Getting There!
Walla Walla is located in southeastern Washington State, just over the border from Oregon. It is roughly 270 miles from Seattle and 240 miles from Portland, OR.
However you get there, we appreciate you making the trip!
If You Fly…
Fly into Walla Walla
Fly into Walla Walla Regional Airport (ALW). There are two flights a day on Alaska Airlines from Seattle. This is the quickest way to arrive if you are coming from outside Washington State.
Fly into the Tri-Cities (Pasco, WA)
Fly into Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) and drive to Walla Walla. PSC is about an hour away from Walla Walla by car. There are a couple bus options (Grape Line and Amtrak) for the intrepid adventurer.
If You Drive…
The fabulous disco onion at the Walla Walla airport baggage claim.
Drive from Seattle
It’s about a 4.5 hour drive over the Cascades and through the scenic high desert of Eastern Washington to the Walla Walla Valley.
The most direct route is I-90 to I-82, to Hwy 12.
Stop in Union Gap, WA for (James Beard award winning) Los Hernandez Tamales and Zillah, WA for Taqueria La Plazita’s burritos. Take in the fields of hops, apples, pears, and grapes.
The potentially more scenic route still begins on I-90 but takes you over the Columbia River at Vantage, WA.
Stop at the Petrified Forest State Park for views of the river, dramatic coulees, and millions of years old petrified wood. After snaking along the Columbia River, take a detour to explore the Hanford Reach National Monument, then get back on WA-24 to pass by the other Hanford…the Manhattan Project one.
Where to Stay:
The Finch
A charmingly renovated motel located in downtown Walla Walla, The Finch is the first hotel Daniel and Payton ever stayed at together! With a sample of local wine at check-in, an outdoor firepit, and bikes to explore the surrounding neighborhood, The Finch is the perfect spot to relax and get the most out of Walla Walla.
The Marcus Whitman
If the full lobby bar and the newly renovated art deco rooms don’t entice you, perhaps the fact that this hotel is the preferred lodging option of the mother of the bride will! Located in the heart of downtown Walla Walla, The Marcus Whitman is within walking distance of most of our favorite restaurants, bars, and coffee spots.
Casa Grosgrain
Conveniently located on the same property as our welcome party (Grosgrain Vineyards), Casa Grosgrain is a 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom vacation rental straight out of the pages of a magazine. If proximity to our venues is your primary objective for the weekend, and you have a large group, Casa Grosgrain would be a great fit.
Kelly (the aesthetic mind behind Grosgrain and interior design extraordinaire) also said that if you’re part of our group you get 10% off your stay.
Other Lodging Options
Walla Walla is stacked with lodging options aside from the few mentioned above. There are plenty of vacation rentals (Vrbo, Airbnb), luxury resorts a little outside town (Abeja, Eritage), and a handful of chain hotels. Choose whatever suits you best! Our only recommendation is staying within walking distance of downtown if you don’t want to be entirely car dependent.
Getting Around Town
If You Fly…
There are a few rental car companies that operate out of ALW and PSC, choose your favorite! If you like the idea of not having a car, there are a handful of airport taxi services to get you to your lodging. Uber and Lyft in the area are spotty, and often require planning ahead. Wallaround rideshare is a homegrown rideshare service that has its own app available for download.
The Finch recommends the following services to get to and from the airport:
George’s Shuttle - (509) 386-6385
Fast Taxi - (509) 730-4200
If You Drive…
Congrats you have a car! We still suggest staying in or around the downtown area and adjacent neighborhoods if you want to take advantage of the walkability of the area for food and activities, but thankfully most everything in the area is at most a 15 minute drive away.
*Please drink and drive responsibly. Most of our favorite (and in our opinion best ) wineries are a few minutes drive outside of town. If you are driving to and from tastings, please make sure to spit or dump the remainder of your glass (that’s often what we do in the industry!) and/or have a designated driver. Visit the “Enjoy Walla Walla!” page for suggestions on wine tasting tour or chauffeur services.
Visit Walla Walla has some information about getting around the area here.