Major city · United States
Spokane
Give Spokane 2 nights: Riverfront Park and the falls on day one, a Centennial Trail walk or a Palouse drive on day two. Skip if you want big-city nightlife.
Spokane is the largest city between Seattle and Minneapolis, the hub of the Inland Empire at the north edge of the Palouse wheat country. Downtown is compact and walkable around the Spokane River falls, with a riverfront park, a 1911 arch bridge and a growing food and brewery scene. It is a practical stop on I-90 and the Amtrak Empire Builder, and a base for the Palouse, Coeur d'Alene and the Idaho Panhandle. Two nights covers the centre; add a night if you want a Palouse or lake day.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot, dry), Dec–Feb (cold, snow)
- Airport
- GEG
- Nights
- 2
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Spokane911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Spokane, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetySpokane is generally safe for visitors in the day; downtown is quiet after dark in places, so use lit streets and the skywalk routes…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportGEG Spokane International Airport (About 7 mi / 11 km (6.8 mi) west of downtown off I-90; STA route 60 bus to downtown, about 25 min).GEG Spokane International Airport (About 7 mi / 6.8 mi (11 km) west of downtown off I-90; STA route 60 bus to downtown, about 25 min).
- Getting aroundDowntown is walkable and the skywalks help in winter.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–6
- Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, main$18–35
- Street or quick mealCasual lunch (sandwich, burger)$12–20
- BeerCraft beer at a brewery$6–9
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)5 km (3.1 mi) taxi or rideshare3.1 mi (5 km) taxi or rideshare$12–20
- Metro or bus rideSTA bus ride$2 (check)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry$8–20
- Budget bedHostel or budget motel bed, a night, per personUS$45
- Mid-range bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$170
- High-end bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$280
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$150 · High US$280
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
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.
- Airports
- GEG Spokane International Airport (About 7 mi / 11 km (6.8 mi) west of downtown off I-90; STA route 60 bus to downtown, about 25 min)GEG Spokane International Airport (About 7 mi / 6.8 mi (11 km) west of downtown off I-90; STA route 60 bus to downtown, about 25 min)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Feb
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Mar
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Apr
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
May
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Jun
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jul
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Sep
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Oct
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Nov
not flagged
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Dec
Avoid
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)), coolest Jan (−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C) low), wettest Dec (14 rain days), driest Jul (4). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Spokane: 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
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
13 rd
Feb
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
10 rd
Mar
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
12 rd
Apr
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
10 rd
May
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
10 rd
Jun
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
8 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
4 rd
Aug
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
4 rd
Sep
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
5 rd
Oct
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
9 rd
Nov
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
13 rd
Dec
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
14 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Downtown is walkable and the skywalks help in winter. STA buses cover the city and the Valley; ask the driver for a 2-hour or all-day pass before you put money in the fare box. A car is the practical choice for the Palouse, Coeur d'Alene and the airport. I-90 crosses town east–west; there is no completed north–south freeway, so allow extra time cross-town.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
goDoor to door: About 45 min
I-90 east, about 35 min by car
Lakefront town with a resort and a walkable main street; easy half-day.
Palouse wheat country (Colfax, Pullman)
goDoor to door: 1–1.5 h
US-195 south from I-90, about 1 h to Colfax
Rolling hills and small college towns; best with a car and a full day.
Cheney
cautionDoor to door: About 40 min
I-90 west then SR-904, about 30 min by car
College town with a small historic centre; combine with a drive, not a trip on its own.
Dayton and Pomeroy
overnightDoor to door: 2–2.5 h
US-195 south then US-12 east, about 2 h to Dayton
Historic southeast Washington towns; too far for a comfortable return day.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Downtown / Riverside
Walk to Riverfront Park, the falls and the skywalk shops; best for a short stay without a car.
Kendall Yards
Riverside neighbourhood west of downtown on the Centennial Trail; newer hotels and food, 15–20 min walk to the core.
Spokane Valley / Liberty Lake
Cheaper chain hotels east along I-90; you need a car for everything.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $70–110 excl. bed
- Mid
- $120–200 excl. bed
- High
- $220+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$170 | US$340 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$150 | US$600 |
| STA airport bus, both ways2 × US$4 · check | US$8 |
| STA all-day pass2 × US$4 · check | US$8 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$99 |
| Trip total≈ US$271 per person per day, bed included | US$1,085 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; flights and car rental excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Craft beer at a brewery | $6–9 |
| Casual lunch (sandwich, burger) | $12–20 |
| Sit-down dinner, main | $18–35 |
| 5 km taxi or rideshare | $12–20 |
| STA bus ride | $2 (check) |
| Museum entry | $8–20 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Washington's E-DUI law: no holding a phone while driving, even stopped at a light; first-offence fine about $136 and an insurance mark.
- Older residential neighbourhoods have uncontrolled intersections — yield to cross traffic.
- Winter brings snow and ice; summer afternoons can pass 35 °C (95 °F) with cool nights, so keep a jacket handy year-round.Winter brings snow and ice; summer afternoons can pass 95 °F (35 °C) with cool nights, so keep a jacket handy year-round.
- Some downtown blocks are quiet after dark; stick to lit streets and the skywalk routes.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
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SpokaneSpokane
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No embassies in Spokane; most countries have embassies in Washington, DC, and consulates in Seattle.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- GEG airport → downtown, STA route 60: about $2, about 25 min (check)
- GEG airport → downtown, taxi: $25+ before tip (check)
- Amtrak Empire Builder, Spokane → Seattle: about $40–90 coach, 7–8 h (check)
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- Where is the bus stop? — Where is the bus stop?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
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 Spokane. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (hot, dry), Dec–Feb (cold, snow) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for GEG: STA route 60 times, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Riverfront Park and the falls, Monroe Street Bridge and Kendall Yards, the Davenport Arts District, the Garland and South Perry districts.
- Place pages with verified hours (Riverfront Park, Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, Mobius) and eat pages with last orders.
- Seasonal fixtures for snow and summer heat so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialVisit Spokane
- officialSpokane International Airport
- officialSpokane Transit Authority
- officialAmtrak — Spokane station
- officialCity of Spokane — Riverfront Park
- secondaryWikivoyage: Spokane, revision 5326477 (CC BY-SA 4.0)