Overview
Harstine Island (also known simply as Harstine or Harstene) is an island community of about 1000 people in Washington State. It is located west of Case Inlet in southern Puget Sound, between the Key Peninsula (part of Kitsap Peninsula) and the Olympic Peninsula.
2 sights · 2 things to do · 2 places to eat
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Harstine Island
Jarrell Cove State Park
A 43-acre marine camping park with 3,500 feet of saltwater shoreline on the northwest end of Harstine Island in south Puget Sound. The forested island park is accessible by road and bridge and is off the beaten path. Mos…
McMicken Island State Park
An 11.5-acre marine park with 1,661 feet of saltwater shoreline located just to the east of Harstine Island. It is situated in the beautiful South Puget Sound and features a pristine cove to set anchor. Visitors can enjo…
Stretch Point State Park
Nearby on Stretch Island. It is administered as a satellite of Jarrell Cove State Park and is easily accessible by boat.
Harstine Island State Park
Harstine Island State Park is a day use park with beach access via a half-mile trail. It is a two mile drive from Jarrell Cove.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 78°F; winter lows dip to about 35°F. Wettest: Nov and Jan. (climate data from nearby Kent)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- TIW Tacoma Narrows Airport, Tacoma — 15 mi away. Directions
- OLM Olympia Regional Airport, Olympia — 18 mi away. Directions
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 31 mi away (major hub). Directions
Harstine Island is 8 mi east of Shelton and 10 mi north of Olympia.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Harstine Island State Park, Jarrell Cove State Park
- Lunch Spencer Lake Bar and Grill
- Afternoon McMicken Island State Park, Stretch Point State Park
- Dinner Olympic Bakery and Deli
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
There are no restaurants on the island. There are two places just across the bridge on Pickering Rd:
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Pickering Passage, to the northwest, separates the island from mainland, while Case Inlet, to the east, separates it from Key Peninsula. Squaxin Island lies to the southwest, separated by Peale Passage. To the south, Harstine Island is separated from the mainland by Dana Passage. It is connected to the mainland via a bridge near the southern end of the Kitsap Peninsula.
History
U.S. Navy Lt. Charles Wilkes (1798–1877) explored much of the west coast including Puget Sound. The island was named by Lt. Wilkes for Lt. Henry J. Hartstene.
Spelling
For most of the island's history, there wasn't a single standard spelling of its name. Even today, several different spellings are used.
Of the several possible ways to spell the name of the island, Hartstene and Harstine are the most used and most popular. Both have been used nearly interchangeably in many published references. Alternative spellings of the name include Hartstene, Harsteen, Harstein, Harstene, Hartstein and Harstine. In 1997 Washington State Legislative action resulted the island being named "Harstine Island".
Get in
Harstine Island is 8 mi east of Shelton and 10 mi north of Olympia.
By car
Harstine Bridge Rd crosses Pickering Passage to link Harstine Island to the mainland. It was built in 1969 to replace a ferry.
By boat
Jarrell Cove State Park offers buoys and dock space for visiting boaters.
Get around
By car
North Island Drive, South Island Drive and E Harstine Island Road form a hilly and twisted loop around the island which is popular not only with drivers but also cyclists.
By boat
There are many areas to explore on the island including Jarrell Cove State Park and nearby McMicken Island State Park. Latimer’s Landing is a Mason County Park featuring a boat launch and dock that provides easy access to Pickering Passage, Puget Sound and beyond.
See
See Jarrell Cove State Park
A 43-acre marine camping park with 3,500 feet of saltwater shoreline on the northwest end of Harstine Island in south Puget Sound. The forested island park is accessible by road and bridge and is off the beaten path. Most visitors arrive by boat. The park has campsites near the docks, as well as on rolling, grassy areas. Jarrell Cove State Park administers five other satellite parks nearby.
See Harstine Island State Park
Harstine Island State Park is a day use park with beach access via a half-mile trail. It is a two mile drive from Jarrell Cove.
Do
Boating
The Pacific Northwest is one of the most popular places for cruising on small craft in America and Harstine Island is a prime example of why it's so popular offering many complex waterways to explore and a friendly marina with ample space to dock as well as many buoys available at the state park.
Harstine Island is close to the Key Peninsula water trails and offers several places to launch sea kayaks including a wide and accessible boat launch on the mainland on the west side of the bridge leading to the island.
Do McMicken Island State Park
An 11.5-acre marine park with 1,661 feet of saltwater shoreline located just to the east of Harstine Island. It is situated in the beautiful South Puget Sound and features a pristine cove to set anchor. Visitors can enjoy the many hiking trails, viewing an active bald eagle nest and shellfish harvesting. The shellfish population is abundant and open to shellfish harvesters year round.
Do Stretch Point State Park
Nearby on Stretch Island. It is administered as a satellite of Jarrell Cove State Park and is easily accessible by boat.
Mountain biking and cycling
The main road is a loop with many turns and hills and offers a scenic way to see the island. Watch out for cars on the tight roads.
Eat and drink
There are no restaurants on the island. There are two places just across the bridge on Pickering Rd:
Eat Olympic Bakery and Deli
Serves coffee and is occasionally open to wine tasting.
Nearby
Key Peninsula
Rural area · 28 listings · 6 mi away
Anderson Island
City / town · 13 listings · 10 mi away
Shelton
City / town · 4 listings · 10 mi away
Allyn
City / town · 6 listings · 11 mi away
Fox Island
Rural area · 12 listings · 12 mi away
Union
City / town · 7 listings · 12 mi away
Tahuya
City / town · 6 listings · 12 mi away
Olympia
City / town · 37 listings · 13 mi away
My experience
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