Friday Harbor to Jackpot: Epic Northwest Drive

Starting on San Juan Island, you'll take Washington State Ferry from Friday Harbor to Anacortes—the only car-ferry connection on this route. Then I-5 south to Seattle, I-90 east to Spokane, and I-84/US-93 to Jackpot. The 1,100-mile drive crosses four states and two time zones, ending near the Idaho border where Nevada's gaming town blinks awake.

Temperatures swing from Puget Sound's marine coolness to Idaho's high desert heat; in summer, expect 60s in Washington to 90s in Nevada. The route's beauty peaks with the Columbia River Gorge, but you'll trade lush forests for basalt cliffs and sagebrush steppe.

Drive fatigue is a major risk; plan stops every two hours. Kids will enjoy the OMSI in Portland (detour) or the Canyon County Historical Museum in Nampa. Pets can stretch at the rest areas in Oregon's Malheur County—leashed areas are available.

Highway 95 in Idaho has rumble strips and fresh pavement; watch for deer at dawn/dusk. In Nevada, US-93 is straight and empty—set cruise control to avoid speeding.

For planning rest stops, consider this how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities.

Within a two-hour detour from I-90, visit the Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park near Vantage—a UNESCO World Heritage site nominee with petrified logs. Alternatively, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area offers waterfalls and basalt cliffs. Both showcase the region's volcanic history.

East of Spokane, the Palouse's rolling wheat fields are a photographer's dream. In Nevada, the Jarbidge Wilderness is a hidden gem—accessed via a rough road, but offers pristine alpine lakes. Local commerce thrives on the route: try a Marionberry pie at a family diner in Oregon or Basque cuisine in Boise (short detour).

From Seattle, I-90 is a four-lane highway with plenty of services until Cle Elum, then it narrows. After Spokane, US-95 through Oregon's farmland is two-lane. In Idaho, US-95 becomes a fast four-lane divided highway before reaching the Nevada border. Gas prices rise in small towns—fill up in Spokane and Twin Falls.

I-90's mountain passes (Snoqualmie, Lookout) are well-maintained but can close in winter. US-95 is snowplowed but remote stretches have no cell service. Keep your tank above half and carry emergency supplies.

• No tolls except ferry (pay at terminal).
• Wildfire smoke can reduce visibility in summer.
• All interstates have rest areas every 30-50 miles.