Lewiston is located at the confluence of the scenic Snake and Clearwater rivers, approximately 465 river miles from the Pacific Ocean. Lewiston is the most inland seaport on the West Coast. Through the Columbia-Snake waterway and three port districts, the community serves as an economic hub for the Inland Northwest and a window to the Pacific Rim.
The cities of Lewiston and adjoining Clarkston, Wash., trace their heritage to the 1804-1806 expedition of Captains Meriwether Lewiston and William Clark—a journey commissioned by the nation's third president, Thomas Jefferson, to seek and chart a new trade route to Asia. Two centuries later, the Lewiston area (with a population of approximately 56,000) indeed plays an integral role in the economic and cultural link of the Pacific Northwest and Asian trading partners that include Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Russia and other countries.
Lewiston served as Idaho's first territorial capital in 1865, before the seat of government was moved to Boise in the state's southwest region. Lewiston grew seemingly overnight into a center of commerce and culture after the discovery of gold in the mountains of north central Idaho.
Lewiston's elevation is 738 feet and provides ideal temperature conditions, hence the nickname "Banana Belt". The average year-round high in Lewiston is 63 degrees; the average minimum is 41 degrees. When the surrounding area is covered in snow, Lewiston's average day-time highs range from 47.6 in November and 41 degrees in December to 39 degrees in January and 46 degrees in February. Annual precipitation is 12.63 inches, relatively evenly distributed throughout the year.
The moderate, inviting climate is ideal to year-round recreational pursuits golfing, fishing, hunting, cycling—to name a few. The area has an extensive paved path along the rivers for walking, running and cycling, and Lewiston was named one of the top outdoor recreation cities in the United States by Outdoor Life.
Lewiston is located approximately 100 miles south of Spokane and 270 miles north of Boise. Both Portland and Seattle are about a six-hour drive away.