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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Snoqualmie Pass
Spend 1–2 days for skiing or summer hikes; a day is enough if you only ride the lifts, add a night for cabin stays or backcountry.
Snoqualmie Pass is a ski resort and summer trail hub about an hour from Seattle. The four Summit bases are linked by a free shuttle, so a single day covers most lifts. Overnight cabins or nearby towns let you explore backcountry hikes or relax after a full day on the slopes.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Dec–Mar for snow, Jul–Sep for hiking
- Avoid
- Nov–Dec (early season limited runs), Jan (heavy snow may close roads)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
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 $80–$110 excl. bed · Mid $130–$170 excl. bed · High $200+ 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 resort café | $3–$5 |
| Pizza slice (Pie For the People) | $4–$6 |
| Ski rental (full day) | $45–$70 |
| Sno‑Park daily permit | $10 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SEA · Seattle‑Tacoma International Airport
- About 55 mi (≈ 90 km (56 mi)) west via I‑90; shuttle or rental car to Snoqualmie Pass.About 55 mi (≈ 56 mi (90 km)) west via I‑90; shuttle or rental car to Snoqualmie Pass.
Typical fares
- I‑90 Seattle → Snoqualmie Pass (car)
- about $0.30 per mile, ~55 mi round‑trip; fuel ≈ $12 (check gas prices).
- Summit Shuttle (free)
- Runs between all resort bases during ski season.
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
Free Summit Shuttle runs between Summit West, Central, East and Alpental during ski season. In summer, park at trailheads and walk; no public transit beyond the I‑90 exits.
See and do
Known for
- Summit at Snoqualmie ski area
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness trailheads
- Mountains to Sound Greenway scenic drive
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | I‑90 west, about 55 mi, 1 h 15 min drive | ≈ 1 h 30 min |
| North Bend | Exit 52 west, 5 mi, 10 min drive | ≈ 30 min |
| Leavenworth | I‑90 east to US‑2 north, about 70 mi, 1 h 30 min drive | ≈ 2 h |
| Mount Baker | I‑90 east to US‑2 north, then US‑20 east, about 120 mi, 2 h 30 min drive | ≈ 3 h |
Sleep
- Summit Inn
- Hotel at the resort; ski‑stay packages $110–$220 per night, includes shuttle and meals.
- North Bend
- Nearby town with chain hotels and motels, 10‑min drive west.
- Cle Elum
- East‑side town, 15‑min drive, budget inns.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Where is the shuttle stop? | ¿Dónde está la parada del shuttle? |
| Do you have a lift ticket for today? | ¿Tiene un boleto de telesilla para hoy? |
| How much is a day pass? | ¿Cuánto cuesta el pase de día? |
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
- I‑90 can close for avalanches or snowstorms; check WSDOT real‑time info before driving.
- Avalanche risk above resort boundaries in winter – consult Northwest Avalanche Center.
- Bear safety in forest areas; keep food sealed and stay on trails.
Generally safe for visitors; main hazards are winter road closures and backcountry avalanche zones.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Snoqualmie Pass yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Summit at Snoqualmie ski area
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness trailheads
- Mountains to Sound Greenway scenic drive
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Washington State Department of Transportation – Mountain Passes: wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountainpasses/snoqualmie
- Summit at Snoqualmie – Official site: summitatsnoqualmie.com/
- Washington State Parks – Sno‑Parks: parks.wa.gov/find-sno-parks
- Wikivoyage: Snoqualmie Pass, revision 5303551 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5303551
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Snoqualmie Pass
Por favor entregue a esta dirección
Please deliver to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
US consulate in Seattle (check address).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/snoqualmie-pass). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.