Washington’s Million Dollar Mile Is One Of The Most Scenic Drives In America

If you’re familiar with eastern Washington, you probably already know how peaceful and beautiful the Coulee City area is. In a quiet part of the state that might seem desolate to the untrained eye sits Washington’s Million Dollar Mile, a scenic stretch of Highway 155 that will leave you breathless. If you haven’t been fortunate enough to take in the stunning views, add it to your bucket list right away, because it's one of the best scenic drives in Washington!

The Million Dollar Mile, which is a stretch of the Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway, got its name from the high price tag that came with its 1948 design.

The mile-long passageway takes you up from the floor level of the Grand Coulee Dam to the top of the wall and back down again.

Portions of this highway were carved through the rugged basalt rock walls that make up the landscape of Eastern Washington.

This was necessary in order to construct Highway 155 along Banks Lake. At the time, a million dollars (the cost of this project), was an astronomical amount of money. Imagine how much it would cost now.

So, what makes this small stretch of highway so amazing?

Driving through so much basalt rock, for one. Seeing how the landscape was altered by mankind is fascinating. Also, there’s the regal Grand Coulee Dam.

You’ll also have great views of the Coulee Corridor.

The Coulee Corridor shows the remaining effects of of an ancient Ice Age flood.

The Grand Coulee Dam is extremely impressive up close.

The dam is a water source for over 75 types of farm crops. And if that doesn’t impress you, the nightly laser light show from May-September will.

You won’t see scenery quite this unique anywhere else in Washington.

What do you think -- do you agree that the Million Dollar Mile is one of the best scenic drives in Washington? Have you driven this resplendent route before? We'd love to hear about it in the comments below!

And if you’re thinking about the trips you’d like to take or things you’d like to experience in the beautiful Evergreen State, our Ultimate Washington Bucket List should help get you started!