A more leisurely alternative to bustling Interstate 90, Washington’s Highway 2 runs for about 325 miles across the state, from the port city of Everett to tiny Newport on the Idaho border. The route then continues on to Michigan. The Washington section offers something for everyone, from breathtaking waterfall hikes to U-pick farms.
Drive through the forests and snowcapped peaks of the Cascade Mountains, the high desert of the Grand Coulee and Columbia River Plateau, and the vibrant city of Spokane before reaching the southern edge of the Selkirk Mountains and the Pend Oreille River Valley.
Trip Duration: This Washington Highway 2 road trip is best done over three or more days. For simplicity, this guide divides the highway into two primary sections: west and east.
West Highway 2: Everett to Leavenworth
Distance: 100 miles
The westernmost section of Washington’s Highway 2 spans from the Salish Sea through the Cascade Mountains. Most of this portion is part of the Stevens Pass Greenway, a national scenic byway. This same stretch is also part of the longer Cascade Loop, another of Washington’s beloved scenic drives.
Travel Tip: Services are limited between Skykomish and Leavenworth, and snowy and icy conditions are possible from mid-fall through spring. Be sure to top off your gas tank and check the weather forecast and Stevens Pass road conditions before setting out.
Everett
Highway 2 starts at the junction with Interstate 5 in this port city about 30 minutes north of Seattle. Visit the Schack Art Center or take the kids to the Imagine Children’s Museum. For aviation fans, don’t miss the Boeing Future of Flight, where you can tour the massive factory where Boeing 777 jets are built, or the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum, which contains an impressive collection of vintage military aircraft. Before hitting the road, stop by Narrative Coffee for a scratch biscuit sandwich and an iced mocha.
Snohomish
Less than 10 miles east of Everett, Highway 2 curves around the north side of Snohomish, a historic town that hugs the northern bank of the river for which it’s named. The self-proclaimed “antiques capital of the Northwest,” Snohomish is a treasure-hunting mecca.
Gold Bar to Stevens Pass
Continuing east, travel along the Stevens Pass Greenway into the foothills of the Cascades, paralleling the Skykomish River through a series of towns popular for hiking, fly fishing, and white-water rafting. Outfitters like Alpine Adventures and Wildwater River Guides offer thrilling float and paddle trips.
Tiny Gold Bar, named for its origins as a gold-prospecting camp, features one of the region’s most beautiful hikes, the moderate 5.6-mile round-trip trek along the Woody Trail to Wallace Falls. As the road jogs to the southeast through Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Bridal Veil Falls and Heybrook Lookout Point are easily accessible hikes near the community of Index.
Stop by the casually sophisticated North Fork Kitchen at The Bush House Inn for a farm-to-table lunch or visit Skykomish’s Great Northern & Cascade Railway. This favorite stop with families and fans of historic trains offers rides on small-scale vintage steam locomotives on weekends from May to October.
The road then winds up to Stevens Pass, which sits at an elevation of 4,061 feet and is prone to snow even in late spring and early fall. Here you’ll encounter one of the state’s most celebrated skiing and snowboarding resorts, which during the warmer months offers scenic chairlift rides and alpine hiking.
Leavenworth
Famed for its colorful Bavarian-style buildings and cozy alpine vibe, Leavenworth lies on the eastern flank of the Cascades and makes for a great overnight while driving Washington’s Highway 2. There’s plenty to keep you entertained here for a few days, and the town offers a wealth of accommodation options.
Whimsical gift shops, acclaimed winery and a brewery tasting rooms, and colorful restaurants—several of them specializing in classic German cuisine—line Leavenworth’s walkable downtown streets. Check out the Nutcracker Museum, with its 9,000 antique nutcrackers, or head to München Haus for a bratwurst and a pint of Icicle Brewing Alpenhaze IPA.
Leavenworth is also a hub for outdoor recreation, home to popular hikes like the Icicle Ridge Trail and all-ages activities, including Leavenworth Ziplines and Leavenworth Adventure Park, where you can ride the state’s first alpine coaster.
East Highway 2: Leavenworth to Newport via Spokane
Distance: 193 miles to Spokane + 47 miles to Newport
Continuing east on this Washington Highway 2 road trip, the landscape transforms dramatically as you emerge from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and approach the upper Columbia River Valley. Expansive high-desert vistas continue all the way to Spokane before the road climbs into the pines of Colville National Forest for the final leg to Newport and the Idaho border.
Cashmere
Just east of Leavenworth, stop at Peshastin Pinnacles State Park and hike through the white-sandstone geological formations that give the town its name. Soon after, you’ll come to Cashmere, which has long been celebrated for its pear and apple orchards. Explore the Cashmere Museum and Pioneer Village, Apple Annie’s Antique Center, or Anjou Bakery, where you can treat yourself to a flaky apple cream croissant.
Also See: Top Antiquing Destinations in Washington
Wenatchee
Where Highway 2 meets US 97 Alt, detour slightly into Wenatchee on the Columbia River. Stretch your legs with a ramble through Ohme Gardens, or stock up on local wine and gourmet gifts at Pybus Market, which also contains several excellent restaurants. About 10 miles north of Wenatchee, just above Rocky Reach Dam, Lincoln Rock State Park is a terrific spot to enjoy a picnic, view spring wildflowers, and stroll along a beach.
Also See: Buy Local at These Farmers Markets
Optional Detour: Lake Chelan
Distance: 25 miles
North of Wenatchee, a 30-minute detour via US 97 and Highway 150 will take you to the southeastern end of Lake Chelan. This dramatic 50-mile-long lake is known for family-friendly activities, water recreation, and an impressive crop of wineries dotting the hillside. Consider basing yourself here for a night or two for some lakeside relaxation before continuing your road trip.
Optional Detour: Coulee Corridor National Scenic Byway
Distance: 49 miles
From Wenatchee, Highway 2 climbs to an impressive sagebrush-carpeted plateau. As you enter Coulee City, admire the massive cliffs at Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park. Here, consider detouring from Highway 2 along picturesque Highway 155 (part of the Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway). Stop at Steamboat Rock State Park, which is named for the long, 800-foot-high basalt butte at its center. Continue to Grand Coulee Dam, one of the world’s largest concrete structures, before heading southeast on Highway 172 to Wilbur to rejoin Highway 2.
Travel Note: Without stops, this scenic detour takes about 30 minutes longer than following Highway 2 directly from Coulee City to Wilbur.
Wilbur to Reardan
From Wilbur, Highway 2 stretches across a stretch of high prairie. You’ll encounter just a handful of small hamlets and even some virtually uninhabited ghost towns that thrived around the turn of the 20th century. Highlights include Sherman and Govan, which is home to an often-photographed Victorian schoolhouse abandoned since the 1940s.
In tiny Reardan, stop by the Inland Northwest Rail Museum, which displays a rare antique Union Pacific turntable and other colorful railroad artifacts. On the northeast edge of town, Reardan Audubon Lake is great for viewing the more than 200 species of migratory birds that pass through in spring and fall.
Spokane
Highway 2 in Washington enters the state’s second-largest city from the west and makes a sharp turn north across the Spokane River, by downtown’s alluring Riverfront Park. This walkable neighborhood is rife with notable indie shops, bars, restaurants, and winery tasting rooms. For a full rundown of what to see and do in this dynamic city, check out this Spokane city guide.
Green Bluff and Mead
Just north of Spokane, explore Green Bluff and Mead’s U-pick farms and craft breweries. If you have some extra time, detour up Highway 206, which climbs for about 20 miles up into Mount Spokane State Park.
Newport
Your Washington Highway 2 road trip ends at the Idaho border in the small river town of Newport. Learn about regional history at the Pend Oreille Country Museum or enjoy a tasty repast at Double Barrel Craft Kitchen and Taphouse. Here, Highway 2 connects with the International Selkirk Loop, offering another adventure for those looking to explore neighboring British Columbia and Idaho.
About the Author
Freelance editor and writer Andrew Collins is based in Mexico City but returns frequently to the Pacific Northwest, where he is the editor of both the official Washington State Visitors’ Guide and the Visit Seattle Official Visitors’ Guide. He regularly updates several Washington chapters of the Fodor’s Pacific Northwest guidebook and is the author of Ultimate Road Trips US and Canada. Collins writes about travel for The Points Guy and several other publications. You can read his work at AndrewsTraveling.com.