Best route Riverside, CA to Spokane, WA

Looking at Google Maps terrain, Sisykou summit on I5 is 4400 ft. At the base of Herd Peak, US97 gets up to 5000 ft. But Weed is 3600ft, Klamath Falls is 4000, Medford 1500ft.

I haven't read complaints about I5 being difficult (too high or steep); it just can be snowy. When I drove it in a car, I felt like I was playing hopscotch with the trucks.

I haven't driven US97 south of Klamath Falls, but it appears to climb gradually (and relatively straight) to the 5000 level, and then stay near that level all the way north past Bend.

Mac964 wrote:
I97 still takes you over Sisykou Mt range? Noted on map Herd Peak and Goosenest at around 8,000?

When you leave I-5 at Weed, you do not go over the high passes crossing Sisykou Mt range. you will be well east of the Sisykou range at Bend.
The I-84 to 395 is a good alternative to 97 to 90

I97 still takes you over Sisykou Mt range? Noted on map Herd Peak and Goosenest at around 8,000?

paulj wrote:
US97 to I84 to US395 bypasses a couple of modest passes on Washington US97.

US97 through Oregon is mostly flat and straight, at 5000' altitude. There is a grade in north as it drops to the Columbia River.

Not freeway, but I'd consider it.

I would never consider I-15 to I-90. Talk about adding passes and grades, it takes you across the divide, twice, plus two major grades to get from Montana to Idaho.

US97 to I84 to US395 bypasses a couple of modest passes on Washington US97.

US97 through Oregon is mostly flat and straight, at 5000' altitude. There is a grade in north as it drops to the Columbia River.

mikim wrote:


Another option would be to take I-101 up the coast and then cut inward up I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge to Hwy 395 and then up to I-90 to Spokane.

X2...

Best all-around for scenery AND: no mountains at all! :)

Only caveat would be that the Columbia Gorge can be right windy at times. A little less so if traveling the Washington side, but that's a bit slower route.

I-5 to Weed, then 97 and I90. you can save some time/miles by leaving 97 at Sunnyside Wa and running up river to Matawa and catch I-90 just north of there.

I second I-15 to I-90 to Spokane. There are going to be some climbs anyway you go.

Another option would be to take I-101 up the coast and then cut inward up I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge to Hwy 395 and then up to I-90 to Spokane.

I-15 to Butte MT, then 90