Does anyone drive from WA or OR to DLR?

[Hensandchickens]

I live in eastern Washington and was thinking about driving to DLR for Spring Break. I've never been to CA and would love to see some of the sites (redwoods, San Fransisco, the Winchester house, and of course DLR). Am I crazy? It would be one mom with two kids (11 and 14). We've traveled before, but we always fly. Is driving from the northwest a pain or is it a fun road trip?

 

[scanmom]

We drive from Oklahoma!!! It's a 24 hr drive, but we break it up by stopping to sights on the way! That really helps. Of course,the drive home is the worst!!! I bet you would enjoy the drive if you take it slow, and stop often to see things along the way. And the time in the car is great for reconnecting with your kids and spending time with them just talking!!!

 

[Dobie]

I live in the Tri Cities and I've done it twice.

It took us three days each way to drive down the 101 at a slow enough pace to stop and enjoy the sights--redwoods, beach, etc. The 101 is SLOW! Add a 7th day for San Francisco.

To drive down on the 5, we drove straight through, with only pee breaks, to just north of Sacramento the first day. We were up at 4 in the morning and arrived in DL around 11.

 

[disney-super-mom]

We also live in Eastern Washington, and I've done the drive down to DL twice. (Once with my mom and aunt when I was about 14, and once with my cousin as an adult. I've driven down to Las Vegas A LOT too, but that's another story. )

Going down the 101 is one of the best road trips in the country in my opinion. It's TOTALLY FUN! It's just so darn BEAUTIFUL, there's lots to see and places to stop and explore. Your kids are old enough to really enjoy it.

I think it's a GREAT idea!

 

[Albort]

haha, funny story, i had this one guy that told me he drove from Washington to DLR in 6 hours... i was like... going at... 120mph? He was like umm, no, around 80mph...

then i told him it took us 6 hours to drive to San Francisco at 75-80mph... haha, we was like oh, yea thats what i meant, from San Francisco ^_^

 

[Tasmen]

I drove from LA to Seattle when I moved about 10 years ago. It's not a bad drive. You can easily do it in one big pull if you want or stretch it out over a couple days. It is definitely plausible.

 

[shellyof4]

We did it as kids from Vancouver, BC. I don't think you're crazy. You'd probably enjoy it. I took 3 kids much younger than yours on a roadtrip to Salt Lake about 2 years ago and it was actually a lot of fun. People thought I was nuts, but oh well! We had a good time.

 

[PeterPansPixie]

Hensandchickens - Your list of tourist-y activities is the same list we have for our upcoming trip! We live in SW Washington and are planning on driving the first day to just south of Sacramento and the driving the rest of the way on the second day. We want to get the bulk of our driving done the first day (10 hours) so we have an easy second day (6 hours).

The weather can also affect your trip. When are you planning on going?

 

[staley7580]

Thats what we are doing in June, Im hoping it wont be a bad drive. We are going to have a new car then, which is a HUGE deal for us so we are really excited about the drive. We live in lakewood, I was figuring on driving to sacramento, then on to Disneyland. I dont think my dd could stand much more time in the car. She hates the car. I think with older kids it would be great. Of course, I dont have older kids, so what do I know?

 

[PeterPansPixie]

Thats what we are doing in June, Im hoping it wont be a bad drive. We are going to have a new car then, which is a HUGE deal for us so we are really excited about the drive. We live in lakewood, I was figuring on driving to sacramento, then on to Disneyland. I dont think my dd could stand much more time in the car. She hates the car. I think with older kids it would be great. Of course, I dont have older kids, so what do I know?

A new car is so exciting and is a HUGE deal! We will be renting a van for the trip.

We will have two teenagers with us but we are caravaning with my BIL and SIL and they have a 6 and a 10 year old. We have never driven it but they have. If I remember correctly, she told me that they stopped just across the Oregon-California border. I am hoping that we can make it down to Sacramento so we can something fun at DL after we arrive.

 

[c&m]

We're planning our third big road trip south in July. We will be blasting our way all the way to Redding on the first day and staying overnight there. We would get to Anaheim the next day. We'd be doing a more leisurely pace and sightseeing after DL, with stops in San Diego, the southern CA beaches (Laguna, Huntington, Santa Monica), Los Angeles, San Francisco, Napa Valley (check out those wineries!), Portland, and then home.

I think road trips are always fun with the family. There's something for everyone. Our DDs enjoy it and they look forward to the little stops we make at Target stores along the way to get snacks and treats. They love the adventure of being in new places, and staying in nice hotels.

Have fun planning!

 

[AJA55]

Sorry…. but have you taken any long car trips? I don’t get sick on any rides but……I’ve driven it once before…… by the second day I was on my knees at a reststop making offerings to the porcelain gods.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I also live in Eatsern WA and have driven down the last 3 years. I have 4 teens and usually drive a Ford Expy. Not a bad drive down I-5. We take 97 thru OR and then connect to 5 for the rest. Takes us 18-20 hours with a stop in Redding. Did the coast route a number of years ago, very pretty, stopped in SF and saw the Winchester and all the sights...now it is direct to DLR.

Jack

 

[victorandbellasmom]

We live in the Seattle area and have driven down twice this past year, once in March 2006 and another in August 2006. We enjoyed our road trip. Although we preferred driving in August where weather condition were nice (sunny and warm, the drive in March was brutal. We worried about snow in the passes in Southern OR and again in Northern & central CA. There were high winds and heavy rain in CA and it probably didn't help that we drove staright through. We didn't really stop and enjoy the different areas of CA as our only destination was Disneyland. When our kids are a little older, we may stop and enjoy the scenery and not drive at breakneck speed to Disneyland.

 

[Hensandchickens]

Sorry…. but have you taken any long car trips? I don’t get sick on any rides but……I’ve driven it once before…… by the second day I was on my knees at a reststop making offerings to the porcelain gods.

Yes, we've driven to Ohio several times, but my husband was always with us. That's a long trip!

How much snow are we going to see the 2nd week in April? I am not a driver in the snow kind of person and I even have 4-wheel drive. It's a good thing I work in my little town, because I will not drive to the Tri-Cities if it's icy or snowy. You couldn't pay me to drive to Seattle in the winter.

 

[6ofus2]

We live in SW WA and drive down with our four kiddos. We don't go 101 due to the time of year and the fact that our kiddos are young and we don't want to make the drive longer than we have to. One day we will though.

We have gone here to San Fran (10 hours) only stopping for the bathroom and one fast food meal. We stayed there for several days (relatives there). Then on to DL (6 hours). Then we drive LA to Medford, OR, stay over there, then home the next day. One time on the way back we came back in one day (18 hours!) the traffic/weather weren't so good.

This year in December we are driving from here to Medford (6 hours) spending the night there, then driving to LA the whole next day. On the return trip we will go from LA to SF for a few days, then from SF home.

 

[hugabearjo]

I have driven down the route you are thinking about. It was a very nice trip. We went in September and the roads were perfect. I have no idea in April. If it were me (and I drive in the snow in North Eastern Oregon, even to Tri-cities) I would go up I-84 and go down I-5. Because 97 between Lapine and Klamath Falls can bet bad even late. ( I lived in Lapine) I think the only place you might run into trouble with snow. But don't take my word for it.

I think a great resource would be www.weather.com and then type in different towns along your route and look at the at the averages and snow/rain fall.

I had my Mom with me, however I did all the driving and it wasn't bad. We had a great time with the kids. We wanted to see it all so we took our time going down and then straight back up I-5 when we were tired and ready to be home.

We stopped in Crescent City for the night so we could see the redwoods, Then north of San Fran, spent the day touring and then stayed south of the city. We also went to the Jelly Belly factory, I don't remember exactly where that was but, it was fun and I love Jelly Bellys. Then we headed over to the coast to 101 it was beautiful, BUT SLOW!!!

It depends on how much time you want to spend. Coming home we drove 2 long days and made it just fine.

I think you would have a great time.

Be sure and post a trip report when you get back.

PS I didn't realize there were so many of us in Eastern Washington/Oregon. We should plan a get together and swap stories, ideas and info.

 

[tirby]

We live in Western Idaho right by the Snake River. So we live right on the Washington Boarder. Hey Spokane your just a few hours North of us! On the way Down for our trip we are just getting there. Leaving Friday and spending the night in redmond oregon then driving to Stockton Ca spending the night. Then on Sunday we will get to Disneyland anout 2or3 in the afternoon. Spend that evening in DTD. then 3 days at DL. On the trip home we are going up I5 and head to Fairfield to the jelly belly candy company. then going up the redwoods and lounging around along the coast before heading home.

For us its just a matter of not making the vacation about just DRIVING and DRIVING. Stop and enjoy or why go

 

[teacups]

Hi Hens... I live in Idaho (near Boise) and transplanted from N.Calif (Napa Valley) long ago. You will not regret the sights! Some that you might not read about everyday though. Jack London State Park is the neatest place! Stinson Beach, St Helena, GG Bridge of course, the Redwoods! You have not taken a good look at the world until you have stood at the base of a redwood and looked straight up. I hope you go. It is magnificent and I am homesick.

 

[Diznotyzed]

How much snow are we going to see the 2nd week in April? I am not a driver in the snow kind of person and I even have 4-wheel drive. It's a good thing I work in my little town, because I will not drive to the Tri-Cities if it's icy or snowy. You couldn't pay me to drive to Seattle in the winter.

We've made the trip down I-5 many, many times over the past couple of (yikes) decades. There were a couple of times we crawled over the Siskiyou Mts (near the OR/CA border) due to snow, and one of those times was a trip in April. Snow that late isn't the norm, but can happen. If you have the time, a stopping to smell the Redwoods kind of trip would be a lot more scenic than straight down I-5, but we were always in a hurry to get to DL! Hope it all works out great for you!