Overview
Pullman is a city in the Palouse region of eastern Washington. It is home to Washington State University and the National Lentil Festival.
9 sights · 1 things to do · 3 places to eat · 4 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Pullman
Washington State University
Kamiak Butte
A large butte just north of Pullman.
Chipman Trail
A bicycle and walking path that connects Pullman to Moscow (the trail continues to Troy, Idaho). It features a number of geographical information signs where a visitor can learn more about the unique topography of the Pa…
National Lentil Festival
The Palouse region grows about 20% of all the lentils in the US. Friday night includes live music, a children's carnival, free lentil chili, and many business and craft vendors. Saturday includes contests, The Lentil Coo…
Museum of Anthropology
The Museum of Anthropology at Washington State University rehabilitates and curates archaeological and ethnographic collections. The Museum is an official repository for archaeological collections generated by the work o…
The Bears (WSU Grizzly Research)
One common sight is the Grizzly Bear research facility on Airport road. The bears usually come out of hibernation around March, and you can see them in their outdoor facility.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 87°F; winter lows dip to about 26°F. Cold months (Jan, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Dec and Jan. (climate data from nearby Spokane)
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.
- PUW Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport, Pullman — 3 mi away. Directions
- LWS Lewiston Nez Perce County Airport, Lewiston — 26 mi away. Directions
- GEG Spokane International Airport, Spokane — 64 mi away (major hub). Directions
& Pullman is accessed by US 195, and SR 270 (E Main St/NW Davis Way). It is 7 mi west of Moscow, ID, 75 mi south of Spokane, and 290 mi from Seattle. US 195 does not go into town but rather passes by, west of town.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Washington State University, Museum of Anthropology, Charles R Conner Museum
- Lunch Sella's Calzone & Pizza
- Afternoon Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Martin Stadium
- Dinner Ferdinand's Creamery
- Evening Valhalla
Day 2
- Morning Kamiak Butte
- Lunch The Old European Restaurant
- Afternoon National Lentil Festival
- Evening The Coug
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cougar Gold is a cheddar cheese produced on WSU campus. It is sold exclusively in tin cans. WSU started making cheese in cans in the 1940s when the US government and American Can Company funded WSU's research to find a way to successfully keep the cheese in tins.
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.
Understand
Pullman is a relaxed town in the Palouse region, and quite close to the Idaho border. It is very well known for its great views and the National Lentil Festival, hosted every year on the 16th of August. The main reason someone would come here is if you were accepted to Washington State University, a land-grant university founded in 1890.
Visitor information
Get in
By car
& Pullman is accessed by US 195, and SR 270 (E Main St/NW Davis Way). It is 7 mi west of Moscow, ID, 75 mi south of Spokane, and 290 mi from Seattle. US 195 does not go into town but rather passes by, west of town.
- to E Main St & NW Davis Way From Moscow Hwy 8 goes across the west side of town and becomes WA-Hwy 270 over the state line. It comes into town as E Main St and ends at its intersection with WA-27 (Grand Ave). WA-270 continues west towards US Hwy 195 (west of town) on NW Davis Way which is one block north of Main along Grand Ave.
- Grand Ave goes north-south through town from Spokane Valley (suburb east of Spokane) via Oaksdale, Palouse and Colfax.
By bus
Place Northwestern Trailways (Northwestern Stagelines)
Connects Spokane to Boise via Pullman, Moscow, Lewiston, Cottonbird, McCall, Cascade, and Grangeville along US Hwy 195, 95, ID-Hwy 55. Connections to Greyhound and other intercity bus lines are in Boise and Spokane. Connections to Amtrak is only in Spokane.
Place Wheatland Express
Regularly scheduled shuttle between Moscow, Pullman, Ellensubrg, Bellevue and Tukwila (in the Seattle area). Every Friday, their Weekend Express takes you from Pullman and Moscow to Seattle and return on Sundays. A special service is also deployed during the holiday season and university breaks. Journeys take 6 hours to Seattle. They also offer a separate service to Spokane Airport
By plane
Go Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport (PUW)
Serving Pullman, Moscow and the surrounding communities in Palouse Country. The airport is used for general aviation and by airlines chartered by both the University of Idaho and Washington State University for their intercollegiate athletic teams. The only scheduled commercial service is offered several times a day by Alaska Airlines to/from Seattle/Tacoma and Boise. Car rental, ride-hailing, cabs, and hotel shuttles are available. No public transportation to/from airport.
Spokane International Airport/Geiger Field (GEG) is the nearest major airport for regularly scheduled commercial flights with more airlines, 80 mi north. Northwestern Trailways regular shuttle services twice a day between Spokane International Airport, Pullman and Moscow.
By bike
A bike path exists to Moscow, seven miles away.
Get around
Since there is not much to the downtown area, transportation is a must. Public transportation is available from Pullman Transit, though it is often geared towards the university.
Pullman has multiple bike trails for summer travel around the town. There is bike share, and Zipcar available on the WSU campus. College Cabs serves the town.
The town is very hilly, so walking is great exercise.
See
Washington State University
Founded in 1890, WSU is one of the oldest land-grant universities in the American West with programs in a broad range of academic disciplines. With an undergraduate enrollment of 26,000 and a total enrollment of 31,000, it is the second largest institution of higher education in the state behind the University of Washington. The WSU Pullman campus is perched upon a hill, characterized by open spaces, views, deep green conifers, and a restrained red brick and basalt material palette--materials originally found on site.
There are many events and places to see and do on campus and in the community off campus for visitors. The below are some of the places of interest on campus for visitors:
Place Brelsford WSU Visitors Center
The Brelsford WSU Visitor Center serves as the gateway to Washington State University, functioning as an information center for the University and a resource for the campus community, featuring WSU’s teaching, research, athletics, student and faculty contributions in a unique visual setting.
See Museum of Anthropology
The Museum of Anthropology at Washington State University rehabilitates and curates archaeological and ethnographic collections. The Museum is an official repository for archaeological collections generated by the work of Federal, State, and County agencies in Eastern Washington. The Museum also houses a collection of objects representative of the culture of Native American tribes in the Inland Northwest since contact with Europeans.
Do
See Chipman Trail (Bill Chipman Palouse Trail)
A bicycle and walking path that connects Pullman to Moscow (the trail continues to Troy, Idaho). It features a number of geographical information signs where a visitor can learn more about the unique topography of the Palouse. The trail follows Paradise Creek, a small stream which flows from Moscow.
Events
Do National Lentil Festival
The Palouse region grows about 20% of all the lentils in the US. Friday night includes live music, a children's carnival, free lentil chili, and many business and craft vendors. Saturday includes contests, The Lentil Cook-Off, many art and business vendors, a grand parade, breakfast lentil pancake feed, the Tase T. Lentil 5K Fun Run/Walk, beer garden, food court featuring lentil dishes, a large kids area and many other family activities.
Buy
Eat
Eat Sella's Calzone & Pizza
A great place to stop for a bite to eat in a university themed restaurant. Make an elaborate drawing on their blank placemats and you might just make it to their wall of fame!
Eat The Old European Restaurant (The Old European Restaurant)
Known for the best breakfast in the area. Family owned and operated and it shows! Can't get Danish Aebelskivers, Potato Pancakes or Dutch Babies anywhere else.
Cougar Gold is a cheddar cheese produced on WSU campus. It is sold exclusively in tin cans. WSU started making cheese in cans in the 1940s when the US government and American Can Company funded WSU's research to find a way to successfully keep the cheese in tins.
Eat Ferdinand's Creamery
Home to Cougar Gold Cheese and some delicious ice cream that is made from beginning to end on campus. Check the hours in advance, they close early.
Drink
Drink My Office Bar & Grill
A local favorite and often-joke ("Let's meet at My Office"), it features cheap beer and food.
Drink Rico's
Live jazz on weekends, a slightly pricier bar with a real British pub style.
Drink Valhalla
An excellent 1980s themed night on Saturdays, but always cramped and usually pretty stuffy (go there to dance only!)
Drink The Coug
Greek hangout, lots of interesting "quotes" scribbled all over the place. Good luck finding toilet paper or soap in the bathroom
Sleep
Go next
Pullman is 8 miles away from Moscow, Idaho, which has many attractions worth checking out.
Nearby
Moscow
City / town · 36 listings · 8 mi away
Colfax
City / town · 4 listings · 14 mi away
Clarkston
City / town · 8 listings · 23 mi away
Lewiston
City / town · 12 listings · 23 mi away
Pomeroy
City / town · 2 listings · 27 mi away
Orofino
City / town · 7 listings · 46 mi away
Dayton
City / town · 5 listings · 48 mi away
Cheney
City / town · 7 listings · 56 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.