Yakima

Yakima is a city of 94,000 people (2019) in the Yakima Valley, part of the Columbia River Plateau region of Washington State. It is the county seat of Yakima County. This article also covers the nearby communities of Union Gap and Selah.

Understand

The Yakima Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official tourism office for Yakima, Yakima County and the Yakima Valley.

Get in

By plane

By bus
  • Frontera del Norte, (bus station) 1408 E Nob Hill Blvd (along E Nob Hill Blvd between S 14th & 15th St), ☏ +1 509 576-8741. Connects Pasco, Sunnyside & Yakima WA in eastern Washington (state) to Los Angeles and the Mexican border in San Ysidro in Southern California via Portland, Oregon. (updated May 2020)
  • Greyhound, (bus stop) Tall Men's Supermarket @ 202 S 5th Ave (S 5th Ave & W Walnut St), ☏ +1 509 317-2388, toll-free: +1-800-231-2222. Travels primarily on Interstate 90/82 (Seattle, Ellensburg, Sunnyside, Pasco (Tri-Cities), Stanford OR at I-84). Downtown bus station on S 6th St & E Yakima Ave is closed. 
  • BellAir Airporter, (depot) 2518 S 21st (at Ahtanum Rd, south of the airport), ☏ +1-866-235-5247. Goes from Sea-Tac to Cle Elum, Ellensburg & Yakima. Additional stops at the Yakima Air Terminal @ 2400 West Washington Ave (under canopy in front of the terminal building) and Smittys (Log Cabin) Cafe & Conoco 76 @ 3508 Fruitvale Blvd. 
  • People for People Yakima Transportation Services Rt #200, (bus stop) downtown Yakima Transit Center @ 105 S 4th St (along S 4th St btwn E Walnut & Chestnut), ☏ +1 509 457-1111, +1 509 248-6726. It goes east from Yakima to Wapato, Toppenish, Zillah, Granger, Sunnyside, Grandview and Prosser along the I-82/US 97/US 12 corridor in Yakima and Benton Counties. 
  • Yakima-Ellensburg Commuter (Yakima Transit Rt#11), (bus stops) Yakima Air Terminal, Yakima Valley Community College and downtown Yakima Transit Center @ 105 S 4th St, ☏ +1 509 575-6175. Commuter bus between Ellensburg and Yakima funded by Central Washington University and Yakima Transit. 

By car

Yakima is along Interstate 82, approximately 143 miles southeast of Seattle, 204 miles southwest of Spokane, and 80 miles northwest of the Tri-Cities (Richland-Kennewick-Pasco).

  • From Seattle, take I-90 East to the I-82 off ramp, Exit 110, just beyond the exit to Ellensburg. Keep right on I-82 East and take exit 31A-31B to North 1st Street / Naches.
  • From Spokane, take I-90 West until exit 110, I-82 East, continuing until exit 31A-31B to North 1st Street / Naches.
  • From the Tri-Cities, take I-82 West until exit 33. Merge onto East Yakima Avenue.

A scenic alternative route from the Ellensburg region is the old canyon highway, SR 821, a two-lane road that winds through the Yakima River gorge between Exits 3 and 26, bypassing the Interstate over the mountain ridges. During the daytime, the views are lovely and there are several spots midway to stop, fish, and even camp. Be cautious of rocks on the road, though, and stick to the Interstate at night.

Get around
  • Yakima Transit, Downtown Transit Center @ 105 S 4th St (along S 4th St btwn E Walnut & Chestnut), ☏ +1 509 575-6175. Yakima Transit operates local buses in and around Yakima (city) on Rt #1 through 9; from Selah in the Selah Valley north of town on Rt #10 and from Ellensburg on Rt #11. Take the #7 or 9 from the airport into town. (updated Jul 2015)

See
  • Allied Arts of Yakima Valley. Located in beautiful Gilbert Park, Allied Arts Center of Yakima boasts a multi-purpose facility. With ample parking, the two-story structure covers over 20,000 square feet. It houses an art gallery, a 210-seat-theatre with box office, conference rooms, an arts library, classrooms for performing and visual arts, and reception hall with kitchen. 
  • Downtown Yakima. Offers a variety of entertainment venues, retail outlets, restaurants, and wine cellars; along with events, exhibits, and parks. 
  • Central Washington Fairgrounds. 
  • McAllister Museum of Aviation (east end of the Yakima Airport, next to Cub Crafters, near the corner of 16th and Washington). It opened in 1926 as a flight school by brothers Charlie and Alister McAllister, and was one of the longest running flight schools in the Northwest. After Charlie's death at age 95, the school was transformed into the museum it is today. 
  • Yakama Nation Cultural Heritage Center and Museum, 100 Spiel-yi Loop, Toppenish, ☏ +1 509 865-2800. M-F 8AM-5PM, closed for national holidays. Established in 1980, the Yakama Nation Cultural Center (YN CC) is a unique, multifaceted facility offering a variety of programs that share Yakama Nation's history and culture with all. It offers the Yakama Nation Museum, Heritage Inn Restaurant, Winter Lodge, Heritage Theater, Yakama Nation Library, and CC gift shop. cultural center: free; museum: $6/adult, $4/concession. (updated Sep 2015)
  • Yakima Area Arboretum. Established in 1967 by the Central District of the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs (36 garden clubs in all), the Yakima Area Arboretum is a living museum of over 1000 specimens of trees, herbs, grasses and shrubs, on 46 acres of land managed as collections, display gardens and natural areas. 
  • Yakima Convention Center. Features 41,000 ft² (3,800 m2) of versatile column free, carpeted meeting space that includes the South Ballroom (6,000 ft² (560 m2) ballroom, divisible into 6 breakout rooms), the Alex Deccio Ballroom (23,400 ft² (2,170 m2) ballroom, divisible into 8 breakout rooms), pre-function space 11,600 ft² (1,080 m2), two conference rooms, and an outdoor plaza 7,000 ft² (650 m2). 
  • Yakima Speedway. With over thirty races each season. 
  • Yakima Symphony Orchestra. 
  • Yakima Valley Museum, 2105 Tieton Dr (at Franklin Park), ☏ +1 509 248-0747. M-F 10AM-5PM. Offers historical exhibits on the Yakima Valley—its natural history, Plateau cultural objects, pioneer life, early city life, and the roots and development of the Valley’s fruit industry. The museum also features a functioning replica of a late 1930s Art Deco soda fountain, furnished with salvaged and restored parts of soda fountains which once operated in Yakima, serving ice cream treats and other fountain favorites for visitors to the museum and Franklin Park. $5/adult, $3/concession, free/child. (updated Sep 2015)
  • 🌍 Yakima Sportsman State Park, 904 University Parkway (3 miles southeast of downtown Yakima), ☏ +1 509 575-2774. Summer: 6:30AM-10PM; Winter: 8AM-5PM. A 247-acre camping park created by irrigating a patch of otherwise desert river floodplain. 
  • Central Washington Agricultural Museum, 4508 Main St, Union Gap, ☏ +1 509 865-451. 9AM-5PM. Displays of historical agriculture, including machines and buildings. 

Do
  • The Capitol Theatre. An arts theatre that hosts an array of performances from Broadway shows, comedic acts, and musical talents. 
  • The Seasons Performance Hall. A premier concert and arts venue that offers an incomparable selection of musical performances. 
  • Yakama Legends Casino. Vegas-style games with a hometown flair! Featuring 1,400 of slots. Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Pai Gow, 3-Card Poker, Spanish 21 and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. There is also live Keno with payouts up to $50,000. 
  • Yakima Valley SunDome. An events arena that host a variety of shows and musical performance. 
  • Yakima Valley Wine Tours. Yakima is in wine country and there is a plethora of wineries in or close to the city. 

Buy

Eat

Asian
  • Golden Coin Chinese Restaurant, 1606 West Nob Hill, ☏ +1 509 575-0122. M-Th 10AM to 9PM; Sa Su noon to 9PM. 
  • Mongolian Grill, 1527 East Washington Ave, ☏ +1 509 453-3253. 
  • Ozeki Japanese Restaurant, 1527 Summitview Ave, ☏ +1 509 834-4282. 
  • Peking Palace Chinese Restaurant, 610 North 1st St, ☏ +1 509 452-8888. 
  • Pho 'Tan Vietnamese Restaurant, 420 South 72nd Ave, ☏ +1 509 225-9919. 
  • Royal Buffet Chinese Restaurant, 4001 Summitview Ave, ☏ +1 509 972-1900. 
  • The Tea Garden Restaurant, 110 South 4th St, ☏ +1 509 248-5565. 
  • Joy Garden Korean BBQ Restaurant, 5605 Tieton Dr., ☏ +1 509 965-9544. M-Sa 11AM-9PM. 

Casual dining

Fine dining

Mexican

Drink

Beer

Coffee

Wine

Sleep

Stay healthy

Air stagnation

Sometimes there will be an advisory issued for poor air quality due to stagnation. Because of Yakima's location within a mountain valley, air sometimes settles and becomes stagnant for an extended period of time. During this phenomenon, pollutants often accumulate and subsequently the air quality becomes poorer than usual, and can affect those individuals who have existing respiratory conditions.

You can refer to the National Weather Service website on air quality to see if any such advisories have been issued for the Yakima Valley region.

Disease

There have been confirmed cases of hantaviral pulmonary syndrome in the Yakima Valley; the most recent of which occurred during the summer of 2011.

Although this disease is a very rare, it is important to always take precautions when entering confined spaces, or places that are dusty and underexposed to sunlight, where conditions may be ideal for the presence of a rodent population.

For more information on prevention and transmission, visit the CDC website on hantaviruses.

Heat exhaustion

During the summer months, the temperature in Yakima and the greater Yakima Valley often exceeds 100 °F (38 °C).

If you are to be outside for long periods of time, be sure to drink plenty of water and limit the intake of alcohol and caffeine to prevent dehydration and heat stroke. Should you be planning on venturing off into the surrounding landscape, follow desert survival guidelines. Make sure you know where you are going, tell someone where your destination will be, and take an ample water supply with you.

Stay safe

Crime

Yakima has experienced a significant increase in gang activity throughout the past decade due to its population growth. This has resulted in a rise of violent crime within the city limits, although incidents of violence are mostly isolated to particular neighborhoods (mostly on the east side).

Yakima is very nice place to visit and the surrounding scenery is just as wonderful as its sun abundant climate. The problems it does have are typical in most mid-size cities and rarely effect the average person.

The best way to stay safe is to just be smart. Be vigilant! Most often, when people find themselves in a bad situation, it is because they put themselves in that situation. If you need help, there is an often visible police presence in the more troubled locales.

Cope

Hospitals

Go next
  • Boulder Cave (32 miles west of Naches. Take State Route 410 to Milepost 95.4, turn left on paved road.). April 1 - Oct 31. Unlike many Washington caves, Boulder Cave is formed from volcanic rock which was eroded away and collapsed. A fun boulder scramble, suitable for kids. Bring a flashlight. The short loop trail has a branch which is wheelchair accessible. Day use only. Part of Wenatchee National Forest. $5/vehicle, $15/bus. 
  • 🌍 White Pass Ski Resort, 48935 US Highway 12 (20 miles east of Packwood, 50 miles west of Yakima, on US highway 12), ☏ +1-509 672-3101. Ski area centrally located to a variety of cities in Washington state. 
Routes through Yakima
Ellensburg ← Selah ←  N  S  → Union Gap → Richland
Centralia ← Mossyrock ←  W  E  → Union Gap → Richland
Wenatchee ← Selah ←  N  S  → Union Gap → Bend


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