Overview

A two-day bike touring trip can turn a weekend into a vacation, and the Port Townsend area has multiple spectacular campgrounds that have hiker/biker sites and showers. Starting and ending in Seattle, this ride takes you over Bainbridge Island to the Kitsap Peninsula, where you can stop at Butcher and Baker Provisions to fuel up before crossing to the Olympic Peninsula and riding onward to Marrowstone Island.

• Day 1: Seattle Ferry Terminal to Fort Flagler
• Day 2: Fort Flagler to Seattle

Day 1: Seattle Ferry Terminal to Fort Flagler

In one day, you have one ferry, two peninsulas, and three islands. You start your day at the Seattle Ferry Terminal and catch a morning ferry to Bainbridge Island. You ride straight across Bainbridge Island to the Kitsap Peninsula, where you take a more scenic route north to Port Gamble. After eating lunch in Port Gamble, you cross the Hood Canal Bridge to the Olympic Peninsula before biking through Indian and then Marrowstone Islands. Pay no attention to the nuclear arsenal.

Distance

Approx. 44 miles

Logistics

Ferries

• Bainbridge Ferry
  • Common departure times: 8:55 AM, 9:35 AM
  • But check the schedule

Food

• Lunch: Butcher and Baker Provisions is a fantastic restaurant in Port Gamble that shouldn’t be missed.
• Dinner: Bring food to cook at the campground. You pass a small grocery store on Marrowstone island, but its offerings are limited.

Camping

This route takes you to Fort Flagler, but with minimal route modifications, you could camp at Fort Townsend or Fort Worden instead.

Route

1. At the Seattle Ferry Terminal, catch the ferry to Bainbridge Island.
2. Head northwest toward WA-305 N Ferry Dock Olympic Dr SE
3. R onto WA-305 N/Olympic Dr SE – 7.1 miles
4. R onto Suquamish Way NE – 1.3 miles
5. L onto Division Ave NE – 0.4 miles
6. L NE Columbia St – 1.7 miles
   • Continue straight: Port Gamble Rd NE – 3.3 miles
7. R WA-307/Bond Rd NE – 243 feet (really, you just need to cross the road to continue on Port Gamble Rd NE)
8. L Port Gamble Rd NE – 1.1 miles
9. L WA-104 W – follow to the bridge to the Olympic Peninsula, and then follow the Adventure Cycling Washington Parks Section 1 route map, or continue following the directions below.
10. R Paradise Bay Rd – 6.0 miles
11. R Oak Bay Rd – 6.9 miles
    • Slight right onto Old Oak Bay Rd – 0.5 miles
    • Continue onto Oak Bay Rd – 1.2 miles
12. R WA-116 E/Flagler Rd – 0.9 miles
13. Slight right onto WA 116 E – 1.9 miles
14. Slight left onto Flagler Rd – 5.0 miles

Day 2: Fort Flagler to Seattle

You could reverse your route and ride back the way you came, but why not try a new route with a new ferry? The return ride starts with a detour down the east side of Marrowsonte Island before taking you to the Kingston to Edmonds ferry and then down the Interurban Trail back into Seattle.

Distance

Approx. 55 miles, depending on where in Seattle you end your trip

Logistics

Ferries

The Kingston to Edmonds Ferry departs slightly more often than once per hour, but check the schedule to verify departure times.

Food

• Lunch: In Edmonds, you have no shortage of lunch options. I’m fond of the sandwiches at The Cheesemonger’s Table.
• Dinner: Hopefully by dinner time, you’ve arrived home.

Route

1. Head south on Flagler Rd – 2.2 miles
2. L E Beach Rd – 0.3 miles
3. R E Marrowstone Rd – 2.9 miles
4. R Robbins Rd – 0.9 miles
5. L WA-116 W/Flagler Rd – 2.8 miles
6. L Oak Bay Rd – 1.2 miles
   • Slight left onto Old Oak Bay Rd – 0.5 miles
   • Slight left onto Oak Bay Rd – 6.9 miles
7. L Paradise Bay Rd – 6.0 miles
8. L WA-104 E – 1.8 miles
   • Turn left to stay on WA-104 E – 4.6 miles
9. L Gamble Bay Rd NE – 1.5 miles
   • Continue onto NE 288th St – 0.8 miles
10. R Hansville Rd NE – 1.0 mile
11. L WA-104 E – 1.1 miles
12. R Barber Cut Off Rd NE – 1.0 mile
13. L NE West Kingston Rd – 0.4 miles
14. R NE State Hwy 104 – 0.3 miles
15. Take the Edmonds – Kingston Ferry to Edmonds
16. Leaving the ferry, continue straight onto WA-104 E – 0.3 miles
    • Continue onto Main St – 0.1 miles
17. R 3rd Ave S – 0.8 miles
    • Continue onto Woodway Park Rd – 1.0 mile
18. L Wachusett Rd – 0.1 miles
19. R Timber Ln – 0.6 miles
    • Continue onto 20th Ave NW – 0.5 miles
20. L NW 195th St – 0.3 miles
21. R 15th Ave NW – 0.3 miles
22. L NW 188th St – 0.2 miles
23. R Springdale Court NW – 0.3 miles
24. L 14th Ave NW – 0.3 miles
    • Becomes 15th Ave NW
25. L NW 175th St – 0.7 miles
26. R 3rd Ave NW – 0.2 miles
    • Becomes Carlyle Hall Road NW – 0.4 miles
27. L N 165th St – 0.4 miles
28. R onto the Interurban Trail. Follow the trail south into Seattle.