In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
Cheney
Spend a half‑day exploring EWU campus and Turnbull NWR; add a night if you want a relaxed base before heading to Spokane.
Cheney is a small college town in Washington’s Palouse region, home to Eastern Washington University and the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. It sits about 15 km west of Spokane, making it a convenient stop for a quick campus visit, museum, or wildlife walk before continuing to larger attractions.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, limited daylight)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $60–$80 excl. bed · Mid $80–$120 excl. bed · High $120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | $2–$4 |
| Breakfast sandwich | $5–$8 |
| Meal at a Mexican restaurant | $8–$12 |
| Bus fare Spokane‑Cheney | $3–$5 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GEG · Spokane International Airport
- ≈15 km (9.3 mi) east; shuttle, rental cars, taxis available≈9.3 mi (15 km) east; shuttle, rental cars, taxis available
Typical fares
- Spokane Airport → Cheney shuttle
- about $15 per person, 30 min (check)
- Bus Spokane ↔ Cheney
- $3–$5 each way (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk or bike around EWU campus and downtown; rent a car for Turnbull NWR (≈10 km (6.2 mi) south). Public bus links to Spokane run several times daily.Walk or bike around EWU campus and downtown; rent a car for Turnbull NWR (≈6.2 mi (10 km) south). Public bus links to Spokane run several times daily.
See and do
Known for
- Eastern Washington University
- Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
- Cheney Historical Museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane | Bus from Cheney to Spokane Transit Center, about 30 min; or drive 15 min via I‑90 | ≈45 min |
| Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge | Drive south on S. Cheney Plaza Rd, about 12 min | ≈20 min |
Sleep
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites
- Near I‑90, easy access to WA‑904 and Spokane; good for one night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excuse me / SorryExcuse me |
| Thank you | Thank youThank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it?How much is it? |
| Where is the restroom? | Where is the restroom?Where is the restroom? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Limited evening bus service; plan a car or rideshare for night trips.
- Turnbull NWR wetlands can be muddy; wear sturdy shoes and check trail closures.
- Spokane Airport shuttle schedules may change seasonally; verify before travel.
Cheney is generally safe; typical small‑town caution applies—watch your car in parking lots and keep valuables out of sight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Cheney yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Eastern Washington University
- Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
- Cheney Historical Museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- City of Cheney official website: www.cityofcheney.org/
- Wikivoyage: Cheney, revision 5132600 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5132600
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Cheney
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
US citizens need no visa for short visits; see /united-states/visa-requirements.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/cheney). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.