Best Day-Trips near Spokane

June 21, 2024

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Becky Doyle, Admission Counselor

There are so many amazing things to do in the Pacific Northwest in the summertime! From beautiful attractions to amazing outdoor opportunities, there are so many great places to explore for a day. Here are some fun day-trips near Spokane to enjoy this summer!

With just a quick 40-minute drive across the Idaho border, Zags enjoy the beautiful town of Coeur D’Alene, ID. Coeur D’Alene’s downtown is just steps away from Lake Coeur D’Alene and has great access to amazing shopping, great dining, and water activities! There is paddle-boarding and kayaking on the lake and ziplining tours in the region. Some great restaurants to check out are Crafted Tap House & Kitchen, Honey Eatery & Social Club, Moon Time, and Mrs. Honeypeeps Sweet Shop. It is an amazing place to spend a summer day and make some memories by the lake!
Leavenworth is a charming Bavarian-style village located in central Washington nestled in the Cascade Mountains. Leavenworth is a three-hour drive from Spokane and is a great day trip or weekend getaway for Zags. It is best known for its Oktoberfest and Christmas Tree Lighting Festival; however, it is a sight to see in the summertime as well! Leavenworth offers great dining for German Cuisine, vibrant local shops, and Washington’s first alpine coaster for visitors to enjoy!
If you are ever looking to get further out of town, Walla Walla is our neighbor to the south of Spokane that is a three-hour drive from campus. This small town has a lot of charm with delicious farm-to-table dining and world class wineries located in the Walla Walla Valley! Walla Walla has great museums in its historic downtown area, including the Fort Walla Walla Museum, as well as great opportunities for golfing in the region.
Now, for a place a little closer to home! Green Bluff is a time-honored favorite for Zags looking to head north and visit some of the best farms in the Pacific Northwest. Green Bluff is just a 30-minute drive from campus and boasts a collection of farms hosting fun events around seasonal products. Although Green Bluff is best known for their Fall Harvest Festival, the area also shines in the summertime with strawberry picking, beautiful flowers, and rustic boutiques in the region. Come visit this summer and check out what is fresh on the bluff!
If you are looking for great camping, look no further than Colville National Forest! Located just an hour and a half north of campus, this national park has 1.5 million acres (about half the area of Connecticut) to explore. This is a popular spot for Zags to go camping seasonally and enjoy the great Pacific Northwest outdoors. Colville National Forest has an array of wild huckleberries, hiking trails, mountain biking trails, exciting wildlife, lakes, and rivers to enjoy!