West - Flying into, and driving around, Spokane in winter

We are considering visiting Spokane, and revistiing Portland, to look at homes (possible second home, eventual retirement home). I've found widely varying reports on just how hard the winter is and likelihood of encountering enough snow, even ice, to make driving difficult (especially with a rental car, since I believe chains are normally prohibited), and possibly even making flying iffy, at least subject to delays. Any firsthand expriences? Right now January or February look most likely. If we were just going on a vacation we'd wait until summer. Thanks!

Honestly, it's one of those things that can be hard to predict. There is generally a week in January or February where the entire I-5 corridor seems to ice over, and you can't really plan for that. The other challenge is the the Columbia Gorge can be an easy drive or a hard one, and you won't really know until you start it. Snow will probably only be a challenge within a 50 mile radius of Spokane, regardless. Ice and wind are the bigger concerns.

FWIW, we've been up there the past two Februarys, and it has been sunny and gorgeous both times.

If you really want to drive you can always buy chains at Les Schwab - you can return them before April 1 if you don't use them.

HOWEVER, if you aren't prepared for driving in "weather" you should fly. It would take some pretty significant weather to cause flight delays that would result in flying taking longer than driving in the winter, especially as there are so many non-stops between GEG and PDX.

Another option if your flying into Spokane (or Portland for that matter) would be to take the train between Spokane and Portland or vice versa

The disadvantage is the train leaves Spokane at 2:45 AM and gets into Portland at 10:10 AM.

Not much better flying into Portland first and then taking the train to Spokane.
It leaves Portland at 4:45 PM and arrives in Spokane at 12:12 AM

I think I'd just fly between Spokane and Portland.
Alaska has flights mid-week in February for $64.00 incl. taxes.

Another option if your flying into Spokane (or Portland for that matter) would be to take the train between Spokane and Portland or vice versa.

The train is as subject to delay as airlines or driving. This Amtrak route can run many hours late in both directions, but especially westbound as it's come in all the way from Chicago.

Honestly, the weather in Spokane is a complete crapshoot in January or February. When it does snow, though, it can be fierce, with heavy accumulations that immobilize everything and near-zero temps. And meanwhile Seattle, five or six hours' drive to the east, will just be drizzly and gray.

The Spokane airport is pretty good about snow removal, but you can't expect on-time performance (or anything) when the weather closes in. As for driving, if you are not used to snow-and-ice conditions, this is not the time or place to learn... in a rented vehicle no less. AWD or four-wheel drive do not allow you to defy the laws of physics. Any state trooper will tell you that when snow and ice hit, it's those fancy SUVs that are first to spin out or fly into ditches.

We are supposed to have another wet El Nina winter ahead so I would book air tickets but be prepared for lengthy delays, keep a loose schedule and a sense of humor... then again perhaps it'll be 50 degrees, bone dry, and sunny. Yeah, maybe.

And consider what type of shoes you wear then to prevent slippage on ice - it ain't likely gonna be SoCal beach weather.:p

We are considering visiting Spokane, and revistiing Portland, to look at homes (possible second home, eventual retirement home). I've found widely varying reports on just how hard the winter is and likelihood of encountering enough snow, even ice, to make driving difficult (especially with a rental car, since I believe chains are normally prohibited), and possibly even making flying iffy, at least subject to delays. Any firsthand expriences? Right now January or February look most likely. If we were just going on a vacation we'd wait until summer. Thanks!

Thanks everyone. I am starting to get cold feet (and maybe cold everything else) already but it may still be worth a visit. Flying does sound good, especially if we get a jet (e.g., Southwest's 737s) vs. a smaller turboprop. Rental car on ice or snow we'll just have to worry about at the time. Having lived in the Washington, DC area for a few years, I know how that can be (one day bad, the next day no problem). Maybe a hard freeze in Spokane will make the Portland area look better to my wife (she's wary of its dreary, gray skies-- feeling she'd suffer from a sunshine deficit-- though she also felt that some places in Southern California were too hot and dry, plus they have earthquakes there; in Portland she does worry about volcanoes, but no place is perfect).

Maybe a hard freeze in Spokane will make the Portland area look better to my wife (she's wary of its dreary, gray skies-- feeling she'd suffer from a sunshine deficit-- though she also felt that some places in Southern California were too hot and dry, plus they have earthquakes there; in Portland she does worry about volcanoes, but no place is perfect).

The Northwest has flooding, wildfires, mudslides, earthquakes and volcanoes... like SoCal with more rain plus added lava and ash. At least no hurricanes and hardly any tornadoes. Tell your wife there's no safe place. :)

OP:

Don't let the h8ers scare you away. :p

First off driving between Portland and Spokane in winter...not a good idea. Going over the passes can be treacherous. With or without a rental car. You can fly one way between PDX and GEG for $50 on Southwest.

However that's the passes, not Spokane itself.

Spokane has pretty easy winters relatively speaking. It does snow but there's also plenty of sun in the winter. It's not Seattle gloom all winter long by any stretch of the imagination. Snow doesn't stick around too long either since usually the pattern is, snow one day, then sun the next which melts the snow away. And temperature wise, average day in January is above freezing which also speeds up the melting. Of course there will be cold snaps where it can get in the single digits, even negatives. We'll get that a couple of times a year for 2-3 days.

As far as cars go, everyone here has a 4X4 or AWD vehicle for winter. You'll notice in winter a lot of junky cars out there. That's kind of by design. You have your nice summer car and your POS winter car that you don't care about getting dinged. I have a 12 year old SUV with 250K miles that I used Nov-March and 2 other cars I used spring, summer and early fall. If you're worried about it with a rental, request a 4X4 / AWD rental, there will be plenty to choose from. And unless you plan on driving into the mountain areas, the roads are cleared quickly after a snowfall. Unless you time your trip with a big storm, it really shouldn't be an issue for you driving around the city.

The flip side to that is summers are perfect. 70s and 80s during the day with very low humidity. 40s and 50s at night. We use our A/C, maybe 10 days a year.

If you'd like to get some more info about the area - weather or otherwise - feel free to PM me. I'd be happy to help. I was in your shoes not too long ago myself. Glad I decided to make the move.

My two cents:

The weather is definitely a crapshoot but if you're game give it a go.
Be extra careful that your rental car actually is a 4WD vehicle! Many of the vehicles purchased by rental car companies are the 2WD versions... So don't be afraid to march back to the rental car desk and demand an actual 4WD or AWD vehicle.
And check your auto insurance. For a trip like this I would lower my deductibles so I don't get dinged to bad if something adverse occurs during hazardous driving conditions.
I just had a rental in Tuscon and got a rock leaving the airport! It would have been OK except that @ 100F and 80MPH things tend to go woozy. So the windshield developed a nasty crack about two days later driving on 1-10. If my comp deductible was lowered before I left I would have only been out about $125...
But I was luckier than a guy that rented there a few days before me. He declined all coverages and drove out into a hailstorm that broke out both front and rear windshields! Talk about bad luck.

As far as cars go, everyone here has a 4X4 or AWD vehicle for winter.

I've lived in Spokane for the last six winters, and have gotten along just fine with my RWD Lexus. It gets four snow tires in the winter, and usually does just fine.

JPat makes a good suggestion regarding insurance.

The last two times I reserved full size from Avis at GEG I got Chevy Impalas. Even though only FWD, those have done really well in the snow for me in the past.

Honestly, the weather in Spokane is a complete crapshoot in January or February. When it does snow, though, it can be fierce, with heavy accumulations that immobilize everything and near-zero temps. And meanwhile Seattle, five or six hours' drive to the east, will just be drizzly and gray.



Heh, heh. You'll probably want to head west from Spokane to find that drizzly gray winter weather. A five or six hour drive "to the east" will put you somewhere near Butte, MT, a place not known for its January drizzles! :p



First off driving between Portland and Spokane in winter...not a good idea. Going over the passes can be treacherous.

If you encounter any passes while driving between Portland and Spokane, you're on the wrong road. From Portland you'll take I-84 through the Columbia Gorge, which can be tricky in the winter (but usually isn't) and while it has its twists and turns, is mostly flat. Then you'll head up I-82 to the Tri-Cities, and then US 395 to Ritzville. Both of these have hills but nothing that would be considered a "pass." From Ritzville it's basically flat and straight all the way to Spokane.

If you encounter any passes while driving between Portland and Spokane, you're on the wrong road. From Portland you'll take I-84 through the Columbia Gorge, which can be tricky in the winter (but usually isn't) and while it has its twists and turns, is mostly flat. Then you'll head up I-82 to the Tri-Cities, and then US 395 to Ritzville. Both of these have hills but nothing that would be considered a "pass." From Ritzville it's basically flat and straight all the way to Spokane.

D'OH! You're right. I was thinking from Seattle.
Actually drove to the Oregon coast via Portland following that route not too long ago. Pretty cool drive along the river on 84.

I've lived in Spokane for the last six winters, and have gotten along just fine with my RWD Lexus. It gets four snow tires in the winter, and usually does just fine.

I live little out of the city where we're usually the last to get plowed and somewhat up the hill/mountain. My driveway is about 250 feet long, also uphill. I wouldn't even dare attempt to go up that first thing in the morning after a snowfall using RWD, snow tires or no snow tires.