Washington has some beautiful castles, each one with its own unique history. And while you can’t see them all in a day, you could easily see most of the beautiful castles on the west side in a weekend, making for one fairy tale-like road trip. Get ready to embark on one of the best road trips in Washington! For the trip below, we suggest starting with the small castle at Fort Worden State Park and ending with our state’s most magical venue, Lakewood’s Thornewood Castle.

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1. Alexander Castle, Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend
DeloresJacoby / TripAdvisor
Located in Fort Worden Historical State Park, legend has it that Reverend John Alexander built this castle for a prospective Scottish bride in a style reminiscent of his native country. But his chosen bride ended up marrying someone else, so he used the castle as a temporary residence. During the park's Army days, it was used for a number of purposes including serving as the first site of the Post Exchange.

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2. Manresa Castle, 651 Cleveland Street, Port Townsend
Manresa Castle Hotel Facebook
Manresa Castle dates back to 1892, the home of Charles and Kate Eisenbeis. Charles was a prominent member of the early Port Townsend business community. The castle is now a beautiful hotel.
3. Stadium High School, 111 North E Street, Tacoma
Joe Wolf / Flickr
How lucky are the students who get to go to school here? Construction began in 1891 with the intention of building a luxury hotel resembling a French château. The Tacoma School District purchased the building in the early 1900s, and the rest is history. You might recognize Stadium High School from the '90s hit "10 Things I Hate About You."
4. Thornewood Castle, 8601 N Thorne Ln. SW, Lakewood
Thornewood Castle Facebook
End your day at the beautiful Thornewood Castle, which serves as a bed and breakfast, so you'll have a beautiful place to spend the night. Mr. Chester Thorne, one of the founders of the Port of Tacoma, had the castle reconstructed in 1907 as an act of love for his bride. Stephen King's "Rose Red" was filmed here, but the actual venue is anything but scary.

How many castles in Washington have you visited? Looking for more of the best road trips in Washington? Here are some of the most unforgettable road trips you can take through our beautiful state.

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Best Road Trips in Washington

Sarah | July 29, 2021

What are some of the best road trips I can take in Washington?

After tackling our royal castle road trip adventure, it's only natural that you're left wanting, well, more. Not to fear; we have compiled seven of our absolute best, most bucket-list-worthy road trips all in one guide, which you can view here. These amazing adventures will take you to some of the state's most magical waterfalls and iconic lighthouses, the Evergreen State's most winsome small towns (and creepy ghost towns!), and the most dazzling natural wonders not just in Washington, but really the PNW!

Can I spend the night at any castles in Washington?

Looking to take your royal experience to the next level? Thornewood Castle (the “house that love built” and #4 in the above article) sits on the shores of American Lake in Lakewood, and it's absolutely stunning. A bit of backstory: Shornewood's tale begins with Mr. Chester Thorne, one of the founders of the Port of Tacoma. Chester bought the 400-year-old Elizabethan manor in England and had it dismantled and shipped, brick by brick, to Lakewood to be included in the building of Thornewood. Construction took three years to complete, from 1908 to 1911. Chester had the castle and gardens built as a gift to his wife, Anna Thorne. The gardens at this enchanting castle are extraordinarily beautiful, and will totally sweep you off your feet. This castle is truly one of the most romantic labors of love in existence, and happily, you can experience the magic when you book an overnight stay. Does it get any more dreamy?

What are some beautiful places in Washington?

Close your eyes and pick a point on the map -- any point -- and you're bound to find someplace truly beautiful. This is the magic of the Evergreen State! We picked some of our very favorite scenic spots in the state in this article; and while 15 places may seem like a lot, it really just scratches the surface of the beauty you'll find here in Washington.

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Featured Addresses
Alexander's Castle, 262 Alexanders Loop, Port Townsend, WA 98368, USA
Manresa Castle Hotel, 651 Cleveland St, Port Townsend, WA 98368, USA
Stadium High School, 111 N E St, Tacoma, WA 98403, USA
Thornewood Castle, 8601 N Thorne Ln SW, Lakewood, WA 98498, USA