Best route from Salem, Oregon to West Valley City, Utah?

Welcome to the group.

I hate to be just another nay sayer, but I tend to agree with others here. Not so much about the route (I wouldn't hesitate to go straight over the mountains, through Bend, and out to I-84 at Ontario), but in the capabilities of your tow vehicle.

I had a similar vintage Dodge Grand Caravan. Great vehicle for bebopping around town and carrying stuff, but not so good for towing. Tow capacity is 2000 pounds and it was about all it could do to tow my raft trailer (about 1500 pounds). My guess is that your trailer is a little over 3000 pounds.

Two suggestions:
1 - Fly to Utah. Between the price of fuel and the extra costs you are going to incur to get your vehicles ready for the trip, plus the possible costs due to breakdowns, it would probably be much less expensive.
2 - Leave the trailer and just take the van. Set up a little sleeping area in the van (either on the floor or build a platform to sleep on with gear storage below you), cover the windows with Reflextix insulation at night to keep it a little warmer inside. Shower at truck stops and go out to eat. We did just that many times.

Best wishes and I hope you get to visit your family.

Agree with the posts that discourage your trip. Your safety is far more important than your sister's birthday. Get some experience with your rig (the TT/TV combination is questionable, IMO) and plan a summer trip. I would be hesitant to make this trip even in my 4WD Tiger in February.

With the weather we've seen lately I'm hard pressed to recommend taking a trip like this considering your situation. I'm inclined to agree with what donkeydew said.

Heading I84 around Pendleton, OR you have Emigrant Hill, commonly called “Cabbage Hill” one of the worst stretches of highway in Oregon I'd say. Frequent weather closures along with the semi travel along the highway would make me think twice.

Hwy 20 to Bend/Burns you've got the Cacades, but after Burns you've got a whole lot of nothing - not a good area to have a break down but even worse in the winter months.

I5 South around Ashland, OR you've got Siskiyou Summit then a lot of highway as you head sound once you get to Redding it gets better and less weather issues.

Last thoughts, you're driving a 27 year old minivan and I'm unsure how old your trailer is (the Timberline TT I'm thinking of is from the 70s.) As you've said this is your HOME and you're on a tight budget. You'll need change for both the Van & the TT.

I'd really think twice about this trip during that time of the year.

send your sister a birthday card and tell her you will see her in the summer.
you have no experience pulling your trailer and will be in adverse weather no matter what way you go
your trailer is not going to be livable in the weather they have in the winter there
sorry but this is not the right time to try this

enblethen wrote:
Option one, North on I-5 to I-205 to I-84. Bad places are the Blue Mtns in Northeast Oregon.
Option two, East on OR 22 to US 20 and US 26 to I-84 near Ontario, OR then I-84. Cascades could be nasty.
Option two would be slower option, however it would be my preferred.
February is not a good weather time to go. Have to carry chains for TV and trailer.

Agree with Option one above.

February is not a good time to pull a TT in Oregon. However, if weather conditions are bad I would head south on I-5, better chance of road being cleared of snow. When you get to Bakersfield, Ca take Highway 58 to Barstow then I-15 to Las Vegas, Nv and north to West Valley, UT. This is the long way. If when you get to Sacramento and I-80 is clear into Reno take that to Salt Lake and to West Valley. The routes through Idaho in February could be bad but shorter...

Welcome to the forums. Moving thread to Roads and Routes.

Option one, North on I-5 to I-205 to I-84. Bad places are the Blue Mtns in Northeast Oregon.
Option two, East on OR 22 to US 20 and US 26 to I-84 near Ontario, OR then I-84. Cascades could be nasty.
Option two would be slower option, however it would be my preferred.
February is not a good weather time to go. Have to carry chains for TV and trailer.