Viewpoint · 56 min north
Steptoe Butte
Drive to the top of a butte for a 360-degree view of rolling Palouse hills.
- 1 hr · Easy
- Late spring-fall
- Discover Pass
Day Trippin' › Washington › From Pullman
Day trips from Pullman
Pullman is in the heart of the Palouse: Steptoe Butte and Kamiak Butte look out over the rolling wheat hills, and Palouse Falls and the Snake River canyons are in reach for a day. The best day trips from Pullman, by drive time.
30 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Pullman
- Colfax 25 min northwest
- Hells Canyon jet boat from Clarkston 55 min south
- Steptoe Butte 56 min north
- Fields Spring State Park 1 hr 42 min south
- Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture 1 hr 43 min north
- Riverfront Park and Spokane Falls 1 hr 44 min north
- Palouse Falls 1 hr 59 min west
- Lewis and Clark Trail State Park 2 hr 1 min southwest
- Bowl and Pitcher 2 hr 1 min north
- Walla Walla 2 hr 37 min southwest
Within an hour from Pullman 5 spots
Town · 25 min northwest
Colfax
A farm town with the Codger Pole, a giant chainsaw carving.
- 1 hr · Easy
- Year-round
- No pass or fee needed
Tour · 55 min south
Hells Canyon jet boat from Clarkston
Ride a jet boat up the Snake River into the deepest gorge in North America.
- Full day · Easy
- Spring-fall
- Tour ticket
Trail · 25 min north
Kamiak Butte
A pine-forest loop with views over the farmland.
- 2 hrs · Moderate
- Year-round
- No pass or fee needed
Scenic drive · 57 min north
Palouse Scenic Byway
Rolling wheat hills, red barns and small towns.
- Half day · Easy
- May-August
- No pass or fee needed
1 to 2 hours from Pullman 10 spots
Waterfall · 1 hr 59 min west
Palouse Falls
A 198-foot falls into a deep basalt canyon, the state's official waterfall.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Spring best
- Discover Pass
Park · 1 hr 44 min north
Riverfront Park and Spokane Falls
The downtown falls, a gondola over the rapids and a carousel.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round; falls biggest in spring
- Gondola fee
State park · 1 hr 42 min south
Fields Spring State Park
A short climb to Puffer Butte with views of three states.
- 2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Discover Pass
Museum · 1 hr 43 min north
Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture
Regional history and art, next to a historic mansion.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Entry fee
Garden · 1 hr 44 min north
Manito Park
Free gardens with a Japanese garden, a rose hill and a greenhouse.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Spring-fall
- No pass or fee needed
Town · 1 hr 53 min southwest
Dayton
A historic town with the state's oldest train depot.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- No pass or fee needed
Lake · 1 hr 31 min northwest
Rock Lake
A long scabland lake with cliffs and quiet fishing.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Spring-fall
- Discover Pass (or a WDFW Vehicle Access Pass from a fishing or hunting license)
Wildlife refuge · 1 hr 38 min north
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
Pine woods and wetlands near Cheney, great for birds and elk.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Refuge fee in some months, or free (check: sources disagree)
2 to 3 hours from Pullman 14 spots
Town · 2 hr 37 min southwest
Walla Walla
A tree-lined downtown with more than 100 wineries nearby.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Tasting fees
State park · 2 hr 1 min southwest
Lewis and Clark Trail State Park
Old-growth riverside forest on the Touchet River near Waitsburg.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Spring-fall
- Discover Pass
Park · 2 hr 1 min north
Bowl and Pitcher
A swinging bridge over big river rocks and rapids in Riverside State Park.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Discover Pass
Zoo · 2 hr 5 min north
Cat Tales Zoological Park
Close-up looks at tigers, lions and other big cats rescued and cared for north of Spokane. A short, easy visit for families.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Year-round (fall events Sep 25 - Nov 30, 2026)
- Adults $18, students $15, children (5-12) $12, seniors (65+) free, children 0-4 free
Ski area · 2 hr 37 min southwest
Bluewood
A small, high ski area in the Blue Mountains.
- Full day · Easy to hard
- Winter
- Lift ticket
Museum · 2 hr 41 min southwest
Fort Walla Walla Museum
A pioneer village and museum with a big mule-team display.
- 2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Entry fee
State park · 2 hr 56 min north
Mount Spokane State Park
A summit stone hut with views into Idaho; skiing in winter.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Discover Pass
Farm · 2 hr 14 min north
Green Bluff
U-pick berries, apples and pumpkins on a hill of family farms.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Summer-fall
- No pass or fee needed
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 99163 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.