Flagstaff to Spokane in late December

Hello all! I am grateful for this forum as I can seek advice from experienced travellers.

My husband and I are moving from Flagstaff, AZ to Spokane, WA in late December. We realize that all routes have potential obstacles, however, we would like suggestions and advice.

We will be travelling in our 2015 Hyundai Elantra with 2 cats. We won't be travelling with our belongings. When we moved to Flagstaff 2.5 years ago from the greater Seattle area, we travelled with the cats and stayed overnight in Pendleton, OR and Salt Lake City.

We plan on making this trip from 12/21 arriving on 12/23. Any suggestions or advice is welcome!

Welcome to RTA!

Looking at your plans, it should be easily done in 3 days with about 425 miles per day. If the weather is cooperative, you could head north on 89 to US 20 and get on I-15, then head up to I-90 through UT, ID, and MT. This is a beautiful way to go if your weather cooperates. To me, the biggest problem might be US-89. If worse came to worse, you could head out on I-40 west, and then cut up to Las Vegas and I-15 using the 95. It would add some miles, but a good weather alternative.

There are several alternatives, if the weather is not cooperative. Keep your options open. If you choose to find overnight accommodations ahead of time, ensure that they are the type that can be easily changed/canceled/modified. My husband and I prefer the type that can be cancelled up till 4 pm of the day of intended arrival, and would be held for very late arrival. It's kind of a peace-of-mind! With two cats, that would be highly suggested. That way you can find a place that accepts two cats before you leave home, instead of "on the fly". There are a number of places that accept pets, but some are picky about the type and the number of pets.

Let us know how else we can help!


Donna

Welcome back to the RTA Forum!

Being that you've already made much of this trip before (in the opposite direction), and you won't be worrying about a Uhaul this time, should make the trip easier in a lot of ways as you already know a lot of what to expect.

The extra challenge, I imagine, will be that this time you'll be traveling in December - with the potential of winter weather and some extra holiday traffic.

With winter travel, the 2 biggest things things that can help are time and flexibility, both of which you should have. Time will allow you to slow down and stop if conditions deteriorate. Flexibility also helps in that regard as well as lets you look at alternate routes and make your plans based on the weather conditions itself.

Being that you are planning 2 overnights, you're in good shape in terms of time. At about 1300 miles, this is a bit too far for just 2 days on the road, but with 3 days available, you're in very good shape if weather forces you to have a short day on the road.

With routes, I-15 to I-90 would be the standard, most straightforward option, and I'd use that for "plan A" - however, it only adds about 40 miles to essentially go back the way you came via I-84/I-82 to Kennewick and then head to Spokane via US-395. That would be a good plan B if the weather forecast on your specific days of travel show problems in Eastern ID/Western Montana that could be avoided by going via Oregon. Alternatively, you could make I-84 your plan A, if you just feel more comfortable retracing your previous steps, but leave I-15/I-90 as a backup if there are storms in Oregon that can be avoided by staying farther east.

If you are going via LV and weather permits, take I-15 to US-93 to NV-318 to US-6 to Ely (NOTE - NO GAS between Alamo/Warm Springs and Ely) to US-93 to I-84 to US-730 to US-12 to US-395 to I-90.

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Looking at your plans, it should be easily done in 3 days with about 425 miles per day. If the weather is cooperative, you could head north on 89 to US 20 and get on I-15, then head up to I-90 through UT, ID, and MT. This is a beautiful way to go if your weather cooperates. To me, the biggest problem might be US-89. If worse came to worse, you could head out on I-40 west, and then cut up to Las Vegas and I-15 using the 95. It would add some miles, but a good weather alternative.

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I've been politely corrected on my route numbers, in private messages. My maps and atlas are out in the truck, which is currently covered with about 6" of snow and the sidewalk needs shoveling. Maybe in a couple of hours! (Near Denver.) I apologize, blame it on the snow, which is still coming down.

If you go 89, you cut over to I-15 using UT-20, not US-20. If you go west on I-40 out of Flagstaff, you can use a combo of several routes including US-93 (not 95) and I-11 (the newest interstate) to get yourselves up to I-15. (I-15 and I-40 connect, but way out in Barstow, CA, which is really out of the way.)


Donna