Anyone drive from Eastern Washington or Oregon?

[KerBear]

I actually live in SoCal and will be driving to Eastern Washington November 11th. I have done the trip to/from Seattle, but every search I do for driving directions is telling me to take the 395 and I have no idea what to expect on that route! Oh, and when we come home we will be going to Disneyland....so it is trip planning related, just kind of in reverse.

 

[DizDragonfly]

I actually live in SoCal and will be driving to Eastern Washington November 11th. I have done the trip to/from Seattle, but every search I do for driving directions is telling me to take the 395 and I have no idea what to expect on that route! Oh, and when we come home we will be going to Disneyland....so it is trip planning related, just kind of in reverse.

I did 395 last year. Here's what you can expect...

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That's right, lots of NOTHING. Well unless you count desert and military bases you can't stop at. Seriously, there wasn't any traffic ... or cell service ... or bathrooms ...

There's enough gas stations to get you through, but you better stop every time you see one! Oh, and you do pass a few brothels on the way.
Care for a stop at the Shady Lady?

I'd pass on that route and head up I-5. At least if you break down, you won't be just a few feet from Death Valley (not kidding) with no cell service.

 

[KerBear]

I did 395 last year. Here's what you can expect...

...
...
...
...

That's right, lots of NOTHING. Well unless you count desert and military bases you can't stop at. Seriously, there wasn't any traffic ... or cell service ... or bathrooms ...

There's enough gas stations to get you through, but you better stop every time you see one! Oh, and you do pass a few brothels on the way.
Care for a stop at the Shady Lady?

I'd pass on that route and head up I-5. At least if you break down, you won't be just a few feet from Death Valley (not kidding) with no cell service.

Oh my. I was worried about mountains and weather, but that sounds very unpleasant, especially since we will have an 8 month old baby with us! I5 might be worth the extra hours.

 

[DizDragonfly]

Oh my. I was worried about mountains and weather, but that sounds very unpleasant, especially since we will have an 8 month old baby with us! I5 might be worth the extra hours.

If the weather is bad, you could go with 395 as a back up plan, but it sure wouldn't be my first choice of routes to travel.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We drive from E wa to cali every year. We go 395 to 84 to 97(thru Or) and then on I5 all the way down. The passes get snowy from mid Nov to mid Feb but the road crews work hard to keep them open. Travel during the winter you just need to be prepared.

Jack

 

[KerBear]

Driving this time of year is not something I would do for fun, but we have to head home for a funeral and with 4 adults and an infant flying is a bit out of reach as an unplanned expense. I appreciate the input, I'm all googled out and knew someone here would know the roads.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Driving this time of year is not something I would do for fun, but we have to head home for a funeral and with 4 adults and an infant flying is a bit out of reach as an unplanned expense. I appreciate the input, I'm all googled out and knew someone here would know the roads.

If I may ask, where are you coming from and going to. Nov 11 should be just great, normally do not have freak snow/ice storms at that time of year.

Jack

 

[KerBear]

If I may ask, where are you coming from and going to. Nov 11 should be just great, normally do not have freak snow/ice storms at that time of year.

Jack

We are going from either Victorville (my house) or Beaumont (dd's house) to Ritzville and will be returning on the 14th. I'm hoping its still early enoug& that the roads will be ok, but a few years ago we drove through a snow storm in April so I'm not too confident and we will definitely be bringing the chains just in case!

 

[blackjackdelta]

We are going from either Victorville (my house) or Beaumont (dd's house) to Ritzville and will be returning on the 14th. I'm hoping its still early enoug& that the roads will be ok, but a few years ago we drove through a snow storm in April so I'm not too confident and we will definitely be bringing the chains just in case!

WOW, Victorville, have not been in that neck of the woods since the 60's. That will be a very boring drive up 395. I would get over to 5 the easiest way possible and them come up to 97 thru or. and then 84, pickup 395 again ouside Umatilla or, thru the Tri-cities and about 72 miles to Ritzville. Have a safe drive.

Jack

 

[KerBear]

WOW, Victorville, have not been in that neck of the woods since the 60's. That will be a very boring drive up 395. I would get over to 5 the easiest way possible and them come up to 97 thru or. and then 84, pickup 395 again ouside Umatilla or, thru the Tri-cities and about 72 miles to Ritzville. Have a safe drive.

Jack

Trust me, you aren't missing anything. Thank you for the route info, I will map it out tonight. I think we will all be more comfortable sticking to more populated freeways just in case!

 

[RangerPooh]

We are looking at driving form Eastern Wa (south of Spokane) to DL next month. We are considering going south through Idaho and taking 50 into CA, then 5 down to LA. We've also driven south through Tri-Cities into the Pendelton OR area (I believe) and crossing over towards Portland where we take 5 south.

 

[DisMike]

No matter what you do from E. Washington you're going to have to go over mountains at some point to get to socal. Pick your poison.

I've driven from my BIL's in Reno down 395 in November. There can be snow. But there can be snow in the mountains anywhere. 395 is fairly boring but once you get over the mountains the weather will not be a problem. The west side of the Sierras is warm. I once went over Donner Pass in a blizzard. Got to the top of the mountain and started on the onhill side into CA and it was rain.

There's enough traffic on 395 that you won't sit there for days waiting for help. The nice part is you also won't be sitting in traffic on I-5 either. The trek from nocal to socal on I-5 can take a long time with traffic.

 

[Dobie]

IMHO, the best route is the five to the 84. The road through Central Oregon is two laned and if you get stuck behind slow vehicle it is hell.