Overview
Purdy is a small unincorporated community on the Kitsap Peninsula in the Puget Sound region of Washington state, north of Gig Harbor. Purdy is the gateway to the beautiful Key Peninsula and is known for its warm, friendly people.
1 sights · 1 things to do · 1 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Purdy
Purdy Sand Spit
A 7.5 acre unimproved waterfront public area that includes a boat launch. A great place to see water fowl such as sea gulls and blue heron. An occasional seal can be spotted too. "The Spit" as it is called by locals, div…
360 Trails
This is a 360-acre wooded county park near Purdy. A popular loop trail leads around the perimeter with smaller trails crossing through the center. It is popular with mountain bikers, hikers and equestrians.
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 — 9 mi away. Directions
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 15 mi away (major hub). Directions
Purdy is north of Gig Harbor and south of Port Orchard.
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 Purdy Sand Spit
- Lunch Dexter's Drive-In
- Afternoon 360 Trails
- Evening The Float
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
Purdy is on the shores of Burley Lagoon and Henderson Bay of the Carr Inlet. The two bodies of water are separated by a sandspit and the Purdy Bridge.
The area was settled in the 1880s. Isaac Hawk purchased the land from the Washington Territorial Government. Horace Knapp purchased 19 acres (77,000 m2) of this land from Hawk in 1884 for the price of $23.75. These acres were made into the town of Purdy (with lots and blocks). In 1885, Josephine Fuller, the first white woman in the area, married Horace Knapp. In 1886, the mill in Purdy secured the first contract to provide lumber for nearby Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton. This put Purdy on the map. The mill's success also brought conveniences to the area like a grocery store, and a post office. There was a long chute along present-day 144th Street that brought the logs down the hill to the water.
Get in
Purdy is north of Gig Harbor and south of Port Orchard.
By car
State Route 16 (WA-16) has two exits for Purdy. Both exits loop back onto highway 16 making Purdy a convenient place to stop on your way through the area.
By boat
The Purdy Sand Spit is an unimproved waterfront public area that runs right along SR 302. Its 7.5 acre area includes a boat launch at the southwest end of the spit.
By airport shuttle
Get around
By bus
Purdy Park & Ride is the major bus station for Pierce Transit (Rt #100 & 101) and Sound Transit Rt #595.
Go Pierce Transit
Local routes on buses that run on natural gas and connect with other regional transit systems. Pierce Transit can also be tracked with a free smartphone app from One Bus Away that provides easy access to real-time transit information for the Puget Sound region and beyond. They offer service to Gig Harbor from Tacoma.
- Route 595 goes up to downtown Seattle via Tacoma Community College, Tacoma Dome during the morning rush hours and returning to Gig Harbor in the afternoons, no weekend service.
See and do
See Purdy Sand Spit (Along WA-302)
A 7.5 acre unimproved waterfront public area that includes a boat launch. A great place to see water fowl such as sea gulls and blue heron. An occasional seal can be spotted too. "The Spit" as it is called by locals, divides Burley Lagoon from Henderson Bay. It's a popular spot due to its easy beach access. More of a gravel spit rather than sand this beach is none the less full of sea shells. Every variety of clam can oyster shell can be found easily, moon snails and sand dollars can be found with a little more looking. The Purdy Spit and Henderson Bay are popular with jet skiers and wind surfers as well.
Beachcombing
Purdy does offer a long sand and gravel beach along the spit. Oysters, clams and moon snails are common sites and seals, otters and eagles are not uncommon.
Be warned that sea shells and driftwood are considered part of the natural environment and should not be removed, however the often rocky and wild shores are havens for creating and revealing beach glass and anything artificial found is fair game for removal. Be respectful of private property and gentle with sea creatures. Keep a wide distance away from nesting birds, seals and other shore animals and always put back anything removed from the shoreline.
Birdwatching
The calm protected waters around Purdy are popular with birders and many waterfowl migrate through the area.
The Kitsap Audubon Society has been meeting since 1972 and has a broad coalition of birders tracking and sharing sightings since then. They maintain an active website with updates of the latest sightings, suggestions on areas for birders and even a regular newsletter. They also developed a checklist of birds likely to be seen birds in the area.
Sea kayaking
The Purdy boat launch is located on a protected bay with a wide variety of birds. Sea kayaking can be a rewarding way to explore the Kitsap Peninsula's nearly 400 miles of coastline allowing the paddler a closer and slower look at their surroundings. Thick forests of majestic pine and deciduous trees and hundreds of creeks and estuaries dot the coastline. Or just explore Kitsap's many harbor towns that cater to kayakers with shops and restaurants accessible from the water. Harbor seals, otters, sea lions, bald eagles and blue herons are common sites, while the occasional viewing of an orca or grey whale is not out of the question.
Organized trails offer overnight camping options and maps of appropriate lengths and scenic travel destinations. Purdy is a starting point for the 40 mi Key Peninsula Marine Trail with fourteen legs between fifteen points of interest during a paddling journey around the Key Peninsula which includes several state parks and islands.
Buy
A fresh food market offering local produce and seafood is located at the north end of the spit that is a great place to stock up on fresh local produce, oysters, and clams are on your way to exploring the area.
Eat
Eat Dexter's Drive-In
Classic hamburger and fries type drive-in.
Drink
Drink The Float
This popular maritime themed pub is close to the water and has good food options.
Go next
- Gig Harbor
- Several quaint towns are to the south on the Key Peninsula, as well as Penrose Point and Joemma State Parks.
The boat launch is small but adequate place to launch an exploration of the area.
- Fox Island is nearby as well as Eagle Island State Park and Anderson Island.
- Gig Harbor has the closest marinas offering fuel, or just take some time to admire the Tacoma Narrows Bridge from below.
Nearby
Olalla
City / town · 16 listings · 5 mi away
Gig Harbor
City / town · 36 listings · 5 mi away
Vashon Island
City / town · 28 listings · 8 mi away
Allyn
City / town · 6 listings · 9 mi away
Fox Island
Rural area · 12 listings · 10 mi away
Key Peninsula
Rural area · 28 listings · 10 mi away
Port Orchard
City / town · 39 listings · 10 mi away
Gorst
City / town · 8 listings · 10 mi away
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