Planning Your Trip to North Idaho

Getting Here

The upper region of the state has easy access via Interstate 90, which runs from Lookout Pass on the Montana border to Spokane, Washington, on the west. The major north-south access is U.S. Highway 95, which stretches from Boise to the Canadian border. The Coeur d'Alene Airport at Hayden provides charter and private air service with the capacity to land 34-seat passenger planes. Spokane International Airport is about 45 minutes west off I-90. There are vans, taxis, rental cars and shuttles available from both airports. Amtrak and Greyhound give passengers a scenic view while en route. Amtrak passes through North Idaho to Sandpoint on Lake Pend Oreille which is just 40 minutes from Coeur d'Alene or you may use the service to Spokane from Seattle and Minneapolis. Greyhound bus lines provide daily service to most North Idaho communities.
Day trips into Canada are popular. To enter Canada from Idaho, travelers go through customs at Kings Gate on U.S. Highway 95 across from Eastport or at Rykerts on U.S. Highway 2 across from Porthill. Both are ports of entry into the province of British Columbia; Kings Gate is on the way to Cranbrook, and Rykerts is just before Creston. The Kings Gate customs office is open 24 hours a day year-round including holidays, while Rykerts is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Pacific Time
Visas are not required for U.S. citizens entering Canada by car. You will need proof of U.S. citizenship such as a U.S. passport or certified copy of your birth certificate issued by the city, county or state of your birth, along with photo ID, such as a valid driver's license.
Beyond the lakes, mountain and rivers are the small towns and cities which are home to young families, retirees, professionals, farmers, ranchers and everything in between. The North Idaho lifestyle is as diverse as the communities which you'll find profiled on the following pages.See Map below:

(click map for a larger image)

Mileage from Coeur d'Alene to Other Cities

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Traveling by Air

The  Coeur d'Alene Airport at Hayden provides charter and private air service with the capacity to land 34 seat passenger planes, while Spokane International Airport, about 45 minutes west, has flights arriving and departing with service to many major US and Canadian cities. There are vans, taxis, rental cars and shuttles available from both airports.

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The Scenic Route - by Train or Bus

Train or bus gives you a bonus of a scenic view while en route. Amtrak passes through North Idaho to Sandpoint on Lake Pend Oreille which is just 40 minutes from Coeur d'Alene or you may use the service to Spokane from Seattle and Minneapolis. Greyhound bus lines provide daily service to most North Idaho communities.

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Your Own Wheels

Last but not least - Driving is a great way to see North Idaho. There are dozens of scenic drives in and around North Idaho.

• Dollar Rent-a-Car - 800 Northwest Blvd, Coeur d'Alene - 664-0682

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Transportation Services

• Benewah Area Transit 245-4576
• Bonner Cab Co. 263-7626
• CityLink 1-877-941-RIDE www.idahocitylink.com
• Coeur d'Alene PediCab 664-2227
• North Idaho Community Express

  Coeur d'Alene 664-9769

  Sandpoint 263-7287

• OmniBus Shuttle 667-6664
• Payless Airport Shuttle 762-7433
• Silver Valley Transportation 682-3550
• White Tail Transportation 263-1018
• North Country Transportation Services, Inc (Bonners Ferry) 208-290-1292

Weather Forecasts & Road Conditions

• Idaho State Department of Transportation
  http://www2.state.id.us/itd/ida-road/index.asp
• Weather.com
• The National Weather Service
  http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/Spokane/
• Weather Underground, Boise to North Idaho
  http://www.wunderground.com/US/ID/Boise.html