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Things to do in Seattle

Whale watching

Half-day trips out on Puget Sound and the Salish Sea to look for orcas, humpbacks and gray whales, from Edmonds just north of the city or from Pier 69 downtown.

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The useful answer

Should this fit your day?

Best for
Wildlife lovers and families with older kids who have a free half day and want to see orcas or humpbacks without going to the islands.
Time to protect
Protect most of a day: four to five hours on the water from Edmonds, plus the drive up and check-in. From Pier 69, three to five hours.
Cruise-day fit
Edmonds is north of Seattle, so Pier 91 is on the way there and Pier 66 is a little farther. A half-day trip fits the day before a sailing or after you get off the ship, never the morning you board. Pier 69 is next door to Pier 66, but it's still a fixed departure of several hours.
From the terminals
From Pier 66, Pier 69 is a short walk north along Alaskan Way. Edmonds is a ride from either pier; Pier 91 is the closer of the two.
Before a flight
SEA is south of the city and Edmonds is north, so the drive crosses all of Seattle. Don't book a trip for the day you fly out; make it an arrival-day or free-day plan.

Edmonds or downtown?

Both look for the same whales in the same waters. The difference is where you start and when they run.

  1. Puget Sound Express from Edmonds

    The Edmonds half-day trip runs from April into December, with gray whale trips starting in late winter. Plan a ride north to the Port of Edmonds.

  2. FRS Clipper from Pier 69

    No drive: it leaves from the downtown waterfront next to the Pier 66 cruise terminal. It runs a shorter, seasonal schedule, so check whether it's sailing on your date.

  3. Port Townsend or Port Angeles

    Closer to the San Juan Islands and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but across Puget Sound. Good if you're already touring the Olympic Peninsula.

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What to know before you go

  1. 01

    Puget Sound Express is a family-run company, three generations in. Its Seattle trips leave from the Port of Edmonds, a short drive north of downtown: check in at 459 Admiral Way, in parking lot 8 across from Anthony's Homeport.

  2. 02

    The Edmonds half-day trip runs four to five hours on a fast boat with a heated cabin, wraparound outdoor decks, restrooms and a galley for snacks and drinks. Naturalists talk you through what you're seeing.

  3. 03

    Puget Sound Express says it guarantees you'll see whales: if you don't, you get a voucher for another trip. The guarantee doesn't cover a particular species.

  4. 04

    Bigg's orcas are in the Salish Sea all year. Humpbacks, minke whales, seals, sea lions and seabirds turn up too, and Puget Sound Express runs gray whale trips from late winter.

  5. 05

    Puget Sound Express also sails from Port Townsend and Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula, and runs full-day trips to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island in summer. Those mean a ferry ride and a drive from Seattle, so they suit a free day, not a cruise day.

  6. 06

    Want to leave from downtown? FRS Clipper's wildlife and whale watching trip is the only one departing from downtown Seattle: it boards at Pier 69, right next to the Pier 66 cruise terminal, and runs three to five hours with a heated cabin and naturalists. It comes with a sightings guarantee too.

  7. 07

    Arrive in good time: Puget Sound Express asks you to check in at least 30 minutes before sailing and closes boarding 15 minutes before. Bring layers for the open decks.

Seasons, departure days and boats change through the year. Check each operator's official site for current trips, times and tickets before you go.

Tours and activities

Tours and tickets for whale watching

Well-reviewed tours and tickets, with current prices. Check a date to see open start times, then book with Viator.

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Book tickets and tours

Pick a ticket time that leaves room for the ride back. Timed entry, guided tours and city passes all work; check the live price and times for your date.

  • Tours and activities

    Seattle tours and tickets

    Guided tours, attraction tickets and day trips around Seattle, including options near whale watching.

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Get a ride there

Drop-off: Whale watching from Seattle, Port of Edmonds

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