//
The Columbia River Plateau, sometimes called the Columbia River Basin, is a broad plateau in Washington State where the Columbia River rolls its way between the Cascade Mountains and the Rocky Mountain foothills. Extensive infrastructure projects along the river have transformed this semi-arid sagebrush steppe into a literal powerhouse of energy and agriculture.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
A 20,000-seat outdoor concert venue, just off I-90, in the charmingly-named tiny town of "George, Washington". Beautiful sunsets.
By car
By train
Amtrak's Empire Builder stops in Pasco (on the Portland branch) and Ephrata (on the Seattle branch).
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Pasco · Regional · PSC
Loading places around the airport…
site of the Chief Joseph Dam
county seat of Lincoln County
across the Columbia from Wenatchee
county seat of Grant County
on the south end of Banks Lake, near Dry Falls
home of the Grand Coulee Dam, the largest hydroelectric power producer in the country
largest city in this subregion
a potato hub
county seat of Adams County
a small town known for its healing mineral waters
county seat of Douglas County
the largest of the Tri-Cities
county seat of Franklin County
near the Hanford Site and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
county seat of Klickitat County
the heart of Washington wine country, county seat of Walla Walla County
county seat of Yakima County
a town decorated with dinosaurs
a gorge lined with climbable basalt columns
during the last ice age, Dry Falls occasionally carried more water by volume than all the rivers of the world combined
Articles and travel topics about Columbia River Plateau and United States.
Nature & adventureHow to use the America the Beautiful pass, navigate timed-entry reservations and win hiking permits across America's top national parks.
7 min read
Travel tipsHow to master the NYC subway with OMNY contactless pay, dodge airport transfer traps and explore iconic Manhattan and Brooklyn neighborhoods.
7 min read
ItinerariesHow to plan the classic California Highway 1 road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles, navigating Big Sur closures, coastal stops and vehicle tips.
6 min read
Travel tipsSplitting a city stay between two hotels can cut costs, save hours of travel and buy you a night of luxury. Here is how to do it well.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.