Welcome to

Mukilteo

Known for its iconic lighthouse and beautiful beaches, Mukilteo is a scenic waterfront community with stunning views of Possession Sound and the Olympic Mountain range. It is the site where the 1855 Point Elliott Treaty was signed.

Picture a spit of land extending into the bottle green waters of the Salish Sea. Not far offshore, a ferry boat crosses in front of islands. On the beach, a brightly lit tower casts its light far and wide, beaconing wayward seafarers toward safety.

Like its iconic lighthouse, Mukilteo calls to visitors from around the region to visit its driftwood-covered shoreline. And visit they do, attracted by hand-dipped ice cream cones, salmon dinners on the waterfront, and a hotel built on barnacle-clad peers over crashing wavelets.

What’s so magical about Mukilteo? Well, kind of everything, actually. You’ll sea.

Trip Inspiration

Undiscovered Mukilteo

If you’ve found yourself in Mukilteo, then you already know that this place is a gem. It’s small, kind of out of…

Mukilteo: a Base Camp for Northwest Adventure

When you roll (or float, or fly) into Mukilteo, it’s time to choose your own adventure. Which kind of adventure will you…

A Weekend In Mukilteo

A perfect PNW seaside getaway with a view.

Top 5 Attractions In Mukilteo

What will you discover in Mukilteo?

Mukilteo’s Ferry Terminal Welcomes Visitors By Land and Sea

The site pays homage to our area’s ancient Native American cultures.

More Trip Inspiration

MUK-uhl-TEE-oh. The meaning of "Mukilteo" is often interpreted as "good camping ground". In the Snohomish dialect of Lushootseed, it can also mean "to swallow" or "narrow passage", reflecting the area's geographical features as a fishing village located on a narrow waterway connecting Puget Sound.

It is cool. Japanese Gulch is named for the Japanese American millworkers who used to live in this forested neck of the coastal woods. Their houses used to line the cliffs, their settlements spread out under the verdant boughs above. The Gulch has long been abandoned, but it’s now a favored trail for walkers, dog owners, trail runners, and mountain bikers. Archaeologists still occasionally find relics from the days when this wooded glen was occupied. Keep your eyes peeled.

It’s pretty great... and you want to plan ahead. It’s best if you buy your tickets in advance and get to the terminal earlier than you think. During peak travel times, the wait can sometimes exceed an hour and a half. The really smart/easier way to do it (if you’re so inclined) is to walk aboard or ride a bike.

It’s a 440-mile road trip that takes motorists across the crazy variety of landscapes that are packed into Washington State., Witness islands, national forests, mountains, high deserts, scrub brush, river valleys, and modern urban cities before returning to Mukilteo. Mukilteo is a natural starting point/terminus for this trip. It’s a remarkable thing.

Yes! Please. Just not any time you’d like. You can catch a tour there, courtesy of the local historic society. They don’t charge a fee for the tour but do request a suggested donation. You can climb the winding steps to the very top to see the mirrored lens up close. Remarkable. Just don’t go too crazy... you did see that lighthouse movie with Willem DeFoe, right?