Exciting Day Trips from Seattle to Spokane

Exciting Places to Visit from Seattle to Spokane

Plan a Seattle-to-Spokane Road Trip

It is no secret that the roads on the west side are generally better maintained. However, the West Side, which mainly includes the Greater Seattle Area, is more densely populated. Avoid King County at rush hour. Weather and driving conditions vary greatly depending on where you live and the season. If you are traveling in winter (winter for Spokanites, meaning October through March), don’t be surprised to see snow in Spokane and clear skies near Yakima. You should also check the Department of Transportation for road closures due to construction, rock blasting, snow, and ice, particularly when going through the Cascades.

How far is Spokane to Seattle?

The distance from Seattle to Spokane is approximately 279 miles (449 km), and it takes about four and a half hours with no stops. You can take many routes from Seattle to Spokane, depending on where you’re going and how fast you need to get there. You can search Rentalcars.com for fantastic deals across many companies. You can also visit www.blessedlimo.net to rent a charter bus or limousine if you are taking a more extended trip like from Seattle and Glacier National Park or between Seattle and Yellowstone. You will also find many places to eat between Seattle and Spokane. These include small-town fruit stands that sell fresh local produce, fast food joints, coffee shops, and classic roadside restaurants.

Best Spokane to Seattle Drive Stops

Snoqualmie Falls

You’ll be entering Washington’s most beautiful wilderness less than an hour after renting a charter bus from Seattle as you travel through the Cascades. The small community of Snoqualmie Pass is just before you reach the town of the same title, which is home to one of the most spectacular natural attractions in the region. Snoqualmie Falls, at 268 feet, is a waterfall that can be either one huge, raging stream or two cascades side-by-side depending on the rainfall.

It’s a short walk from the parking lot to the observation deck. You can also park in the park, a great spot to have a picnic (weather permitting), and grab a bite at Salish lodge (the Great Northern of Twin Peaks.

Gingko Petrified Forest

The Pacific Northwest is famous for its dense, lush evergreen forests. Many of these trees can be found on a Seattle-to-Spokane drive, and this woodland is unique. The Gingko Petrified Forest State Park & Wanapum Recreation Area are surrounded by sage-covered desert with very few living trees. This forest of fossils was created by the forces of time and nature. The Washington State Parks website states that the Gingko Petrified Forest is one of North America’s most diverse fossil forests. It contains petrified ginkgo, other tree varieties, and
ancient petroglyphs. You might not have known fossil forests existed, but that’s one more reason to rent a charter bus through www.blessedlimo.net and go!

North Bend

Although Seattle is Starbucks’s birthplace, those looking for a great cup of coffee should stop by North Bend. North Bend, which was the filming location for David Lynch’s iconic TV drama Twin Peaks along with Snoqualmie, Fall City, and Fall City, is a small logging community surrounded by misty mountains, trees, and other natural beauty. Although you won’t likely encounter a murder/missing persons investigation or someone having a conversation about their pet log, it’s possible to do so. The town’s main attraction is Twede’s Cafe , where you must try the cherry pie, and it’s delicious, don’t worry.

Gorge Amphitheatre

The Gorge, formerly known as the Champs de Brionne Music Theatre and a 20,000-seat venue overlooking Columbia River Basin, is now the home of some of the most well-known acts in the world. This town’s founders either had a sense of humor or wanted to ensure that no one forgot about the namesake of the state, the nation’s first President. The town had just 501 inhabitants at the 2010 census. But the Gorge Amphitheater draws thousands of people every year, despite the pandemic.

Mt Rainier National Park

Mt. Rainier is Washington’s symbol. The Cascade Range’s highest peak, at 14 411 feet, is located 260 miles between Canada and Oregon. Mt. Rainier is located about 59 miles from Seattle. Rainier is a fantastic sight at any time of the year. You will see its sparkling-clear lakes in spring and summer surrounded by wildflowers. In winter, the mountain is covered in sparkling snow. A visit to Washington by renting a charter bus is incomplete without a stop by Mt. Rainier National Park is worth visiting if you’re in the area. You can hike, bike, or climb depending on the season and fish.

Leavenworth

Leavenworth is modeled after a Bavarian Village and may not seem like it was transported to Germany or Austria for those who have visited these countries. The main drag of Front Street is lined with beautiful Alpine-style buildings, including bars and restaurants serving Bavarian, German, and beer, quaint shops, and a Nutcracker museum. It is worth visiting any time of the year, but Christmastime is magical because of its beautiful decorations.

Cle Elum

Cle Elum is a historic, charming town in the heart of the Cascades. Its name means “Swiftwater” in the Kittitas language. You can rent a charter bus and spend some time on the lake with the same name fishing, swimming, or enjoying the peaceful scenery while sip local wine, beer, or fresh-brewed coffee. You can hike the John Wayne Pioneer Trail or stop by South Cle Elum Depot Railway Museum. Or stroll through the South Cle Elum Rail Yard Historical District. Stop by Smokey’s Bar-B-Que if you are hungry for home-smoked, down-home food. Another attraction is the Carpenter House Museum, and this 1914 mansion offers a peek into the town’s past, as seen through the eyes of its first successful banker.