Hotels in Coeur d'Alene

Coeur d'Alene: Northern Idaho's Lake Gateway

Coeur d'Alene occupies the northern shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene, a 25-mile-long glacial lake in the Idaho Panhandle, 33 miles east of Spokane, Washington. The city of roughly 55,000 draws visitors year-round: boaters and paddlers arrive in June through August, while skiers head 30 miles east to Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg from December through March. The Coeur d'Alene Resort, opened in 1986 on the downtown waterfront, hosts the world's only floating golf green — the 14th hole on its lakeside course — a detail that appears in no other Idaho city's hotel landscape.

Where to Stay

Hotels concentrate along Sherman Avenue, the downtown main street running parallel to the lake, and on the lakefront adjacent to the resort. Budget and mid-range chains cluster on Northwest Boulevard and US-95 near the I-90 interchange. The Coeur d'Alene Resort anchors the upscale tier; independent motels and national chain properties sit within a mile of Independence Point, the public beach and City Park pier.

Practical Tips

• Getting around: Downtown is compact and walkable; a car is necessary for Silver Mountain or the Centennial Trail, a 62-mile paved path connecting Coeur d'Alene to Spokane.
• Peak season: July and August see full occupancy at lakefront properties — book at least six weeks ahead.
• Lake access: The public marina and boat launch at Blackwell Island Recreation Area is 2 miles north of downtown off US-95.