before applying for a passport, check to see when the new rules take effect re: time before passport expiration. Previously passports were good for 5 years I believe but you will soon be able to get them for 10 years. Not sure when this takes effect but would be worth looking into.
fwiw, last time I was at a land border crossing (several years ago at least, Fort Erie) I asked the US border agent about using an expired passport for land crossings and he said that was fine. I never felt right about that so always keep a current passport on me at all times.
imo, passport > drivers license