Riverfront Rent a CarGuides / Winter driving
Winter driving in Spokane
Spokane winters are manageable if the car is right. Ours are maintained for it: all-weather or winter-rated tires, working heaters, and a scraper in every vehicle from November.
Which cars handle snow
The all-wheel-drive crossovers — the RAV4s, the CR-V, the Sorento and the Model Y — are the sensible choice. The Wrangler Unlimited in four-wheel drive will go further than anything else in the fleet if the road turns to slush or gravel. The Camry and the Bolt are fine around town on plowed streets, but we would not send them over a pass in a storm.
The passes
Fourth of July Pass on I-90 east of Coeur d'Alene and Lookout Pass on the Montana line both close or require chains in serious weather. Check the state road conditions before you leave, and give yourself an extra hour rather than a reason to hurry.
Ski weekends
Schweitzer, Mount Spokane and Silver Mountain are all reachable from the airport. Tell us you are skiing and we will make sure the car has the right tires and a scraper. Roof racks are available on several vehicles — ask when you book.
Practical habits
Clear the whole car, not just the windshield. Leave extra following distance — Spokane drivers are generally good about it in snow. And if the car does something unexpected, call us rather than driving on; a swap is cheaper than a tow.