Calling all Spokanites! Do you ever find yourself wanting to get out and go on an adventure, but not wanting to travel too far?
Spokane is located in a perfect spot to explore all around the high desert and evergreen forests of eastern Washington and the panhandle of northern Idaho.
Like our post about all the epic day trips from Seattle, we’ve got you covered with a complete list of the best day trips from Spokane, Washington!
Table of Contents
ToggleWhether going on day trips around Spokane or outside of the city, it’s important to be prepared and have everything you need for a fun and successful adventure.
Here’s a list of essential items you should pack on your one day trips from Spokane:
Distance from Spokane: 20 minutes, 12 miles
The Iler Creek Conservation Area is where to go for some of the best hikes in the Spokane area.
Within the Dishman Hills Natural Area, one of Iler Creek Conservation Area’s best hikes with beautiful views of the Palouse is the moderate, 5.4-mile Iler Creek Conservation Area Trail (1,269’ elevation gain), which reaches the “Big Rock”, or Rocks of Sharon.
The Big Rock can also be reached by the Rocks of Sharon Trail, which is a moderate, 7.3-mile loop with 1,781’ elevation gain.
Bring a picnic and the whole fam for this fun day trip from Spokane!
Distance from Spokane: 22 minutes, 11 miles
The Little Spokane River Natural Area near Spokane is extremely popular to locals and visitors alike–and for good reason, as it has some of the best hikes in Spokane and is a beautiful place to unwind and enjoy nature.
Located at the Little Spokane River Natural Area, the St. George’s Trail to the Little Spokane River (moderate, 6.8 miles with 1,279’ elevation gain), Emerald Necklace Trail (moderate, 4.6 miles with 921’ elevation gain), Indian Painted Rocks Trail, Knothead Loop Trail (moderate, 6.8 miles with 1,049’ elevation gain), and the “Switchbacks” in Waikiki Springs (easy, 2 miles) are some of the best hikes near Spokane, Washington.
Discover Passes are required in all of these Spokane hiking locations.
Distance from Spokane: 24 minutes, 14 miles
Home to tons of hiking and biking trails, rock climbing, off-roading, camping, an equestrian area, boating, portions of the Centennial Trail, popular beaches for swimming, fishing spots, and peaceful walking locations, Riverside State Park near Spokane has it all!
Even better, the popular Bowl and Pitcher area within Riverside State Park, hiking trails, and campground is just 16 minutes and 6.4 miles from Spokane!
Want to cool off from Spokane’s summer heat? In Riverside State Park, the Cove is a popular location for swimming and hiking.
For more info about the park, check out our complete guide to Riverside State Park and the park’s map and pamphlet about the area, which depicts the best spots for all kinds of outdoor adventures.
Distance from Spokane: 21 minutes, 12 miles
At the edge of Riverside State Park, Nine Mile Falls is just over 20 minutes from Spokane and definitely worth the trip.
With tons of hiking, swimming, boating, and learning about historic sites in the area, Nine Mile Falls is an easy and rewarding Spokane day trip.
Up for a challenge? You can begin your hiking or biking journey along the popular Centennial Trail at Nine Mile Falls, which ends at the Idaho border at Gateway park, for a total of 63 miles!
Distance from Spokane: 26 minutes, 21 miles
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge comprises over 20,000 acres of natural reserve land in eastern Washington’s Columbia River Basin.
Here, you can hike tons of trails within the wildlife refuge and experience an abundance and diverse variety of wildlife and vegetation!
At Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, you can even go hunting (18+), walk through one of their many interpretive trails, and bring the kids for environmental education with local experts.
Distance from Spokane: 27 minutes, 25 miles
Driving to Post Falls, Idaho is one of the best day road trips from Spokane for many reasons.
For one, Q’emiln Park is one of the best parks in the Pacific Northwest, as it has epic outdoor rock climbing that is welcoming to all levels and ages (over 140 top roping and bouldering routes!), a wide variety of interconnected trails, views of the Post Falls Dam, a boat launch, shelters (by reservation), swimming, and an established playground and picnic area.
After visiting the park, Post Falls has a wide array of activities for all ages, including the Corbin Park Disc Golf Course, DirtKart, Highlands Golf Course, popular restaurants, DOMA Coffee Roasters, the annual Night Lights Lantern Festival at the Findlay Stadium Stateline Speedway, and Live After 5 Festival!
Distance from Spokane: 28 minutes, 21 miles
If you’re looking for a fun day trip to a lake near Spokane, check out Newman Lake–just 28 minutes northeast of Spokane in the McKenzie Conservation Area!
Known for its excellent fishing, Newman Lake is the place to be for outdoor adventurers and those who love lakeside environments.
In the surrounding McKenzie Conservation Area, consider hiking around the six miles of trails, including the moderate, 2.2-mile Turtle Rock and Bedrock Ridge Loop!
Distance from Spokane: 37 minutes, 34 miles
Because of its proximity to Washington and a wide variety of activities that are suitable for all ages, visiting Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is one of the most fun day trips from Spokane!
While at Coeur d’Alene, you can swim, hike around the lake (check out the easy hike around Tubb’s Hill) go boating, try a new watersport like stand up paddleboarding or kayaking, walk along the longest floating boardwalk in the world, or take tours of the Coeur d’Alene Lake on a cruise ship!
When you’re done adventuring for the day, Coeur d’Alene has a host of restaurants, shops, wineries and breweries. They also have family-friendly activities that are the cherry on top of your day trip from Spokane!
Want to stay the night? Check out the Coeur d’Alene Resort and get a bite to eat at Dockside (don’t forget to try the classic CDA treat, the gooey!).
Distance from Spokane: 39 minutes, 23 miles
Less than an hour from Spokane, McClellan Conservation Area is an easy day trip for both individual adventurers and families!
On a secluded peninsula that juts into the Spokane River, McClellan Conservation Area offers visitors serene river views, tons of wildlife, and hiking trails through 410 acres of ponderosa pine forests.
Early season accessibility at the McClellan Conservation Area makes this one of the best spring day trips from Spokane!
Distance from Spokane: 42 minutes, 25 miles
The Cove in Nine Mile Falls (Tumtum, Washington) is one of the most popular day trips near Spokane for its cliff jumping, swimming, and sunny beaches!
Located on Long Lake, or the greater Spokane River, the Cove is one of the best ways to escape the heat.
When cliff jumping, be sure to know your limits, make sure friends are watching you, and only jump/dive into deep water.
Distance from Spokane: 43 minutes, 30 miles
Throughout all seasons, Mount Spokane State Park is bustling with activity and excitement.
Whether you’re two or ninety-two, downhill skier or Nordic skier, hiker or snowshoer, or just looking for a good view, Mount Spokane State Park is the perfect day trip from Spokane that makes you want to go back for more!
In the winter at Mount Spokane State Park, you can snowshoe to the Quartz Mountain Fire Lookout, ski at the Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, cross country ski in the Nordic Ski Area, backcountry ski, cozy up by the fire at one of the park’s many warming huts, and go snowmobiling.
In the summer at Mount Spokane State Park, you can hike to the top of Mt. Spokane (hard, 6.2 miles one way, 2,790’ elevation gain), drive to the top for epic views of Spokane’s rolling hills, and hike around any of the many trails that wind through the park’s ponderosa pine forests.
Distance from Spokane: 56 minutes, 47 miles
Do you have a love for large furry creatures and have an itch to visit some? Just under an hour from Spokane, Win-Tur Bison Farm hosts tours of the farm and teaches visitors all about the bison.
On your tour of Win-Tur Bison Farm, feed the animals, peruse the gift shop, and learn all about how the farm came to be–a perfect day trip for the family!
You can even purchase bison meat from Win-Tur Bison Farm in the late summer or early fall, but it goes quickly!
Distance from Spokane: 1 hour and 7 minutes, 70 miles
Did you know that the longest gondola ride in North America is located in Kellogg, Idaho at the Silver Mountain Resort?
The popular waterpark, hotel, and ski resort at Silver Mountain Resort is just the start of the fun!
In Kellogg, you can also go mountain biking, bike the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, grab a bite to eat and drink at Radio Brewing, go on a mine tour, visit the Kellogg Farmers’ Market in the summer, or golf at the Galena Ridge Golf Course, and much, much more!
Can’t get enough? Try the 300k Bitterroot Loop–a four-day camping and biking tour of northern Idaho.
Distance from Spokane: 1 hour and 17 minutes, 81 miles
Simply because it cannot be proved otherwise, the mayor of Wallace, Idaho declared the city as the “center of the universe” by its mayor in 2004.
If that doesn’t make you want to visit this quaint town, maybe skiing at the popular Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area, biking the Route of the Hiawatha Bike Trail, hiking the Pulaski Tunnel Hiking Trail, or exploring the historic Wallace will!
With the city being just over an hour from Spokane, you must put visiting Wallace, Idaho next in the queue on your day trips from Spokane list!
Distance from Spokane: 1 hour and 20 minutes, 56 miles
Boasting extraordinarily clear water, Marshall Lake and Bead Lake are some of the best (and most accessible) mountain lakes to visit when on a day trip from Spokane.
In northeastern Washington, Bead Lake is great for watersports like boating, kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddleboarding, hiking, and fishing for kokanee, lake trout, burbot, and northern pikeminnows.
Just south of Bead Lake, Marshall Lake in Washington’s Colville National Forest is equally equipped for outdoor adventures and boasts excellent fishing for cutthroat trout!
Distance from Spokane: 1 hour and 23 minutes, 73 miles
Just over an hour away from Spokane, Sandpoint, Idaho is a unique place full of recreational activities and adventures.
Some of the most popular attractions in Sandpoint include Silverwood Theme Park, Pend Oreille Arts Council Arts and Crafts Fair, Northwest WineFest at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, the Festival at Sandpoint, Gold Hill Trail (hiking and biking), Mineral Point Interpretive Trail, Long Drift Outfitters fishing trips, golfing, and more!
If you’re looking for an affordable and easy way to get from Spokane to Sandpoint, consider catching a ride on the Empire Builder train by Amtrak, which takes 1 hour and 5 minutes and costs $14-17 per trip.
Distance from Spokane: 1 hour and 42 minutes, 87 miles
Built in the aftermath of the Great Depression, the Grand Coulee Dam is not only a wonder of human creation, but of science and construction to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation water.
During your day trip from Spokane, be sure to check out the Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center, go during the Grand Coulee Dam Laser Light Show, try your luck at the Geocache Challenge, or go on a guided tour of the historic site!
Distance from Spokane: 1 hour and 45 minutes, 82 miles
Located in northwestern Washington state, Colville National Forest comprises mountain ranges and valleys–chock full of outdoor adventures like camping, hiking, swimming, biking, and more.
One of the most popular attractions for families within Colville National Forest is Sullivan Lake, where there are tons of camping spots, swimming, and water sports!
Distance from Spokane: 1 hour and 55 minutes, 104 miles
The Idaho Panhandle is a large group of national forests, including the Kaniksu National Forest, St. Joe National Forest, and Coeur d’Alene National Forest.
Together, the three forests stretch over a 3.2 million acre sect of land, extending into nearby Montana and Canada at some points.
In these ancient groves of evergreens, you can expect to see tons of wildlife, smell the sweet scent of wild huckleberries, find the perfect secret fishing spot, itch to ride the whitewater waves, and come across abandoned mining towns.
Distance from Spokane: 1 hour and 51 minutes, 101 miles
Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park has some of the most striking geological features in all of Washington!
Carved by Ice Age floods over 13,000 years ago, cliffs from an ancient waterfall (that was four times the size of Niagara Falls!) form Dry Falls and the surrounding river gorge.
See these geological sites for yourself on the family-friendly and ADA accessible National Ice Age Floods Geologic Trail and learn more at the Dry Falls Visitor Center.
A Discover Pass is required at Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park.
Distance from Spokane: 2 hours and 18 minutes, 106 miles
Located near Metaline Falls and the Canadian border, Crawford State Park Heritage Site is a unique and interesting attraction that is great for all ages!
Known for the Boundary Dam and 500-million-year-old Gardner Cave (register online for a tour), which features giant stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone and rhinestone pools, Crawford State Park Heritage Site is a must-visit day trip from Spokane.
Want to stay a bit longer? You can camp at the Boundary Dam Campground for free!
Distance from Spokane: 2 hours, 106 miles
The Route of the Hiawatha is a 15-mile mountain biking trail that was originally a train route through the Bitterroot Mountains.
Along the gentle downhill Route of the Hiawatha bike trail, you’ll pass through miles of scenic vistas, trestles, and train tunnels–one of which is the 1.7-mile St. Paul Pass Tunnel!
This historic landmark, managed by Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area, is one of the best Spokane day trips that welcomes all ages!
Distance From Spokane: 2 hours, 140 miles
Found in the Tri Cities, Washington, Kennewick is just a short distance away from Spokane and has a lot of fun sports and recreational activities for all ages.
Kennewick is especially known for its July 4th River of Fire Festival and the Water Follies Columbia Cup Hydroplane race, both of which are held in Columbia Park in the summer.
When in Kennewick, be sure to check out the 103-year-old Gesa Carousel of Dreams, visit the 9-11 Memorial, golf at one of the five golf courses in the city, or go wine tasting at any of the 200 wineries in the area.
Distance from Spokane: 2 hours, 117 miles
Soap Lake near Moses Lake, Washington is a cute central Washington town with a rich history.
Due to a historic high potency of minerals in the water that created a foam, Soap Lake was deemed as a healing place for the sick in the Colville Tribe and other residents in the area throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Around the Soap Lake area, you can take in the views of the vast lake as it reaches toward the nearby river gorge, have a picnic at the park, wander through the town of Soap Lake and get a bite to eat at the Del-Red Pub, hike to the Lenore Caves in the Coulee Corridor, visit Summer Falls Day Use Area to see Summer Falls itself, and venture into the Blue Lake Rhino Cave to see an ancient fossil of a rhinoceros!
Distance from Spokane: 2 hours and 27 minutes, 134 miles
Near LaCrosse, Washington, Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site is a day trip from Spokane that you won’t want to miss!
Palouse Falls State Park is home to one of eastern Washington’s gems–the majestic Palouse Falls (and the state waterfall of Washington!).
In the spring and summer, Palouse Falls roars loudly as water cascades down its 200-foot drop into a canyon below; in the winter, Palouse Falls’ power is held frozen.
One of the coolest aspects of Palouse Falls is that you can view the falls from the top of the canyon (ADA accessible) or hike down into the canyon. However, hike at your own risk, as the trail is unmarked and is not always safe!
Distance from Spokane: 2 hours and 41 minutes, 144 miles
The Kootenai Falls Suspension Bridge in Montana is a bit of a drive from Spokane, but definitely worth the trip.
While originally built to cross the Kootenai River, this swinging bridge has become one of the coolest Pacific Northwest attractions for those exploring Kootenai National Forest.
To reach the Kootenai Falls Suspension Bridge from Spokane, follow US-95 North and U.S. Rte 2 East, and you’ll reach the area just 20 minutes after crossing the Idaho border.
After you reach the a in US Highway-2, park in the lot off of the highway, and follow the marked, paved trail to the 210-foot Kootenai Falls Suspension Bridge.
This is a great way to get the family outdoors or experience a rejuvenating solo getaway from Spokane!
Distance from Spokane: 3 hours and 10 minutes, 149 miles
Known for the 1800’s silver rush, Nelson B.C. has attracted travelers, artists and writers, and adventurers for centuries.
Being a hub for outdoor adventures, Nelson B.C. has a host of fun outdoor activities like hiking the Nelson-Salmo Great Northern Trail or skiing at the Whitewater Ski Resort in the winter (where you can also camp, if needed!).
Nelson B.C. is a great place to take a solo day trip from Spokane or go with family and friends!
After a day trip from Spokane, an affordable place to stay that has easy access to downtown Spokane is the Riverfront Park Travel Apartments (rates start at $74 per night).
Staying at the Historic Davenport Hotel is another great option for those willing to spend a little bit more on a luxury stay in Spokane (rates start at $184 per night).
Want a place to yourself? Check out this downtown VRBO duplex ($150 per night), cottage home VRBO in the heart of Spokane ($110 per night), or this historic craftsman home VRBO in downtown Spokane ($69 per night).