Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 46–72°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Mostly cloudy56°F Snoqualmie Pass7:45 AM PDT Partly sunny46°F Ellensburg8:45 AM PDT Partly sunny49°F Moses Lake9:45 AM PDT Partly sunny56°F Spokane11:15 AM PDT Partly sunny63°F Washington–Idaho line11:30 AM PDT Partly sunny64°F Fourth of July Pass12 PM PDT Partly sunny67°F Lookout Pass12:45 PM PDT Mostly cloudy62°F Missoula3:15 PM MDT Partly sunny72°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 48–77°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Partly sunny53°F Snoqualmie Pass7:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny48°F Ellensburg8:45 AM PDT Sunny50°F Moses Lake9:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny55°F Spokane11:15 AM PDT Sunny64°F Washington–Idaho line11:30 AM PDT Sunny66°F Fourth of July Pass12 PM PDT Sunny72°F Lookout Pass12:45 PM PDT Sunny70°F Missoula3:15 PM MDT Sunny77°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 48–80°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Partly sunny54°F Snoqualmie Pass7:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny48°F Ellensburg8:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny53°F Moses Lake9:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny56°F Spokane11:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny67°F Washington–Idaho line11:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny68°F Fourth of July Pass12 PM PDT Mostly sunny71°F Lookout Pass12:45 PM PDT Mostly sunny68°F Missoula3:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny80°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 43–74°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Mostly cloudy55°F Snoqualmie Pass7:45 AM PDT Partly sunny43°F Ellensburg8:45 AM PDT Partly sunny50°F Moses Lake9:45 AM PDT Partly sunny56°F Spokane11:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny66°F Washington–Idaho line11:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny66°F Fourth of July Pass12 PM PDT Mostly sunny67°F Lookout Pass12:45 PM PDT Mostly sunny63°F Missoula3:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny74°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 44–74°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Mostly cloudy53°F Snoqualmie Pass7:45 AM PDT Partly sunny44°F Ellensburg8:45 AM PDT Partly sunny50°F Moses Lake9:45 AM PDT Partly sunny55°F Spokane11:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny65°F Washington–Idaho line11:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny66°F Fourth of July Pass12 PM PDT Mostly sunny68°F Lookout Pass12:45 PM PDT Mostly sunny64°F Missoula3:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny74°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 47–74°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Partly sunny53°F Snoqualmie Pass7:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny47°F Ellensburg8:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny52°F Moses Lake9:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny57°F Spokane11:15 AM PDT Sunny66°F Washington–Idaho line11:30 AM PDT Sunny67°F Fourth of July Pass12 PM PDT Sunny69°F Lookout Pass12:45 PM PDT Sunny65°F Missoula3:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny74°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 44–69°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Slight chance of light rain53°F Snoqualmie Pass7:45 AM PDT Slight chance of light rain44°F Ellensburg8:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny51°F Moses Lake9:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny57°F Spokane11:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny65°F Washington–Idaho line11:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny65°F Fourth of July Pass12 PM PDT Mostly sunny66°F Lookout Pass12:45 PM PDT Mostly sunny62°F Missoula3:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny69°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 Seattle (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Seattle, WAStart 134 ftelevation
- Snoqualmie Pass, WAMountain pass · Mile 51 · 50 min 3,022 ftelevation
- Ellensburg, WAMile 107 · 1 h 42 min 1,544 ftelevation
- Moses Lake, WAMile 177 · 2 h 44 min 1,068 ftelevation
- Spokane, WAMile 279 · 4 h 17 min 1,885 ftelevation
- Washington–Idaho lineState line · Mile 298 · 4 h 36 min 2,080 ftelevation
- Fourth of July Pass, IDMountain pass · Mile 326 · 5 h 3 min 3,081 ftelevation
- Lookout Pass, IDMountain pass · Mile 371 · 5 h 47 min 4,711 ftelevation
- Missoula, MTMile 476 · 7 h 15 min 3,198 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Seattle, Lookout Pass and Missoula.
| Month | Seattle Sea-Tac Airport station · 370 ft | Lookout Pass Mullan Pass station · 6,028 ft | Missoula 3,192 ft | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 48° / 38° | 0.4 | 28° / 19° | 32° / 18° | 3.3 |
| Feb | 50° / 38° | 0.7 | 28° / 19° | 37° / 21° | 2.8 |
| Mar | 54° / 40° | 0.1 | 34° / 22° | 48° / 27° | 1.7 |
| Apr | 59° / 43° | 0 | 40° / 27° | 56° / 32° | 0.5 |
| May | 66° / 49° | 0 | 50° / 36° | 66° / 40° | 0.1 |
| Jun | 71° / 53° | 0 | 58° / 42° | 73° / 46° | 0 |
| Jul | 77° / 57° | 0 | 70° / 52° | 85° / 52° | 0 |
| Aug | 78° / 57° | 0 | 69° / 51° | 84° / 50° | 0 |
| Sep | 72° / 54° | 0 | 59° / 44° | 73° / 42° | 0 |
| Oct | 61° / 47° | 0 | 44° / 32° | 56° / 32° | 0.2 |
| Nov | 52° / 41° | 0.1 | 32° / 24° | 40° / 25° | 1.9 |
| Dec | 47° / 37° | 0.6 | 27° / 18° | 31° / 18° | 3.3 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: SEATTLE TACOMA INTL AP (USW00024233, 370 ft); MULLAN PASS VOR/DME (USW00024154, 6,028 ft); MISSOULA INTL AP (USW00024153, 3,192 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 Washington, Idaho and Montana rather than repeat them.
- For this passWSDOT Snoqualmie Pass report: cameras, restrictions, conditions
- Washington · WSDOTReal-time travel map
- Washington · winter rulesMountain pass reports and traction rules
- Idaho · ITD511 Idaho road conditions
- Montana · MDT511MT road conditions
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 Seattle to Missoula 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 Seattle to Missoula?
476 miles, about 7½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-90. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Lookout Pass, at 4,711 ft. It comes at mile 371, about 5 h 47 min of driving after you leave Seattle.
How cold is Lookout Pass in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Mullan Pass (6,028 ft), averages a high of 28°F and a low of 19°F in January (1991–2020 normals).
How cold is Missoula in January?
Missoula averages a high of 32°F and a low of 18°F in January (1991–2020 normals).