Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Questions on how we spend our money and our time - consumer goods and services, home and vehicle, leisure and recreational activities
Post Reply
Topic Author
hoops777
Posts: 4603
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 12:23 pm
Location: Behind the 3 point line

Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by hoops777 »

We are driving from Seattle to Spokane the weekend of July 9.Looking for advice on best route.Is it worth it to go on highway 2?How about Leavenworth?We were also going to visit Couer d'Alene for a few hours.We arrive in Seattle Friday afternoon and fly home from Spokane late Tuesday.Thanks!
K.I.S.S........so easy to say so difficult to do.
Grasshopper
Posts: 1209
Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 3:52 pm

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by Grasshopper »

Route 2 has Leavenworth, 90 has Roslyn, ( Northern Exposure), North Bend, (Twin Peaks), both can be fun towns to exit 90 and drive through. Coeur d'Alene could be a day itself. For an Interstate 90 has some nice scenery, as does 2. If the drive is the experience I may go with 2 and a day in Leavenworth.
User avatar
Hayden
Posts: 1533
Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2013 5:13 pm

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by Hayden »

I think if it were my first time, I would skip route 2 and just get there quickly. I recommend more than a couple hours in Coeur dalene. You might want to go out on a boat on the lake, go hiking, kayaking, biking, etc imho, there's more to do in Coeur d'Alene than in Leavenworth.
Topic Author
hoops777
Posts: 4603
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 12:23 pm
Location: Behind the 3 point line

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by hoops777 »

I am thinking leave Seattle Sunday a.m.and get to Spokane in the evening,go to Coeur on Monday for the day and look around Spokane most of the day Tuesday before our flight back early evening.Maybe better to go on 90 if there are nice small towns to see.
K.I.S.S........so easy to say so difficult to do.
User avatar
stratton
Posts: 11085
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 4:05 pm
Location: Puget Sound

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by stratton »

hoops777 wrote:I am thinking leave Seattle Sunday a.m.and get to Spokane in the evening,go to Coeur on Monday for the day and look around
Spokane most of the day Tuesday before our flight back early evening.Maybe better to go on 90 if there are nice small towns to see.
I grew up in Eastern Washington.

Allow all day for Highway 2. Quite a bit of it is two lane 50 mph and it's longer distance than I-90. Leavenworth is a charming tourist trap Bavarian village. Lots of fun. Cashmere has the "World famous" Applets and Cotlets factory. Lots of farmland along a two lane road. You could detour slightly off course to visit Grand Coulee Dam.

I-90 is a full four lane interstate at 70+ mph. Snoqualmie Falls just East of Seattle before North Bend. Gingko State Park in Vantage on the West side of the Columbia River has a petrified forest, views of the Columbia and Indian pictographs. If you drive without stopping it's about four hours to Spokane. People speed at 80+ East of the Columbia or even East of Ellensburg. Ellensburg has the Clymer Art Museum with western art and lots of Saturday Evening Post covers.

Paul
...and then Buffy staked Edward. The end.
letsgobobby
Posts: 12073
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:10 am

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by letsgobobby »

If you're interested in getting there quickly, I-90 is the way. It's a pretty long drive so be realistic about how much sightseeing you could really do in a single day.

Leavenworth is definitely worth a stop. We love it despite its hokeyness and go every year as part of a longer trip.

On I-90 there are a lot of accessible hikes between Snoqualmie Pass and the Teanaways. Get a Craig Romano hiking book and find one that fits you rneeds.

Now if you were willing to detour south a bit through Yakima and Prosser, you'd get to the heart of Washington wine country and some incredible tastings at dozens and dozens (hundreds?) of wineries. A lot of the bigger ones have tasting rooms in Woodinville, but if you are interested in small, intimate, one on one tastings without any crowds, Prosser/Sunnyside etc are your ticket.
User avatar
GerryL
Posts: 3902
Joined: Fri Sep 20, 2013 11:40 pm

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by GerryL »

Hmmm. I just did the Spokane-to-Portland drive yesterday (after driving to Spokane last Sunday). I was in Eastern Washington on a 4-day bus tour to learn about the geology of the Ice Age Floods. Fascinating stuff. I-90 will take you through Moses Lake. Just south of there is the Potholes Reservoir and the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, where you can see "potholes" scoured out by the mega floods and the Drumheller Channels that were carved out by the rushing water. If you are interested in understanding why the landscape looks like it does, you might want to read up on the Ice Age Floods (aka Missoula Floods) before your trip. Our guide recommended the website http://hugefloods.com/
User avatar
stratton
Posts: 11085
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 4:05 pm
Location: Puget Sound

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by stratton »

GerryL wrote:Hmmm. I just did the Spokane-to-Portland drive yesterday (after driving to Spokane last Sunday). I was in Eastern Washington on a 4-day bus tour to learn about the geology of the Ice Age Floods. Fascinating stuff. I-90 will take you through Moses Lake. Just south of there is the Potholes Reservoir and the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, where you can see "potholes" scoured out by the mega floods and the Drumheller Channels that were carved out by the rushing water. If you are interested in understanding why the landscape looks like it does, you might want to read up on the Ice Age Floods (aka Missoula Floods) before your trip. Our guide recommended the website http://hugefloods.com/
Heh. I went to the Potholes in the late 70s for high school geology class a couple of times. I think Ancient Lake in the bottom of the Potholes just drained suddenly in the last 20 years.

Paul
...and then Buffy staked Edward. The end.
User avatar
stratton
Posts: 11085
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 4:05 pm
Location: Puget Sound

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by stratton »

Just so the OP understands...

The weather East of the Cascades on July 9 is very likely to be hotter than Seattle. Quite likely 95+ degrees. Maybe 100+. Not quite Arizona hot, buts still desert. Hiking around the Potholes will be hot because of all the dark basalt.

Take plenty of water, sun screen etc.

Paul
...and then Buffy staked Edward. The end.
Topic Author
hoops777
Posts: 4603
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 12:23 pm
Location: Behind the 3 point line

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by hoops777 »

Thanks for all the suggestions.I want to see Leavenworth but it seems like I 90 is easier and actually has more things to see.
K.I.S.S........so easy to say so difficult to do.
chx
Posts: 429
Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2016 9:52 am

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by chx »

I second the warning about heat once you cross the Columbia River. I hope the car is air conditioned. Take extra water or coolant for the radiator.
Topic Author
hoops777
Posts: 4603
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 12:23 pm
Location: Behind the 3 point line

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by hoops777 »

Maybe a stupid question.....it looks like we have to reverse course and fly to Spokane and drive to Seattle.Does it matter?
K.I.S.S........so easy to say so difficult to do.
orca91
Posts: 1223
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:17 pm

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by orca91 »

Are you planning to make stops and see things, or just look as you're driving through?

The I-90 route is definitely faster and has the mountain pass, Moses Lake, and the Columbia River to see. Those are cool to see. But, prepare for a lot of nothing beyond that, if just driving though. I find it a long boring drive for the most part. Just me though. Maybe others find lots of wide open dry fields exciting? :happy

More to see on the other route, but it would take quite a bit longer. I wouldn't do that unless you plan on making stops to get out and see, and no timeline.
orca91
Posts: 1223
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:17 pm

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by orca91 »

hoops777 wrote:Maybe a stupid question.....it looks like we have to reverse course and fly to Spokane and drive to Seattle.Does it matter?
Nope, same deal. It all depends on your wants and timeline.
User avatar
stratton
Posts: 11085
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 4:05 pm
Location: Puget Sound

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by stratton »

About 15 or 20 miles East of Leavenworth there is a state highway through Swauk Pass that connects Highway 2 to I-90 at Cle Elum. It's probably about 40 or 45 miles.

Paul
...and then Buffy staked Edward. The end.
User avatar
Fletch
Posts: 802
Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2009 1:25 pm
Location: USA

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by Fletch »

stratton wrote:About 15 or 20 miles East of Leavenworth there is a state highway through Swauk Pass that connects Highway 2 to I-90 at Cle Elum. It's probably about 40 or 45 miles.

Paul
Rt 97 (about 5 miles east of Leavenworth on Rt 2 near Peshastin) and then Rt 970 connects Rt 2 to I-90 near Cle Elum - goes over Blewett Pass. I have family in the Leavenworth area. Leavenworth is very touristy, very crowded during the summer, very pretty, and has lots of good restaurants - German, Italian, Mexican, etc. - and motels. There has been recent blasting near Snoqualmie Pass on I-90 that can shut down the interstate for a while. Check timing before you decide. I have driven both Rt 2 (somewhat prettier and more relaxing) and I-90 (faster and still pretty) between Seattle area and Spokane (and further east) area. Your choice. Oh, and there is a nice Costco in Wenatchee :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Download the WSDOT app to your phone - lots of traffic info (Washington State Department of Transportation).

... Fletch
Topic Author
hoops777
Posts: 4603
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 12:23 pm
Location: Behind the 3 point line

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by hoops777 »

Ok.Would it make sense to drive from Spokane to Leavenworth and then head to I90 to Seattle or just stay on 2?My wife will be happy there is a Costco :happy
K.I.S.S........so easy to say so difficult to do.
technovelist
Posts: 3611
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:02 pm

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by technovelist »

There is likely to be a lot of traffic approaching Seattle on a weekend in July, from my experience as a fairly frequent visitor.
In theory, theory and practice are identical. In practice, they often differ.
User avatar
stratton
Posts: 11085
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 4:05 pm
Location: Puget Sound

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by stratton »

Warning, construction on I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass.

http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/passes/sno ... fault.aspx

This has been going for at least a year or two.

I got caught in the night time blasting where they close the pass at 7.30 pm and don't reopen it until 8.45 or so.

I don't think there is anything on Highway 2 over Stevens pass.

http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/passes/ste ... fault.aspx

Paul
...and then Buffy staked Edward. The end.
SunnySeattle
Posts: 52
Joined: Mon Nov 04, 2013 11:17 am
Location: Seattle

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by SunnySeattle »

I'd second the Blewett pass recommendation. It is a gorgeous drive. I just drove it yesterday after rafting the Wenatchee river.

Drive from Spokane to either Ellensburg or on to Cle Elum/Roslyn on 1-90 , then North on 97 to Peshastin/Leavenworth, then Hwy 2 to Monroe, followed by 522 to Seattle. It can be slow on Hwy 2 Sunday afternoon/evenings heading towards Seattle. Other evenings are usually fine. I-90 is pretty from Cle Elum, but the traffic speed (70 mph) detracts from the driver getting much enjoyment from the scenery. Blewett pass and Stevens Pass are far more picturesque.

While you're in eastern Washington, I'd also recommend seeing the gorge at George, Washington (yes that's the city name). It is a beautiful view of the Columbia river especially if you can catch the sunset.

Enjoy your trip!
Topic Author
hoops777
Posts: 4603
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 12:23 pm
Location: Behind the 3 point line

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by hoops777 »

Thank you.So it looks like half day Friday and all day Saturday around Spokane and Coure d Alene.Head to Leavenworth Sunday a.m and stay overnight.Head to Seattle Monday and stay overnight.Half day Tuesday and fly home.We have been to Seattle before so that is plenty.
K.I.S.S........so easy to say so difficult to do.
barnaclebob
Posts: 5586
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:54 am

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by barnaclebob »

I'd recommend a quick 1 hour hike along some of the trails at Frenchman's Coulee (Vantage). Its about 5 min or less off the highway and you can do a quick hike to stretch the legs and get some good views. It can be hot and if there is a concert at the gorge that weekend I'd skip it.
letsgobobby
Posts: 12073
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:10 am

Re: Driving Seattle to Spokane in July

Post by letsgobobby »

There is a nice and easy and pretty hike outside of Leavenworth called the Icicle Gorge River/View loop trail. It's quiet, very pretty, and usually uncrowded. About 4 miles.
Post Reply