Flying from Detroit to Kelowna costs a small fortune right now. Flights into Vancouver or Seattle are not a whole lot cheaper. Flights from DTW to Spokane on the other hand are reasonable, but then there is the 228 mile drive to Penticton. Has anyone made this drive before?
I did the drive last year. Even though it is a shorter drive then from Seattle, it took about the same time. A lot of it is on 2 lane highway so easy to get stuck behind slower traffic. Also got stuck in a long line at the border going, breezed through on the way home though. THe nice thing is that on the drive, you can drive most of the bike course if you want to add a bit to the drive.
I’ve done it annually for the past 5 years and will do it again this year. Its a fairly scenic ride and the roads are pretty good with mostly light traffic … not a big deal. I think a fair number of IMCers from the US take that route. I ship my bike via Tribike transport so that makes it easier as well. I’ve got my Garmin set up, so I just turn it on after I get my rental SUV and mindlessly follow its directions from Spokane airport to my motel in Penticton. Makes it all simple … be sure you have your passport.
Good luck 
Dave
Thanks so much. What’s the approximate drive time?
Its about 4 hours … maybe a little less if your foots a little heavy like mine. Much of it is pretty open road with a few slowdowns around the cities (all are small). One word of caution … there are about 3 small towns on the US side where you get the immediate slow downs to 25 mph for about half a mile as you pass through them and are well known speed traps and money generators in fines for their local economies. Just beware when you see the quick speed zone changes that theres probably a radar pointed at you nearby (no… they’ve never even come close to catching me!). Sometimes the lines at the border crossing get a little long, but usually you move fairly quick when your turn comes if you have your passport ready,take off your sunglasses and immediately volunteer that you’re on your way to IMC.
Dave
Its about 4 hours … maybe a little less if your foots a little heavy like mine. Much of it is pretty open road with a few slowdowns around the cities (all are small). One word of caution … there are about 3 small towns on the US side where you get the immediate slow downs to 25 mph for about half a mile as you pass through them and are well known speed traps and money generators in fines for their local economies. Just beware when you see the quick speed zone changes that theres probably a radar pointed at you nearby (no… they’ve never even come close to catching me!). Sometimes the lines at the border crossing get a little long, but usually you move fairly quick when your turn comes if you have your passport ready,take off your sunglasses and immediately volunteer that you’re on your way to IMC.
Dave
I’ll second all of this. I found it to be an easier drive than coming up from Seattle (have done one trip up to IMC via Seattle, one via Spokane). We did get caught by one of the speed traps…about an hour out of Spokane, so watch your foot on the accelerator.
The Seattle drive was a little more scenic, though.
If you go in/out of Spokane, you can make a side trip over to CDA and catch a recovery swim in the lake there. and some Huckleberry Ale at the brewpub. A few good restaurants in Spokane, too.
I wil be driving from Florida to IMC yup
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I wil be driving from Florida to IMC yup
If that is not a joke, what are going to drive there? If you have spare room, would you consider taking an extra bike? (I’m willing to pay, since TriBikeTransport is not available from FL) .
Thanks!
Very very very scenic. Did it last year and will likely do it again for Oliver and Kelowna/IMC.
Want pics?
Well, If you can use miles I do recommend the flight into Kelowna mainly because relaxing is a good thing to do before an IM. I used tri bike transport lastyear and flew from Chicago to Los Angeles to Seattle to Kelowna - - yes, a very long travel day but since I used miles it was absolutely FREE (or, I paid for it by flying so much in the past). Another reason this is a good option if you can do it is if you fly American, the partner airline is Alaska Air - - and they serve complimentary beer and wine! Not to mention that I could have checked two bags in Chicago for free since it was considered and international flight (but who knows what baggage fees will be in 5 months). Also, the drive from Kelowna to Penticton and back is very scenic and not terribly long provided they are done with blasting away the side of one of the mountains along the highway - - I was running late due to road closures on the one highway that connects the two cities. I literally arrived at the airport 10 minutes before my departure (which was on time), parked the rental, ran in the door and handed the agency rep my keys, got my boarding pass, sailed through security, and made my flight. You would be hard pressed to do stuff like that at a bigger airport.
Just a warning though: IF you were to go this route and you were to happen to buy a bottle of wine past security in the Kelowna airport (make sure you plan to visit several wineries in the day or two after the race as I did), be sure to put it in your checked baggage when you get reunited with it in Customs in Seattle. If you don’t put it with your checked baggage, the TSA agent may threaten to confiscate it but then he may relent when you inform him that you will drink the entire thing in front of him. I think he relented because I’m kinda cute…you might not be so lucky
I would prefer flying into Kelowna via Seattle. This was my route when I did IMC both in 2002 & 2004 and have enjoyed the free beer and wine flying into Kelowna. It just has become really expensive these days.
“Want pics? :)”
Yes if you don’t mind posting pics. Thanks!
Well I am driving toi Vancouver at end of July and stoping along the way in Colorado, oregon etc. I will be in Vancouver till Aug 10th and then flying home for two weeks while leaving my van there. I will fly back and drive to penticton. So you would be with out you’re bike for to long. I plan on sending mine back with me via REI, 60 bucks for members.
what’s this REI thing for bike transport you mention?
I have used them in the past to ship my bike home, 60 bucks they box and ship it for you. if you are a member. Or you can send it DHL in you’re hard case for around 80 or so I believe. I sometimes leave my van places and retrive it later and send my bikes, bike home instead of flying with it.
I missed pics going over the high points on Hwy 155 in WA. It was really nice up there.
Pics here… i thought i had more. The memories were good
Very cool. Thanks!
Just curious as to what plan/car is costing you? Thinking about 2010 and trying to identify budget costs (will be flying out of Detroit Metro too)
Thanks!
–Sax
It seems like an awesome trip! I wish I had the time to do something similar!
I have done this drive probably 10 years in a row now. It is okay but don’t speed driving. Every year there are speed traps along that road from Spokane to Electric City to the border. It is alot of 2 lane driving. Not really fast but okay. Probably about 4 hrs. There arent any gas stations near the airport in Spokane so if you rent a car and need to fill up before returning it you need to find gas outside of town. It is alot less expensive to fly into Spokane than Penticton…
I am on my 11th IMC. It is an awesome race!
KK
Meow