quickest drive to Seattle?

[Hemi-Cuda]

buddy and I are planning a road trip to Seattle and then Portland to catch some concerts in September and i'm just trying to figure out the best way to go. Google recommends highway 1 and crossing the border south of Abbotsford, but in my mind taking highway 3 down and going through Spokane would seem to be faster since your taking I-90 the entire way west instead of the crappy Trans Canada (not to mention cheaper gas over the border). anyone done this trip and could recommend one way or the other?

[macker]

http://maps.yahoo.com/dd_result.php?...eattle%2C%20WA

We are doing a Grizwald trip next month to Seattle etc. Blue Jays game in it for me on June 30th Hope the above link opens properly as it seems long....Last year when we were crossing the border closer to Vancouver to hit the outlets in Washington State it took 3-4 hours each way. This year I am crossing as soon as I can!

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by macker

http://maps.yahoo.com/dd_result.php?...eattle%2C%20WA

We are doing a Grizwald trip next month to Seattle etc. Blue Jays game in it for me on June 30th Hope the above link opens properly as it seems long....

ya that's the route i mapped out on Google, but for some reason if you just do a direction search for Calgary to Seattle it recommends highway 1. I-90 is 75 mph the whole way through is it not? that would seal the deal compared to the 80 km/h you're lucky to get west of Banff

[macker]

That's what I am hoping for! The way I was looking at it is that I haven't been to Spokane in years so I wouldn't mind going that way regardless as I know what Golden is all about....Very true about the gas though as in some places it was about 30% lower then what we were paying across the line...

[Sylvanfan]

Yeah, I definitely would reccommend getting down to Coeur D'Alene and than taking I90 from there. As you said the fuel in the US is about 25-30 cents a litre cheaper than most of B.C. right now. Mind you I'm comparing Oroville to Osoyoos, as you get towards the civilized part of the U.S. I'm guessing the spread is even bigger.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by macker

http://maps.yahoo.com/dd_result.php?...eattle%2C%20WA

That is also the same route we take to Seattle. Some good reasons to take that route:

- 5 hours before you get to Seattle you can make a Carls Jr/ Jack in the Box stop. There's two right beside each other in Coeur D'Alene.
- Actually get to see some of the highlights we always see on cable TV in Spokane; like Division road.
- Lots of funny sounding names. Get to use your "Idaho" jokes as well, who can resist mis-pronouncing "Bonners Ferry"
- Oh, and there's also less chance of your road getting snowed in too.

[Machi]

how long is the drive to seattle anyways?

[ken0042]

About 13 hours. That's doing just over the speed limit, and a few quick stops.

[arsenal]

That's totally the way to go. The scenery is amazing, and the traffic isn't that bad.
Plus you wont be waiting at the board crossing for 3 hours.

[Sylvanfan]

Do they still have that place in Sand Point that used to be an Arby's but is now some indpendent fast food joint that sells pretty much the same food. I always think of McDowells from Coming to America when I remember that place.

[Boblobla]

I find the infrastructure in the States to be exponentially better. I would cross the border as soon as you can. The gas will be cheaper and if you get any speeding tickets you wont have to pay them.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

if you get any speeding tickets you wont have to pay them.

As long as you never plan on visiting that state ever again in your lifetime.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

I find the infrastructure in the States to be exponentially better. I would cross the border as soon as you can. The gas will be cheaper and if you get any speeding tickets you wont have to pay them.

They also patroll the hell out of any highway too. Until you get to the interstate don't go too far over the limit, and make damn sure you follow it to a tee through every town, and don't speed up until the sign says the limit is 60 miles an hour. A month ago I went down towards Lake Chelan and Wenatchee for a day and my brother in law was pulled over for going 35 as we were leaving town....Apparently we hadn't crossed the plane of the sign saying it was 60 and were still supposed to be going 25. He did get a warning only, but they are anal about speed in the US.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by ken0042

As long as you never plan on visiting that state ever again in your lifetime.

I thought it was by county not state.

[ken0042]

^^ OK, by country then. Are you saying that for the sake of $100 you would never choose to visit the US ever again; or if you do risk spending the night in jail because there is a traffic warrant out for you?

It happened to a buddy of mine. He didn't pay his ticket. 3 years later on another trip to Seattle he got pulled over again, and even though he offered to pay for both tickets, was taken to jail overnight to get it sorted out.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

I find the infrastructure in the States to be exponentially better. I would cross the border as soon as you can. The gas will be cheaper and if you get any speeding tickets you wont have to pay them.

i use to think that until i moved down here. It totally depends where you live or where you are travelling

lots of crappy roads; so bad it feels like you are driving on gravel or offroading

as for the OP's question, if getting to Seattle the quickest is all that matters, then going stateside would speed up the trip a bit; however, the drive thru BC is gorgious; the drive thru a long stretch of Washington is the blah, especially around Spokane, and a good 3 or 4 hours west until you hit Ellensberg

[McMack]

Slow down and smell the roses :--

Driving Directions
Link: <http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=17205311865569387732,48.387 110,-115.552010%3B1907055636577187985,47.442570,-115.689660&saddr=calgary,+ab&daddr=west+glacier,+m t+to:E+9th+St+%4048.387110,+-115.552010+to:48.286848,-117.696533+to:Winthrop,+Okanogan,+Washington,+Unit ed+States+to:seattle,+wa&mra=dme&mrcr=1&mrsp=3&sz= 8&via=2,3&sll=47.802087,-115.949707&sspn=2.785701,5.119629&ie=UTF8&ll=48.40 0032,-117.949219&spn=5.507222,10.239258&t=p&z=7>
Start address: Calgary, AB
End address: Seattle, WA USA
Start at: Calgary, AB
1. Head north on Centre St S toward 8 Ave SW/Stephen Ave SW - 0.4 km 2. Turn right at 5 Ave SE - 0.7 km 3. Continue on Langevin Bridge - 0.2 km 4. Turn right at Memorial Dr NE - 2.3 km 5. Take the HWY-2 S/Deerfoot TR ramp - 0.6 km 6. Merge onto HWY-2 S - 165 km 7. Take the exit onto Crowsnest Hwy E/HWY-2 S/HWY-3 E/Red Coat Trail E toward Lethbridge/Cardston/Fort MacLeod - 5.6 km 8. Turn right at HWY-2 Entering United States (Montana) - 84.4 km 9. Continue on US-89 - 30.6 km 10. Turn right at Going to the Sun Hwy This road may be seasonally closed - 77.3 km 11. Turn left to stay on Going to the Sun Hwy - 3.0 km
Arrive at: West Glacier, MT USA
12. Head southeast on Going to the Sun Hwy toward Glacier Ave - 0.2 km 13. Turn right at US-2 - 30.5 km 14. Turn left to stay on US-2 - 17.8 km 15. Turn right at US-2 W Entering Idaho - 223 km 16. Turn left at US-2/US-95 - 57.5 km 17. Turn right at W Pine St/US-2 Continue to follow US-2 Entering Washington - 46.0 km 18. Turn left at US-2 W/N Washington Ave - 0.7 km 19. Turn right at W 5th St - 0.2 km 20. Continue on W 6th St/US-2 Continue to follow US-2 - 37.8 km 21. Turn right at E Deer Park Milan Rd - 8.4 km 22. Continue on E Crawford Ave - 2.6 km 23. Turn right at US-395 - 77.9 km 24. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto S Main St/US-395 Continue to follow US-395 - 20.8 km 25. Turn left at WA-20 - 64.2 km 26. Turn left at W 6th St/WA-20 Continue to follow WA-20 - 64.4 km 27. Turn left at US-97/S Whitcomb Ave Continue to follow US-97 - 46.0 km 28. Turn right at WA-20 - 0.8 km 29. Turn left to stay on WA-20 - 46.1 km 30. Turn right to stay on WA-20 - 17.2 km
Arrive at: Winthrop, WA USA
31. Head northeast on WA-20 toward Riverside St - 48 m 32. Turn left at Riverside St - 0.7 km 33. Turn left at N Cascades Hwy/WA-20 This road may be seasonally closed - 153 km 34. Slight left at Sauk Valley Rd/WA-530 Continue to follow WA-530 - 74.9 km 35. Turn left at WA-530/WA-9 - 0.2 km 36. Turn right at WA-530 - 6.2 km 37. Turn left to merge onto I-5 S - 69.0 km 38. Take exit 165A toward James St - 0.6 km 39. Merge onto 6th Ave - 0.2 km 40. Turn right at James St - 0.1 km
Arrive at: Seattle, WA USA
This email was sent to you by a user on Google Maps (maps.google.ca)

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by ken0042

^^ OK, by country then. Are you saying that for the sake of $100 you would never choose to visit the US ever again; or if you do risk spending the night in jail because there is a traffic warrant out for you?

It happened to a buddy of mine. He didn't pay his ticket. 3 years later on another trip to Seattle he got pulled over again, and even though he offered to pay for both tickets, was taken to jail overnight to get it sorted out.

I said county, not country. That is a crappy set of circumstances that lead to the night in jail for your buddy. I still wouldn't pay a ticket if I got one.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

i use to think that until i moved down here. It totally depends where you live or where you are travelling

lots of crappy roads; so bad it feels like you are driving on gravel or offroading

as for the OP's question, if getting to Seattle the quickest is all that matters, then going stateside would speed up the trip a bit; however, the drive thru BC is gorgious; the drive thru a long stretch of Washington is the blah, especially around Spokane, and a good 3 or 4 hours west until you hit Ellensberg

i make a trip back to the Okanagan at least once or twice a year, i have no problems missing out on the scenery and the idiots who have to slow down to 60 to view it in all it's splendor

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by McMack

Slow down and smell the roses :--

I remember driving through Winthrop, Washington. I thought I walked into the 1800s - and it was something like 120 degrees outside!