Best Pit Stops on I-5 from Seattle to Portland

Yes, it’s only a few minutes outside of Seattle. But any dog that’s about to undergo a long ride—or one that has patiently endured it with only a whimper or two—deserves to get their wiggles out. Grandview’s 34 acres spreads over a hillside with walking tails, agility structures, and big open fields; a killer view of Mount Rainier makes for  a good photo backdrop.

To open a distillery on tribal land, the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation had to fight a nineteenth century law that forbid the practice on reservations. Today the complex includes a distillery and brewery, plus a restaurant. A small bar next to the entrance is open for beer pours as small as four ounces, and the bar serves spirits flights; the designated driver has a long menu of snacks.

Just a few blocks past Penny Playground, a colorful neighborhood taqueria dishes Mexican classics, including fish and shrimp tacos. Dishes are saucy—a rich mole, or a bright chile verde sauce. A green retro fridge holds cold bottles of Mexican Coke and Jarritos, and the cheery space makes for a quick meal with zero fast-food vibes.

I knew this outpost’s big EAT sign as a dependable halfway point between Olympia and Portland for decades before finally stopping. It’s been a roadside burger stand near the banks of the Cowlitz River since before I-5 was built, and the menu is still classic: burgers, fried fish, patty melts. The all-day biscuits and gravy are a throwback, dense and satisfying, and fresh fruit milkshakes are a good reason to stop with every season.

Like Tumwater’s craft version, this chic building looks like an upscale farmers market but functions more as a food and gift shopping destination. Head upstairs to see the stunning 140-foot totem pole that was restored and laid horizontally here; it weighs 40,000 pounds. The Columbia River waterfront is just outside, with a beach and views of Kalama’s busy working waterfront.

At some point, every driver and passenger on I-5 has wondered who the heck Hulda Klager is and why her gardens get such big billing on the freeway signs. The answer is that she was a German-born farm wife who bred such spectacular hybrid lilacs that Woodland became known for the flower. Now her 1880s farmhouse and surrounding acres is open to plant shoppers and history buffs; Lilac Days is in spring, but it’s a serene detour any time of year.

The Washington State Park system has some breathtaking gems and wilderness holdings…and it has this park, located under I-5 bridges. But its sandy beach on the East Fork Lewis River takes only a few moments to reach (and offers some stunning Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens views near the off-ramp) and I quickly bookmarked it as a good place to let a dog or kid get their feet wet on a hot day. There is also camping and a disc golf course. Where else can you recreate under I-5?