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Asotin to Hoquiam

  • Distance: 477 miles
  • Routes: SR 12, SR 410, Interstate 82 and 5, SR 8
  • Estimated Driving time: 9 hours

Tour Overview

This cross state tour pass through a variety of unique regions. The eastern portion of the tour follows the Palouse Scenic Byway through miles of the rolling hills and wheat fields of the Palouse. The central portion follows the Chinook Pass Scenic Byway over the Cascades. The west portion follows the Cowlitz Valley out to Hoquiam and Grays Harbor.

Key Waypoints along Asotin to Pasco

Asotin

At the confluence of the Snake River, which bends sharply west at this point, and Asotin (Ind. “eel”) Creek, a... Visit

Clarkston

The city spreads north-south over the sandy flats of the Snake River. Hemming it in on both the east and... Visit

Dayton

A pleasant, bustling city spread over the V-shaped valley formed by the conjunction of Patit Creek, which courses through the... Visit

Waitsburg

Waitsburg is on the delta of the Touchet River and Coppei Creek, northeast of Walla Walla. A pleasant old town... Visit

Walla Walla

The seat of Walla Walla County, lies in the center of the rich farm lands of the Walla Walla Valley.... Visit

Pasco

The seat of Franklin County, spreads its attractive public buildings, landscaped grounds, and business blocks over a level desert plain... Visit

All waypoints on this leg

★ Mainstreet Community

Side trips along Asotin to Pasco

Rogersburg

Travel 50 miles through the Snake River Canyon and Buffalo Eddy Nez Perce National Historic Park.

Anatone

This is a somewhat lengthier side trip, at 62 miles—you’ll climb up the steep grade to level out on the high plateau, driving through through Anaton to Field Springs State Park and ending at Grande Ronde River Bridge.

Cloverland

Climb up through a narrow canyon, past the town of Jerry, to emerge on the high plateau amongst farms and ending at the community of Cloverland on this 28-mile trip.

Marengo

This eight-mile side trip takes you through the historic town of Marengo.

Starbuck

This 46-mile trip leads through the towns of Starbuck and Grange City, plus two state parks, Lyons Ferry and Palouse Falls.

Lewis and Clark Trail

This side trip is a 44 mile side trip that reconnects with the tour; it follows part of the Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway, which commemorates the Centennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in Washington.

Whitman Mission

This short, 1.6-mile trip is to the site of the Waiilatpu  (Ind. “place of the rye grass”) Mission.

Artificial Canyon

This five-mile trip takes you through a geologically interesting artificial canyon.

Columbia Gap

This eight-mile round trip takes you along the east bank of the Columbia River and into Columbia Gap.

Sacajawea State Park

This four-mile trip takes you to a 10-acre tract at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers, established in 1926.

Side trips along Asotin to Pasco

There are no side trips along this tour leg.

Key Waypoints along Pasco to Yakima

Pasco

The seat of Franklin County, spreads its attractive public buildings, landscaped grounds, and business blocks over a level desert plain... Visit

Kennewick

This compact little city in the middle of fertile lands and orchards, named with an Indian word translated as ”grassy... Visit

Prosser

The largest city and seat of Benton County, and a shipping point for cattle and sheep; also dubbed the birthplace... Visit

Grandview

A city with wide, well-lighted and paved streets, it was founded in 1906, during the wholesale town-building and real-estate promotion... Visit

Sunnyside

Walled by the Horse Heaven Hills and surrounded by valleys checkered with farms and orchards. This arid region attracted the... Visit

Granger

Founded in 1902, this town was also named by Walter N. Granger, of the Sunnyside Canal Company. Situated in a... Visit

Zillah

Another town developed by irrigation and promoted and named by Walter N. Granger, founded in 1892 and platted in the... Visit

Yakima

On the Yakima River at the geographic center of the great Yakima Valley, the town owes its growth to the... Visit

All waypoints on this leg

★ Mainstreet Community

Side trips along Pasco to Yakima

Mabton

This 15-mile trip takes you to a portion of the historic transcontinental highway the Yellowstone Trail and Mabton, a small railroad town.

Saint Josephs Mission

This 24-mile trip takes you through the Ahtanum Valley to Saint Joseph’s Mission along Bachelor Creek at the head of the valley.

Side trips along Pasco to Yakima

There are no side trips along this tour leg.

Key Waypoints along Yakima to Olympia

Yakima

On the Yakima River at the geographic center of the great Yakima Valley, the town owes its growth to the... Visit

Old Naches Valley Highway

In contrast with the portion of the tour further south in the valley, this portion continues along the Old Naches... Visit

Upper Naches Valley

The Naches River rises at Naches Pass east of the crest of the Cascades, in three forks, near Pyramid Peak.... Visit

Chinook Pass

The highway pierces the main divide by way of Chinook Pass some 20 miles south of the old immigrant crossing... Visit

Enumclaw

Many of the first settlers were from Scandinavia. The Indian name was given by Frank Stevenson, a resident of the... Visit

Puyallup

The oldest town in the Puyallup Valley it is located on the rich valley floor along the dyked banks of... Visit

Tacoma

Lying along the protected waters of Puget Sound and Commencement Bay, into which the Puyallup River drains, is about midway... Visit

All waypoints on this leg

★ Mainstreet Community

Side trips along Yakima to Olympia

Goose Prairie

This 21 mile side trip is a 1 hour round trip and explores Goose Prairie and the settlement along Bumping Lake.

Ohanapecosh Hot Springs

This 25 mile side trip winds down SR 123 to the Ohanapecosh Visitor Center and hot springs for a refreshing break from driving.

Sunrise

This 30-mile side trip winds out to perhaps the most spectacular viewpoint reached by the highway, Sunrise Ridge.

Mud Mountain

This 5 mile side trip goes out to what was upon construction the highest rock and earth-filled dam in the world.

Kent

This 14 mile side trip drives up the White River Valley to the historic downtown of Kent.

Orting

  This 16-mile side trip drives out through farming communities to explore the agricultural heritage of the area.

Key Waypoints along Olympia to Hoquiam

Elma

In the Chehalis River Valley and on the Chehalis River, this was a pleasant agricultural town with wide, quiet, tree-arched... Visit

Montesano

Seat of Grays Harbor County and one of the oldest cities in the region, this town lies at the confluence... Visit

Aberdeen

Aberdeen lies at the confluence of the Chehalis and the Wishkah Rivers, facing Grays Harbor. The larger of the cities... Visit

Hoquiam

Hoquiam is situated on deep water at the mouth of the Hoquiam River, 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean, facing... Visit

All waypoints on this leg

★ Mainstreet Community

This tour has 4 legs, 116 waypoints, 18 side trips, and covers 477 miles.