Ilwaco, WA Road Trips

Cape Disappointment earned its name when Captain John Meares failed to cross the Columbia River bar in 1788. The feat was accomplished in 1792 by American Captain Robert Gray. The Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived at Cape Disappointment in 1805. European settlement of Ilwaco began with Henry Feister in 1851, and was named for Elwahko Jim, the son in law of Chief Comcomly. Ilwaco was incorporated as a city on December 16, 1890. A narrow gauge railway, Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company, ran for over 30 years. The railroad ran north up First Street. The freight depot survived to modern times, and has been relocated to became part of the Ilwaco Heritage Museum. The train ran out on the dock in Ilwaco. Floating logs were stored behind log booms on the west side of the Ilwaco dock. City of Ilwaco website

1 Fort Columbia State Park, ☏ +1 360 777-8221. Summer 6:30AM-9:30PM, winter 8AM-5PM. (updated Jun 2018)

1 Cape Disappointment State Park (formerly Fort Canby State Park), 244 Robert Gray Dr, ☏ +1 360 642-3078. Daily 6:30 AM-dusk. A 1,882-acre camping park on the Long Beach Peninsula, fronted by the Pacific Ocean. The park offers two miles of ocean beach, two lighthouses, an interpretive center and hiking trails. Visitors enjoy beachcombing, ship watching and exploring the area's rich natural and cultural history. 2 North Head Lighthouse. (updated Aug 2025) Baker Bay (Highway 101 to Ilwaco). Baker Bay is the first large indentation on the Washington side of the Columbia River after passing Cape Disappointment. The 1792 Captain George Vancouver expedition named the bay after a British merchant, Captain James Baker, whose ship was anchored inside the Columbia's mouth when Broughton crossed the bar to explore the river. Lewis and Clark named Baker Bay "Haley's Bay" on November 15, 1805. (updated Jan 2016)

1 Heidis Inn Ilwaco (Heidis), 126 Spruce St E (US-101 to Ilwaco), ☏ +1 360 642-2387, toll-free: 1 800 576 1032, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Budget motel noted for cleanliness and service at the entrance to the Long Beach Peninsula in SW Washington State. Blocks to the Port of Ilwaco and Columbia River. budget. (updated Jan 2016)

U.S. Route 101 travels through the city, providing access to Astoria over the Astoria-Megler Bridge, and Long Beach to the north. Pacific Transit. Operates bus transit services in the area. (updated Oct 2024) Route 20 operates daily between Ilwaco and Oysterville via Long Beach. Route 50 operates Monday to Friday between Raymond and Ilwaco via South Bend and Astoria.