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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Colville
Spend a half‑day in downtown Colville, then add a short drive to Crystal Falls or the Little Pend Oreille wildlife refuge; one full day is enough.
Colville is a small county‑seat in northeast Washington with a compact downtown, easy road links (US‑395, WA‑20) and nearby natural attractions. A single day covers the main sights; extra time is only needed for extended outdoor activities.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (check)
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (check)
- 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 $70–$110 excl. bed (2026 estimate) · Mid $110–$180 excl. bed (2026 estimate) · High $180+ excl. bed (2026 estimate) (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 (2026 estimate) |
| Meal at Rancho Chico (Mexican) | $8–$12 (2026 estimate) |
| Pizza at Tony's Italian Eatery | $10–$15 (2026 estimate) |
| Gasoline (per gallon) | $3.30–$3.80 (2026 estimate) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GEG · Spokane International Airport
- about 2 h drive south on US‑395 (check drive time)
Typical fares
- Colville → Spokane Intl (GEG) by car
- ≈ 55 USD fuel + rental, 2 h drive (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 the few‑block downtown core; use a car for Crystal Falls, wildlife refuge, and ski area. Bikes are feasible on flat streets.
See and do
Known for
- Crystal Falls
- Stevens County Historical Society
- Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge
- 49 Degrees North ski area
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Falls | Drive east on WA‑20, about 14 mi (≈ 22 km (14 mi))Drive east on WA‑20, about 14 mi (≈ 14 mi (22 km)) | ≈ 30 min round trip |
| Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge | Drive southeast on local roads, about 13 mi (≈ 21 km (13 mi))Drive southeast on local roads, about 13 mi (≈ 13 mi (21 km)) | ≈ 45 min round trip |
| Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area | Drive west on US‑395, about 15 mi (≈ 24 km (15 mi)) (check)Drive west on US‑395, about 15 mi (≈ 15 mi (24 km)) (check) | ≈ 40 min round trip (check) |
Sleep
- Campgrounds & RV parks
- Numerous sites near Colville and in the Columbia River corridor; suitable for tents and RVs.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excuse meExcuse 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
- Winter snow can close mountain roads; check conditions before heading to 49 Degrees North.
- Cell service may be spotty in remote forest areas.
Colville is generally safe; standard U.S. precautions apply. Watch for wildlife on rural roads and seasonal snow closures.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Colville yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Crystal Falls
- Stevens County Historical Society
- Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge
- 49 Degrees North ski area
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Colville official website: www.colville.wa.us/
- Wikivoyage: Colville, revision 5133756 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5133756
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Colville
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
US citizens can contact the nearest consulate in Seattle; other nationals use the US Embassy in Washington, DC.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/colville). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.