Car-free options for getting around in (and getting out of) Moscow

It’s easy to get around without a vehicle at the University of Idaho. Our campus is pedestrian-friendly and largely car-free, and beautiful trails and free bus routes connect students to locations around Moscow. Heading home for a break? You’ll find multiple options that don’t require a personal vehicle.

Travel by trail

Paradise Path features 2.23 miles of trail that wind through campus, downtown Moscow and several local parks. The route, which often follows Paradise Creek, features places to stop and rest, water-bottle stations, well-lit crossings and a tunnel under the Troy Highway on the east side of town. Walkers, runners, bikers, skaters and people who use wheelchairs share the quiet, friendly path.

On the west side of town, Paradise Path connects to the Bill Chipman Palouse Trail, which runs parallel to the Moscow-Pullman Highway. Bicycle commuters and distance runners can take the 7-mile trail all the way to Pullman and the Washington State University campus, while others use it just for fun or exercise.

On the east side of Moscow, Paradise Path connects to the Latah Trail. The 12-mile paved trail between Moscow and the small town of Troy provides a wonderful opportunity to get out into the scenic Palouse countryside. The route’s amenities include bathrooms, picnic areas and signs informing visitors about the area’s cultural and agricultural history. Beyond Troy, the trail continues along Highway 99 into Bear Creek Canyon, with 3.5 miles of paved trail and 25 miles of unpaved trail.

Ride a bike

In addition to the trails, major Moscow streets include bike lanes, and the city is considered bike-friendly. Downtown Moscow includes nearly 50 public bike racks and a double-decker covered bike shelter near City Hall.

If you’re looking to buy a bicycle to take out on the trails or have a bike that needs a tune-up, local shops include Paradise Creek Bicycles and Rolling Hills Bicycles.

Free bike maintenance stations are available on campus near the corner of Sixth and Line streets and downtown by Moscow City Hall.

Mountain biking is also popular on the Palouse. The Moscow Area Mountain Bike Association (MAMBA) — which also includes other non-motorized trail users — maintains a network of trails on nearby Moscow Mountain.

Go by bus (in town)

SMART Transit offers two fixed routes through east and west Moscow — and riding is totally free. Students can use the bus to get across campus and reach grocery stores and malls, the hospital and medical offices, downtown Moscow, city parks, the county fairgrounds and entertainment spots like the movie theater, aquatic center and skateboard park.

Most stops are served every half hour, from 6:40 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Check out the current map and schedule on the SMART Transit website, and be sure to follow them on Instagram for news and rider alerts.

SMART Transit also offers a Dial-a-Ride service from Monday-Saturday. Passengers must schedule at least a day in advance to be picked up at their home and dropped off at their destination. The service is open to anyone, but people covered by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), including people who use wheelchairs and mobility scooters, receive first priority and are not charged a fare.

Students with ADA mobility needs can also use the Vandal Access service from U of I Parking and Transportation Services Monday-Friday during the academic year. Advance authorization is required.

Go by bus (out of town)

If you’re heading to central or southern Idaho for Thanksgiving, winter break or spring break, make a reservation on the Vandal Break Bus. Parking and Transportation Services and the Office of the Dean of Students partner to provide low-cost transportation to Boise and Idaho Falls, with stops at many small towns in between. Reservations fill up quickly, so be sure to sign up early.

Regional bus line Wheatland Express also offers a Vacation Express bus for U of I and WSU students near major breaks, with service to central and western Washington and the Portland area. Students flying out of Spokane can take the Spokane Airport Express on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays near breaks.

For travel outside of break times, Northwestern Stage Lines connects Idaho to Washington, Montana, Utah and Nevada by bus. Starting from the Intermodal Transit Center on campus, Moscow has daily direct links to Boise and Spokane, with other options branching off from there.

The Salt Lake Express bus service and Greyhound also offer routes that connect to Moscow.

Share a ride

Rideshare and taxi services are available in Moscow. The university often has deals with rideshare service providers to give students access to safe rides during hours when local transit is unavailable. To learn more about the latest deal, visit U of I Parking and Transportation Services’ Local Transit website.

Hop on a flight

The Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport (PUW) has been improving and expanding its services, with a new terminal in May 2024. The airport offers daily direct flights to Boise and Seattle through Alaska Air.

Just 30 minutes from Moscow, the Lewiston Nez Perce County Airport (LWS) offers non-stop service to Denver, Salt Lake City and Seattle through Delta and United. A free shuttle service is available for passengers to and from Moscow with 48-hour advance registration.

The largest airport in the region is the Spokane International Airport (GEG), about a 1.5-hour drive from Moscow.