Forum Discussion

TKW's avatar
TKW
Explorer
Apr 13, 2019

Best Route From Vancouver BC to Bend OR

I'm planning a trip to Bend OR in June. Goggle map suggests 3 alternatives:

  1. Take I5 to near Portland, then I205 and east on I84, south on US26 at Wood Village to Bend
  2. Take I5 to Salem, east on US22 to Bend
  3. Take I5 to Seattle, east on I90, south on I82 pass Yakima & south on US97 to Bend.

    Pulling a 8k# TT, I would like to avoid steep grades as much as I can. I would also try to miss rush hours in major cities. Can anybody tell me which is the best route.
    Roads and Routes
    • romore's avatar
      romore
      Explorer II
      Apr 14, 2019
      Grades are pretty much unavoidable in the PNW. I would take 2 to Leavenworth then south, anything to avoid Seattle and Portland.
    • rhagfo's avatar
      rhagfo
      Explorer III
      Apr 14, 2019
      enblethen wrote:
      Yes, all routes go through Seattle.
      Highway 2 is an option but would be over several passes, US 2 Stevens and US 97 Blewett and Satus.
      Not sure if it would be worth it.


      I drove daily in that nightmare of greater Puget Sound traffic for 14 years for work both commuting and travel between store locations. That was 22 years ago, and I know it has not gotten any better!!

      Both of the routes I posted are beautiful drives, not FAST, but Beautiful! I took my DW on a weekend to Orcas Island, I chose the Olympia to Port Townsend to Whitby Island route, NO STRESS!
    • enblethen's avatar
      enblethen
      Nomad
      Apr 13, 2019
      Yes, all routes go through Seattle.
      Highway 2 is an option but would be over several passes, US 2 Stevens and US 97 Blewett and Satus.
      Not sure if it would be worth it.
    • rhagfo's avatar
      rhagfo
      Explorer III
      Apr 13, 2019
      Do you really want to drive through the Gauntlet from Everett to Olympia??
      Two options, first to take Hwy 2 over the Cascades through Leavenworth then head south on Hwy 97 to I90 at Ellensburg. Then east on I82, pick up Hwy 97 again just south of Union Gap and follow to Bend.
      Not the flattest or Fastest route, but avoids Everett to Olympia!

      The only way I know to avoid "Rush Hours" in that strech of I5 is to travel between about 10 pm to 5am!

      Second choice is to head west on Hwy 20 at Burlington, down Whidbey Island to Coupeville ferry to Port Townsend west on Hwy 20 to 101 then south on 101 to Hwy 12 east to Olympia and connect to I5 South.
    • TKW's avatar
      TKW
      Explorer
      Apr 13, 2019
      enblethen wrote:
      I would take your first choice.
      Worst area on any choice is Seattle! No good time through there! Mybe middle of the night if no construction.


      Aren't all 3 routes have to go through Seattle?
    • enblethen's avatar
      enblethen
      Nomad
      Apr 13, 2019
      I would take your first choice.
      Worst area on any choice is Seattle! No good time through there! Mybe middle of the night if no construction.

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