US-195 is a piece of cake from Spokane to Pullman. Be advised of the "Lewiston Grade" if you keep going south of Pullman into Lewiston, ID. It is much improved since I was a WSU student eons ago, but it's still a steep climb into and out of Lewiston/Clarkston.
2003 Ford 150 Supercrew, 4x4, 5.4L, 3.73 rear 2005 27' Trail Bay with pop-out
I mis-read your route. You're asking about US-95 on the Idaho side from Coeur d' Alene south to Moscow. It's a good rode too. I think it's more scenic than US-195 on the Washington side. Either route: what I said about the "Lewiston Grade" still stands.
Man, I should read your info better before I start typing.
You also asked about WA-27.
As a Cougar I love the Palouse Hills. WA-27 is a slow, meandering 2 lane road through the Palouse wheat fields passing through all the little towns on the way to Pullman from Spokane. If you've got the time it's well worth it. A day on the backroads in the Palouse is to go back in time. If you're staying in Moscow/Pullman this route is wonderful exploratory day trip.
South from the Pullman area you drop down to the Snake River at Lewiston. From there US95 gradually climbs back up to plateau level (Grangeville), then drops down the White Bird grade to the Salmon River. Then it follows that river and tributary, climbing back up to New Meadows. Here your choice is to stay on US95, or turn east to McCall and take ID55 south to Boise. The McCall area is a major vacation spot for Boise people. That's both a plus and minus; more camping options, but also heavier traffic, especially on the weekends.
I84 is the obvious way from there on to SLC.
So US95 is good highway, the only one that connects the north and south halves of Idaho, but due to the rivers, does have a couple of significant grades.
* This post was
edited 07/12/12 04:54pm by paulj *
Jamesu, I've got two family members who are about to become WSU students at Pullman. Hence the need to travel out there, to help them move from UND.
Google Earth kind of picked these roads out for me, suggesting I cut off from US 95 and head west towards Palouse and take WA 27 the rest of the way to Pullman.
Would it actually be a better route to stay on US 95 to Moscow, then just go west the few miles left to Pullman, instead of using the Palouse route???
The Mad Norsky wrote: Would it actually be a better route to stay on US 95 to Moscow, then just go west the few miles left to Pullman, instead of using the Palouse route???
South on US 95 to Moscow is a good 2 lane road as is the road from Moscow to Pullman. US 195 from Spokane is also a good two lane road to Pullman. SR 27 is a s-l-o-w meandering farm to farm road that I would not recommend.
I hope the students enjoy being a Coug as much as I have.
