Hit the Road: Funky Family Road Trips From Seattle

Distance from Seattle: 250 miles round trip, 4 hours of driving time

Carved by the mighty Missoula Floods after the last ice age, the Columbia River Gorge beckons with basalt cliffs, wildflower meadows and lots of sunshine. This scenic road trip follows the route of explorers Lewis and Clark on their Corps of Discovery. 

The route: From Seattle, head south on I-5 to Exit 7, merging onto I-205 South. From here, Exit 27 puts you onto WA-14 E, the two-lane “Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway” that hugs the quieter Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge and the start of your scenic road trip all the way to Lyle. Return the way you came, or make a loop back to Seattle via US 97 north then I-90 west.

Stops along the way

Mile 180: Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Washougal): Bring binoculars because these 1,000 acres of wetlands are teeming with ducks, herons and eagles. Spot all these birds from the new and flat 3-mile loop trail.

Mile 196: Skamania General Store and Beacon Rock Cafe (Skamania): Nothing fancy, just the place to grab a mocha and peruse their vast offerings of fishing lures.

Mile 199: Beacon Rock State Park (Stevenson): If your kids can do a steep one-mile climb up expertly-engineered steps and switchbacks to an impressive panorama of the Columbia River Gorge, they’ll get to brag to their friends that they stood atop the plug of an ancient volcano. This 848-foot basalt monolith was a “beacon” to Lewis and Clark on their journey to reach the Pacific, and so it was aptly named by the explorers.

Mile 207: Bridge of the Gods (Stevenson): Crossing over the river to Oregon and back again will cost you $6 in tolls, but the view from this century-old bridge is unrivaled and you’ll get to say you drove on the Pacific Crest Trail (go slow and watch out for thru-hiking pedestrians!) 

Mile 209: Columbia Gorge Museum (Stevenson): Swing by to learn about the geology and industrial history of the gorge with hands-on and interactive exhibits. Admission is $10 adults and $6 kids.

Mile 211: Granny’s Gedunk Ice Cream Parlor (Stevenson): Grab some kiddo-approved waffle cones and milkshakes, with a bag of fresh kettle corn for car snacking.

Mile 211: Tacos Pepe (Stevenson): The most famous food truck this side of the Gorge, hungry hikers have been loading up on tamales and fish tacos here for more than a decade.

Mile 228: Spring Creek Hatchery State Park (Underwood): There she blows! The west wind, that is. The mighty Columbia is utopia for west coast windsurfers, and this is a prime viewing spot to watch their colorful sails whip them around on the river. 

Mile 232: Everybody’s Brewing (White Salmon): This casual Gorge brewpub is a favorite family stop for craft beer and homemade noshes like sweet potato fries and mac n’ cheese. Snag a patio table for the view of Mt. Hood.

Mile 236:  Catherine Creek Natural Arch (White Salmon): Take this short 2-mile ramble through scrub oak and flower meadows to a natural rock arch. Like all trails in the Gorge, you may encounter wood ticks so tuck pants into socks and check the kids and dogs back at the car.

Mile 250:  Dallas Mountain Ranch Trail, Columbia Hills State Park (Lyle): One of the most instagrammable spots in the state, the carpets of golden-hued balsam root attract throngs of people here in late spring. Just ramble along the easy trails until you’ve had your fill of lupine and birdsong.

Mile 250: Native American Petroglyphs (Lyle): Tour the historic Native American petroglyphs and pictographs found at Columbia Hills State Park on the shore of Horsethief Lake.

Where to stay

Inn of the White Salmon (White Salmon): Book a family suite or squeeze into a standard room at this cozy, charming boutique inn. After you settle in, relax on the pergola-covered patio in the back garden. 

The Lyle Hotel (Lyle) Old and charming, you’ll love the fluffy robes and down comforters, but they keep the room rates reasonable because bathrooms are shared. Train-loving kids will adore sleeping so close to railroad tracks, but bring earplugs just in case. 

Columbia Hills Historical State Park: Pitch a tent or hook up an RV at one of the windy but scenic campsites at Horsethief Lake. 

Next up: The Mountain Loop