Yakima

Understand

The name Yakima originates from the Yakama Nation Native American tribe, whose reservation is south of the city and includes Toppenish and Wapato.

If you drink beer, then you've had one of the local specialties; the Yakima Valley produces roughly 3/4 of all hops grown in the United States. Yakima Valley wine country, the largest grape growing region in the state, also begins south of Union Gap.

The Yakima Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official tourism office for Yakima, Yakima County and the Yakima Valley.

Get in

By plane

Go Yakima Air Terminal (YKM)

A commuter airport served only by turboprop aircraft operated by Alaska & Horizon Airlines from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and for general aviation. It is the largest airport in the center of the state.

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By bus

By car

Yakima is along Interstate 82 (I-82), approximately 143 mi southeast of Seattle, 204 mi southwest of Spokane, and 80 mi northwest of the Tri-Cities (Richland-Kennewick-Pasco).

• From Seattle, take I-90 East to the I-82 off ramp, Exit 110, just beyond Ellensburg. Keep right on I-82 East and take exit 31A-31B to North 1st Street / Naches.
• From Spokane, take I-90 West until Exit 110, I-82 East, continuing until exit 31A-31B to North 1st Street / Naches.
• From the Tri-Cities, take I-82 West until exit 33. Merge onto East Yakima Avenue.

State Route 821 (WA-821), the Old Canyon Highway, is a scenic alternative route from the Ellensburg region. It's a two-lane road that winds through the Yakima River gorge between I-82 Exits 3 and 26, bypassing the interstate over the mountain ridges. During the daytime, the views are lovely and there are several spots midway to stop, fish, and even camp. Be cautious of rocks on the road, though, and stick to the Interstate at night.

Get around

Stay safe

Crime

Yakima does experience gang activity within the city limits. Incidents of violence are mostly isolated to particular neighborhoods, mostly on the east side. The problems it does have are typical of most mid-size American cities and rarely effect the average person.

Stay healthy

Sometimes there will be an advisory issued for poor air quality due to stagnation. Because of Yakima's location within a mountain valley, air sometimes settles and becomes stagnant for an extended period of time. During this phenomenon, pollutants often accumulate and subsequently the air quality becomes poorer than usual, and can affect those individuals who have existing respiratory conditions. Refer to the National Weather Service to see if any such advisories have been issued for the Yakima Valley region.

There have been confirmed cases of hantaviral pulmonary syndrome in the Yakima Valley. Hantavirus is spread by mice. Although this disease is very rare, take precautions when entering places potentially frequented by rodents, such as confined spaces or places that are dusty and underexposed to sunlight. For more information, visit the CDC website on hantaviruses.

During the summer months, the temperature in Yakima and the greater Yakima Valley often exceeds 100°F. If you are to be outside for long periods of time, drink plenty of water and limit the intake of alcohol and caffeine to prevent dehydration and heat stroke.

Hospitals

Go next

• Toppenish, east along I-82, the "city of murals" and home of the Yakama Nation Cultural Heritage Center.
• White Pass Ski Resort, west along US-12 near Packwood.
• Palm Springs, the Yakima of California.