Leavenworth, Washington
A beautiful drive through the Cascades awaits
2.5 hrs
From Seattle
3 hrs
From Spokane
5 hrs
From Portland
The drive from Seattle to Leavenworth is one of Washington's most scenic — take US-2 east over Stevens Pass. The highway climbs through old-growth forest, crests at the 4,061-foot Stevens Pass summit, and descends into the stunning Tumwater Canyon before arriving in Leavenworth.
Route: I-5 North → US-2 East → through Monroe, Sultan, Stevens Pass → Leavenworth. About 115 miles, 2.5 hours without stops. Allow extra time for scenic stops and traffic on busy weekend mornings.
Head west on I-90 to US-97 north, then take US-2 west into Leavenworth. About 175 miles and 3 hours — a scenic crossing through the high desert east of the Cascades.
Stevens Pass is open year-round but requires carry or use chains and snow tires in winter conditions. The Washington DOT regularly closes or restricts US-2 during heavy snowstorms — check road conditions before departing.
Always check: WSDOT 511 (app or wsdot.wa.gov) for real-time road conditions before driving to Leavenworth in winter. The Christmas Lighting Festival weekends can bring heavy snow — traction tires or chains are often required.
Leavenworth has multiple public parking areas within easy walking distance of Front Street. Street parking exists but fills quickly during festival weekends. The main parking lots fill by mid-morning on Christmas and Oktoberfest weekends — arriving early is essential.
Some hotels offer complimentary parking; confirm when booking if parking is a priority (especially for the Christmas festival when street and lot parking can be at a premium).