# North Cascades Highway

> 3-day road trip of about 396 km (246 mi) with 4 stops, from Seattle to Leavenworth. About 4 h 24 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/north-cascades/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 396 km (246 mi) with 4 stops, from Seattle to Leavenworth. About 4 h 24 min of driving in total. A turquoise lake below jagged peaks, a Wild West town and a Bavarian village in the Cascades.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 396 km (246 mi) |
| Driving | 4 h 24 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 4 |
| Route | Seattle → Leavenworth |
| States | WA |
| Updated | September 14, 2026 |

## Route description

From Seattle, head north on I-5 to Burlington, then east on WA-20 up the Skagit Valley, where the farmland narrows into a forested canyon. Past Newhalem, the Diablo Lake Overlook looks down on a reservoir turned bright milky turquoise by glacial flour, with the North Cascades peaks above.

The highway climbs over Rainy Pass and Washington Pass among granite spires, then drops into the drier Methow Valley to Winthrop, a small town with Western-style storefronts and boardwalks. There is no fuel for a long way east of Marblemount, so fill up before the climb, and note that the pass section is closed in winter, usually from November until spring.

From Winthrop, head south along the Methow and Columbia rivers to Wenatchee, then west on US-2 to Leavenworth, a village rebuilt in Bavarian style below the Cascades. Returning to Seattle on US-2 over Stevens Pass closes the loop.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Seattle** (WA)
2. **Diablo Lake Overlook** (Newhalem, WA): Glacial flour turns this reservoir a bright milky turquoise below the North Cascades peaks.
3. **Winthrop** (WA)
4. **Leavenworth** (WA)