Kelso - Longview Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens

Two serene towns connected by a bridge provide the ideal base for exploring Mount St. Helens and other outdoor highlights of this scenic part of Washington State.

Kelso and Longview are two quiet, friendly towns divided by the winding Cowlitz River. Stay in one of these charming towns to be ideally placed for hiking the picturesque trails of Mount St. Helens, fishing in rich waters and enjoying a wide array of welcoming small-town attractions.

Look for signs of the area’s Scottish roots as you explore. Visit pretty Tam O’Shanter Park, named after a poem by Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns. Come here in September to see adults and kids alike don kilts for the annual Highlander Festival. Watch participants in the Highland Games compete in traditional sports, and sample Scottish treats such as scones.

To see another side to the area’s history, head to the Cowlitz County Museum, which offers exhibits dating back to the early pioneer days. In the evening, see a show at the Columbia Theatre in Longview. This carefully restored building is a work of art in itself, and an important artefact of local history.

Bring your hiking boots when you come to Kelso and Longview, as the local trails are among the area’s greatest charms. Drive the beautiful road to Mount St. Helens, a major draw of the area. The dramatic silhouette of this volcano dominates the landscape for miles around. Pack a picnic and explore its slopes at your own pace, or join an expert-guided tour that will take you all the way into the crater.

Head deep underground by entering the nearby Ape Cave Lava Tubes, dramatic natural tunnels that no-one with a taste for adventure will be able to resist. Back in town, set up for a day of fishing at a peaceful spot by the edge of Cowlitz River or at gorgeous Lake Sacajawea. Or, head to Longview’s Mint Valley Golf Course to play a few rounds amid beautiful scenery.

Drive to Kelso and Longview from SeattleOpens in a new window in around 2 hours. As you approach, enjoy glorious views of the Cowlitz River, which flows parallel to parts of the road.

Where to stay in Kelso - Longview

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West Side Highway

West Side Highway is well liked for its bars. If you'd like to do some sightseeing in the greater Kelso area, you might plan a trip to Triangle Bowl or Cowlitz County Historical Museum.

West Side Highway
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Old West Side

While Old West Side isn't home to many top sights, Lake Sacajawea Park and Triangle Bowl are some notable places to visit nearby.

Old West Side
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Longview Heights

The coffee shops and gardens are a few reasons travellers visit Longview Heights. Want to see more of the surrounding area? Triangle Bowl and Lake Sacajawea Park are a few top sights nearby.

Longview Heights
Lewis River Inn

Lewis River Inn

2.5 out of 5
1100 Lewis River Rd., Woodland, WA
The price is Rp2.014.342 per night from 25 Aug to 26 Aug
Rp2.014.342
Rp2.233.825 total
25 Aug - 26 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Woodland. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,002 reviews)
"The bathroom is very dated, and it wasn't easy to turn on the shower. The staff is very friendly. The room was clean."

Reviewed on 20 Aug 2025

Lewis River Inn
Sleep Inn Kelso Longview

Sleep Inn Kelso Longview

2.5 out of 5
250 Kelso Dr, I-5 Exit 39, Kelso, WA
The price is Rp1.933.114 per night from 7 Sept to 8 Sept
Rp1.933.114
Rp2.147.689 total
7 Sept - 8 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this golf motel in Kelso. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (488 reviews)
"The staff was pleasant and the room was clean."

Reviewed on 21 Aug 2025

Sleep Inn Kelso Longview
OYO Woodland Hotel and Suites

OYO Woodland Hotel and Suites

2 out of 5
1500 Atlantic Ave, Woodland, WA
The price is Rp1.167.516 per night from 10 Sept to 11 Sept
Rp1.167.516
Rp1.343.416 total
10 Sept - 11 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Woodland. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews. ...
6.6/10 (745 reviews)
"We were there for a concert. The staff was very friendly. We had requested a downstairs room due to my mom not walking well. We were told no downstairs rooms were available however we saw many empty rooms. The beds were harder than we like but for the price it was expected."

Reviewed on 18 Aug 2025

OYO Woodland Hotel and Suites
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Hotel Cathlamet

Hotel Cathlamet

3 out of 5
69 Main Street, B370, Cathlamet, WA
Stay at this 3-star holiday home in Cathlamet. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Popular attractions Puget Island and Elochoman Slough Marina ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (6 reviews)
"Such an interesting place, we loved the old school feel"

Reviewed on 27 Jun 2025

Hotel Cathlamet
Astoria 4BR Nr Riverwalk Fishing Coastal Views

Astoria 4BR Nr Riverwalk Fishing Coastal Views

2 out of 5
Astoria, OR
Stay at this holiday home in Astoria. Enjoy free parking and a garden. Popular attractions Hanthorn Cannery Museum and Uppertown Firefighters Museum and The ...
Astoria 4BR Nr Riverwalk Fishing Coastal Views
'astoria Painted Lady' Historic Apt w/ River View!

'astoria Painted Lady' Historic Apt w/ River View!

3 out of 5
3391 Irving Avenue, Astoria, OR
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Astoria. Enjoy free parking and a garden. Popular attractions Uppertown Firefighters Museum and The Children's Museum and Hanthorn ...
"What gorgeous views of the river."

Reviewed on 20 Sep 2024

'astoria Painted Lady' Historic Apt w/ River View!
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Cities near Kelso - Longview