Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

Driving from Glacier National Park to Hood River

Driving from Glacier National Park to Hood River

Old Mar 26th, 2017, 04:36 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Driving from Glacier National Park to Hood River

Hi. Finalizing plans. Need advice on best driving route (prefer scenic but need to consider the driving time) from Glacier National Park to Hood River, Oregon. We will be traveling by car this July from the Many Glacier Hotel to the Cliff Villas in Hood River. Mapquest says it is a 10 hour and 43 minute drive! Would like to drive about 7 hours the first night, find a hotel to stay and continue on the next day. Would greatly appreciate some help. Is anyone able to recommend the route and a town/city to stay overnight before we reach Hood River? Is it a scenic drive? Thanks.
WarrenWST is offline  
Old Mar 27th, 2017, 07:29 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 21,966
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think the fastest route will be to take I-90 all the way to Ritzville, WA and then head South. Couer d'Alene is about the halfway point, and it would be a good place to stay.
kureiff is offline  
Old Mar 27th, 2017, 02:59 PM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi. Do you know if I-90 is scenic? Thanks.
WarrenWST is offline  
Old Mar 27th, 2017, 04:36 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,716
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
Where are you renting your car? Are you paying a drop fee?
If you are renting in Whitefish or Kalispell, consider riding the Amtrak Empire Builder overnight to Portland.
The train splits very early in the morning in Spokane with one part going to Seattle and the other to Portland.
Rent another car in Portland.
Eastern Washington and eastern Oregon are not that scenic compared with the Columbia Gorge and the waterfalls between Portland and Hood River.
tomfuller is online now  
Old Mar 27th, 2017, 05:29 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Last October we drove from Whitefish, Montana to Portland OR in a Tesla. It took us 2 days. We drove "28" through the Flathead Reservation. Starts out scenic but then through the Flathead Reservation, going south, it's interesting but would not say it is scenic. Make sure you have eaten as there is nowhere to eat once on "28" until you hit "90". "135" is a bit interesting and scenic as is "90".

We decided to stay at The Best Western in Ritzville. Several of the town's restaurants were not open, but it was a Monday night. Since you are not going to Portland, if I were you, I would chose to stay in Coeur d'Alene as it is more scenic. Probably busy in the summer. Ritzville had a small downtown with several restaurants, if you decide to continue on.

After Ritzville, it is the most scenic and we drove "395" to "82" to "84. Along the Hood River and in the gorge - very scenic!

I also like the drive from Hood River to Mt Hood, but I can't recommend a town to stay in as I always stay in Portland.
gailscout is offline  
Old Mar 28th, 2017, 05:16 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,370
Received 79 Likes on 8 Posts
I-90 is fairly scenic as far as Coeur d'Alene, not so much through Spokane and out into the flats west of Spokane.

The problem with CdA as your overnight is that it reverses your plans - a relatively short drive followed by a really long one to Hood River.

Instead, I'd turn south at CdA on US 95 and travel south through the Palouse to Lewiston/Clarkston (ID/WA) and west to Walla Walla on US 12. I'd probably stay in Lewiston, but if you're making good time you could extend to Dayton WA or Walla Walla, or if you're running behind stop in Moscow (ID) or Pullman (WA) both fairly pleasant university towns.

All of these are reasonably pleasant towns with a full range of facilities (Lewiston and Walla Walla being the cutest, especially Walla Walla with its historic downtown and pretty Whitman College campus.) But the star is the Palouse landscape - rolling hills covered in wheat, with the Snake River winding through the landscape. The area around Walla Walla is an important emerging wine district, with numerous wineries open for touring or tasting. The Patit Creek Restaurant in Dayton is one of the best restaurants in eastern Washington, and there are very nice hotel options, some of them historic, in Lewiston, Walla Walla and Dayton.

The drive on US 12 from Lewiston all the way to the Columbia is very scenic and way more interesting than I-90 to Ritzville then south by west. It takes a little longer but well worth it IMO. Note you should also cross over the Columbia at some point for better views and so you can stop at the quirky Stonehenge replica near Maryhill, and at the remarkable Maryhill Museum (near the junction with US 97) - Rodin in the sagebrush. http://maryhillmuseum.org

Map - https://goo.gl/maps/h3iSSLegH2U2
Gardyloo is online now  
Old Mar 28th, 2017, 06:04 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 21,966
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree that the Lewiston/ Walla Walla route is more scenic. The drive past Spokane on I90 is pretty boring.
kureiff is offline  
Old Mar 28th, 2017, 07:56 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,479
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As usual Gardyloo is"right on"
traveler24 is offline  
Old Mar 29th, 2017, 03:48 PM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This is exactly what we were looking for!! All of your replies are so helpful. I must say that Gardyloo's advice does appear to be right on. But I must ask and I hope you do all reply, mapquest says to go US2 West from Montana crossing into Idaho and then US95 south to I90 West crossing into Washington and then US 395 South. I'm not that much of a map person but becoming more knowledgeable. Just to be clear, are you recommending to continue on 95 South once you come to Couer d'Alene and not get on I90 through Spokane. It appears that Couer d'Alene intersects with 95 S and 90 W. I admit I am a little unclear. I clicked on the link provided and it was somewhat confusing to me. In short, are you recommending that once I get on 95 S in Idaho that I continue all the way to Route 12? Also love the suggestions on Lewiston. will probably stay in either Walla Walla or Lewiston. We do want the most scenic but not at the expense of too much of an increase in driving time. Thanks again. W
WarrenWST is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2017, 05:05 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,370
Received 79 Likes on 8 Posts
In short, are you recommending that once I get on 95 S in Idaho that I continue all the way to Route 12?

Yes. US 95 through the Palouse region then west on US 12 is a far more attractive route than following I-90 through Spokane then west to US 395, then south.

If you want to use US 2 west to US 95 at Bonners Ferry, then south, that's fine, but it will probably take longer than heading south to I-90. The Idaho panhandle is pretty scenic too.
Gardyloo is online now  
Old Mar 30th, 2017, 03:18 PM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Your the best. Thank you!
WarrenWST is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
fatimaesam
United States
5
Aug 14th, 2017 02:16 PM
WarrenWST
United States
21
Jan 26th, 2017 09:58 PM
PlishBrown
United States
7
Feb 29th, 2016 12:49 PM
outdoor1
United States
11
Jul 14th, 2014 09:59 AM
vacaman2
United States
8
Sep 13th, 2008 09:48 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -