Rock your road trip between Portland and Spokane—with kids

My niece, who will turn 2 this year, lives in Spokane, Washington—oh, and so do my sister and brother-in-law. (See, I didn’t forget you guys—love ya!) It’s a roughly 6-hour drive to Spokane from Portland, the kind of distance I used to shrug at. But now that we’re a family of four, a long road trip with the littles takes more planning. That’s why I put together a guide of what to do on a road trip between Portland and Spokane with kids.

We don’t make the road trip to Spokane all that often, and every time we go my niece is enormous! I know babies grow (duh), but holy smokes even a little distance makes time fast forward like crazy.

We’ll be driving to Spokane again this spring, so for our road trip to Washington, I’m prepping by investigating what to do between Portland and Spokane with kids. Because when you’re in the car for 6 hours with two very active children, you need to plan your road trip itinerary as if your life depends on it. (Sometimes it does—or at least it feels like it does—like when you want to jump into traffic after your 4-year-old asks “Are we there yet?” three minutes after getting into the car.)

*meditative breathing*

So if you happen to tackle an Oregon-Washington road trip, here’s what to do between Portland and Spokane, especially if you have kids.

Where to eat between Portland and Spokane

You’ve packed a bucketload of snacks because you’re an uber prepared mom, but there comes a point when all the squeezies and fun-sized packages of fish crackers won’t satisfy your kid’s appetite. And let’s be honest: Sometimes your family needs a break from the car even more than they need food.

When looking for where to eat between Portland and Spokane, look for a casual, quick, family-friendly restaurant. Bonus points if it has a play area or a park nearby!

Between Portland and Spokane, eat at:

pFriem Family Brewery in Hood River, OR

pFriem Family Brewery and restaurant is just minutes off I-84. Its kids menu is standard but good quality; parents will appreciate the delicious sandwiches and salads. Check out the brewery store next to the restaurant, where you can buy bottles—or even a pFriem growler, which they’ll fill from a tap—of their varied beers. Just make sure to pack those beers in the cooler; if they get warm, they’ll get skunky. No thanks!

Big Jim’s Drive In in The Dalles, OR

Big Jim’s Drive In is a fast option offers kid-friendly fare like burgers and fries. It also has an outdoor patio so kids can move (instead of sitting!). Even better: You won’t feel as guilty when they drip melted ice cream from the restaurant’s handmade cones.

Farmer’s Markets

Depending on the day, you can stop at farmer’s markets—and eat really locally—in the Tri Cities, Hood River and The Dalles. Farmers markets often have food trucks or independent booths that sell prepared food.

What to do between Portland and Spokane

My two kids are, ah, spirited on the best of days. Sticking them in a car seat for hours is like shaking up a bottle of champagne: When you pop the cork—BOOM! FIZZZ!—they are ready to go.

So when it came to planning what to do between Portland and Spokane, I knew they’d need to get out of the car and have a chance to play. After all, I don’t want them using all their little kid energy kicking the back of my seat!

What’s more, Kiwi—who hasn’t napped consistently since before her second birthday—is much more likely to fall asleep in the car if she takes an outdoor break from the road trip.

Here are some great places for kids and families to get out and move in a Portland to Spokane road trip.

The Children’s Park in Hood River, Oregon

The Children’s Park is an outdoor wonderland offers chances for kids to climb, jump and play. The enormous wooden fort is sure to inspire imaginative play—just be prepared to talk in old-timey king and queen accents to get your prince and princesses back in the car.

Earl Snell Memorial Park in Arlington, Oregon

I hadn’t planned on stopping at Earl Snell Memorial Park, which is just off the I-84 exit, but we discovered it on an earlier road trip to Spokane when Kiwi was throwing a giant fit in the backseat. The park has a playground and a sandy beach with a super-calm spot of the Columbia River. If you’re traveling with your pup, note that the southern part of the park is off-limits to dogs (head to the northern side for pooch-friendly spots). You can also visit the caboose just outside the park, off the road, during summer hours. Choo-choo!

The Playground of Dreams in Richland, Washington

The Playground of Dreams had me at its name. As part of a long park that runs along the Columbia River, one section includes a giant turreted play structure that is a dead ringer for a medieval castle. (FYI, the structure makes it hard to keep track of itty bitty kids, so stick close!) If you make the road trip between Portland and Spokane with kids in the summer, The Playground of Dreams also has a splash pad—though it gets packed.

What to plan between Portland and Spokane

Before your kids get overly stir-crazy, tip them off on something super-fun you’ve planned. Looking forward to something will help them hold on for a few more minutes—or maybe even a half-hour. So if you already ate and you already played, mentioning another destination can keep kids occupied. Try these kid-friendly stops between Portland and Spokane.

Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery in Oregon

Your kids might not understand hydroelectricity (heck, you might not either!), but you don’t have to be a PhD to marvel at the power of this giant hydropower dam on the Columbia River, where energy we use to power toasters and charge phones is actually produced. Kids will love Bonneville Dam‘s underwater windows to watch fish make their way up the fish ladders. (The best times to spot various fish are June, August and September.) Meanwhile, kids can see other fish and even feed trout at the Bonneville Fish Hatchery, and it has viewing spots to watch spawning salmon in October and November.

Country Mercantile in Pasco, Washington

This produce/knickknack/ohmygoshthechocolate stand just off Highway 395 is impossible to miss, thanks to its gigantic sign. But be warned: You’re not going to get out of the Country Mercantile without buying a lot of sugary goodies. To head off your kids’ begging for every.single.treat they see, give them each $1 that they can spend how they see fit—it’s a lesson in budgeting and it saves you from saying “no” ten thousand times. Don’t forget to buy a bunch of locally grown peaches (or whatever else is in season when you pass through). They’ll totally make up for all the fudge you eat.

Mike’s Ice Cream in Hood River, Oregon

This tiny shop is adored by locals and tourists alike. The line may look long, but the scoopers are efficient, and you and the kids will be eating your cones in the plentiful outdoor seating in no time. Mike’s Ice Cream is not open in the winter, and it only accepts cash. If you’re craving ice cream during other months, stop at Hood River’s Gorge Ice Cream—it has great vegan and gluten-free options, too.

Rocking a Portland to Spokane road trip

The drive between Portland and Spokane isn’t the most scenic or action-packed stretch of highway in the US. But with lunch stops, parks to play in, special destinations and of course a whole lot of car games, you can make this family road trip one to remember—for all the right reasons.

Do you have tips on what to do between Portland and Spokane? Or do you have a favorite road trip travel hack? Please share!