Kelso - Longview

Travel Guide

Mount St. Helens featuring snow, a sunset and tranquil scenes
Mount St. Helens featuring tranquil scenes, snow and snow skiing
Mount St. Helens featuring tranquil scenes, mountains and snow
Mount St. Helens featuring tranquil scenes, snow and mountains
Mount St. Helens featuring snow and tranquil scenes

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 artifact 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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Longview Heights

The coffeehouses and gardens are a few reasons travelers visit Longview Heights. Though there aren't many top sights in the neighborhood, you can visit Triangle Bowl and Lake Sacajawea Park, a few notable attractions nearby.

Longview Heights
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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

Old West Side might not have many top sights, but Lake Sacajawea Park and Regal Triangle Cinemas 4 are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Old West Side
Lewis River Inn

Lewis River Inn

2.5 out of 5
1100 Lewis River Rd., Woodland, WA
The price is P9,015 per night from Aug 5 to Aug 6
P9,015
P9,997 total
Aug 5 - Aug 6
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Woodland. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,004 reviews)
"The flowers around the property and the riverfront views from the room were beautiful!"

Reviewed on Aug 1, 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 P7,015 per night from Aug 10 to Aug 11
P7,015
P7,793 total
Aug 10 - Aug 11
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this golf motel in Kelso. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (453 reviews)
"Good stay"

Reviewed on Aug 2, 2025

Sleep Inn Kelso Longview
Motel 6 Kelso - Mt. St. Helens

Motel 6 Kelso - Mt. St. Helens

2 out of 5
106 N Minor Rd, Kelso, WA
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is P3,978 per night from Aug 31 to Sep 1
P3,978
P4,420 total
Aug 31 - Sep 1
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Kelso. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
7.4/10 Good! (723 reviews)
"Great friendly staff! Room was clean and quiet."

Reviewed on Aug 1, 2025

Motel 6 Kelso - Mt. St. Helens
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 vacation home in Cathlamet. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, 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 Jun 27, 2025

Hotel Cathlamet
Astoria 4BR Nr Riverwalk Fishing Coastal Views

Astoria 4BR Nr Riverwalk Fishing Coastal Views

2 out of 5
Astoria
Stay at this vacation 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 Sep 20, 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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