worden is on 433 acres on a former military base, on the north side of Port Townsend.
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Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Port Townsend
stairway to...
Lighthouse at Fort Worden on Puget Sound.
Shops viewed from the sound
Tar on pier support
a car with a person in the driver seat
Majestic Symbol
pink and white flowers with green leaves
orange buoy
Port Townsend Ferry - 6/28/20
Sunset
stairway to...
Lighthouse at Fort Worden on Puget Sound.
Shops viewed from the sound