Tour CDA guided Rydables tour along Lake Coeur d'Alene on a sunny day
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Spokane Day Trip Guide

The Perfect Day Trip from Spokane to Coeur d'Alene

35 miles east on I-90. A mountain lake, a walkable downtown, and tours that locals and visitors alike keep coming back for.

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★★★★★ 5.0 | Top Rated on Google & TripAdvisor
35 mifrom Spokane
~30 minon I-90 East
★★★★★ 5.0on Google & TripAdvisor
Start Your Day Right

When you only have one day in CDA, you want to see it the right way. This is the one.

While You're in CDA

After your tour, here is what to do with the rest of your day in Coeur d'Alene. Lake Coeur d'Alene sits at 2,157 feet elevation, spans 25 square miles, and reaches depths of 220 feet -- one of the most beautiful glacial lakes in the Pacific Northwest. The landmarks below are all within walking distance of downtown CDA and the Tour CDA starting point at 1618 East Lakeside Avenue.

Tubbs Hill natural area in Coeur d'Alene Idaho with Tour CDA Rydables animal scooters on the Lake Coeur d'Alene shoreline trail
Free + Scenic
Tubbs Hill

A 150-acre natural peninsula right off downtown CDA. The 2.8-mile loop hugs the lakeshore through old-growth Douglas fir and opens up to views that stop people mid-stride. Completely free, five minutes on foot from Sherman Avenue. Do this before your tour in the morning or after to wind down.

McEuen Park splash pad and waterfront in downtown Coeur d'Alene Idaho on Lake Coeur d'Alene -- family-friendly lakefront park
Waterfront
McEuen Park + City Beach

McEuen Park is the heart of the downtown CDA lakefront -- free parking, a world-class playground and splash pad for kids, a sandy beach, and a boardwalk that runs along the water. Every Tour CDA route passes through here, so you will see it on your tour. Come early to get a parking spot, explore before or after your experience, and stay as long as you want.

Local dining on Sherman Avenue in downtown Coeur d'Alene Idaho
Downtown
Sherman Avenue

CDA's main street -- local restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, and breweries, all walkable. Grab lunch here after your Rydables tour. The Taste of CDA Food Tour covers Sherman Ave by Segway with restaurant stops built in if you want the full experience. No chains, no franchise row. Budget 30-60 minutes to wander, longer if you eat.

Museum of North Idaho in downtown Coeur d'Alene Idaho -- Tour CDA Segway tour passing the historic museum on Northwest Blvd
History
Museum of North Idaho

The Moni sits at 115 Northwest Blvd -- two blocks from McEuen Park. Inside you will find exhibits on the Schitsu'umsh tribe, the steamboat era on Lake Coeur d'Alene, silver mining history in the Coeur d'Alene mountains, and the railroad that built North Idaho. Small admission fee. Plan 45-60 minutes. One of the most underrated stops in downtown CDA.

Plan Your Drive from Spokane

Everything you need to know before you leave the driveway.

Getting There

Take I-90 East from Spokane toward Coeur d'Alene. The drive is about 35 miles and takes 30 to 35 minutes depending on traffic. Exit at Exit 11 (Northwest Blvd) for downtown and McEuen Park, or Exit 12 (4th St) for Sherman Avenue. Get directions on Google Maps

Parking

McEuen Park has free lakefront parking and is an easy walk to the tour meeting point and downtown. There are also parking garages on Sherman Avenue for a small hourly fee. Come early on weekends -- spots fill up by mid-morning.

Best Time to Arrive

Aim to arrive by 10 AM to get the most out of a full day. You will want time before and after your tour for the lake, Tubbs Hill, and lunch. Weekends fill up fast -- book your tour in advance.

Half Day vs. Full Day

A half day (4-5 hours) gets you the tour plus lunch on Sherman Ave. A full day (7-8 hours) adds Tubbs Hill, McEuen Park, a lakefront walk, and a proper sit-down dinner before the drive home. Both are worth it. Full day is better.

Spokane to CDA Day Trip Itinerary

35 miles east on I-90 and you are in a completely different world. Here is how to make the most of a single day in Coeur d'Alene -- from when you leave Spokane to when you turn the car back around.

8:00 AM

Leave Spokane

Head east on I-90. The drive is 35 miles and takes about 30 minutes. Exit at Exit 11 (Northwest Blvd) for McEuen Park and the lakefront, or Exit 12 (4th St) for Sherman Avenue. No traffic this time of morning -- smooth shot.

8:30 AM

Arrive -- Park at McEuen Park

Free lakefront parking right on Lake Coeur d'Alene. Arrive early on weekends -- spots fill by mid-morning. Walk the boardwalk while you get your bearings. The Coeur d'Alene Resort and city pier are visible from here on clear mornings.

9:30 AM

Tour CDA -- Rydables or Explore CDA Segway Tour

Tour CDA is located at 1618 E. Lakeside Ave. in Coeur d'Alene -- tucked directly behind "Jimmys Down the Street" on Sherman Avenue. If you book one of their tours, Tour CDA has their own parking lot and street parking available for you. Every route takes you along one of the most beautiful glacial lakes in the Pacific Northwest, surrounded by mountains on every side. The Rydables Discover CDA tour (90 min, $79 adults / $39 kids) is the best first-time option. The Explore CDA Segway Tour (2 hrs, $79 adults / $59 kids) goes deeper into history. Book ahead -- weekends fill fast. Click here to book now!

12:00 PM

Lunch on Sherman Avenue

CDA's main street is a three-minute walk from McEuen Park. Local restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops -- no chains. Plenty of options at every price point. If you want food built into your tour, book the Taste of CDA Food Tour ($159, 3.5 hrs) instead -- it covers Sherman Avenue by Segway with restaurant stops included.

1:30 PM

Hike Tubbs Hill

Five minutes on foot from downtown. The Tubbs Hill 2.8-mile loop hugs the Lake Coeur d'Alene shoreline through old-growth Douglas fir and opens to views that stop people mid-stride. Completely free. No cars, no crowds -- just the lake and the trees. Give yourself 90 minutes at a comfortable pace.

3:00 PM

Museum of North Idaho

The Moni is at 115 Northwest Blvd, two blocks from McEuen Park. Small admission, 45-60 minutes well spent. Exhibits cover the Schitsu'umsh tribe, the steamboat era on Lake Coeur d'Alene, silver mining in the Coeur d'Alene mountains, and the railroad history that built North Idaho. One of the most underrated stops in downtown CDA.

4:30 PM

City Beach + Lakefront Walk

Walk back to the lakefront. City Beach has a sandy swimming area right off McEuen Park. The boardwalk runs along the water toward the Coeur d'Alene Resort and the floating green -- the world's only floating golf hole. Sit down, take it in. This is why people drive out from Spokane.

7:00 PM

Optional: Twilight Rydables Tour + Drive Home

If you want to end the day properly, Tour CDA's Twilight Rydables Tour runs at golden hour. The lake lights up, the resort glows, and the photos look like they were edited. Then head back west on I-90 -- 35 miles to Spokane, 30 minutes, and a very good day behind you.

Book Your CDA Tour Before You Leave Spokane

Five-star rated on Google and TripAdvisor. All tours depart from the lakefront at 1618 East Lakeside Avenue.

Rydables Discover CDA Tour -- group riding four-wheeled animal scooters along the Lake Coeur d'Alene waterfront in downtown Coeur d'Alene Idaho on a sunny day #1 Most Popular 90 Min
Animal Scooter Tour

Rydables Discover Coeur d'Alene

$79 Adults  /  $39 Kids

Giant stuffed-animal electric scooters, real CDA history, and a gorgeous ride through one of the most beautiful cities in the Northwest. The lake, the mountain air, the flowers -- and strangers photographing you at every corner. Ninety minutes of ridiculousness. People book it again.

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Rydables Twilight Tour -- group on animal scooters riding along the Lake Coeur d'Alene waterfront at golden hour in Coeur d'Alene Idaho with mountains in the background Glow Time 90 Min
Animal Scooter Tour

Rydables Twilight Tour

$79 Adults  /  $39 Kids

Same Rydables, same ridiculous fun -- this time at golden hour. The lake lights up, the downtown glows, and the photos you take will not look real. Book it when you want the magic version.

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Explore Coeur d'Alene Segway Tour -- guided group on Segways riding through historic downtown Coeur d'Alene Idaho with Lake Coeur d'Alene and Northern Idaho mountains visible Local History Tour 2 Hrs
Segway Tour

Explore Coeur d'Alene Segway Tour

$79 Adults  /  $59 Kids

Segways -- not animal scooters. This is the deeper history version of CDA. A local guide takes you on a 2-hour glide through historic neighborhoods, the lakefront, and key landmarks -- with the mountains and the lake as your backdrop the entire way. A different pace and feel from Rydables, focused on the real stories behind the city.

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Taste of Coeur d'Alene Food Tour -- guided Segway food tour through downtown Coeur d'Alene Idaho stopping at local restaurants along the lakefront Foodie Favorite 3.5 Hrs
Food + History Tour

Taste of Coeur d'Alene Food Tour

$159

Segway tour meets Coeur d'Alene's best local spots -- winding through a stunning downtown between every stop. Eight guests max, food tastings built in, stories the whole way. The city you're riding through is just as good as the food.

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Tour CDA E-Bike rental in Coeur d'Alene Idaho -- self-guided ride along the Centennial Trail beside Lake Coeur d'Alene with Northern Idaho mountain views Explore Your Way 4 Hrs
E-Bike Rental

E-Bike Rental
Explore on Your Own

$55

No guide, no group, no schedule. Grab a bike, take the Centennial Trail map, and go wherever the lake takes you. Four hours of pure freedom along one of the most scenic rides in the Northwest.

Book a Rydables or Segway tour and receive a discount on E-Bike rentals.

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Spokane to CDA -- Common Questions
About 35 miles east on I-90, which takes roughly 30 to 35 minutes. It is one of the easiest day trips from Spokane -- highway the whole way, no mountain passes, no complicated driving.
Yes. CDA is a completely different vibe from Spokane -- a mountain lake, a walkable downtown, guided tours, good food, and outdoor access all in one place. Most people who make the trip say they wished they had gone sooner and stayed longer.
Start with a Tour CDA Rydables tour -- it covers the highlights of downtown in a way you would not find on your own. Then walk Tubbs Hill for the lake views, grab lunch on Sherman Avenue, and finish with a lakefront stroll at McEuen Park. That is a full, great day.
Tour CDA runs five distinct experiences: Rydables Discover CDA (four-wheeled motorized animal scooters, 90 min, $79/$39), Explore CDA Segway Tour (2 hrs, $79/$59), Twilight Rydables (golden hour Rydables route, 90 min, $79/$39), Taste of CDA Food Tour (3.5 hrs, $159, max 8 guests), and E-Bike Rental (self-guided, 4 hrs, $55). Every experience gives you the lake and mountains. Book in advance on weekends.
CDA is worth a day trip any time you can make it happen. The drive is 35 miles on I-90, about 30 minutes from Spokane. Weekends are the busiest, so book your tour in advance if you are going on a Saturday or Sunday. Arrive by 10 AM to get the most out of a full day -- parking at McEuen Park fills early on busy days.
McEuen Park on the lakefront has free parking and is walking distance from the tour meeting point and downtown. Sherman Avenue has parking garages with hourly rates. Arrive by 10 AM on weekends to get a spot without stress.
Tubbs Hill is a 150-acre natural peninsula right off downtown Coeur d'Alene with a 2.8-mile loop trail that hugs the Lake Coeur d'Alene shoreline. The trail winds through old-growth Douglas fir and opens to views that stop people mid-stride. It is completely free and five minutes on foot from Sherman Avenue -- one of the best free things to do in CDA on a day trip.
The Museum of North Idaho -- known locally as The Moni -- is at 115 Northwest Blvd in downtown Coeur d'Alene, two blocks from McEuen Park. Exhibits cover the Schitsu'umsh tribe, the steamboat era on Lake Coeur d'Alene, silver mining in the Coeur d'Alene mountains, and the railroad history of North Idaho. Small admission fee. Worth 45-60 minutes -- one of the most underrated stops in downtown CDA.
Yes -- CDA is one of the best family day trips from Spokane. McEuen Park has a world-class playground and splash pad right on the lake. Tour CDA Rydables tours are family-friendly at $39 per kid. City Beach has a sandy swimming area. The Centennial Trail is paved and great for strollers and bikes. There is genuinely something for every age group.
The Centennial Trail is a 37-mile paved multi-use path that runs from Coeur d'Alene to Spokane through some of the most scenic terrain in the Inland Northwest. The CDA section hugs the lake and connects to Higgins Point and beyond. Tour CDA E-Bike Rental ($55, 4 hrs) is the best way to explore it -- no guide, just open trail, a map, and as much lake as you can handle.
Yes. Tour CDA offers private tours for bachelorette parties, corporate team building outings, birthday groups, family reunions, and special events. Private tours are by phone only -- call (208) 550-3939 and we will work out the details for your group. Online booking is not available for private tours.

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