How to see the state of Washington

Another way to enter Washington from the south is US97. Like the Oregon part this hugs the east flank of the Cascades, but with a few more ups & downs as it crosses ridges. After Satus pass it joins I82 through the agricultural area along the Yakima River (hops, grapes, other orchards). There are several ways to turn east to Grand Coolee, WA24, I90, US2.

Google Maps is a good tool for getting a sense of the terrain and road side views.

I posted this in another thread. Still valid:

Do you like technical stuff? The Hanford "B" Reactor tour. Magnificent visit to a true National treasure. It was the world's first full scale nuclear reactor, and there are now tours available, which are extremely well run. Check here:

http://manhattanprojectbreactor.hanford.gov/

If the tours are not available on your dates, they are often open by calling the office listed on the website. The only downside is that children aren't allowed, if I recall.

You can park your rig at my house if you wish, while you take the tour!

Another interesting part of Washington are the San Juan Islands. Park the RV at Washington Park, Anacortes, and take the toad on the ferry to visit.

Our visit in 2004.

ArchHoagland wrote:
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We will be coming into the state from the south from Oregon on I82.

I'm thinking of hitting Spokane then north on 395 to HWY 21 and follow it to Manilla Creek road and head west to The Grand Coulee Dam.
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That Spokane reference might throw people. That's the entry point if coming from the east on I90.

I82/US395/WA21/WA174 is a fine way of getting to Grand Coolee. This mostly crosses flat irrigated farm land (and non irrigated wheat fields in the north). US395 is divided hwy.

An alternative to 21 would be WA17. This has town traffic in the Moses Lake area. But further north it follows an ancient canyon with lakes and 'dry falls'. At US2 take WA155 along Banks Lake to the dam.

Banks Lake is a reservoir filling one of those glacial age canyons. It's water is pumped up from the dam, and then distributed to the irrigation canals. Beware that all Columbia River crossings involve a drop and then a climb (including I90).

Options for crossing the Cascades include:
US2 to Wenatchee on the Columbia. Leavenworth is a Bavarian themed tourist town. US2 puts you into the north suburbs of Seattle, with good access to the Everett Boeing plant.

Or you could take WA20 over the Cascades (through North Cascades NP). WA155 takes you to Omak, then WA20 crosses a pass to Twisp, then through Winthrop (western themed town), and on over Washington Pass.

Another sequence to Twisp is 174/15/97/153. This stays closer to rivers.

WA530 is a good way from US20 to Arlington and I5 south. Parts pass through a tunnel of big leaf maples. While Darington is a logging town with good access to mountain hiking, there are no passes to cross (just a low river divide).

While the bridge collapse on I5 complicates travel around the WA20/I5 junction, it does not make it impossible. Locals would like your business. But you could continue on WA20 to Whidbey Island (lots of great state parks). The ferry at the south end puts you into Boeing's back yard.

Camping close to Seattle is limited. Lake Pleasant in Bothel is most frequently recommended as full service RV park. Snohomish County has camping in several parks north of Seattle (Kayak Pt, Wenberg, Flowing Lake).

As for your exit -
take the ferry (or WA16) to Kitsap Peninsula, and then Hood Canal bridge to the Olympic Peninsula. Or catch US101 north from Olympia. Then loop around Olympic NP. Port Townsend is a nice Victorian era town, with good state parks. Or skip the Olympics and take 8/12 to Aberdeen. Some don't like US101 along the coast since in passes through a lot of clear cuts. But there are side roads like WA105 that stay closer to the coast. Most of the southern Washington coast is beaches and lagoons, not bluffs.

These routes skip the whole south Cascades (Rainier, St Helens). WA410 and US12 are the main highways across this part. NS routes through the Cascades are not as common as in Oregon.

No doubt you will get many route suggestions but here's a good start.

I would take US-2 west from Spokane to Grand Coulee Dam via WA-174 from Wilbur to the Dam. At the Dam inquiry about tours and see if they still do the nightly light show.

From Grand Coulee Dam you can either make your way up to WA-20 or down to US-2 to cross the Cascades. Be aware if you cross WA-20, and if your objective is to get to Seattle, when you reach Burlington that I-5 lays at the bottom of the Skagit River between Burlington and Mt. Vernon. I would avoid this by taking WA-530 at Rockport through Darrington to Arlington. That sets you up to get to Seattle.

Boeing Tour: google the 747 plant tour in Everett where they also make the 767, 777, and 787. There is also a flight museum there, but the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field in Seattle is a better bet.

You want to get to Astoria and to Florence. I love the Long Beach Peninsula in S.W. WA across from Astoria/Seaside. Great camping there includes Ft. Disappointment SP on the Washington side and St. Stevens SP on the Oregon side. Personally I have always liked the beach at Long Beach better than those in Oregon...to each his own. Long Beach is 25 miles of flat, continuous beach.

There is so much to see in the big, beautiful state. No doubt many will weigh in after me. I am a native. You are welcome to PM me for more particulars after you've read what others have written.

From Grand Coulee, a must stop is Dry Falls. A real geographic wonder. If you really want to see the state, jog back and forth between the Canadian border and the OR/WA border. There are several roads offering some interesting scenery. If your coming north on US395, be sure to spend a nite at Goose Lake State Recreation Area 15 miles south of Lakeview. Great park to visit.