Route Suggestions: Orlando FL to Portland OR; Mid March
bjoyce said
05:03 PM Feb 7, 2012
We make the journey about every other year and have taken most routes, but normally starting about the end of March. Sometimes particular places cause us to take certain routes, especially visiting someone. Sometimes the weather affects our route. My big piece of advice is to not commit yourself firmly to a route, you might find weather will dictate a large detour. Normally the winter/spring storms are about 4 to 5 days apart across the Rockies, so you can time them to make your drive. Spring in Oklahoma and north is a time of huge severe thunderstorms.
Best route to avoid winter weather - I-10W to US395N (I would go CA30 to I-215N) to CA58W to I-5N. This is the one you wanted to avoid, but I-10 is normally south of the Midwest severe thunderstorms and there is very little risk of snow over the passes. If Wyoming is clear work your way north to I-80, probably in Kansas or maybe US287 out of Amarilo. North of Salt Lake City take I-84 west. Our favorite route is I-40 to Albuquerque, then NM-550 to Farmington area and up to Moab, Utah via either US441 through Cortez, CO or cut across a bit of Arizona and up US191. Then US6 through Price, Utah into the Salt Lake City area to I-84 West. This lets you stop and see some nice sights, if the weather is good.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Tuesday 7th of February 2012 05:04:17 PM
-- Edited by bjoyce on Tuesday 7th of February 2012 05:05:25 PM
FOSJ said
09:25 PM Feb 7, 2012
This Florida born and bred driver is headed out from Florida to Oregon starting mid March this year. I'm not sure what kind of weather related road conditions to expect as we approach the various mountain ranges in the west. 40' DP with a 12' trailer. I'm looking for suggestions as to where we should consider crossing the higher elevations. We'll have 3 weeks so we can take our time. Tentatively I was thinking of taking I-40 through Albuquerque, then turning north after Vegas or Barstow; 395 maybe? We will be ending our trip just south of Portland on the west side of Mt Hood National Park. The drive north and mountain crossing are the questions on my mind. Any suggestions? I'm even open to a more northerly route if the weather would allow it. Not really interested in I-5 through California.
Thanks
53 Merc said
01:11 AM Feb 8, 2012
We have always gone via IH 70 and turn north at Green River on Hwy 6 to Salt Lake, then Boise and then on I-84 to Portland. Blue mountain before reaching La Grande will be the only thing to worry about. Also check at Oregon DOT. They have a rule about being equipped with chains until (I think until the first of May). Not necessarily on the truck, but available. If you get stuck or off in the ditch without chains, they fine the heck outta ya. Coming up from California, same rules apply. Be sure to got to http://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/RCMap.asp?mainNav=RoadConditions&curRegion=3 and look at the traffic cams. Ladd Creek especially. I have gone in mid April and did not have a problem. Dunno about mid March.
We make the journey about every other year and have taken most routes, but normally starting about the end of March. Sometimes particular places cause us to take certain routes, especially visiting someone. Sometimes the weather affects our route. My big piece of advice is to not commit yourself firmly to a route, you might find weather will dictate a large detour. Normally the winter/spring storms are about 4 to 5 days apart across the Rockies, so you can time them to make your drive. Spring in Oklahoma and north is a time of huge severe thunderstorms.
Best route to avoid winter weather - I-10W to US395N (I would go CA30 to I-215N) to CA58W to I-5N. This is the one you wanted to avoid, but I-10 is normally south of the Midwest severe thunderstorms and there is very little risk of snow over the passes.
If Wyoming is clear work your way north to I-80, probably in Kansas or maybe US287 out of Amarilo. North of Salt Lake City take I-84 west.
Our favorite route is I-40 to Albuquerque, then NM-550 to Farmington area and up to Moab, Utah via either US441 through Cortez, CO or cut across a bit of Arizona and up US191. Then US6 through Price, Utah into the Salt Lake City area to I-84 West. This lets you stop and see some nice sights, if the weather is good.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Tuesday 7th of February 2012 05:04:17 PM
-- Edited by bjoyce on Tuesday 7th of February 2012 05:05:25 PM
Thanks
I have gone in mid April and did not have a problem. Dunno about mid March.