Download GPX file for this article
46.41667-117.01778Full screen dynamic map

From Wikivoyage
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Lewiston is the county seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho. It is the second largest city in the Idaho Panhandle region behind Coeur d'Alene. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of both Nez Perce County in Idaho and Asotin County in Washington. As of the 2000 Census the population of Lewiston was 30,904 (2006 estimate: 31,293).

Understand[edit]

Founded shortly after gold was discovered in the nearby Clearwater River in 1860, Lewiston played an important role in the state's early history. The city became the capital of the newly-created Idaho Territory in 1863, but lost the distinction to Boise shortly thereafter in what proved to be an enormously unpopular decision in northern Idaho. To this day it is not unusual to hear locals lament losing the capital to Boise.

Like Pocatello, Lewiston has a strong working-class heritage. Industries related to timber and logging pursuits have long been key to the city's economy. Because the Columbia and later the Snake River are navigable by some ocean-going vessels all the way to Lewiston, the city has the distinction of being Idaho's only port city as well as the furthest inland port in the western United States. It's also easy for visitors to confuse Lewiston's two main rivers. The Clearwater River is on the north side, and runs straight into the Snake River. However, the Snake on the city's west side makes a left turn at this point, going into neighboring Clarkston, Washington.

Get in[edit]

Map
Map of Lewiston (Idaho)

By plane[edit]

1 Lewiston Nez Perce County Airport (LWS IATA) (located on 5th St and Burrell Ave. 3.5 mi (5.6 km) south of town. Go south on 8th St and Bryden Canyon Rd to get to the airport from downtown.). Skywest operates daily flights to Salt Lake City as Delta Connection and to Denver as United Express. Car rental is also available. Lewiston–Nez_Perce_County_Airport on Wikipedia

The next nearest airports served by more airlines, including Alaska Airlines, Southwest and United Airlines, at more competitive fares are in Boise BOI IATA (273 mi (439 km) south) and Spokane Geiger Field GEG IATA (109 mi (175 km) north).

By car[edit]

By car Lewiston is accessible by a series of US and state Highways which becomes local streets. WA-Hwy 193/128 bypasses north of town, north of the river on a two lane highway.

  • Comes in from Walla Walla, WA 101 mi (163 km) in the west and Missoula, MT 219 mi (352 km) in the east through the Nez Perce National Forest. Goes through Clarkston as Bridge St and along the river as Dikes Bypass in Lewiston.
  • Connects Coeur d'Alene 118 mi (190 km) to the north and Ontario 242 mi (389 km) to the south at its junction with I-84. If coming from Boise go north on SR-55 its junction with US Hwy 95 in New Meadows (119 mi (192 km) north of Boise)
  • Comes in from Spokane, WA (the largest city in the region) from north 106 mi (171 km) through Colfax and Pullman in the Palouse country via the Memorial Bridge just east of town.

By bus[edit]

Get around[edit]

See[edit]

Do[edit]

Buy[edit]

  • 1 Lewiston Center Mall.

Eat[edit]

Drink[edit]

Sleep[edit]

  • 1 Cedars Inn, 1716 Main Street. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 3:00. $35+.

Connect[edit]

Go next[edit]

Routes through Lewiston
Walla WallaClarkston  W  E  → Orofino → Missoula
Coeur d'AleneMoscow ← Jct N  N  S  CottonwoodPayette-Fruitland



This city travel guide to Lewiston is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!