Arlington, Washington offers a quaint downtown with options for boutique shopping and dining, which makes it somewhat walkable for travelers staying in the area. However, the rest of the city, influenced by the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, presents challenges for walking due to terrain variations and the necessity of traveling long distances to reach various amenities. As a traveler, staying close to the core area is ideal to minimize dependence on a vehicle.

While Arlington is connected to a bus and ferry network, and benefits from its proximity to Marysville's Sound Transit options, public transit within the city itself is sparse. The limited bus routes, centered on the Smokey Point Transit Center, do not offer comprehensive coverage across Arlington, which may make relying on public transportation cumbersome for travelers seeking to move efficiently throughout the area.

Arlington is moderately bike-friendly, with the Centennial Trail offering a scenic route for cyclists. The city's commitment to a Bicycle Improvement Plan indicates efforts to enhance bike infrastructure for travelers. While the trail provides a usable route, the overall absence of continuous bike lanes and shoulders may reduce the practicality of biking for daily errands, making it more appealing for recreational purposes than for commuting.