Major city · United States
LeavenworthLeavenworth, Washington
Go for 1–2 nights: a Bavarian-themed village of about 2,000 people, 2.5 h from Seattle by car, best as a base for Icicle Creek hikes and winter lights.
Leavenworth is a small resort town in the North Central Cascades that rebuilt itself as a mock Bavarian village in the 1960s. Downtown is one walkable strip of Front Street; the real draw is the surrounding mountains, the Wenatchee River and the Christmas lights that run from Thanksgiving to mid-February. One night covers the village; two nights let you hike or ski.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- May–Oct for hiking and rafting; late Nov–mid-Feb for lights and snow
- avoid None weather-wise; expect crowds on October festival weekends and holiday periods
- Airports
- EAT · SEA
- Nights
- 1–2
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Leavenworth911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Leavenworth, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyA small, low-crime resort town.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportEAT Pangborn Memorial (Wenatchee) (About 40 min east; Alaska Airlines from Seattle, a few flights a day).
- Getting aroundDowntown is walkable end to end in about 15 minutes.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$4–7
- Beerpint in a pub / can at a store$7–10$2–4
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$15–30
- Museum or sight ticketNutcracker Museum entryAdults $5, students $2
- Budget bedHostel or motel bed, a night, per personUS$45
- Mid-range bedMotel or lodge double room, a night, per roomUS$190
- High-end bedMotel or lodge double room, a night, per roomUS$350
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$150 · High US$280
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
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.
- Airports
- EAT Pangborn Memorial (Wenatchee) (About 40 min east; Alaska Airlines from Seattle, a few flights a day) · SEA Seattle-Tacoma International (About 3 h by car over Stevens Pass; many more connections)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
Feb
Best
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Mar
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Apr
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
May
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Jun
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Jul
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Oct
Care
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Nov
Best*
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Dec
not flagged
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
Best: Feb, May–Sep, Nov. Mixed: Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)), coolest Jan (−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C) low), wettest Dec (11 rain days), driest Jul (3). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
Leavenworth: 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 (34°F)34°F (1°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
10 rd
Feb
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
8 rd
Mar
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
8 rd
Apr
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
6 rd
May
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
6 rd
Jun
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
5 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
3 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
3 rd
Sep
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
4 rd
Oct
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
7 rd
Nov
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
10 rd
Dec
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
11 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Downtown is walkable end to end in about 15 minutes. Link Transit Route 22 connects Wenatchee via Cashmere, and Route D shuttles between the Willkommen Park and Ride and Icicle Quick Stop roughly every 20 minutes, 11:00–19:00. Leavenworth Shuttle & Taxi covers trailheads and the Amtrak stop.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Wenatchee
goDoor to door: About 40 min
US-2 east by car, about 40 min; Link Transit Route 22 also runs
Bigger town for supplies, the airport and the Columbia River.
Stevens Pass
goDoor to door: About 45 min
US-2 west by car, about 45 min
Ski area on the Cascade crest; check pass conditions and closures first.
Lake Wenatchee
goDoor to door: About 30 min
About 30 min north via WA-207
Beach and boat launch in summer; snow play in winter.
Chelan
goDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
US-2 east then US-97 north, about 1 h 30 min
Lake Chelan wineries and the boat to Stehekin.
Cle Elum
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
US-97 south over Blewett Pass to I-90, about 1 h 30 min
A long half-day; better as a stop on the way to or from Seattle.
Ellensburg
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 45 min
US-97 south to I-90, about 1 h 45 min
Historic downtown and a university town; combine with Cle Elum.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Downtown / Front Street
Walk to shops, restaurants and Front Street Park; book early for festival weekends.
Highway 2 corridor and Icicle Road
Motels and lodges a short drive out; cheaper, but you need a car or the Route D shuttle.
Wenatchee
40 min east; more beds and lower prices if Leavenworth is full.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $80–130 excl. bed
- Mid
- $130–220 excl. bed
- High
- $220+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel or lodge double room1 × 2 nights × US$190 | US$380 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$150 | US$600 |
| Northwest Forest Pass, one day1 × US$5 | US$5 |
| Link Transit Route D shuttle, one day2 × US$0 | US$0 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20 | US$40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$103 |
| Trip total≈ US$282 per person per day, bed included | US$1,128 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $4–7 |
| Bratwurst or schnitzel plate | $15–28 |
| Beer: pint in a pub / can at a store | $7–10 / $2–4 |
| Nutcracker Museum entry | Adults $5, students $2 |
| Reindeer Farm entry | $12–15 |
| Rafting trip | From $55 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | $15–30 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Winter driving over Stevens Pass can be harsh: carry chains or traction tyres and check pass conditions before you leave Seattle.
- Parking downtown is free but fills by lunchtime on weekends and holidays; use the park and rides behind Safeway or opposite the Fairfield Inn.
- Most shops open around 10:00 and close around 18:00; restaurants open at 11:00 and close 21:00–23:00, so late arrivals find little open.Most shops open around 10:00 AM and close around 6:00 PM; restaurants open at 11:00 AM and close 9:00 PM–11:00 PM, so late arrivals find little open.
- Overnight permits for The Enchantments are competitive and must be reserved in advance; most visitors day-hike to Colchuck Lake instead.
- Many trailheads need a Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Annual Pass.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
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LeavenworthLeavenworth, Washington
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No embassies in town; consulates in Seattle.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Taxi in town: $2 per person pickup plus $2.50 per mile
- Amtrak Empire Builder, Seattle → Leavenworth: about 3 h 30 min, evening eastbound
- Link Transit Route 22, Wenatchee → Leavenworth: about 40 min
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- Where is the parking? — Where is the parking?
- One beer, please — One beer, please
- Is this trail open? — Is this trail open?
- How much is it? — How much is it?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
Small town: many businesses are cashless and close early.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
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 Leavenworth. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Oct for hiking and rafting; late Nov–mid-Feb for lights and snow · avoid None weather-wise; expect crowds on October festival weekends and holiday periods · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for EAT and SEA: last flights, pass closures and shuttle fallbacks.
- Four walking clusters with anchors: Front Street, Waterfront Park and Blackbird Island, Icicle Road, Ski Hill.
- Place pages with verified hours (Nutcracker Museum, Reindeer Farm, Fish Hatchery) and eat pages with last orders.
- Festival fixtures for Oktoberfest and Christmastown so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialLeavenworth Chamber of Commerce
- officialCity of Leavenworth
- officialLink Transit
- officialAmtrak — Leavenworth station
- secondaryWikivoyage: Leavenworth (Washington), revision 5301427 (CC BY-SA 4.0)