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Major city · United States

Cle Elum

Base here 1–2 nights only if you want Cascade trailheads or Suncadia; otherwise it is a 90-minute I-90 stop between Seattle and Ellensburg.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Sep for hiking; Jan–Mar for snow
avoid Nov and Apr (mud season, pass closures); holiday weekends on I-90
Airports
SEA · YKM
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Cle Elum is a small sawmill and railroad town on I-90, 85 miles east of Seattle over Snoqualmie Pass. It works as a low-cost base for hiking, snow sports and the neighbouring coal town of Roslyn, not as a sightseeing destination in itself. A car is effectively required, and most trailheads need a federal parking pass.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Cle Elum, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$12–20
  • Beerdraught in a bar / six-pack at a store$6–9$10–14
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
  • Budget bedHostel or bunk bed, a night, per personUS$45
  • Mid-range bedMotel or lodge double room, a night, per roomUS$150
  • High-end bedMotel or lodge double room, a night, per roomUS$260

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$130 · High US$260

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Snoqualmie Pass access on I-90Salmon La Sac and Teanaway trailheadsRoslyn, the Northern Exposure filming townSausage and meat markets on 1st StreetSuncadia Resort
Airports
SEA Seattle–Tacoma International (About 85 mi west via I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass; 1 h 45 min without traffic, longer on Sunday evenings and ski weekends.) · YKM Yakima Air Terminal (About 60 mi southeast; small airport with limited connections.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Cle Elum: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

1°C

−7°C

12 rd

Feb

4°C

−6°C

10 rd

Mar

9°C

−3°C

11 rd

Apr

13°C

0°C

9 rd

May

18°C

4°C

8 rd

Jun

22°C

7°C

7 rd

Jul

27°C

10°C

4 rd

Aug

27°C

10°C

4 rd

Sep

22°C

6°C

5 rd

Oct

14°C

2°C

9 rd

Nov

6°C

−2°C

13 rd

Dec

1°C

−6°C

13 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

You need a car. The town has under 2,000 residents, no local bus, and some east-end streets have no sidewalks. The Kittitas County Connector runs free rides between Kittitas, Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Ronald and Roslyn on a limited schedule — check days before relying on it. The Palouse to Cascades Trail is a gravel rail-trail through South Cle Elum for bikes and walking.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Roslyn

go

Door to door: About 15 min

WA-903 northwest from Cle Elum, about 10 min by car

Coal-mining company town used as a filming location; short walkable main street, pair it with a Salmon La Sac drive.

Snoqualmie Pass

go

Door to door: About 30 min

I-90 west, about 25 min

Ski area in winter, Pacific Crest Trail and lake hikes in summer; chains may be required in storms.

Ellensburg

go

Door to door: About 25 min

I-90 east, about 20 mi

Bigger town with a historic centre and university; useful for supplies and a rainy-day plan.

Leavenworthgo

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

WA-970 to US-97 over Blewett Pass

Bavarian-style village with shops and food; a full day or an overnight, not a quick stop.

Wenatchee

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 45 min

US-97 north via Blewett Pass

Long for a return day; better as a through-route to Chelan.

Lake Easton State Park

go

Door to door: About 20 min

I-90 west about 15 mi to Easton

Shoreline picnicking, swimming, boating and winter cross-country skiing; Discover Pass required for vehicles.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown Cle Elum (1st Street)

Walkable strip with the meat markets, cafés and the telephone museum; motels and the Best Western are a short drive out.

South Cle Elum

Quieter, on the Palouse to Cascades Trail; the Iron Horse Inn sits in converted rail cars here.

Suncadia Resort

Golf, spa and rental homes east of town; you pay resort prices and still need a car for everything else.

Roslyn and Ronald

10–15 min northwest up WA-903; small inns and rentals, closest to Salmon La Sac.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$110–180 excl. bed
High
$180+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or lodge double room1 × 2 nights × US$150US$300
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$130US$520
Northwest Forest Pass, one year1 × US$30 · checkUS$30
Interagency Annual Pass, one year1 × US$80 · checkUS$80
Discover Pass, day use1 × US$10 · checkUS$10
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$97
Trip total≈ US$267 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,067

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Diner breakfast$12–20
Steak or Italian main$25–45
Beer: draught in a bar / six-pack at a store$6–9 / $10–14
Gallon of petrol$4–5 (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
Motel room, midweek vs holiday weekend$90–150 / $200+

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Low street crime in a town of under 2,000. The real risks are mountain weather, winter pass closures, unmarked trailheads and wildfire smoke — tell someone your route and carry water.
  • Snoqualmie Pass can close in winter storms; carry chains or snow tyres Nov–Mar and check state road conditions before leaving Seattle.
  • Most Cascade trailheads require a federal parking pass per vehicle — Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass — sold at the Cle Elum Ranger District office.
  • Cell coverage drops fast on WA-903 past Cle Elum Lake and in the Teanaway; download offline maps.
  • I-90 backs up westbound on Sunday afternoons and holiday weekends; add an hour.
  • Wildfire smoke can cancel hiking plans in Aug–Sep; check air quality before a long drive.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Kittitas County non-emergency
509-925-8534

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Cle ElumCle Elum

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Kittitas County non-emergency509-925-8534

Embassy

No embassies here. Nearest consulates-general are in Seattle; national embassies are in Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Kittitas County Connector: free rides between Kittitas, Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Ronald and Roslyn; limited schedule (check)
  • I-90 Seattle → Cle Elum: about 85 mi, 1 h 45 min without traffic; longer on ski and holiday weekends (check)
  • Northwest Forest Pass: $30 for one year, valid across Washington and Oregon national forests (check)

Say or show

  • Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
  • Do I need a pass to park here? — Do I need a pass to park here?
  • Is the pass open? — Is the pass open?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • How far to the next town? — How far to the next town?

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Cle Elum. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep for hiking; Jan–Mar for snow · avoid Nov and Apr (mud season, pass closures); holiday weekends on I-90 · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for SEA: last practical I-90 departure, pass-closure fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: 1st Street downtown, South Cle Elum trailhead, Roslyn main street.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (telephone museum, ranger district office, Lake Easton) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter and wildfire fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources