Tri-Cities, Washington Family Travel Guide
Pioneer Memorial Bridge crossing the Columbia River between Kennewick & Pasco
Tri-Cities is a vibrant hub nestled along the confluence of the Columbia and Snake rivers. While our visit was a whirlwind turnaround for a volleyball tournament, this corner of Washington proved to be packed with scenic river views, massive parks, and family-friendly stops.
Quick Take: While this was a super quick turnaround trip for our family, the Tri-Cities area definitely has much more to offer than we were able to see this time—and we are sure we’ll be back!
Know Before You Go
Getting Around: The Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland) have merged together over time and are connected by a series of bridges. Local transit is limited, so I highly recommend renting or bringing a car so you can easily explore the area and enjoy the bridge views.
Fly or Drive: The local Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) in Pasco is a small, easy-to-navigate municipal airport. If you’re driving up from the Boise area like we did, it’s roughly 260 miles (about 4.5 hours of drive time, plus kid stops!).
Road Trip Highlights & Hazards:
Historic Stops: Route 16 down from Boise takes you through historic Oregon Trail towns like Baker City and Pendleton, OR—both have gorgeous, historic downtowns worth building into your itinerary if you have time.
Forest Scenery: Driving through the Blue Mountains is breathtaking, especially if you’re used to desert landscapes. Keep an eye out for Emily Summit near the pass!
Driving Safety: Be aware of Deadman Pass just southeast of Pendleton, OR. It features a very steep incline with heavy semi-truck traffic, so drive with extra care through this section, especially during winter weather.
If you're planning a longer Pacific Northwest loop, check out our guides for traveling the coast—from our Seaside, Oregon Family Vacation Guide and Cannon Beach Family Guide all the way down to Redwoods National Park & Crescent City.
Tri-Cities, Washington Overview
Formed by the joining of the Snake and Columbia rivers, the Tri-Cities area is spread out across three main hubs. We traveled here for a quick weekend so my husband, Jeremy, could play in a co-ed volleyball tournament hosted at Columbia Basin College (CBC). We drove down Friday afternoon, Jeremy played Saturday morning, and we were on the road home by 3:00 PM Saturday. Even in 24 hours, we found plenty to love for families!
Where to Stay
Fairfield Inn Kennewick
Unfortunately, this was not our favorite stay. We’ve had great luck with Fairfield Inns in the past, but this location was a smaller, older build, and it showed in the amenities.
The Room Setup: We booked a King Suite expecting a standard double pull-out sofa for the girls. However, the couch bed turned out to be a twin size (which wasn’t specified on their website). Service was lovely and tried to help, but it made for a challenging night of sleep while trying to figure out a setup where everyone could rest.
Amenities: Breakfast was decent, though the selection was smaller than other locations. The furniture, electronics, and overall fixtures were pretty outdated.
Positives: Excellent location! It offers quick access to the freeway for exploring the area, plus it’s located near multiple family-friendly restaurants, shopping, and grocery stores.
Where to Eat
Because our trip was so fast-paced, we didn't have time for local sit-down dining and relied on familiar franchise favorites for quick grab-and-go meals.
Red Robin
A classic family favorite, and ideal when traveling with hungry kids! Their menu features bottomless sides and drinks for a flat price, which makes it an easy, budget-friendly win for road trips.
Costa Vida
One of my personal favorites! The raspberry chipotle enchiladas and sweet pork salad are incredible. Their kids' meals are fun, filling, and significantly less expensive than standard kids' menus elsewhere.
Arby’s
Sometimes you just need curly fries on a road trip! While their standard kids' menu is a bit lacking, my go-to hack is buying an adult sandwich I know the kids will like and splitting it in half for them.
Where to Play
Columbia Basin College (Pasco)
Jeremy played in CBC’s public co-ed volleyball tournament at their brand-new recreation center. The campus is beautiful and features an observatory, agriculture gardens, and plenty of open grassy spaces for kids to run around. They were fantastic hosts! If you have a volleyball player in the family, definitely check out their website and social media events for upcoming open tournaments.
Playground of Dreams - Columbia Park (Kennewick)
Our kids had a absolute blast here and were so sad when it was time to leave!
The Playground: Features several swing types (including a tri-swing and inclusive swings) alongside play structures themed after the Pacific Northwest.
Park Features: Located right along the scenic Columbia River with sweeping views of the Pioneer Memorial Bridge. The surrounding park includes a walking path, skate park, outdoor theater, Veterans Memorial gardens, a fishing pond, and tons of open green space. Bring a picnic lunch and stay a while!
Sacagawea Historical State Park (Pasco)
Located right at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers, this park is a gem for families.
What to See: Large shaded grassy areas with picnic tables right near the Interpretation Center, hiking trails, boat docks, teepee structures to explore, and plenty of ducks and geese to watch along the water.
Parent Tip: We only had time for a short stop in the main lot during this quick trip, but we cannot recommend it enough for a family picnic and history lesson. We will definitely be back for a full visit next time!
Overall Reflections
Even on a whirlwind 24-hour turnaround, the Tri-Cities surprised us with its beautiful riverfront parks, impressive bridges, and family-accessible spaces. While our hotel stay wasn't seamless, getting out by the water and watching the girls explore the Playground of Dreams reminded us why we love taking these mini family road trips. It’s a wonderful stopping point or weekend getaway in the Pacific Northwest!
