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Major city · United States

Coeur d'Alene

Give Coeur d'Alene 2 nights in summer for the lake and Tubbs Hill; 1 night off-season. Skip it as a base if you want ski terrain — stay in Sandpoint.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Sep for the lake; Dec–Mar for nearby skiing
avoid Jul–Aug weekend crowds and peak room rates; smoke season in Aug
Airports
GEG · COE
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Coeur d'Alene is the largest city in Northern Idaho and the eastern edge of the Spokane metro, on Interstate 90 and on Pacific Time, not Mountain Time. The draw is a big freshwater lake with a public beach and the Tubbs Hill loop, plus a walkable downtown of shops and restaurants. Two nights covers it in summer; one night is enough in the shoulder season. Ski hills and the Silver Valley mining towns sit within an hour's drive, so many travellers use the city as a first or last stop on a Northern Idaho loop.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Coeur d'Alene, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$4–7
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, main course$18–35
  • BeerCraft beer, pint$7–9
  • Taxi, about 5 km5 km taxi or rideshare$12–18
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$15–30
  • Budget bedHostel or motel bed, a night, per personUS$45
  • Mid-range bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$190
  • High-end bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$320

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$170 · High US$300

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Lake Coeur d'Alene and City Park beachTubbs Hill loop trailDowntown Sherman AvenueThe floating green golf hole at the Coeur d'Alene Resort
Airports
GEG Spokane International Airport (About 40 min west by car on I-90; the main gateway, with non-stops from Seattle, Denver, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Minneapolis, Portland, Boise, Vancouver and Calgary (check current routes).) · COE Coeur d'Alene Airport (Pappy Boyington Field) (North of town; private and general aviation only, no scheduled airline service.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Coeur d'Alene: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

2°C

−4°C

12 rd

Feb

5°C

−3°C

10 rd

Mar

10°C

0°C

12 rd

Apr

15°C

3°C

10 rd

May

20°C

7°C

10 rd

Jun

24°C

10°C

8 rd

Jul

29°C

13°C

4 rd

Aug

29°C

13°C

4 rd

Sep

24°C

9°C

6 rd

Oct

15°C

4°C

10 rd

Nov

7°C

0°C

13 rd

Dec

2°C

−4°C

13 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Downtown, City Park and Tubbs Hill are walkable. City Link runs free buses on selected routes, including to the movie theatres and the casino. A car is the practical choice for Silverwood, Hayden, Farragut State Park and the Silver Valley; rideshare and taxis exist but are thin outside the centre.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Sandpointovernight

Door to door: About 1.5 h

US-95 north by car, about 1 h 15 min

Lake Pend Oreille and Schweitzer ski area; better as its own stop than a return day.

Wallace and the Silver Valleygo

Door to door: About 1 h

I-90 east by car, about 1 h

Historic mining town, Route of the Hiawatha bike trail and Lookout Pass skiing.

Kellogg

go

Door to door: About 50 min

I-90 east by car, about 50 min

Silver Mountain gondola and waterpark; a half-day with kids.

Post Falls

go

Door to door: About 20 min

I-90 west by car, about 20 min

Falls park and dam on the Spokane River; easy half-day.

Bonners Ferry

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h

US-95 north by car, about 2 h

Far north Idaho; too far for a comfortable return day.

Spokane, Washington

go

Door to door: About 40 min

I-90 west by car, about 40 min

Bigger city, Amtrak station and the airport; useful for a flight day.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown / Sherman Avenue

Walk to the beach, City Park, Tubbs Hill and restaurants. Best for a short stay without a car.

Riverstone

North of the centre on the Spokane River; shops, cinema and chain hotels, 5–10 min drive from downtown.

I-90 exits and Post Falls

Cheaper motels and easy highway access; you will drive to everything.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$90–140 excl. bed
Mid
$150–240 excl. bed
High
$250+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$190US$380
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$170US$680
Omnibus Shuttle, Spokane airport to Coeur d'Alene, one way2 × US$45 · checkUS$90
Full-size rental car, one day1 × US$70 · checkUS$70
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$126
Trip total≈ US$347 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,386

2026 estimate in US dollars; flights and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–7
Burger and fries$12–18
Craft beer, pint$7–9
Sit-down dinner, main course$18–35
5 km taxi or rideshare$12–18
Silverwood Theme Park, one-day ticket$60–75 (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$15–30

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Coeur d'Alene is a low-crime city for its size and the tourist core feels safe day and night. The real risks are cold lake water, summer wildfire smoke, winter mountain passes and leaving valuables visible in a parked car at trailheads.
  • Summer weekends fill the lakefront hotels: book weeks ahead.
  • August can bring wildfire smoke that closes trails and ruins lake views.
  • Lake water stays cold well into June; the beach is busiest Jul–Aug.
  • Winter driving over Fourth of July Pass and Lookout Pass needs snow tyres or chains — check Idaho road conditions before you leave.
  • The city sits on Pacific Time, unlike most of Idaho: an hour earlier than Boise and Sun Valley.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Coeur d'Alene Police (non-emergency)
208-769-2323
Idaho road conditions (511)
511

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Coeur d'AleneCoeur d'Alene

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Coeur d'Alene Police (non-emergency)208-769-2323
  • Idaho road conditions511

Embassy

No embassies here; consulates sit in Seattle, San Francisco and other large cities. For a lost passport, contact your country's nearest consulate (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Spokane airport (GEG) → Coeur d'Alene, shuttle: about $45, 40–50 min (check)
  • Downtown → Silverwood Theme Park, car: about 25 min north on US-95
  • City Link bus: free on selected routes (check the current map)

Say or show

  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Where is the beach? — Where is the beach?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is there a shuttle to the airport? — Is there a shuttle to the airport?
  • Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
  • Thanks, have a good one — Thanks, have a good one

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis and rideshare.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Coeur d'Alene. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep for the lake; Dec–Mar for nearby skiing · avoid Jul–Aug weekend crowds and peak room rates; smoke season in Aug · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for GEG: shuttle and rideshare options field-checked, late-arrival fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Sherman Avenue, City Park and Independence Point, Tubbs Hill, Riverstone.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Museum of Northern Idaho, Tubbs Hill, City Park, Bird Aviation Museum) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Smoke and winter-pass fixtures so the go/caution gates can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources