Yakima, WA Road Trips

The name Yakima originates from the Yakama Nation Native American tribe, whose reservation is south of the city and includes Toppenish and Wapato. If you drink beer, then you've had one of the local specialties; the Yakima Valley produces roughly 3/4 of all hops grown in the United States. Yakima Valley wine country, the largest grape growing region in the state, also begins south of Union Gap. The Yakima Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official tourism office for Yakima, Yakima County and the Yakima Valley. Visitor Information Center, 101 Fair Ave, ☏ +1 509 575-3010, toll-free: +1-800-221-0751, [email protected].

1 Central Washington Agricultural Museum, 4508 Main St, Union Gap, ☏ +1 509 865-451. 9AM-5PM. Displays of historical agriculture, including machines and buildings. 2 McAllister Museum of Aviation, 2008 S 16th Ave (east end of the Yakima Airport, next to Cub Crafters, near the corner of 16th and Washington), ☏ +1 509-457-4933, [email protected]. It opened in 1926 as a flight school by brothers Charlie and Alister McAllister, and was one of the longest running flight schools in the Northwest. After Charlie's death at age 95, the school was transformed into the museum it is today. 3 Yakima Area Arboretum, 1401 Arboretum Dr, ☏ +1 509-248-7337. Established in 1967 by the Central District of the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs (36 garden clubs in all), the Yakima Area Arboretum is a living museum of over 1000 specimens of trees, herbs, grasses and shrubs, on 46 acres of land managed as collections, display gardens and natural areas. (updated Jun 2025) 4 Yakima Valley Museum, 2105 Tieton Dr (at Franklin Park), ☏ +1 509 248-0747. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. Offers historical exhibits on the Yakima Valley—its natural history, Plateau cultural objects, pioneer life, early city life, and the roots and development of the Valley’s fruit industry. The museum also features a functioning replica of a late 1930s Art Deco soda fountain, furnished with salvaged and restored parts of soda fountains which once operated in Yakima, serving ice cream treats and other fountain favorites for visitors to the museum and Franklin Park. $8/adult, $6/senior and student, $5/child.

1 The Capitol Theatre, 19 S 3rd St, ☏ +1 509-853-2787. An arts theatre that hosts an array of performances from Broadway shows, comedic acts, and musical talents. (updated Jun 2025) Yakima Symphony Orchestra. 2 Casino Caribbean Yakima, 1901 Boggess St. A somewhat diminutive affair but with Vegas-style games featuring slots, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Pai Gow, 3-Card Poker, Spanish 21 and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. Little Hopper, ☏ +1 509-985-7470. Yakima Valley being premier wine country, this company offers wine tours encompassing multiple wineries in or close to the city. Boulder Cave (32 miles west of Naches. Take WA-410 to Milepost 95.4, turn left on paved road.). April 1 - Oct 31. Unlike many Washington caves, Boulder Cave is formed from volcanic rock which was eroded away and collapsed. A fun boulder scramble, suitable for kids. Bring a flashlight. The short loop trail has a branch which is wheelchair accessible. Day use only. Part of Wenatchee National Forest. $5/vehicle, $15/bus. Tieton Rock Climbing (19 miles west on US-12, just past the junction with WA-410). A series of crags along a 20-mile stretch of US-12, in a basalt/andesite flow between Naches and Rimrock Lake. Lots of sport and trad crack routes. (updated Nov 2024) 3 Yakima Sportsman State Park, 904 University Pkwy (3 miles southeast of downtown), ☏ +1 509 575-2774. Summer: 6:30AM-10PM; Winter: 8AM-5PM. A 247-acre camping park created by irrigating a patch of otherwise desert river floodplain. Discover Pass required ($10/day, $30/year).

1 Mongolian Grill, 1628 E Washington Ave, Union Gap (Valley Mall), ☏ +1 509 453-3253. 2 Ozeki Japanese Restaurant, 1527 Summitview Ave, ☏ +1 509 834-4282. 3 Tea Garden Restaurant, 110 S 4th St, ☏ +1 509 248-5565. 4 Joy Garden Korean BBQ Restaurant, 3710 Fruitvale Blvd, ☏ +1 509 965-9544. M-Sa 11AM-9PM. 5 Bob's Burgers and Brew, 121 N Fair Ave, ☏ +1 509 654-9114. M-Th 10:30AM to 10PM; F Sa 10:30AM to 11PM; Su 9AM to 10PM. 6 Powerhouse Grill, 3807 River Rd, ☏ +1 509 469-9900. Su-Th 6AM to 10PM; F Sa 6AM to 11PM. 7 Second Street Grill, 28 N 2nd St, ☏ +1 509 469-1486. 6AM to 10PM. 8 Zesta Cucina, 5110 Tieton Dr, ☏ +1 509 972-2000. M-Th 11AM to 9PM. 9 Miners Drive-In, 2415 S 1st St, Union Gap (Next to Valley Mall), ☏ +1 509 457-8194. Su-Th 8AM-2AM, F Sa 8AM-3:30AM. Burgers that are legendary for their size and taste; try the homemade Walla Walla Sweet Onion Fries too. It takes two hands to hold their burger! 10 Apple Tree Resort, 8804 Occidental Ave, ☏ +1 509 966-5877. Su-W 8AM to 2PM; Th-Sa 8AM to 8PM. 11 WaterFire Restaurant & Bar, 4000 W Creekside, ☏ +1 509 853-1057. M-Sa 11AM to 11PM. 12 El Caporal Family Mexican Restaurant, 109 East Naches Ave, Selah, ☏ +1 509 698-4337. M-Th 11AM to 10PM; F Sa 11AM to 10:30PM; Su noon to 9:30PM. 13 El Mirador, 1601 E Yakima Ave, ☏ +1 509 452-7201, +1 509 452-1202. 14 El Mirador Express, 418 W Walnut St. (updated Sep 2025) 15 El Pastor Restaurant, 315 W Walnut St, ☏ +1 509 453-5159. 16 El Porton Mexican Restaurant, 4808 Tieton Dr, ☏ +1 509 965-5422, fax: +1 509 965-8576.

1 Sports Center, 214 E Yakima Ave, ☏ +1 509 453-4647, [email protected]. 11AM-2AM. Restaurant, bar, music venue, place for dance parties, to watch the game or just hang out. Coffee Cravings, 118 W Yakima Ave, ☏ +1 509 225-6768. Jitter Bean Espresso Bar, Southgate Shopping Center, 401 W Nob Hill Blvd, ☏ +1 509 248-1848. North Town Coffeehouse, 32 N. Front St., ☏ +1 509 895-7600. M-F 6AM-midnight, Sa Su 7AM-midnight. Cheerful spot with long hours. Also serves remarkably tasty pastries, made locally. Pacific Traders Coffee, 518 N. 20th Ave, ☏ +1 509 945-5589, [email protected]. M-F 9AM-2PM. locally-roasted coffee daily. Kana Winery Tasting Room, 10 S 2nd St, ☏ +1 509 453-6611.

Best Western Ahtanum Inn, 2408 Rudkin Rd, ☏ +1 509 248-9700, toll-free: +1-800-348-9701, fax: +1 509 248-3607. Best Western Peppertree Yakima Inn, 1614 N 1st St, ☏ +1 509 248-7850, toll-free: +1-800-834-1649, fax: +1 509 453-8874. Fairfield Inn & Suites Yakima, 137 N Fair Ave, ☏ +1 509 452-3100, fax: +1 509 452-3200. Hilton Garden Inn, 401 E. Yakima Ave, ☏ +1 509 454-1111, fax: +1 509 248-3344. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Yakima Downtown, 1001 E Staff Sgt Pendleton Way, ☏ +1 509 249-1000. Oxford Suites Yakima, 1701 E. Yakima Ave, ☏ +1 509 457-9000. Red Lion Hotel Yakima Center, 607 E. Yakima Ave, ☏ +1 509 248-5900.

1 Yakima Air Terminal (YKM IATA). A commuter airport served only by turboprop aircraft operated by Alaska & Horizon Airlines from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and for general aviation. It is the largest airport in the center of the state. 2 Yakima Transit Center, 105 S 4th St (along S 4th St btwn E Walnut & Chestnut). Hub for most local and regional transit services. (updated Sep 2025) Frontera del Norte, (bus station) 1408 E Nob Hill Blvd (along E Nob Hill Blvd between S 14th & 15th St), ☏ +1 509 576-8741. Connects Pasco, Sunnyside & Yakima WA in eastern Washington (state) to Los Angeles and the Mexican border in San Ysidro in Southern California via Portland, Oregon. (updated May 2020) Greyhound & Flixbus (Flixbus operated MTR Western and Greyhound), (bus stop) Tall Men's Supermarket @ 202 S 5th Ave (S 5th Ave & W Walnut St), ☏ +1 509 317-2388, toll-free: +1-800-231-2222. Travels primarily on Interstate 90/82 (Seattle, Ellensburg, Sunnyside, Pasco (Tri-Cities) and Spokane at I-90). Downtown bus station on S 6th St & E Yakima Ave is closed. BellAir Airporter, (depot) 2518 S 21st (at Ahtanum Rd, south of the airport), ☏ +1-866-235-5247. Goes from Sea-Tac to Cle Elum, Ellensburg & Yakima. Additional stops at the Yakima Air Terminal @ 2400 West Washington Ave (under canopy in front of the terminal building) and Smittys (Log Cabin) Cafe & Conoco 76 @ 3508 Fruitvale Blvd.

Yakima Transit, ☏ +1 509 575-6175. Yakima Transit operates local buses in and around Yakima (city) on Rt #1 through 9; from Selah in the Selah Valley north of town on Rt #10 and from Ellensburg on Rt #11. Take the #7 or 9 from the airport into town. (updated Jul 2015)

Yakima does experience gang activity within the city limits. Incidents of violence are mostly isolated to particular neighborhoods, mostly on the east side. The problems it does have are typical of most mid-size American cities and rarely effect the average person.