is beautiful enough to blow you away. While you could finish the route from Seattle to Boise in under eight hours, you can also turn the drive into a killer road trip.

If you’re wondering where to begin planning a trip through America’s northernmost desert, don’t stress—Jerry has the scoop on how to make the most out of the drive.

Jerry

is an app that uses AI to compare car insurance quotes from over 50 insurers, helping people quickly find the best possible deals in seconds. Not only does Jerry have your back on insurance, but our roadside assistance program can give you peace of mind while you’re out on the open road.

Membership includes everything from towing and fuel delivery to Uber credits.

Before you rev your engine, let’s make a plan.

Key trip details

Distance: 497 miles

Time: 7 hours 51 minutes

Suggested length of trip: 2 to 3 days

Itinerary

Seattle, WA

Yakima, WA

Umatilla, OR

Boise, ID

RECOMMENDED

Compare auto insurance policies

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

ZIP Code

Find insurance savings

Day One, Seattle to Umatilla

Estimated driving time: 4 hours

What to do from Seattle to Umatilla

Gold Creek Pond

: About an hour out of the city, you’ll reach Snoqualmie Pass. We know it’s only been an hour, but this is a great place to stretch your legs. The 30-minute hike around Gold Creek Pond is a great way to get your fill of traditional PNW majesty before your journey into the desert.

St. John's Bakery

: Once you’ve reached Yakima, look for a sign that says "Espresso | Greek Pastry" and follow it to St. John’s Bakery. The bakery is part of a Greek Orthodox Monastery established in Yakima in 1995. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better spanakopita for the rest of your trip, so make the stop count.

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park

This park features a "trailside museum" that takes you past more than 20 petrified logs, all right next to an awesome view of the Columbia.

Hat Rock

: Hat Rock is a huge basalt column and the first landmark noted by Lewis and Clark on their expedition down the Columbia. The nearby park offers access to a lake shaded by cottonwood trees.

Where to eat from Seattle to Umatilla

Doñitas Tacos

($): After your final day trip, get something to eat at Doñitas Tacos.

The Bridge Bistro & Brews

($$): Not in the mood for tacos? Stop by here for a brew paired with a pizza or burger.

MORE:

How to avoid the biggest road trip mistakes

Day Two: Umatilla to Boise

Estimated driving time: another 4 hours

Good morning, you’re halfway there! Wake up, greet the sunrise over the river, and hit the road.

What to do from Umatilla to Boise

Jordan Craters

: Jordan Craters features a massive lava flow with plenty of fascinating rocks and a quick trek around the Coffeepot crater.

Morley Nelson Conservation Area

: If you’re a birder (or if you just want to see some cool birds anyway), visit Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. Keep an eye out for Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, Burrowing Owls, Golden Eagles, and more.

Hit the hot springs: Drive through austere eastern Oregon for around an hour and a half until you hit La Grande. Once you do, get off Highway 84 at Highway 203 and drive for a couple of minutes to reach

Hot Lake

. Hot Lake features a bathhouse with private mineral hot spring bathing areas located right on the edge of a lake. Private bathing experiences go for just $25 an hour.

Where to eat from Umatilla to Boise

Ogawa's Wicked Sushi

($$): Now that you’re super relaxed, have a lovely little drive on down to the border—it’ll take about 2 hours. Once you’re there, soothe your hunger by visiting Ogawa’s Wicked Sushi.

Bert's Growler Garage

($$): If sushi doesn't sound appealing, Bert’s Growler Garage is another local favorite.

MORE:

Tips for driving with your dog

Boise, ID

Rejoice and get ready to tour your destination, because you're just about ready to enter Boise. The city offers an exciting range of things to do, depending on what sort of fun you want in the City of Trees.

What to do in Boise

Boise River Greenbelt

: You’re in the City of Trees (or Bobo depending on your preference). If you’re itching to get out and do something, check out the Boise River Greenbelt. It’s a beautiful paved walk that takes you along the Boise River for 25 miles— through a series of fantastic parks called "The Ribbon of Jewels."

SpaceBar Arcade

: offers a wide range of pinball machines, classic arcade games, and local craft beer.

Barbarian Brewing Tap Room

: This is a beer nerd’s paradise. With over 20 original beers on tap and even more in bottles, Barbarian is the top choice to order a flight, and a pint.

The Balcony Dance Club

: Voted Boise’s best dance club for 25 years in a row is destination number one for Boise nightlife. With Live DJs every Friday and Saturday night, Karaoke on Sundays and Mondays, and special events throughout the month, it’s almost always a party.

Where to eat in Boise

Barbacoa Grill

($$$): For dinner, drop by Barbacoa Grill for Spanish-inspired dishes with a creative twist. The stylish interior of the restraurant will be sure to greet you to Boise.

Alyonka

($$): Feeling adventurous? Shoot for a cuisine you'd least expect here in Idaho with Alyonka Russian Cuisine.

Why you need roadside assistance

The trip from Seattle to Boise is just shy of 500 miles—that’s a lot of time for something to go wrong.

You might not think much about running out of fuel on the road, locking your keys out of your car or paying for a hotel for an extra few days while your car is in the shop between destinations, but when it happens, it can feel dire.

Jerry’s

roadside protection program saves you from suffering the harsh consequences of a road-trip breakdown.

Not only that, but Jerry can also help you make sure you’ve got the right insurance coverage for a long-haul trip (for the best price).

A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding the cheapest quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even cancel your old policy for you.

And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.6/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.

"I was struggling because I wanted great insurance for my new car.
Jerry
was so helpful, and the team answered all of my questions. Now I have the policy type I was looking for!"––Avery W.

FAQs

Should I road trip from Seattle to Boise in Winter?

It’s possible, but take caution. Some of the higher-elevation areas get snowy. If you don’t have snow tires, make sure to bring along a set of chains.

Can I get from Seattle to Boise by train?

If you don’t really want to drive from Seattle to Boise, there’s a daily Amtrak train that runs between the two cities. The trip takes about 23 hours in total.

Are you overpaying for car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

Try Jerry