Grand Coulee Dam
The Grand Coulee Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington, built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation water. Head 1 mi south of Coulee Dam to reach it. Its history begins in 1941.
A dam, 1 mi south of Coulee Dam
One of the most looked-up attractions in the U.S.
About 105K people a year read its Wikipedia article, more than for 97% of the 7,770 attractions we track.
Grand Coulee is the nearest base
Grand Coulee is 2 miles southwest, with 6 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
Best months: May, Jun and Sep
May, June and September are the mild months, with highs of 72–79°. When to go ↓
Established in 1941
Grand Coulee Dam dates from 1941. About ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
The year’s weather
Here is how the weather at Grand Coulee Dam changes month by month.
Grand Coulee Dam
The Grand Coulee Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington, built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation water. Constructed between 1933 and 1942, Grand Coulee originally had two powerhouses. The third powerhouse ("Nat"), completed in 1974 to increase energy production, makes the Grand Coulee Dam the largest power station in the United States by nameplate capacity at 6,809 MW.
- Type
- Dam
- Established
- 1941
- Listed
- Historic Civil Engineering Landmark
- Wikipedia readers
- 105K a year
Towns to stay in near Grand Coulee Dam
Rooms are nearest in Grand Coulee (6) and Wilbur (4).
Grand Coulee
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
947 people
2 mi southwest of Grand Coulee Dam
Compare 6 towns
| Town | From Grand Coulee Dam | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Coulee | 2 mi southwest | 5 min | 6 2 motels · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground · 2 RV parks | 947 | $222K | — |
| Coulee Dam | 1 mi north | — | 2 2 hotels | 1,241 | $239K | C+ |
| Electric City | 4 mi southwest | 5 min | 2 1 motel · 1 RV park | 954 | $198K | — |
| Wilbur | 19 mi southeast | 30 min | 4 2 motels · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 926 | $222K | — |
| Coulee City | 28 mi southwest | 40 min | 3 1 hotel · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground | 550 | $166K | — |
| Banks Lake South | 26 mi southwest | 40 min | 2 1 motel · 1 RV park | 348 | $252K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Close to Grand Coulee Dam
These well-known sights sit within 70 miles.
50 mi LakeLake Chelan
130 mi WaterfallDry Falls
228 mi Park & preserveGrand Coulee70 mi Ski area49° North Mountain Resort84 runs · 1,869 ft vertical
37 mi National Recreation AreaLake Roosevelt National Recreation Area1.2M visitors a year53 mi Ski areaLoup Loup Ski Bowl19 runs · 1,226 ft verticalPhoto credits
Lake Chelan: David Ansley, CC BY 2.5 · Dry Falls: Ikiwaner, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Grand Coulee: en:User:Duk, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area: Karyn Christner, CC BY 2.0
A visit to Grand Coulee Dam: questions
What town is Grand Coulee Dam near?
Coulee Dam, WA, about 1 miles north.
When is the best time to visit Grand Coulee Dam?
May, June and September, with highs of 72–79°.
What is the closest airport to Grand Coulee Dam?
Pangborn Memorial (EAT), about 69 miles away. The nearest big hub is Spokane (GEG), about 71 miles.
Where should I stay near Grand Coulee Dam?
Grand Coulee (2 mi, 6 places to stay), Wilbur (19 mi, 4 places to stay) and Coulee City (28 mi, 3 places to stay).
Inside knowledge from Coulee Dam
Questions and tips go in Coulee Dam’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.