Next 7 departures
- TueOct 13
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 40–51°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Portland7 AM PDT Partly sunny44°F The Dalles8:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny40°F Arlington9:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny44°F Oregon–Washington line10 AM PDT Mostly sunny47°F Kennewick10:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny50°F Ritzville11:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny50°F I-90 near Medical Lake12:15 PM PDT Sunny50°F Spokane12:30 PM PDT Mostly sunny51°F - WedOct 14
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 43–55°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Portland7 AM PDT Partly sunny48°F The Dalles8:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny43°F Arlington9:15 AM PDT Partly sunny48°F Oregon–Washington line10 AM PDT Partly sunny51°F Kennewick10:30 AM PDT Partly sunny52°F Ritzville11:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny54°F I-90 near Medical Lake12:15 PM PDT Mostly sunny55°F Spokane12:30 PM PDT Mostly sunny55°F - ThuOct 15
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 47–58°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Portland7 AM PDT Mostly sunny51°F The Dalles8:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny47°F Arlington9:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny51°F Oregon–Washington line10 AM PDT Mostly sunny54°F Kennewick10:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny54°F Ritzville11:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny58°F I-90 near Medical Lake12:15 PM PDT Sunny57°F Spokane12:30 PM PDT Sunny58°F - FriOct 16
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 45–62°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Portland7 AM PDT Mostly sunny54°F The Dalles8:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny45°F Arlington9:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny51°F Oregon–Washington line10 AM PDT Mostly sunny54°F Kennewick10:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny54°F Ritzville11:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny61°F I-90 near Medical Lake12:15 PM PDT Mostly sunny61°F Spokane12:30 PM PDT Sunny62°F - SatOct 17
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 48–63°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Portland7 AM PDT Slight chance of light rain53°F The Dalles8:30 AM PDT Partly sunny48°F Arlington9:15 AM PDT Partly sunny53°F Oregon–Washington line10 AM PDT Partly sunny57°F Kennewick10:30 AM PDT Partly sunny57°F Ritzville11:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny60°F I-90 near Medical Lake12:15 PM PDT Mostly sunny61°F Spokane12:30 PM PDT Mostly sunny63°F - SunOct 18
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 43–55°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Portland7 AM PDT Patchy fog50°F The Dalles8:30 AM PDT Partly sunny43°F Arlington9:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny49°F Oregon–Washington line10 AM PDT Partly sunny51°F Kennewick10:30 AM PDT Partly sunny52°F Ritzville11:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny54°F I-90 near Medical Lake12:15 PM PDT Mostly sunny53°F Spokane12:30 PM PDT Mostly sunny55°F - MonOct 19
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 49–55°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Portland7 AM PDT Chance of light rain50°F The Dalles8:30 AM PDT Chance of light rain showers49°F Arlington9:15 AM PDT Chance of light rain showers52°F Oregon–Washington line10 AM PDT Slight chance of light rain showers53°F Kennewick10:30 AM PDT Slight chance of light rain showers55°F Ritzville11:45 AM PDT Slight chance of light rain showers52°F I-90 near Medical Lake12:15 PM PDT Chance of light rain showers49°F Spokane12:30 PM PDT Chance of light rain showers50°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Portland (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Portland, ORStart 34 ftelevation
- The Dalles, ORMile 83 · 1 h 24 min 105 ftelevation
- Arlington, ORMile 136 · 2 h 12 min 286 ftelevation
- Oregon–Washington lineState line · Mile 183 · 3 h 267 ftelevation
- Kennewick, WAMile 208 · 3 h 25 min 376 ftelevation
- Ritzville, WAMile 287 · 4 h 38 min 1,814 ftelevation
- I-90 near Medical Lake, WAMile 334 · 5 h 20 min 2,461 ftelevation
- Spokane, WAMile 346 · 5 h 34 min 1,885 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Portland, I-90 near Medical Lake and Spokane.
| Month | Portland 19 ft | I-90 near Medical Lake Spokane station · 2,353 ft | Spokane 2,353 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 48° / 36° | 0.6 | 35° / 25° | 4.0 | 35° / 25° | 4.0 |
| Feb | 52° / 37° | 0.3 | 40° / 26° | 2.7 | 40° / 26° | 2.7 |
| Mar | 57° / 40° | 0 | 49° / 32° | 1.2 | 49° / 32° | 1.2 |
| Apr | 62° / 44° | 0 | 57° / 37° | 0.3 | 57° / 37° | 0.3 |
| May | 69° / 49° | 0 | 67° / 45° | 0 | 67° / 45° | 0 |
| Jun | 74° / 54° | 0 | 74° / 51° | 0 | 74° / 51° | 0 |
| Jul | 82° / 59° | 0 | 84° / 58° | 0 | 84° / 58° | 0 |
| Aug | 82° / 59° | 0 | 84° / 57° | 0 | 84° / 57° | 0 |
| Sep | 77° / 54° | 0 | 74° / 49° | 0.1 | 74° / 49° | 0.1 |
| Oct | 64° / 47° | 0 | 58° / 38° | 0.1 | 58° / 38° | 0.1 |
| Nov | 54° / 41° | 0 | 42° / 30° | 2.1 | 42° / 30° | 2.1 |
| Dec | 47° / 36° | 0.5 | 34° / 24° | 4.5 | 34° / 24° | 4.5 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: PORTLAND INTL AP (USW00024229, 19 ft); SPOKANE INTL AP (USW00024157, 2,353 ft); SPOKANE INTL AP (USW00024157, 2,353 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Oregon and Washington rather than repeat them.
- Oregon · ODOTTripCheck road conditions
- Oregon · winter rulesChain laws
- Washington · WSDOTReal-time travel map
- Washington · winter rulesMountain pass reports and traction rules
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Portland to Spokane with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Portland to Spokane?
346 miles, about 5½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-84 and US-395. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
On I-90 near Medical Lake, at 2,461 ft. It comes at mile 334, about 5 h 20 min of driving after you leave Portland.
Does it snow on I-90 near Medical Lake in November?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Spokane (2,353 ft), averages 6.2 inches of snow in November, with about 2 days of 1 inch or more (1991–2020 normals).
How cold is Spokane in January?
Spokane averages a high of 35°F and a low of 25°F in January (1991–2020 normals).