Clallam County, Washington · Olympic Peninsula
Sequim
The driest town on the Olympic Peninsula gets only 16 inches of rain per year, which is why 30 lavender farms grow here and why the Dungeness Spit walk ends at a lighthouse in clear weather.
POPULATION
~8,500
RAINFALL
16 inches/year
FROM SEATTLE
2.5 hrs via Kingston ferry
COUNTY
Clallam
KNOWN FOR
Lavender farms, Dungeness Spit
LAVENDER FARMS
30+ in the valley
Sequim sits in Clallam County on the northeastern edge of the Olympic Peninsula, about 17 miles east of Port Angeles and 60 miles west of Port Townsend. The city has a population of about 8,500, but the Sequim-Dungeness Valley that surrounds it functions as one of the fastest-growing retirement destinations in Washington. The reason is the rain shadow: the Olympic Mountains block the bulk of Pacific moisture from the west, leaving Sequim with roughly 16 inches of rain per year, compared to 60 inches at Port Angeles and 150 inches at the Hoh Rainforest. That drought, by Pacific Northwest standards, makes Sequim the driest lowland area in western Washington.
The dry climate is why lavender grows here on a commercial scale. More than 30 lavender farms operate in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley, and the Sequim Lavender Festival each July has become one of the most attended summer events on the Olympic Peninsula. The bloom window runs from late June through mid-August depending on variety, and the farms are open to visitors throughout the season with fields, farm markets, and lavender products.
The other defining natural feature is the Dungeness Spit, a 5.5 mile sand spit that extends into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and is the longest natural sand spit in the United States. The New Dungeness Lighthouse sits at the end and is staffed by volunteer keepers who offer week-long lighthouse keeper experiences. The walk out to the lighthouse and back is 11 miles round trip at a flat grade along the beach.
Getting Here
Sequim is about 2.5 hours from Seattle via ferry. Two routes connect the area. The Edmonds to Kingston Washington State Ferry is the most direct: from Kingston, take SR-104 south and west through Poulsbo to the Hood Canal Bridge, then continue west on US-101 to Sequim. The Seattle to Bainbridge Island ferry is an alternative: take SR-305 north from the Bainbridge terminal through Poulsbo, then connect to SR-104 west across the Hood Canal Bridge and continue on US-101. Check ferry wait times before committing; both terminals can back up significantly on summer weekends. The driving route via Tacoma and the Hood Canal is about 3.5 hours and avoids the ferry entirely. Take I-5 south to Tacoma, then SR-16 west over the Narrows Bridge, north on SR-3, and west on US-101 past Shelton and Brinnon to Sequim.
From Port Angeles, Sequim is 17 miles east on US-101, about 20 minutes. From Port Townsend, Sequim is 60 miles west on US-101 and SR-20, about 1 hour.
Sequim is a small city that requires a car to reach most of the lavender farms, the Dungeness Spit, and the Olympic Game Farm. The downtown core is compact and walkable, but none of the outlying destinations are accessible without a vehicle.
Things to Do
Nature
Dungeness Spit Walk
The longest natural sand spit in the United States extends 5.5 miles into the Strait of Juan de Fuca from the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge trailhead 3 miles north of Sequim. The walk to the New Dungeness Lighthouse and back is 11 miles at a flat grade along the beach, with harbor seals on the bay side and Strait views on the ocean side. Volunteer lighthouse keepers staff the lighthouse year round and offer tours for visitors who make it to the end. A National Wildlife Refuge vehicle fee applies. Budget 4 to 5 hours for the full walk.
Nature
Lavender Farm Tours
More than 30 lavender farms operate in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley, with the bloom window running from late June through mid-August. The farms are individually owned and operated with different characters: B&B Family Farm is one of the largest organic operations with expansive fields; Jardin du Soleil is certified organic and known for its essential oil distillation and Brunch in the Blooms events during festival season; Purple Haze Lavender Farm is one of the original farms in the valley. Most farms are open to visitors during bloom season without reservations and offer farm markets with lavender products. Check individual farm websites before visiting.
Family
Olympic Game Farm
A 90 acre drive through wildlife park where bison, Kodiak bears, yaks, zebras, and other animals approach vehicles directly. The game farm opened to the public in 1972 after operating as a Disney film animal facility for decades, and has gradually transitioned to its current conservation and public education model. Drive your own vehicle through at your own pace; windows down is encouraged. Open seasonally from late May through early September. Check olygamefarm.com for current hours and admission pricing before visiting.
Outdoors
Dungeness Recreation Area Trails
The bluff above the Dungeness Spit has a separate trail system with views of the spit and the Strait from above. The Voice of America Recreation Site nearby has additional trails through the upland forest. Together with the spit walk, these trails make the Dungeness area a full-day outdoor destination rather than a single attraction.
Wine
Sequim Wine Tasting
The same rain shadow that makes lavender farming viable in Sequim supports a small cluster of downtown wine tasting rooms featuring Olympic Peninsula and eastern Washington wines. The downtown blocks near Sequim Avenue have multiple tasting rooms within walking distance of each other. A quieter alternative to the Yakima Valley or Walla Walla for visitors already on the Peninsula.
History
Museum and Arts Center Sequim
The local history museum and arts center covering the history of the Sequim-Dungeness Valley from the Klallam people through the farming and development eras. The collection includes the Manis Mastodon discovery materials: in 1977, a Sequim farmer found mastodon bones with a bone projectile point embedded in the rib, among the oldest evidence of human hunting of large mammals in North America. Visit sequimmuseum.org for current hours and admission information.
Nature
Sequim Bay State Park
A 92 acre state park on the shore of Sequim Bay with a boat launch, beach access, and a campground. The protected bay is a calmer alternative to the open Strait for kayakers and paddleboarders. The park is a practical base for visitors who want to camp rather than stay in town lodging.
Culture
Sequim Lavender Festival
The 30th Annual Sequim Lavender Festival runs July 17 through 19, 2026, in downtown Sequim and at participating farms. The festival includes more than 120 artisan vendors, three days of live music, farm tours, and the full bloom of the valley farms. It is the largest annual event on the Olympic Peninsula and draws visitors from across the Pacific Northwest. Lodging across the region books out well in advance for festival weekend.
“Sequim sits in a hole in the clouds. Port Angeles is 17 miles west and gets 60 inches of rain. Sequim gets 16. That difference explains the lavender.”
Explore Washington State
Where to Stay
Dungeness Bay Cottages
Waterfront cottage rentals overlooking Dungeness Bay and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, near the Dungeness Spit trailhead. The cottages put guests within easy reach of the spit walk and within direct view of the bay that the spit protects. The combination of the waterfront location and the Olympic Peninsula light at this latitude is specific and hard to replicate elsewhere on the Peninsula.
Book at Dungeness Bay CottagesHoliday Inn Express Sequim
A full service hotel in central Sequim with easy access to the downtown core, the lavender farms, the Olympic Game Farm, and the Dungeness Bay area. A practical midrange option for visitors using Sequim as a base for the Olympic Peninsula, particularly during the Lavender Festival when boutique options book out first.
Book at Holiday Inn ExpressFind a Cabin Near Sequim
Find a Cabin Near Sequim
Food & Drink
Dockside Grill at the John Wayne Marina is the standout dining option in Sequim, with fresh seafood caught and delivered daily by local fishermen and views of Sequim Bay and the Olympic Mountains. Located at 2577 W Sequim Bay Rd, the restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday from 3 to 8 pm. Reservations are recommended, especially during Lavender Festival weekend.
Oak Table Cafe is the morning anchor in downtown Sequim, known for apple pancakes and breakfast items that draw a consistent local crowd on weekend mornings. Open daily for breakfast and lunch at 292 W Bell St.
Rainshadow Cafe at 157 W Cedar is a local specialty coffee stop with roasting on site. Open Monday through Saturday 7:30 am to 5 pm and Sunday 8 am to 4 pm.
Lavender farm tastings: Several farms including Jardin du Soleil offer lavender infused food products, lemonade, and on-farm dining experiences during the bloom season from late June through August. Check individual farm websites for current season programs before visiting.
Festivals & Events
May
Irrigation Festival
Billed as the oldest continuing festival in Washington State, the Sequim Irrigation Festival has run annually since 1896 and celebrates the agricultural heritage of the Sequim-Dungeness Valley with a parade, carnival, and community events. The festival commemorates the completion of the irrigation ditch system that made farming viable in the rain shadow valley. The festival runs in early May each year.
July
Sequim Lavender Festival
The 30th Annual Sequim Lavender Festival runs July 17 through 19, 2026, in downtown Sequim and at participating farms throughout the valley. More than 120 artisan vendors, three days of live music across multiple stages, farm tours at participating lavender farms, and the full peak of the lavender bloom. The largest annual event on the Olympic Peninsula. Book lodging months ahead.
October
Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival
An annual October festival in Port Angeles (17 miles west) celebrating the Dungeness crab harvest with live crab cooking demonstrations, a fresh crab market, wine and beer gardens, and live music. The 2026 festival runs October 9 through 11. The proximity to Sequim makes it a natural extension of a Sequim visit in fall.
Day Trips
Port Angeles (17 miles west via US-101): The gateway to Olympic National Park with Hurricane Ridge a 17 mile drive south from downtown. The Coho Ferry to Victoria, BC departs from the Port Angeles waterfront. EWS hub at Port Angeles.
Dungeness Spit (3 miles north of Sequim via Kitchen-Dick Road): The trailhead for the spit walk is about 5 minutes from downtown. The 11 mile round trip walk to the New Dungeness Lighthouse and back takes 4 to 5 hours at a steady pace. Tidewater and shorebirds accompany the walk both ways, and the lighthouse at the end is staffed by volunteer keepers who offer tours. A National Wildlife Refuge vehicle fee applies at the trailhead.
Port Townsend (60 miles east via US-101 and SR-20): The Victorian seaport with galleries, the ferry to Keystone on Whidbey Island, and Fort Worden State Park. EWS hub at Port Townsend.
Hurricane Ridge (via Port Angeles, 34 miles total): Take US-101 west to Port Angeles, then the Hurricane Ridge Road south 17 miles to the visitor center at 5,242 feet. On a clear day the views cover the Olympics, the Strait, and Vancouver Island simultaneously.
Planning Your Visit
Sequim has a genuine two-season visitor calendar. Lavender season (late June through early August) is when the farms are in bloom and the Sequim Lavender Festival draws the largest crowds of the year. The 2026 festival runs July 17 through 19. Festival weekend fills lodging across the entire Olympic Peninsula weeks in advance; book 3 to 6 months ahead. The bloom continues for several weeks before and after festival weekend at a quieter pace.
The rest of the year Sequim operates as a retirement community with steady visitor traffic, a walkable downtown, and year round access to the Dungeness Spit. The Olympic Game Farm is open seasonally from late May through early September. Winter is quiet with lower rates and the spit at its most dramatic in terms of bird activity. Spring (April and May) brings wildflowers along the spit trail and comfortable hiking temperatures before the summer crowds arrive.
Two nights is the right stay. One day for the Dungeness Spit walk and the game farm when in season. A second day for lavender farms (in season) or Port Angeles and Hurricane Ridge (year round). A third day opens Port Townsend or a Coho Ferry run to Victoria.
More Sequim on EWS
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sequim, Washington known for?
Sequim is known as the lavender capital of North America, with more than 30 lavender farms operating in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley. The Sequim Lavender Festival each July is the largest annual event on the Olympic Peninsula. Sequim is also known for the Dungeness Spit, the longest natural sand spit in the United States at 5.5 miles, and the Olympic Game Farm, a drive through wildlife park with bison, bears, and other large animals. The city sits in the Olympic rain shadow and receives only 16 inches of rain per year, making it the driest lowland area in western Washington.
When is the Sequim Lavender Festival?
The 2026 Sequim Lavender Festival runs July 17 through 19. It is the 30th annual festival. The event includes more than 120 artisan vendors, live music, and farm tours at participating lavender farms throughout the valley. The lavender bloom in the Sequim area typically runs from late June through mid-August, so visiting the farms is possible for several weeks before and after the festival weekend without the festival crowds.
Why does lavender grow in Sequim?
Sequim sits in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, which block most Pacific moisture from reaching the valley. The result is about 16 inches of rain per year, compared to 60 inches at Port Angeles 17 miles west and 150 inches at the Hoh Rainforest. The dry summers, cool nights, and well drained soil create conditions similar to the lavender growing regions of Provence, France. The agricultural community began planting lavender commercially in the late 1990s, and the crop has expanded to more than 30 farms.
How long is the Dungeness Spit walk?
The full walk from the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge trailhead to the New Dungeness Lighthouse and back is 11 miles at a flat grade along the beach. Most people allow 4 to 5 hours for the round trip. The spit is the longest natural sand spit in the United States at 5.5 miles. A National Wildlife Refuge vehicle fee applies at the trailhead. The lighthouse is staffed by volunteer keepers who offer tours to visitors who complete the walk.
How far is Sequim from Seattle?
Sequim is about 2.5 hours from Seattle via the Edmonds to Kingston Washington State Ferry and the drive west through Poulsbo and the Hood Canal Floating Bridge. The all drive route via Tacoma and Hood Canal is about 3.5 hours. From Port Angeles, Sequim is 17 miles east on US-101, about 20 minutes.