Spokane is the second largest city in Washington State. While Western Washington tends to get most of the attention from tourists in the state, Spokane has much to offer. Whether you’re looking to spend 24 hours in Spokane, Washington, or an entire week, there is plenty to do. In this post, I will be covering some of the highlights. If you plan to spend 24 hours in Spokane, Washington, here are some of the things to do that I recommend. Whether you’re traveling to Spokane solo, with your significant other, or with your family, there is something to do for everyone.
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How to Spend 24 Hours in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington is a nature lover’s dream. There are many hikes, rivers, lakes, and waterfalls in the area. It’s also right over the border from Idaho. Since this is only a guide for visiting Spokane in 24 hours, I didn’t include any hikes in this guide. However, if that’s how you want to spend your time in Spokane, there are many options for that as well!
How to Get to Spokane
By Plane
If you are flying to Spokane, you are going to want to fly into Spokane International Airport (GEG). This airport is fairly small and services Alaska, American, United, Delta, Allegiant, and Southwest Airlines. The next largest airport to fly into would be Seatac.
By Car
Depending on where you are heading from, it is fairly easy to get to Spokane by car. From the largest surrounding metro areas, you can see the travel time to get to Spoakne below.
- Seattle, Washington: 4 hours (279 miles)
- Portland, Oregon: 5.5 hours (351 miles)
- Boise, Idaho: 6.5 hours (421 miles)
- Coeur d’Alene, Idaho: 35 minutes (34 miles)
How to Spend 24 Hours in Spokane, Washington
Grab Coffee at Indaba
To start your day, grab a coffee to-go at one of Spokane’s local coffee shops, Indaba. This coffee shop has several locations throughout the city. During my trip to Spokane, I visited Indaba multiple times because the coffee was SO good. I was there in the fall and they had the best pumpkin spice latte that I’ve ever had (been though I don’t typically like PSLs). Plus it was dairy-free, which is unheard of! If you are visiting Spokane, I highly recommend stopping by Indaba to grab a coffee to start your day.
Explore Manito Park and the Botanical Gardens
Once you’ve grabbed coffee, head to Manito Park. This public park is located in the South Hill neighborhood of Spokane. There are 5 gardens, a conservatory, and a large duck pond. You can’t miss Duncan Gardens, which is modeled after a traditional English Garden. The park in total is around 90 acres. This park is dog-friendly making it a great place to visit if you are traveling to Spokane with your dog. It’s easy to spend several hours at the park exploring the different gardens and walking around. It’s a great place to visit throughout the year. Even when the flowers aren’t in bloom, you can check out the holiday lights during the winter!
Visit the Shops and Historic Buildings in Downtown Spokane
After visiting Mantio Park, head to Spokane’s historic downtown. There is a lot to explore in downtown Spokane. If you’re looking to see the historic architecture, stop by the Davenport Hotel. For local shops, there are a variety of thrift stores, bookshops, and other small stores. If you prefer to shop at some bigger stores, River Park Square has lots of options such as Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Lush, Free People, and more.
Take a Walk in Riverfront Park
Riverfront Park is an area near downtown Spokane that was turned into the site of the 1974 World’s Fair. Now, this 100-acre park is the site of frequent events, concerts, festivals, and shows. You can also find a carousel, ice skating rink, pavilion with light shows, a playground, a basketball court, and a waterfall. If you are visiting Spokane, be sure to check for any upcoming events.
Go Wine Tasting at Arbor Crest Wine Cellars
Arbor Crest is a wintery located a the Cliff House Estate. This estate is situated on a cliff overlooking the Spokane Valley and offers stunning views, award-winning wines, park-like grounds, and events. To end your day, visit during sunset for snacks and a wine flight. If you are visiting during the summer, grab a seat outside with a view. If you are visiting on a Thursday or Sunday in the summer, you might catch the live music series
Tips for Visiting Spokane, Washington
- Spokane for the most part is not a walkable city. If you are flying into Spokane, you are going to want to rent a car to get from place to place.
- In the winter, Spokane will get snow. If you are driving in the winter, be sure to prepare your car and look at the road conditions. You are going to want chains if you are driving in the snow through this area in the winter!
- If you are visiting outside of the summer, be sure to bring a coat! It can get cold and rainy (or snowy!).
- Be sure to bring shoes to walk or hike in if that is something you want to do. Washington is a beautiful state, so if you are traveling from outside the area, I highly recommend taking a walk or going for a hike to see the area.
How to Spend 24 Hours in Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a great destination for a day trip, or to visit for the weekend. I hope this guide helped plan out a day to spend in this city. If you have more time in Spokane, I recommend finding a hike, visiting some of the breweries, or taking a day trip to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
If you have visited Spokane and have more recommendations, I would love to read about them below in the comments, so feel free to share! As always, you can find me on Instagram @maddie_deer here, or can follow me on my Facebook page to be alerted of any new posts here. Thanks for reading! 🙂
