Getting Around Spokane
Spokane is the largest city in eastern Washington and the economic and cultural hub of the Inland Northwest. For a visitor, the good news is that the core of the city is compact and walkable, and a single public transit agency ties most of the region together. The practical caveat is that this is a bus-based city: there is no metro, light rail, or tram network to rely on, so your choices come down to walking, buses, bikes, cars, and ride-hailing.
Public Transit: Spokane Transit Authority (STA)
Public transportation in Spokane is operated by the Spokane Transit Authority (STA). The network is bus-only, with no rail or light rail component. STA runs fixed-route buses, an accessible paratransit service, an on-demand service called STA Link, and the City Line bus rapid transit (BRT) route.
- City Line: An electric bus rapid transit route that runs very frequently and serves the UW and WSU Spokane campuses, which sit adjacent to downtown. It features off-board fare payment at major stops, transit-priority signals in places, and modern vehicles.
- STA Plaza: The central transit hub downtown, where many routes converge and where you will often transfer.
- Coverage: Service is strongest in the central areas near downtown and along the main arterials. Routes reach west to Fairchild AFB, Medical Lake, and Cheney; east to Liberty Lake; north to Wandermere and Mead; and south toward 37th Avenue and the Moran Park and Ride.
- Fares and passes: A single ride is $2, capped at $4 per day and $60 per month. STA offers 2-hour and all-day passes, and you must ask the driver for a pass before putting your fare in the fare box. Fares can be purchased online and delivered by mail, and the OneRide app provides mobile fares and real-time tracking. Reduced fares are available for youth, seniors, and low-income riders, and there are student and employer pass programs.
- Practical tools: The See Say app lets riders discreetly report safety concerns, and service alerts, snow detours, and service changes are communicated through sign-up notifications.
Two things are worth planning around. First, off-peak frequency is low: many non-core routes run hourly or less, especially in the evenings and on Sundays, and weekend schedules differ from weekdays. Second, cross-town travel is awkward. Many trips across the city require riding into downtown to transfer, which lengthens suburb-to-suburb and reverse-commute journeys. If your plans are concentrated downtown or along a core corridor such as Division or Sprague, transit works well; if you are trying to connect outlying areas, allow extra time or consider other options.
Walking
Downtown Spokane is compact and close to major hotels and attractions, which makes walking a genuinely practical way to cover the center. Neighborhoods just outside downtown, such as Browne's Addition, are walkable and sit on the City Line route, putting a museum, restaurants, cafes, and a music venue within easy reach on foot. Outside these central districts, the city spreads out and walking becomes less realistic as a primary mode.
Biking
Spokane has rapidly developed its bicycling infrastructure, adding both protected and unprotected bike lanes, traffic-separated trails and paths, and bike parking areas downtown and in major commercial districts. As a result, biking is a convenient and desirable way to get around. From April to October, when the weather is most reliably bicyclist-friendly, it is common to see bicycle commuters heading downtown or to districts like South Perry and Garland. The Centennial Trail runs along the Spokane River and is a useful spine for recreational and practical riding. One caveat for transit users: sidewalks and bike infrastructure near bus stops are inconsistent, and secure bike parking at transit centers is limited.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis and ride-hailing are straightforward options, particularly for trips that transit handles poorly, such as cross-town journeys or late-night travel. As a benchmark, a taxi from Spokane International Airport to downtown runs $25 or more plus a 15% tip. Rental cars are also widely available, mainly near the airport, with all the major companies represented.
Driving
If you are driving, Interstate 90 is an excellent way to cross town east-west. A north-south freeway is under construction and will not be finished for years, so allow more time for long north-south trips, as there is no express route yet. A few local quirks are worth knowing: Spokane has many uncontrolled intersections in older residential neighborhoods, so watch for cross traffic and yield as necessary. On the northwest side of the city, Maple Street (northbound) and Ash Street (southbound) are one-way thoroughfares, and you should be extra careful where Northwest Boulevard intersects Ash and Maple at a 45-degree angle. Check with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for current driving conditions.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Spokane International Airport (GEG, also known as Geiger Field) is located west of Downtown Spokane, reached from I-90 at Exit #277B along US Highway 2 toward Airway Heights. The airport is served by Alaska/Horizon, Allegiant, American, Delta/Delta Connection, Southwest, and United/United Express, with connections to a range of U.S. cities. There are no non-stop flights to Spokane from outside the United States; most international connections are made in Atlanta, Seattle (most common), Minneapolis, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, or Chicago, depending on the airline.
To get from the airport to downtown, you have two main options:
- Taxi: A taxi from the airport to downtown will cost $25 or more plus a 15% tip.
- STA bus #60: Costs $2.00 one way, or $4.00 for a day pass if you need to transfer buses, and takes about 25 minutes to reach downtown at the Plaza at West Sprague and Wall Street. The stops are outside the police office and conference center at Concourse C, and at the arrivals concourse past Concourse A at the opposite end of the main terminal building.
Long-distance buses also serve the airport, including the Travel Washington Gold Line (operated by Bellaire Charters), which runs between Spokane, Colville, and Kettle Falls along US 395 and stops at the airport, STA Plaza, the Intermodal Station, and the Hastings Road Park and Ride in north Spokane. Wheatland Express also runs from the airport down to Colfax, Pullman, and Moscow, Idaho.
Trains and Long-Distance Buses
Spokane's train and long-distance bus services share the Spokane Intermodal Center downtown, close to major hotels and attractions. Amtrak's Empire Builder operates daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago, with stops including Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as a combined train between Spokane and Chicago. Greyhound, Flixbus, Jefferson Lines, Northwestern Stage Lines, and Amtrak Thruway services also use the Intermodal Station, connecting Spokane with destinations across the region, including Seattle, Portland, Coeur d'Alene, Missoula, and the Palouse.
Putting It Together
For a visitor staying downtown, the most efficient approach is usually to walk the core, use the City Line for frequent hops to the university district and nearby neighborhoods, and fall back on taxis or ride-hailing for cross-town trips and late nights. Buy fares through the OneRide app or ask the driver for a pass before paying, and check service alerts in advance, since evening and Sunday frequencies drop sharply. From the airport, the #60 bus is the budget option and a taxi is the simple one. If you plan to explore beyond the city, a rental car opens up the region in a way the bus network, with its downtown-centric transfers, does not.