Overview
Port Gamble is a community on the Kitsap Peninsula in the Puget Sound of Washington state. The village streets haven't changed much since the 1800s. The original New England Victorian-style homes have been lovingly preserved, along with the several other historic buildings in the area. Since 1966 the Port Gamble Historic District is a registered U.S. National Historic Landmark and a popular destination for tourists.
1 sights · 5 things to do · 1 places to eat · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Port Gamble
Kitsap Memorial State Park
A 58-acre camping park with 1,797 feet of saltwater shoreline and facilities for group and individual recreation, weddings and overnight stays. The park offers beautiful natural surroundings and sweeping views of Hood Ca…
Sea and Shore Museum
dedicated to the study of natural history, especially mollusks and other invertebrates and includes one of the largest sea shell collections in the world.
Salsbury Point County Park
6.5 acres - Saltwater beach access, boat launch, fishing pier, restrooms, picnic shelter, and picnic area. Camping limited to Cascadia Marine Trail
Olympic Outdoor Center
It offers kayak rentals, classes and basic information for paddling the area for just a few hours or week long adventures.
Cascadia Marine Trail
This inland sea trail is a National Recreation Trail and designated one of only 16 National Millennium Trails by the White House. Suitable for day or multi-day trips, the Cascadia Marine Trail has over 50 campsites to vi…
Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails
The National Parks Service named this 'Trail of the Month' in the entire USA for the month of December 2012, PDF copies of the water trails map are available and Port Gamble is on the trail.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 78°F; winter lows dip to about 37°F. Wettest: Nov and Jan. (climate data from nearby Seattle)
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.
- PAE Seattle Paine Field International Airport, Everett — 14 mi away. Directions
- BFI King County International Airport - Boeing Field, Seattle — 26 mi away. Directions
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 31 mi away (major hub). Directions
Port Gamble is located along a bend in State Route 104.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Sea and Shore Museum, Olympic Outdoor Center
- Lunch Port Gamble Cafe
- Afternoon Salsbury Point County Park, Cascadia Marine Trail
Day 2
- Morning Kitsap Memorial State Park
- Afternoon Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
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
Puget Mill Company founded the town in Washington Territory in 1853. In 1856, the USS Massachusetts was sent from Seattle to Port Gamble, where indigenous raiding parties from British and Russian territories had been raiding and enslaving local Native Americans. When the warriors refused to hand over those among them who had attacked the Puget Sound Native American communities, Massachusetts landed a shore party and a battle ensued in which 26 natives and 1 sailor were killed. That sailor was the first US Navy man killed in the Northwest and his grave can still be seen at the hilltop cemetery.
Get in
By car
Port Gamble is located along a bend in State Route 104.
- From Kingston, it is about 7 mi northeast of the ferry terminal.
- From the Olympic Peninsula, it is 1 mi east of the Hood Canal Bridge.
By boat
Although Port Gamble does not have a marina for motorized boats, it is a popular area for sea kayakers with easy access to the Hood Canal. It is the southern launching point for the Kitsap Peninsula Water trails leg from Port Gamble to Foulweather Bluff near Hansville.
Get around
The town is only a few blocks, everything can be reached by foot.
See
Port Gamble is a great place to go for a stroll and soak up the early mill town history of the area. The Port Gamble Historic District has several quaint shops to visit and is a registered U.S. National Historic Landmark and a popular destination for tourists.
Make sure you take a stroll up to the historic cemetery for a better sense of the history of the town and a sweeping view of the area.
Do
Sea kayaking
Port Gamble is near Hood Canal which is a popular destination for sea kayakers. Sea kayaking can be a rewarding way to explore the sheltered bay near Port Gamble. Port Gamble is one of the many harbor towns that cater to kayakers with shops and restaurants accessible from the water.
Organized trails offer overnight camping options and maps of appropriate travel lengths and scenic travel destinations.
Do Cascadia Marine Trail
This inland sea trail is a National Recreation Trail and designated one of only 16 National Millennium Trails by the White House. Suitable for day or multi-day trips, the Cascadia Marine Trail has over 50 campsites to visit. People can boat to the campsites from many public and private launch sites or shoreline trailheads including Hood Canal near Port Gamble.
Buy
Eat
Eat Port Gamble Cafe
a full service restaurant at the back of the Port Gamble General Store and Cafe building
Sleep
Go next
- The Olympic Peninsula is just across the Hood Canal Bridge.
- Kingston is an 8-minute drive to catch the Edmonds ferry.
Nearby
Hansville
City / town · 18 listings · 5 mi away
Kingston
City / town · 18 listings · 5 mi away
Indianola
City / town · 4 listings · 8 mi away
Poulsbo
City / town · 36 listings · 8 mi away
Suquamish
City / town · 12 listings · 9 mi away
Keyport
City / town · 3 listings · 11 mi away
Edmonds
City / town · 26 listings · 11 mi away
Freeland
City / town · 4 listings · 11 mi away
My experience
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