Gasser Class A Travel from Tacoma WA to Lost Wages NV

Sprig wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:
...Then I-84

But, I might be convinced to climb to 15,000ft if the view on top ends up being worth the effort...

The plan is for me to start this trip in the next 3 days or less; weather should not be a factor.

Fewest miles, and fewest fuel burn, are not the deciding factors. I want to take it a little bit easy on the older machines taking me along for the ride while I experience scenery; even scenery that I'd like to see again from the opposite direction!

I'm really thinking about every post.

The Climb is no way near 15k', more like 3k' mecum Or. is the high point.
John Day to Burns is beautiful, but it is more of a climb than I-84.

If you do the 395 thru John Day, & Burns to Winnemucca, stay on the west side of Nv, thru Hawthorn, Fallon and south.

Sprig wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:
...Then I-84

But, I might be convinced to climb to 15,000ft if the view on top ends up being worth the effort...

The plan is for me to start this trip in the next 3 days or less; weather should not be a factor.

Fewest miles, and fewest fuel burn, are not the deciding factors. I want to take it a little bit easy on the older machines taking me along for the ride while I experience scenery; even scenery that I'd like to see again from the opposite direction!

I'm really thinking about every post.

Scenery: My suggestion to begin your trip on US-12 from Tacoma to Yakima fits the bill. It travels between Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens and then you need to pull over at and near the summit of White Pass for awesome, up-close views of Rainier’s summit. You won’t view scenery like this the rest of your trip to L.V.

Tom/Barb wrote:
...Then I-84

But, I might be convinced to climb to 15,000ft if the view on top ends up being worth the effort...

The plan is for me to start this trip in the next 3 days or less; weather should not be a factor.

Fewest miles, and fewest fuel burn, are not the deciding factors. I want to take it a little bit easy on the older machines taking me along for the ride while I experience scenery; even scenery that I'd like to see again from the opposite direction!

I'm really thinking about every post.

Sprig wrote:
Current plan is to avoid I-5 as much as it makes sense to do so.

This means heading east on I-84 when approaching Portland. It would seem a good idea to avoid the Cabbage Hill between Pendleton and La Grande on I-84.

The goal is to eventually end up on USH95 somewhere between Oregon and Idaho.

At the moment, I am thinking that USH395 may be my best choice based on what I remember of the other routes; I'm probably wrong though.

Any recommendations?

That is the route I would take, except I would avoid Portland congestion completely by taking E. US-12 east over the Cascades from Tacoma. At that point hook up with E. I-82 in Yakima, E. I-84 in Hermiston and then make a decision: (1) either S. US-395/95 combo to L.V. or (2) S. I-84 all the way from Hermiston to L.V.

I have done option #1 to Reno and it is flat out mile hogging territory all the way to Winnemucca, NV.

“Lost Wages”, NV = very creative.

Sprig wrote:

paulj wrote:
From sea level at I84, you will have to climb one way or other.

Correct. What I was hoping to avoid was climbing to 10,000 feet only to have to come back down.

I have read everyone's replies and it has given me quite a bit to think about.

Then I-84

paulj wrote:
From sea level at I84, you will have to climb one way or other.

Correct. What I was hoping to avoid was climbing to 10,000 feet only to have to come back down.

I have read everyone's replies and it has given me quite a bit to think about.

We went south on 395 off I-84, and there is one hell of a climb south of John Day Or. but it is easy after you get up on the plateau, after you get to Burns, and Winnemucca then I-80 east to 306, then south to Austin, and US 50 east to Ely, then south on 6 & 318 to Las Vegas, really desolate drive but it's flat.

Your easiest drive is I-84 thru Salt Lake. but it is as boring & bad as I-5

From sea level at I84, you will have to climb one way or other. Much of easter Oregon is 3-5000 ft, same for a lot of Nevada (Reno's about 4000).

US97 has an initial climb out of the Columbia gorge, but is relatively flat (ans straight) for the rest of the way south, with a highest point south of Bend (in Poderosa Pine country). OR31 is an interesting way of crossing from US97 to US395 (the 'Outback' scenic byway - scenic but not mountainous).

US395 from I84 has to climb over some low mountains before getting to US20 at Burns. I've crossed those mountains, but not on 395.

You can also get to Burns on US20 from Bend/US97. US95 is an easy drive from there. You could also pick up 95 from I84 near Ontario. US95 on the Oregon/Nevada border is about as a remote spot as you can get.

Other routes across the Oregon Cascades have been discussed and evaluated in other treads

enblethen wrote:
You could think about US 26. This is what I think Donna0128 meant.
Pick it up near Portland over the Cascades near scenic Timberline lodge.

;)

You could think about US 26. This is what I think Donna0128 meant.
Pick it up near Portland over the Cascades near scenic Timberline lodge.