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Leavenworth, WA — Formerly St. Joseph Catholic Church (PNG)📷 Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 3.0

Leavenworth

Leavenworth, WA

History

A mountain town in the Cascades styled as a Bavarian village, with timbered facades, a pedestrian main street and the Wenatchee River nearby. Visit on a weekday if you can, since weekends and festivals are very busy.

Leavenworth was founded in 1893 and was at first a railroad and logging town. When the Great Northern Railway moved its rail yards to Wenatchee in 1925, the economy declined. In the 1960s the center began to be remade as a Bavarian village: the Edelweiss Hotel opened on July 1, 1965, as the first building in the new style.

The town sits at about 1,168 feet (356 m) in the Cascades. Today it lives from tourism: according to Wikipedia, about 3.4 million visitors came in 2024. It is especially busy in the fall and during the Christmas lighting in December, when the daytime population is said to rise to as many as 33,000. If possible, visit on a weekday, and allow a few hours for a stroll through the center.

Nearest town
Leavenworth, WA
Category
History & culture
GPS
47.5962, -120.6615

Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.

Good to know

Best time to go

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

Sources

Nearby

Lake Lenore Caves – ISS062-E-140830 - View of Earth© Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center · Public domain
History

Lake Lenore Caves

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Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park near Vantage along the Columbia River 2© Thayne Tuason · CC BY-SA 4.0
Nature

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park

Vantage, WA
Blue mists at Snoqualmie Falls2© joiseyshowaa · CC BY-SA 2.0
Nature

Snoqualmie Falls

Snoqualmie, WA
Dry Falls – 2025-05-22-181336 USA Washington Coulee City 467.2© Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 4.0
Editor's pick
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Dry Falls

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Campsites nearby

  • Johnny Creek Campground (Lower)Campsite
    7 mi from Leavenworth
    TentsCaravansDrinking waterToilets
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Johnny Creek Campground (Upper)Campsite
    7 mi from Leavenworth
    TentsCaravansDrinking waterToilets
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Ida Creek CampgroundCampsite
    9 mi from Leavenworth
    TentsCaravansDrinking waterToilets
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Chatter Creek CampgroundCampsite
    11 mi from Leavenworth · 13 pitches
    TentsCaravansDrinking waterToilets
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Rock Island CampgroundCampsite
    12 mi from Leavenworth · 22 pitches
    TentsCaravansDrinking waterToilets
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Nason Creek CampgroundCampsite
    14 mi from Leavenworth
    TentsCaravansDrinking waterToilets
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip

All campsites in Washington · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026

FAQs

Where is Leavenworth?

Leavenworth is in Leavenworth, WA, at GPS 47.5962, -120.6615. It is about 34 mi from Chelan.

Can you camp near Leavenworth?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Alpine View RV Park, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 46 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

What is there to see near Leavenworth?

Places worth a stop nearby: Lake Lenore Caves (55 mi), Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park (55 mi), Snoqualmie Falls (55 mi) and Dry Falls (60 mi).

When is the best time to visit Leavenworth?

The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)