Clinton (Washington)

Clinton is a small town on the southern tip of Whidbey Island.

Cultus Bay near Clinton

Get in

By boat

• 1 Washington State Ferries (Clinton ferry terminal), ☏ +1 206-464-6400, toll-free: +1-800-843-3779. A ferry connects Clinton and Mukilteo on the mainland north of Seattle. This run is popular with commuters and should be avoided at peak commuting times if possible. 20 minutes one way; departures every 30 minutes. Island Transit has a bus stop at the ferry terminal. (updated Jun 2023)

By car

approaches from the north via Oak Harbor and Coupeville. It crosses into Mukilteo via Ferry and continues south from Mukilteo to the I-5/I-405 junction in Lynnwood.

By shuttle

• Whidbey SeaTac Shuttle, ☏ +1 360-679-4003. Provides transportation service between communities on Whidbey and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. 

Get around

By public transit

• Island Transit, ☏ +1 360-678-7771. Scheduled bus services on Whidbey Island and Camano Island. Service on Whidbey Island includes to Clinton, Coupeville, Freeland, Greenbank, Langley, Oak Harbor with off island connections to Anacortes. Service on Camano Island includes off island connections to Everett and Mount Vernon. Free. (updated Jun 2023)
  • Bus route 1 connects the ferry terminal with Oak Harbor through Freeland, Greenbank, Coupeville, and points in between along SR-525 & 20. This route operates weekday only throughout the day.
  • Bus route 58 Local connection from the ferry terminal down to Scatchet Head via Bailey's Corner at the south end of town. This route operate Monday to Friday, traveling both directions during the morning rush and evening rush hour
  • Bus route 60 Local connection to Freeland on SR-525 with a detour up into Langley. Weekday service only.
  • "Clinton Commuter" operates a weekday only shuttle up the hill from the ferry terminal, to the Clinton P&R, and the Humphrey Road P&R.

By taxi

• The Rock Taxi Cab, ☏ +1 360-914-3250. (updated Jun 2023)

See

If you are in Clinton you are most likely passing through to go to the more touristy towns of Whidbey Island. However, if you find that your destination is indeed the sleepy town, there are a few things to check out. The Clinton Ferry dock is a fun place to watch the ferries come and go, there is a small park for families to have a picnic by the beach and occasionally wait out the long ferry line.

Do

The snow capped Olympic Mountains as seen from Maxwelton Beach

• 1 Dave Mackie Memorial Park, 7490 Maxwelton Rd. Located beside the water, it includes portions of Maxwelton beach. This is perhaps the best beach in Clinton, with sandy beaches and shallow water for summer swimming. The water will not be tropical but on a hot July day it is warm enough to cool down from the heat. (updated Jun 2023)

• The Maxwelton beach 4th of July parade is another local favorite. Visitors from all over the Puget Sound come to enjoy an old-fashioned family parade complete with domestic animals dressed in their best red, white and blue. There are sack races and pie eating contests and it's all set on the beautiful beach front. If you decide to make the trek to Whidbey for this event, you must arrive early to find a parking spot and to walk in. You are also welcome to participate in the parade, just arrive an hour early!

Buy

Clinton is a mostly residential town so specialty shops are rare but occasionally you will find a consignment shop or artist studio intermixed with the video and grocery stores. If you have a chance, stop by Bailey's corner for a flash back to the good old days and get penny candy and ice cream!

Eat

• Cozy's Roadhouse as you come up the hill from the ferry on the right side, serving American fare.
• Island Nosh, a new restaurant serving noodle dishes from different regions.
• Dairy Queen, the only fast food chain on the south end of Whidbey.
• Hong Kong Gardens, up a steep hill it's an American Chinese restaurant and bar.
• Pickle's Deli, a highly awarded sandwich shop.
• Whidbey Island Bagel Factory , a new venture by John Auburn.
• The Big W Food Truck, works out of the food truck during the late spring to early fall and makes pizza in the Ken's Korner commercial kitchen in the off season.
• CJ & Y Decadent Desserts, a custom bakery specializing in custom cakes, pies, cupcakes and other desserts.
• Patron, Mexican restaurant located in Ken's Korner shopping mall.

Drink

• Southern Cross Espresso, coffee stand
• Whidbey Island Coffee, coffee stand
• Cadee Tasting Room, A local distillery with many different types of alcohol.
• The Top at Hong Kong Gardens is the late night bar, they do karaoke on Friday nights.
• Cozy's is the town's local bar, locals go there to socialize and play a round of pool.

Sleep

Bed and breakfasts are the most common form of lodging.

• Whidbey Island Escape, 3756 Periwinkle Rd (by ferry). Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. A quiet bluff cabin with a minimalist design. Sleeps 4 people and can host up to 2 dogs (less than 50lbs) on a 1/4-acre lot. Fireplace. (updated Apr 2022)

Connect

• 1 Clinton Library (Sno-Isle Libraries), 4781 Deer Lake Blvd (Next to the post office), ☏ +1 360 341-4280, fax: +1 360 341-2989. Tu-Sa 10AM-6PM. (updated Feb 2022)

By mail

• 2 Clinton WA Post Office (USPS), 4801 Deer Lake Blvd, ☏ +1 360. M-F 9AM-4:30PM. (updated Jun 2023)

Go next

Routes through Clinton

Coupeville ← Freeland ←

NW  SE

→ Car ferry → Mukilteo → Lynnwood