Washington State Route 281

On Sunday and Monday, October 13-14, 2013, we drove up Washington Highway 281 from George to Quincy and back again.

RCW 47.17.505
State route No. 281:

A state highway to be known as state route number 281 is established as follows:

Beginning at a junction with state route number 90 in the vicinity of George, thence northerly to a junction with state route number 28 at Quincy; also

Beginning at a junction with state route number 281 at a point north of the above described junction on state route number 90, thence in a southeasterly direction to a junction with state route number 90 in the vicinity east of George, some 1.6 miles more or less, resulting in a wye connection between state route number 281 and state route number 90.

George! SR 281 begins here at a interchange with I-90.


We curve across the West Canal (fed from Grand Coulee Dam), then turn due north before SR 281 meets its twin, SR 281 Spur. Note that the sign only points back to I-90, though. Mentioning SR 281 Spur on signage would be confusing, I suppose, since it's so short.


North and north past farms and farms. Fields of dirt. Fields of tan corn stalks. Welcome to Quincy and SR 28. The shadows are getting long. Time to settle down for the night.


The next morning, we head back south for the spur route, which begins here at a junction with SR 281, itself.


Big slow curve into the sun. I-90 appears in the distance before there’s any signs of the impending junctions. No mention of SR 283 till we’re on it.


SR 281 Spur’s junction with SR 283 is also the onramp westbound onto I-90, but the rest of the interchange with I-90 is a hundred yards southeast.

And thus our drive of the busy two-lane road is complete.