The Ballot Cure

Where to Go Off-Grid (Ish) During Election Week

Run as far away from cable news as you possibly can.

By Allison Williams November 1, 2024

The Vancouver Island town of Tofino is way out there—and there's even a floating sauna tucked back in there somewhere.

So, who's stressed? With the 2024 Presidential Election finally at hand, Washington's all-mail voting system means that Seattleites don't have much to do on actual Election Day. Except, perhaps, panic. Fortunately our corner of the country has lots of remote spots with little cell service, spotty Wi-Fi, and no TVs. Here are our picks for where to bury your head in the sand, dirt, or snow.


Get on the North Cascades Highway before it closes for the season.

North Cascades Highway

North Cascades

We've called it the most scenic stretch of Washington highway before, but State Route 20 has another bonus—cell service and even radio signals are basically kaput between the odd hydroelectric base of Newhalem and the scenic Methow Valley. One thing to keep in mind: This road closes for the season soon—usually late November, but the date varies—and driving conditions can get dangerous as mountain freezes descend.

Quileute Oceanside Resort at La Push is picture-perfect at dusk.

Quileute Oceanside Resort

Olympic Peninsula

Located next to the crashing Pacific beaches of La Push, this Quileute Tribe–owned resort has no TVs, no Wi-Fi, and no phones inside the cabins. Cell service is spotty at best. What it does have: oceanfront cabins and RV spots, with access to some of the most beautiful shoreline in the state. The town of Forks is a short drive away when food cravings hit.

Alpine Lakes High Camp is for when you really want to get away.

Alpine Lakes High Camp

Stevens Pass

So adorable it made our list of the best A-frame cabins in Washington, but notable for another reason: This place is incredibly remote. It's located in the mountains just east of Stevens Pass and requires a special vehicle to access. The backcountry huts don't even have electricity; propane lights keep them lit, and wood stoves provide heat. On-site staff are prepped for emergencies, but this is about as off-grid as it gets.

Copper Creek Inn

Mount Rainier

Sometimes you need screen time without the threat of a state-by-state tracker popping up. Located just outside Mount Rainier National Park, this century-old lodge boasts televisions prepped for DVDs but without live broadcast reception. Wi-fi, while technically present, is very limited. Plus the attached restaurant is famed for its blackberry pie, the ultimate comfort food.

Sagecliffe Resort and Spa has houses with creature comforts and yurts that are blissfully disconnected.

Sagecliffe Resort and Spa

Central Washington

Given that it's next door to the Gorge Amphitheatre, this desert resort is hopping during the summer. But when the stage goes dark, it's a lot quieter in the lodge, rental homes, and yurts. The latter, specifically, take guests to a news-free zone: They have no screens and no Wi-Fi. The spa and sauna offer a chance for warm-ups.

Vancouver, BC

Canada

The news will probably be on in the bars and lobbies of our northern neighbor. But there's so much good food to be had—Michelin-starred meals, shopping mall dumplings—that it's worth the media exposure. Plus, the present season means a lot of public TVs will be tuned into Hockey Night in Canada. Just don't try to explain the electoral college to your Canadian hosts.

Tofino's floating sauna redefines relaxation.

Tofino Resort + Marina Floating Sauna

Vancouver Island, Canada

It doesn't get more remote than this. This dreamy structure floats in a far-off corner of the waters of Vancouver Island, where your phone might as well be a drink coaster. It's basically Greenland. If you're going, please take us with you.

Share