Whidbey Island is surrounded by amazing beaches and there are lots of different beaches to choose from. You can visit rock beaches, quiet bays for kayaking and paddle boarding, and open ocean beaches for swimming in the surf. There are beaches with hiking trails, overlooks, and perfect spots to watch the sunsets. Here are some of the best Whidbey Island beaches.
Read my Top 10 things to do Whidbey Island Guide here.
Rosario Beach (Fidalgo Island)
Technically this gorgeous beach is located on Fidalgo island on the edge of Deception Pass State Park but it is very close to Whidbey Island, only about a 15-20 minute drive from Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island.
This beach is gorgeous and different from many of the beaches on the island. It is a gorgeous small rock and agate beach making it much easier to walk on than the larger stones on Joseph Whidbey State Park beach. There is a peninsula point called Rosario Head that is a mini outcropping that is a gorgeous lookout point over the islands and water. This is a great spot for hiking as well as picnics and hanging out on the grassy knoll at the top. There is a dock and several inlets for swimming in the summer and lots of camping close by in Bowman bay next door. This is one of the best beaches in the area.
Ebey’s Landing (Coupeville)
Ebey’s Landing is a part of Ft. Ebey, a beautiful natural historical reserve of beaches and farmland on the coast. Ebey’s Landing includes farms, houses, & stores built by 19th-century settlers on the most scenic reserve on the sound. There are two bunkers to climb in and around as well as lots of land, trails for hiking and a huge campground area. This is one of the most beautiful spots on the island for either a trail run, camping, or relaxing while watching the sunset from the bluff lookout point.
DoubleBluff beach (Freeland)
Double Bluff Beach is one of the famous southern beaches of Whidbey Island. This beach is outside of Freeland, WA with the longest stretch of sand beach on the island. This beach has tide pools, off-leash dog access, and is a great place for swimming because of the lack of rocks. There are wood forts that have been built up and down the beach that are fun for kids and everyone to enjoy.
Joseph Whidbey State Park Beach
This beach has 112 acres of waterfront including grass fields, hiking trails and rock beach. It is one of the best places to watch the sunset on the island. There is a small lot for parking to get into the main entry point that only holds about 8 cars in total. This beach is a rocky beach with no sand. It has lots of driftwood logs to sit on and take in the scenery. This is a bit of a less frequented beach since it is on the west side of the island from Oak Harbor out of the Deception Pass area.
North Beach (Oak Harbor) @ deception pass bridge
North Beach is part of Deception Pass Park and bridge. This beach offers one of the best views of the bridge and is a short hike down from the public parking lot at the top. The trail is through the small wooded hillside and is a beautiful descent to the beach. It is one of the beaches in Oak Harbor that offers the most sand.
If the tide is low, then you can walk around and connect to West Beach Deception Pass. These two beaches offer miles of beach, sand and some of the best lounging space on the island. There are free summer concerts held here as well at West Beach overlooking the bridge. If you want great sand beaches, views of the bridge, and great camping, this is one of the best spots on the island. To park in the parking lot at the bridge lot at the top to hike down to the beach you must have a discover pass.
Discover Pass
This pass for Washington State allows you to have access to more than 100 state parks, more than 350 camping grounds, 700 water access points, 2,000 miles of designated trails, and more than 30 wildlife areas, according to the state. The annual pass is only $35 a year. The pass is good for one year from the day you buy it. Otherwise, you must pay $ 10-day entry fees at all of these locations. This is a great way to support your local parks and get the best deal on outdoor adventures. You get can add two vehicles per one pass, and if you have more than two cars you need to buy more than one pass. The pass needs to be posted on your mirror. Buy discover pass here.
West Beach Deception Pass
This beach is right off Cranberry Lake in Deceptation Pass State Park. There are a lot of great tailheads near here as well as the well known Rosario trailhead. This beach is the other beach that is known for its large sand areas as well as a shared campgrounds area with lots of picnic tables, bathrooms, and hot showers.
Monroe Landing
The official named of this beach is Penn Cove Beach access point. But most locals refer to it as Monroe Landing because it is straight off Monroe Landing road coming from Oak Harbor. It is a very small and private neighborhood beach that is not very well known, making it one of the best hidden Whidbey Island beaches This place is a sandy beach and is also a small bay making it a great place to swim or launch a kayak. Monroe Landing is beautiful during sunset, however, it is not a beach the sun directly sets over, so it is better to go to Joseph Whidbey State park or Deception pass to catch the sun going down.
