Best scenic drive (Seattle, Spokane, Edmonds: hotels, casino, camping)

[62mike]

If we flew into Spokane and flew out of Seattle would that be a mountainess, water filled drive?

We have 3 days to just drive.

Our favorite vacation is stunning scenery with lots of small towns to stop and shop, eat, etc.

We've already done the Seattle and Olympic forest, Mt. Ranier drive.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[Igor Blevin]

Highway 2 Stevens Pass from Leavenworth to Seattle. I haven't done it myself but friends loved it.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoMidqi2JB0&t=1s


https://revisitwa.org/scenic-byways/

[xPlorer48]

When will you be here? If it is after Highway 20 opens, I would drive this one. Lots of small towns along the way. Also, you are driving east so coming up the long switchback past Mazama toward Rainy Pass, the Liberty Bell group is in full view. Lots of wide area on the side to take photos. Best view of course is when snow is covering them in spring or fall. Stop at the Washington Pass viewpoint, Rainy Lake trailhead for easy hike to the Lake, Diablo Vista, Gorge Powerhose for a quick hike to several waterfalls. Rockport State Park for clean restroom and easy hike amongst old growth evergreens. Then, loop back via Highway 2 as Igor suggested above.
We have driven this road so many times, I have lost count. It is our way in and out of Washington when it is open as we detest I5. In the spring, you have gushing waterfalls; in the fall, you have colorful foliage display. It can open anytime in the spring from April until Memorial Day. WDOT has a website about the passes including Stevens.

[62mike]

We are road tripping from Mayv1st thru May 3rd.

Would you suggest flying into Seattle and driving to Spokane to depart? So we don't have to double back.

Will this route have some towns along the way for hotels and eating/shopping?

[62mike]

Our arrival is April 30th and departure May 4th. So 3 good days to road trip.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by 62mike

We are road tripping from Mayv1st thru May 3rd.

Would you suggest flying into Seattle and driving to Spokane to depart? So we don't have to double back.

Will this route have some towns along the way for hotels and eating/shopping?

You might have a hard time spending 3 days on that 4-1/2 hour drive. Highway 20 is often closed through most of May so may not be open then, but on Highway 2 you can spend a day or two and stay overnight in Leavenworth, and maybe take a short detour north to Lake Wenatchee. Other than stopping to appreciate the scenery at times, and visit whatever you find in the small (tiny) towns along the way. I seem to remember a railroad museum along there somewhere but we haven't been on that route since Covid.

[homesinseattle]

Originally Posted by 62mike

We are road tripping from Mayv1st thru May 3rd.

Would you suggest flying into Seattle and driving to Spokane to depart? So we don't have to double back.

Will this route have some towns along the way for hotels and eating/shopping?

Definitely Mike, I'd do it this way! I think the most sensible scenic route with the time you have is to take Hwy 2 east of Seattle, don't miss the little town of Index and beauty around there, stop at Deception Falls, quite close to the road, make a stop in Leavenworth. You could detour through Lake Chelan and Grand Coulee Dam and eventually rejoin I-90 and head to Spokane.

[margaretBartle]

You say you've already done the west side of the Cascades, but I would suggest, since you have 3 days to do a 4-hour trip, that you spend more time on the west side of the mountains.
One of my favorite places to explore is the coastline south of Seattle. there are a number of waterfront parts - Salt Water State park, Seahurst Park, Lincoln Park, plus a lot of nice, residential drives that follow the coastline. You could also head north, and follow the coastline from Golden Gardens, through a little town that no one has ever heard of, called "Woodway", and then north to Edmonds, a cute little town if ever there was one. From there you can go to east to Woodinville and the wine country, and on across 2.
If you want to go across 1-90, you can stop at one of my favorites - Snoqualmie Lodge (famous from Twin Peaks), maybe The Farm restaurant (although I see to recall you need to make reservations a year ahead of time!) and lots of little town. The Snoqualmie tribe has a nice casino up there, as well.

You'll probably be too early for Hiway 20.
East of the mountains, it's pretty much a straight shot to Spokane, not much to see.

Lots and lots to see on the west side, if you get off the Freeways.

[CrazyDonkey]

The Channeled Scablands:

Steamboat Rock State Park
Dry Falls State Park
Potholes State Park

Discover Pass: https://www.discoverpass.wa.gov/31/About-the-Pass ($30/annual, $10/day)

You need the Discover Pass to park at parks and other recreation lands and facilities operated by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Camping fees at State Parks are extra.

[xPlorer48]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

The Channeled Scablands:

Steamboat Rock State Park
Dry Falls State Park
Potholes State Park

Discover Pass: https://www.discoverpass.wa.gov/31/About-the-Pass ($30/annual, $10/day)

You need the Discover Pass to park at parks and other recreation lands and facilities operated by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Camping fees at State Parks are extra.

Yes, some of my favorite places. This area has great significance geologically and there is a great viewpoint above Dry Falls which shows the location of a once great waterfall caused by the Bonneville Floods. You will need to watch for rattlesnakes as ranger told me he finds them occasionally. We have canoed at all three and lots of places to explore. Steamboat and Dry Falls are close to each other.