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Tri-Cities, Washington: Must-See Attractions, Food, Wineries & Outdoor Adventures
Discover the best things to do in the Tri-Cities, Washington, including attractions, wineries, riverfront parks, outdoor recreation, family activities, historic sites, restaurants, scenic viewpoints, and local favorites in Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. Plan the perfect Tri-Cities getaway with this complete travel guide featuring must-see destinations, hidden gems, and unforgettable adventures in the heart of Washington wine country.
WASHINGTON TRAVEL
Get Outside And Play USA
8/9/202610 min read
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Discover One of Washington's Most Underrated Destinations
When people think about Washington State, places like Seattle, Mount Rainier, and the Olympic Peninsula often steal the spotlight. But tucked away in the sunny southeastern corner of the state lies one of Washington's most surprising destinations—the Tri-Cities.
Made up of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland, this region offers more than 300 days of sunshine each year, beautiful riverfront scenery, award-winning wineries, fascinating history, family-friendly attractions, and endless outdoor adventures.
Whether you're stopping through on a road trip or planning a weekend getaway, the Tri-Cities has plenty to explore.
Top 10 Must-See Stops in the Tri-Cities
Columbia Park
Howard Amon Park
REACH Museum
Sacajawea State Park
Badger Mountain Trail
Clover Island Lighthouse
Hanford Reach National Monument
Columbia Gardens Wine Village
Cable Bridge
Gesa Carousel of Dreams
Must-See Attractions
Columbia Park
Stretching for miles along the Columbia River, Columbia Park is one of the region's most popular outdoor destinations.
Visitors can enjoy walking trails, playgrounds, picnic areas, fishing spots, boat launches, and stunning river views.
Location: 5111 Columbia Park Trail, Kennewick, WA
Howard Amon Park
Located in Richland, Howard Amon Park is known for its beautiful riverfront pathways, open green spaces, public art, and family-friendly atmosphere.
It's one of the best places in the Tri-Cities for an evening stroll along the Columbia River.
Location: 500 Amon Park Dr, Richland, WA
REACH Museum
If you want to understand the history, geology, wildlife, and culture of the region, the REACH Museum is a must-visit.
Interactive exhibits showcase everything from the Ice Age floods to the Hanford Site and local Native American history.
Location: 1943 Columbia Park Trail, Richland, WA
Sacajawea State Park
Located where the Snake River meets the Columbia River, this historic park commemorates the Lewis and Clark Expedition's journey through the area.
The park offers river views, walking trails, interpretive exhibits, and picnic areas.
Location: 2503 Sacajawea Park Rd, Pasco, WA
Clover Island Lighthouse
One of the most photographed landmarks in the Tri-Cities, Clover Island offers riverfront walking paths, marina views, restaurants, and a picturesque lighthouse.
Sunset is especially beautiful here.
Location: Clover Island, Kennewick, WA
Historic Sites & Museums
Hanford Reach National Monument
This protected landscape preserves one of the last free-flowing stretches of the Columbia River and offers incredible wildlife viewing opportunities.
Visitors can enjoy guided tours, hiking, birdwatching, and photography.
B Reactor National Historic Landmark
History enthusiasts will appreciate the opportunity to visit the world's first full-scale nuclear reactor, which played a significant role during World War II.
Tours provide fascinating insight into one of the most important scientific achievements of the twentieth century.
East Benton County Historical Museum
Learn about early pioneers, agriculture, transportation, and local history through exhibits and artifacts.
Best Food Stops in the Tri-Cities
The Lodge At Columbia Point
A popular waterfront restaurant serving Pacific Northwest cuisine with beautiful river views.
Ice Harbor Brewing Company
A local favorite known for craft beer and casual dining.
LU LU Craft Bar + Kitchen
Creative dishes, handcrafted cocktails, and a modern atmosphere.
Porter's Real Barbecue
Authentic barbecue that consistently earns praise from locals and visitors alike.
Sage Port Grille
Upscale dining featuring steaks, seafood, and locally sourced ingredients.
Frost Me Sweet Bakery & Bistro
Perfect for breakfast, lunch, pastries, and specialty desserts
Zip’s Drive-In – Hamburgers, Fish, Chicken
By far the best burgers around!!
Wineries & Wine Tasting
The Tri-Cities sits in the heart of Washington wine country.
Columbia Gardens Wine Village
A collection of tasting rooms featuring local wineries, food, and events in a beautiful setting.
Bookwalter Winery
Known for exceptional wines, outdoor seating, and excellent dining options.
Barnard Griffin Winery
One of Washington's most recognized wineries.
Tagaris Winery
Offers wine tasting, beautiful grounds, and seasonal events.
Badger Mountain Vineyard
Known for organic wines and scenic views.
Outdoor Activities
Hike Badger Mountain
One of the area's most popular hikes, Badger Mountain rewards visitors with sweeping views of the Tri-Cities, the Columbia River, and the surrounding valleys.
Location: Richland, WA
Paddleboarding the Columbia River
Paddleboarding on the Columbia River can be an incredible experience, but it deserves respect.
While certain coves, marinas, and protected shoreline areas offer calmer conditions, the main river channel often has a surprisingly strong current, changing winds, and heavy boat traffic. What starts as a relaxing paddle can quickly turn into a workout if you're fighting the river on the way back.
Beginners should stick to sheltered launch areas and always wear a life jacket. More experienced paddlers can enjoy incredible views of the river, surrounding hills, bridges, and waterfront parks while exploring the region from a completely different perspective.
Local Tip: Paddle upstream first whenever possible. That way, the current can help carry you back toward your launch point when you're ready to head in.
Fishing the Columbia and Snake Rivers
Anglers come from around the Northwest to target salmon, steelhead, bass, sturgeon, and walleye throughout the year.
Bike the Sacagawea Heritage Trail
This paved trail system stretches for miles along the rivers and connects many of the area's parks, neighborhoods, and attractions.
Wildlife Photography
The Hanford Reach and surrounding areas provide excellent opportunities to photograph birds, deer, river landscapes, and seasonal wildflowers.
Boating on the Columbia River
The Tri-Cities is a boater's paradise. Multiple launches provide access to miles of navigable waterways, making it a popular destination for fishing boats, wake boats, pontoons, and personal watercraft.
Camping & RVing in the Tri-Cities
One of the best things about visiting the Tri-Cities is that you don’t have to choose between city conveniences and sleeping under the stars. Around Richland, Kennewick, Pasco, and nearby Burbank, you’ll find everything from full-service RV resorts to waterfront campgrounds where you can wake up near the Columbia or Snake River.
Whether you’re pulling a big motorhome, traveling with the kids, bringing the boat, or just looking for a relaxing campsite for the weekend, here are some of the best places for camping and RVing near the Tri-Cities.
Hood Park – Burbank
If you want to camp near the water without getting too far from the Tri-Cities, Hood Park is one of the best choices in the area. Located along Lake Wallula near Burbank, this U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground offers 67 family campsites with electric hookups, mature shade trees, beautiful water views, and plenty of outdoor recreation.
Directions: From Pasco, take Highway 12 east across the Snake River Bridge. Take the next exit toward State Route 124. The Hood Park entrance will be on your left just after the roundabout.
Pricing: Campsite rates vary by site and reservation date. Check Recreation.gov for current nightly rates and availability.
Amenities: Electric hookups, restrooms, showers, drinking water, dump station, picnic areas, swimming, fishing, hiking, boating and a boat ramp.
Best For: Families • Waterfront Camping • Fishing • Boating
Get Outside Tip: Fill your RV's freshwater tank before settling in. Individual campsites generally don't have water or sewer hookups.
Charbonneau Park & Campground – Burbank
If waking up beside the water sounds like your kind of camping, put Charbonneau Park on the list. Located along Lake Sacajawea on the Snake River, this beautiful campground has 52 family campsites with electric hookups, including several waterfront sites.
There are grassy areas, shade trees and plenty of opportunities to spend your days swimming, boating or fishing.
Directions: From Pasco, take Highway 12 east across the Snake River Bridge. Take the first exit and continue east on Highway 124 through Burbank. Turn north onto Sun Harbor Drive, travel approximately 1.5 miles and turn left onto Charbonneau Road. The campground will be on your right.
Address: 642 Campground Road, Burbank, WA 99323
Pricing: Rates vary depending on the campsite and reservation dates. Check Recreation.gov for current pricing and availability.
Amenities: Electric hookups, restrooms, showers, swimming beach, playgrounds, picnic areas, fishing, boating and boat ramp access.
Best For: Families • Swimming • Fishing • Boating • Waterfront Camping
Get Outside Tip: Check the campground map before reserving. If you're coming for the water, snagging one of the waterfront sites can make this camping trip even better.
Columbia Sun RV Resort – Kennewick
Prefer camping with a few more creature comforts? Columbia Sun RV Resort offers a full-service RV experience while keeping you close to everything Kennewick and the surrounding Tri-Cities have to offer.
The resort has 145 RV sites on approximately 25 acres, including 70 sites designed for large motor coaches. Every site has full hookups with 20-, 30- and 50-amp electrical service.
Directions: Take I-82 to Exit 109. Follow Badger Road to Wiser Parkway and continue approximately ¾ mile. The resort is located along Wiser Parkway.
Address: 103907 Wiser Parkway, Kennewick, WA 99338
Pricing: Rates vary depending on site type, dates, special events and length of stay. Check current rates when making your reservation.
Amenities: Full hookups, water, sewer, 20/30/50-amp electrical service, Wi-Fi, seasonal heated swimming pool and hot tub, private restrooms and showers, laundry facilities, fitness center, children's game room, playground, sports court, dog areas, picnic tables and outdoor games.
Best For: Big Rigs • Families • Longer Stays • Full-Service RV Camping
Get Outside Tip: Traveling during a major Tri-Cities event? Reserve early. RV sites can become harder to find when big events roll into town.
Horn Rapids RV Resort – Richland
Horn Rapids RV Resort makes a convenient home base for exploring Richland, the Columbia River and Washington wine country.
The resort offers 225 full-hookup RV sites and is open year-round, making it a good choice whether you're visiting for a summer getaway, wine tasting, golf or an extended stay.
Directions: Located on Kingsgate Way in Richland with convenient access from Highway 240.
Address: 2640 Kingsgate Way, Richland, WA 99354
Pricing: Rates vary by stay and site. Check with the resort for current daily, weekly and monthly pricing before booking.
Amenities: Full hookups, water, sewer, electrical service, seasonal swimming pool and spa, restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, clubhouse, mini-mart, propane service and pet-friendly facilities.
Best For: RV Travelers • Big Rigs • Extended Stays • Wine Country Adventures
Get Outside Tip: This is an RV resort rather than a traditional tent campground, so tent campers should choose one of the area's waterfront campgrounds instead.
Pasco / Tri-Cities KOA Journey – Pasco
Traveling with the family? The Pasco / Tri-Cities KOA Journey combines a convenient location with plenty of amenities to keep everyone entertained.
Full-hookup RV sites are available, and some pull-through sites can accommodate very large RV-and-vehicle combinations.
Directions: From I-182, take Exit 7 at Road 100/Broadmoor Boulevard. Head south, turn left onto Chapel Hill Boulevard, continue approximately one mile and follow the signs toward Saint Thomas Drive.
Address: 8801 Saint Thomas Drive, Pasco, WA 99301
Pricing: KOA rates vary according to travel dates, campsite type and availability. Check current pricing when making your reservation.
Amenities: Full hookups, 20/30/50-amp electrical service, Wi-Fi, cable TV, indoor swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, playground, basketball court, fitness facilities, laundry, propane, pavilion, Kamping Kitchen and KampK9 dog area.
Best For: Families • Big Rigs • Road Trips • Amenity-Packed RV Camping
Get Outside Tip: That indoor pool can be a lifesaver when Eastern Washington decides to turn the temperature up!
Franklin County RV Park – Pasco
If your goal is to stay close to the action, Franklin County RV Park is a convenient option.
Located behind the HAPO Center and near Gesa Stadium, the park provides quick access to restaurants, shopping, sporting events and major roads. There's even a bicycle trail outside the HAPO Center that can take riders on an approximately 25-mile round-trip tour through the Tri-Cities.
Directions: The park is located at the HAPO Center complex in Pasco with convenient access from the area's major highways.
Address: 6333 Homerun Road, Pasco, WA 99301
Pricing: Nightly, weekly and monthly options may be available. Check Franklin County's current RV park rates before your visit, as prices can change.
Amenities: RV hookups, Wi-Fi, laundromat, restrooms, showers, quick freeway access and nearby walking and biking opportunities.
Best For: Convenient Stays • Events • Longer Visits • Exploring Pasco
Get Outside Tip: This is a great choice when your Tri-Cities itinerary is packed. Spend less time driving back and forth to your campground and more time exploring.
Fishhook Park – Prescott
Ready to get a little farther away from the city? Fishhook Park sits along the shores of Lake Sacajawea and offers a more traditional camping experience surrounded by water, mature trees and wide-open Eastern Washington scenery.
The campground has 41 family campsites with electric hookups along with 11 primitive walk-in tent sites.
Directions: From Pasco, take Highway 12 east across the Snake River Bridge. Take the first exit and head east on State Route 124. Continue approximately 19 miles, turn left onto Fishhook Park Road and follow it approximately four miles to the park.
Address: 4562 Fishhook Park Road, Prescott, WA 99348
Pricing: Rates vary by campsite and reservation date. Check Recreation.gov for current nightly pricing and availability.
Amenities: Electric campsites, primitive tent sites, restrooms, showers, potable water, dump station, playground, picnic areas, swimming beach, fishing, boating and boat ramp.
Best For: Tent Camping • RVing • Fishing • Swimming • Getting Away From Town
Get Outside Tip: Pack the fishing poles and swimsuits. Fishhook is a great choice when you want the campground itself to be part of the adventure.
Which Tri-Cities Campground Should You Choose?
Looking for waterfront camping? Start with Hood Park or Charbonneau Park.
Traveling in a large RV or motorhome? Columbia Sun RV Resort and Horn Rapids RV Resort offer full hookups and plenty of RV-friendly amenities.
Camping with kids? The Pasco / Tri-Cities KOA Journey is packed with family-friendly extras.
Want to stay close to Tri-Cities attractions? Franklin County RV Park makes a convenient home base.
Looking for a quieter camping getaway? Make the drive out to Fishhook Park and enjoy a little more room between you and the city.
Before You Go
Eastern Washington summers can get hot—really hot—so bring plenty of drinking water, sunscreen and some kind of shade. If you're camping near the river or lake, pack the swimsuits, fishing gear and water shoes too.
Campground rates, operating seasons, fire restrictions and available amenities can change throughout the year. Always check current conditions and reservation information directly with the campground before heading out.
Then park the RV, unfold the chairs, put the phones away for a while and enjoy the view.
Don't Leave the Tri-Cities Without...
Watching sunset from Clover Island
Hiking Badger Mountain
Visiting Columbia Gardens Wine Village
Exploring the REACH Museum
Walking along Howard Amon Park
Seeing where the Snake and Columbia Rivers meet
Enjoying a local winery tasting
Photographing the Cable Bridge
Visiting the Hanford Reach
Experiencing the region's famous sunshine
What to Bring for Your Tri-Cities Adventure
Final Thoughts
The Tri-Cities may not always make the top of Washington travel lists, but that's part of its charm.
Between the rivers, wineries, historic landmarks, scenic trails, family attractions, and abundant sunshine, this region offers a completely different side of Washington State than many visitors expect.
One day you might find yourself hiking above the Columbia River on Badger Mountain. The next, you're sampling local wines, exploring fascinating history, or watching the sunset paint the water in shades of gold and orange.
Whether you're a foodie, outdoor enthusiast, history buff, photographer, wine lover, or road trip explorer, the Tri-Cities offers something worth discovering.
It's proof that some of Washington's best adventures are found where fewer people think to look.
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