Coulee Corridor: Grand Coulee Dam to Dry Falls
Through the dry canyons carved by Ice Age floods, from Grand Coulee Dam past Steamboat Rock and Dry Falls to the petrified wood at Vantage.
- Distance
- 362 km (225 mi)
- Driving
- 4 h 01 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 8
- States
- WA
- Updated
- July 12, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 362 km (225 mi) with 8 stops, from Spokane to Ellensburg. About 4 h 01 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Washington · More road trips from Spokane
Route description
From Spokane, drive west on US-2 through Davenport and Wilbur, then north on SR-174 to Grand Coulee, about two hours. Grand Coulee Dam is the largest hydroelectric plant in the United States; the visitor center explains its building and the Ice Age floods. Parking is free, and the towns of Grand Coulee and Coulee Dam have fuel and motels.
Follow SR-155 south along Banks Lake, which fills the upper Grand Coulee. Steamboat Rock State Park sits under a basalt butte; a steep trail climbs to its flat top. The lakeshore campgrounds are large and popular in summer. A Discover Pass is required at Washington state parks, and you can buy one at the park.
At Coulee City, turn onto US-2 and then SR-17 south to Dry Falls. The overlook shows the cliffs of a waterfall that was once 3.5 miles wide during the Ice Age floods; the visitor center opens in the warmer months. Further south along SR-17, a short rocky trail climbs to the Lake Lenore Caves, rock shelters used by early hunters.
Soap Lake is known for its mineral water, said to soothe the skin. From there, drive southwest through Ephrata and Quincy to Vantage on the Columbia River, about 90 minutes. Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park has an interpretive center with polished petrified logs and a view of the river. Finish in Ellensburg, about 30 minutes west on I-90.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Spokane
WA - 2145 km
Grand Coulee Dam
HistoryCoulee Dam, WAThe largest hydroelectric dam in the United States, holding back Lake Roosevelt on the Columbia River. The visitor center tells the story of the dam and the Ice Age floods; parking is free.
- 318 km
Steamboat Rock State Park
NatureElectric City, WAA basalt butte rising 800 feet from Banks Lake, with a steep trail to a flat top covered in sagebrush. The lakeshore campgrounds are popular; a Discover Pass is needed for day use.
- 440 km
Dry Falls
NatureCoulee City, WAThe skeleton of a waterfall 3.5 miles wide and 400 feet high, created by Ice Age floods. The overlook and visitor center are on SR-17 in Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park; the center opens in the warmer months.
- 519 km
Lake Lenore Caves
HistorySoap Lake, WAShallow rock shelters in a basalt coulee wall, used by prehistoric hunters. A short but rocky trail with stairs climbs from a small lot off SR-17 above Lake Lenore; bring water in summer.
- 614 km
Soap Lake
WA - 774 km
Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park
NatureVantage, WAAn interpretive center at Vantage displaying polished petrified wood, with a view over the Columbia River. A separate trail area a few miles west shows logs still in the ground; a Discover Pass is needed.
- 852 km
Ellensburg
WA
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Spokane → Grand Coulee Dam · 90 mi · 1 h 37 minOvernight nearby, for example: Steamboat Rock State Park Campground (10 mi); Barker Canyon Camping Area (10 mi).
- Day 2: Grand Coulee Dam → Soap Lake · 57 mi · 1 h 01 minOn the way: Steamboat Rock State Park, Dry Falls, Lake Lenore Caves.Overnight nearby, for example: Smokiam RV Resort (2 mi); Coulee Lodge Resort (13 mi).
- Day 3: Soap Lake → Ellensburg · 78 mi · 1 h 24 minOn the way: Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park.Overnight nearby, for example: Ellensburg RV Park (2 mi); Taneum Campground (16 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–February. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Coulee Corridor: Grand Coulee Dam to Dry Falls?
3-day road trip of about 362 km (225 mi) with 8 stops, from Spokane to Ellensburg. About 4 h 01 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Coulee Corridor: Grand Coulee Dam to Dry Falls?
We suggest 3 days: about 4 h 01 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Coulee Corridor: Grand Coulee Dam to Dry Falls start and end?
It starts in Spokane and ends in Ellensburg.
Which states does Coulee Corridor: Grand Coulee Dam to Dry Falls pass through?
Washington.
Where can you camp along Coulee Corridor: Grand Coulee Dam to Dry Falls?
OpenStreetMap lists 96 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Steamboat Rock State Park Campground, Crescent Bar Campground and Priest Rapids Recreation Area Campground.
When is the best time for Coulee Corridor: Grand Coulee Dam to Dry Falls?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
