Destination guide
Federal Way, WA: Dash Point, the Rhododendron Garden, and Where to Stay
Updated August 2026
Federal Way sits on the Puget Sound inlet between Seattle and Tacoma — close enough to both for a day trip either direction, with a few real destinations of its own worth building a trip around.
Dash Point State Park A sandy Puget Sound beach with a fishing pier, plus miles of forested hiking and biking trails behind it. Good for a low-key afternoon — beachcombing, a picnic, or just watching the water.
Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden One of the largest collections of species rhododendrons anywhere — over 700 of the roughly 1,000 known species, sourced from North America, Europe, and Asia. Peak bloom runs February through May, but the garden itself is worth a walk any time of year.
Pacific Bonsai Museum A dedicated bonsai collection, outdoors and free to visit — a quieter, shorter stop than the Rhododendron Garden, and easy to pair with it since they're close together.
Points of interest
Dash Point State Park
5700 SW Dash Point Rd, Federal Way, WA 98003
A 461-acre Washington State Park with 3,301 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound — a sandy beach, a fishing pier, and about 11 miles of forested hiking and mountain biking trails behind it. Vashon Island views on clear days.
- The beach itself is free to walk — a Discover Pass ($10/day or $45/year) is required only for vehicle parking in the state park lot.
- Go at low tide for beachcombing — barnacles, small crabs, driftwood. Sunset over the Sound from the fishing pier is the quiet win.
Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
2525 S 336th St, Federal Way, WA 98003
A 22-acre woodland garden holding the world's largest collection of species rhododendrons — 700+ species (some sources say 600+), plus hybrids, sourced from North America, Europe, and Asia on the former Weyerhaeuser campus.
- Don't miss Blue Poppy Meadow in late spring, the Victorian Stumpery, and Rutherford Conservatory.
- Open Tue–Sun year-round, 10am–4pm, closed Mondays. Peak bloom February–May, but the forest structure is worth a walk even in winter.
- General admission $12 ($9 seniors/students), free for children under 12.
Pacific Bonsai Museum
2515 S 336th St, Federal Way, WA 98003
A dedicated outdoor bonsai collection directly adjacent to the Rhododendron Garden on the former Weyerhaeuser campus — over 150 bonsai from Pacific Rim nations, some more than 100 years old, each with its own story.
- Free admission and free parking; donations accepted (suggested $12/adult).
- Open Tue–Sun 10am–4pm, closed Mondays. Allow 45–60 minutes.
- Pair it with the Rhododendron Garden next door — Bonsai first (free, ~45 min), then the Garden (~90 min). One parking stop covers both.
Redondo Beach Boardwalk & Pier
28225 Redondo Beach Dr S, Des Moines, WA
A free, roughly half-mile wooden boardwalk and fishing pier on Puget Sound — technically just north in Des Moines, but a few minutes from Federal Way. Open 24/7, no entrance fee; the walk itself is free, though nearby lots charge for parking.
- Sunset from the pier is excellent.
West Hylebos Wetlands Park
Near S 348th St & 4th Ave S, Federal Way, WA
A free city park with a boardwalk through wetlands — over a mile of trails, birdwatching, and interpretive signage. Some sections are stroller-friendly. No fee, no pass.
City of Federal Way →BPA Trail
Federal Way, WA
A free paved regional trail running through Federal Way under the Bonneville Power Administration powerlines — flat, forested meadows connecting neighborhoods. Open 24/7, no pass needed. Good for a run, bike, or dog walk.
PowellsWood Garden
430 S Dash Point Rd, Federal Way, WA
A 3-acre cultivated garden with 7 themed rooms, plus a 37-acre preserve with a 1-mile loop trail. Open April–October, Wednesday–Sunday, 10am–4pm. Ticketed.
PowellsWood Garden — Official Site →Weyerhaeuser Campus Grounds
Former Weyerhaeuser HQ, Federal Way, WA
The grounds of the former Weyerhaeuser headquarters — big lawns, a rhododendron-lined drive, and Mt. Rainier views from the ridge. Free to walk the grounds (the gardens themselves are ticketed separately).
Saltwater State Park (nearby)
Des Moines, WA (just north of Federal Way)
A marine reserve just north in Des Moines — good for beachcombing and tide pooling. Not technically in Federal Way, but an 8-minute drive. Discover Pass required for vehicle parking.
Quick facts
- Shoreline
- 3,300+ ft of saltwater shoreline at Dash Point (a 461-acre state park)
- Rhododendron collection
- 700+ species, world's largest — peak bloom Feb–May
- Bonsai collection
- 150+ bonsai, some 100+ years old — free admission
- Discover Pass
- Required only for vehicle parking at Dash Point State Park; walking or biking in is free
- Getting around
- Pacific Bonsai Museum and the Rhododendron Garden share one parking stop — both within a short walk
Useful links
Where to stay
Sikes Vacations has a stay here, booked directly with no platform fee added at checkout:
See real-time pricing for these, or everything else Sikes Vacations has, on the rates & availability page.
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