Driving from Oregon to DL.. Anyone else?

[RuthieT]

We are driving from the Portland area to DL and was wondering if anyone else has done the drive and where if you do stay and stop along the way. We would like only about a 2 or 3 hour drive tops the day we will get to DL. What do you usually do that day? Relax? DTD? DL?

 

[bouncy54]

We've drove down to DL from Seattle a few times. If your going during the summer, HWY 101 can't be beat for sight-seeing. In 2001, we decided to drive down the Oregon coast to see the Redwoods. Then on a lark...we decided to just go ahead and drive the rest of the way to Anaheim.

We drove to Eugene, then headed for the coast. We visited the Sea Lion Caves, then headed south to the Game Farm Park. We spent the night on the California/Oregon Border then went to see Paul Bunyon at the Redwoods the next morning. We then made our way to San Francisco, drove over the Golden Gate and stayed overnight in San Jose.

The next day, we drove the rest of the way to Disneyland where we stayed for 5 nights. This was one of my favorite trips. Of course, we had the time to take it slow. We have drove straight through to Anaheim as well...but 23 hours, even with switching drivers, is a very long time to be on the road.

 

[mickey-mania]

We drove from Vancouver (across the river from Portland) and we drove straight through and stayed in Stockton and then got up early the next day to finish the drive to Disney.

 

[DisneyDreamer8]

We have made the drive from Salem a few times. We drive I-5 straight through.

If you want to sightsee take 101 as long as no one gets car sick on corners...very curvy. There are plenty of places to stop on 101 to spend the night.

Just get a good map and have a great time!!!!

 

[gnbuggy]

I live in Eugene and have driven to DL many times. Our favorite place to stay is in Santa Nella. It leaves about a 3 (maybe 4) hour drive to DL. There is a really nice Holiday Inn Express. On our last trip, in January '06 it took us 2 1/2 hours to drive 20 miles over Siskiyou summit. So, it added a lot of time to our first travel day and ended up staying in Wesley. We have never taken the coast route to get to DL. DSS lives north/east of Sacramento, and we pick him up on the way.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We drive from the Tri_Cities, Wa but we stop in reading. The 4 other passengers get tired of riding by that time and the kids want to swim and relax. Still leaves us about 10 hours with the stops. Tried Santa Nella once and the group just got bixxxx.

Jack

 

[RuthieT]

Did any of you drive there in December? If so how were the passes?

 

[gardengirl2790]

We drove from just south of Portland to DL. We too stayed in Santa Nella - stayed in the Holiday Inn Express - it was decent with a free continental breakfast. My in-laws recommended Santa Nella to us as they travel this route each winter when they "winter" in Arizona. We arrived in Disneyland the next afternoon, about 1:00, or so. We were able to check into our hotel and spent a nice evening in Downtown Disney, celebrating DH's birthday. We also had time to get some deals at the Character Warehouse.

 

[tinkerbelt]

I would not do the passes at night in December, but in the day you should be fine, although there is a good chance that you will need chains.

Personally, I would take the 99 down and go as far south as I could make it - there are a lot more options down the 99 - Merced, Modesto, Fresno, Visalia, Bakersfield, etc. The traffic on the 5 is getting bad enough anymore that the 99 is faster. Plus, if you make it all the way to Fresno (which you can easily do), you're about an hour closer to Disneyland than you are in Santa Nella.