Overview
Longview, the City of Trees, is a city in Southwest Washington State along the Columbia River, and across the Cowlitz River from Kelso. It was established in 1923 by R. A. Long, who intended it to become the "Chicago of the West".
2 sights · 1 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Longview
Lake Sacajawea
Nutty Narrows Bridge
This 60 ft squirrel bridge was proposed after local tenants noticed that several squirrels had died while crossing the street in search of nuts. The proposal garnered national attention and was quickly approved by the ci…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 36°F. Wettest: Dec and Nov. (climate data from nearby Portland)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- PDX Portland International Airport, Portland — 41 mi away (major hub). Directions
- OLM Olympia Regional Airport, Olympia — 57 mi away. Directions
* Washington Way Local boulevard that connects Ocean Beach Hwy (SR-4)/Catlin in West Kelso into downtown Longview.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Lake Sacajawea
- Afternoon Nutty Narrows Bridge
- Evening Guse's Gourmet Coffee
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
- Interstate 5 (I-5): Longview is located just west of I-5, from two exits:
- Exit #36B (SR-432 Talley Way) goes to 3rd Ave, then around town as Industrial Ave to SR-4 west of town. To go to the city center, go past 3rd Ave and follow signs onto Tennant Way.
- Exit 39 (Allen St/SR-4) through Kelso along Allen St.
- & US Highway 30 crosses the Columbia River on the Lewis & Clark Bridge from Rainier, OR into town as Oregon Way. From its intersection with Tennant Way the same road goes into downtown as 15th Ave. Drivers can circumvent the town along Industrial Way (SR-432) to reach SR-4 or I-5 without going through town.
- 1st Ave & Westside Highway runs alongside the Cowlitz River and up to US Hwy 12 south Napavine through Castle Rock. It parallels along the westside of I-5 between Longview and US Hwy 12.
- Ocean Beach Highway (SR-4) goes through town from I-5 as Allen St which becomes Catlin St once it reaches Washington Way. Going west from Washington Way the road becomes Ocean Beach Hwy which connects Longview/Kelso to the coast (Long Beach & Astoria) along the Washington side of the Columbia River.
* Washington Way Local boulevard that connects Ocean Beach Hwy (SR-4)/Catlin in West Kelso into downtown Longview.
By train
- in the neighboring town of Kelso, which is a stop for
Go Kelso Station
By bus
The Longview Transit Center on S 12th Ave & Hemlock, serves as central bus station for River Cities Transit and other regional bus & shuttle companies serving southwest Washington:
Go River Cities Transit
Local city buses around Longview proper and to neighboring Kelso. Take the #45 bus to the Kelso station where Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses stop.
Go Lower Columbia CAP
Rural public bus system serving Castle Rock, Lexington (suburbs/rural area north of Kelso), Longview, Kalama, Woodland, and Vancouver 99th St Station (north of Vancouver, WA). Transfer to/from the C-Tran buses at the 99th St Station to other places in Vancouver and to Portland (Rt #105).
Go Wahkiakum on the Move
Bus to Rockets Diner in Naselle, WA via Cathlamet, WA (major town and county seat) in neighboring Wahkiakum County, along Hwy 4. 'Wahkiakum on the Move' has additional local stops in the Kelso-Longview area for pick-up and drop off. Connections to Pacific Transit Rt #50 to Ilwaco, Astoria and South Bend at Rockets Diner in Naselle.
Get around
Major streets radiate like wheel spokes from the RA Long Square (Central Park) in the city center.
See
See Nutty Narrows Bridge (the squirrel bridge)
This 60 ft squirrel bridge was proposed after local tenants noticed that several squirrels had died while crossing the street in search of nuts. The proposal garnered national attention and was quickly approved by the city council. It was installed on March 19, 1963, and saw use by squirrels the following day.
Do
- Fall colors. Driving through Longview in the fall is a pleasure for the eyes that is more typical to New England than the Pacific Northwest. Where much of Washington state is covered with evergreen trees, the City of Longview has planted hundreds of deciduous trees all around town. Every fall the area between the civic circle and RA Long is covered in leaves of every imaginable color.
Buy
Shop Triangle Center
Triangle Center hosts Bed Bath & Beyond; Michaels, Maurices, Petco, Ross Dress for Less, Ulta, WinCo Foods and numerous other shops, banks & restaurants in the mall and in the immediate surrounding areas not part of the mall (Taco Bell, Sizzlers, Stuffy's, among others) along Ocean Beach Hwy & Washington Way. Unlike a traditional mall where everything is under one big roof, in a single building, this mall consists of several smaller buildings spread further out from each other in a huge parking lot.
Shop Walmart Supercenter
Shop Walmart Supercenter
Drink
Longview loves its coffee.
Drink Guse's Gourmet Coffee
A great places to hang out and grab a drink whether it's coffee, smoothies, hot chocolates, or tea.
Sleep
See the Kelso article, under Sleep, for additional listings of accommodations near the Three Rivers Mall off of Allen St & I-5 (Exit #39).
Nearby
Kelso
City / town · 16 listings · 2 mi away
Rainier
City / town · 6 listings · 3 mi away
Woodland
City / town · 11 listings · 18 mi away
Toutle
City / town · 2 listings · 19 mi away
St. Helens
City / town · 8 listings · 20 mi away
Ridgefield
City / town · 10 listings · 24 mi away
Sauvie Island
Rural area · 12 listings · 30 mi away
Mossyrock
City / town · 3 listings · 35 mi away
My experience
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