I have friends that are in Seattle right now and wish to go down to Vegas, I am not familiar with the GBH so anyone here think they would be better off going into SLC and taking I-15 into Vegas? They want to come across the Columbia River Valley on I-84 and were asking me about what way to take.They have a Georgie Boy gasser and was telling me how it had a hard time climbing some of the grades going out to Seattle and they are mostly worried about steep grades on the GBH. I have done the I-84 route from Portland to SLC and didn't think that the grades were anything they needed to worry about and told them so, but they seem to want to see the GBH. Any advice here? Thanks.

Going to Salt Lake from Seattle is out of the way to get there. I dont get it ?

I just did a Google Maps plan from Seattle to Las Vegas just to see what was recommended. We just drove the GBH route from Boise and it'll not be a problem at all. Any grades will be out of Ely and they'll be downhill going that direction and minimal in grade. We took Ely to 6, to 318, then 93 to I-15 into Vegas. A lot of RV's on that route.

I have friends that are in Seattle right now and wish to go down to Vegas, I am not familiar with the GBH so anyone here think they would be better off going into SLC and taking I-15 into Vegas? They want to come across the Columbia River Valley on I-84 and were asking me about what way to take. They have a Georgie Boy gasser and was telling me how it had a hard time climbing some of the grades going out to Seattle and they are mostly worried about steep grades on the GBH. I have done the I-84 route from Portland to SLC and didn't think that the grades were anything they needed to worry about and told them so, but they seem to want to see the GBH. Any advice here? Thanks. Why not just go IR 5 to Mt. Shasta in California and then over to Susanville and Reno and down US 95 to Las Vegas? Is there a reason your friends want to take IR 84?

Been up and down GBH every couple years.(socal to boise) Once went around through SLC, never again. SLC is longer and slower with more traffic. We stop in Ely to split our drive.

Not sure why they would want to go over to SLC, it is several hundred miles out of the way when going from Seattle to Las Vegas.If it were me (I like the good 2 lane roads) I would go down the Gorge from Portland, then turn south on 395 at Pendelton. You can stay on 395 all the way down into California or you can split off onto 95 and head south all the way to Vegas. Both of these roads are in good condition. 395 does have some long grades down by Mono lake.

Great Basin Hwy. | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

jmtandem
Explorer II
Sep 15, 2016
Well, they want to go along the Columbia River and possibly a stop in Bend and Pendleton and just what ever may strike their fancy, time is of no factor. They mentioned the national parks in southern Utah so that's just the direction they chose.

Then travel south from Biggs or the Dalles through Bend, Klamath Falls, Susanville and Reno. From Reno head east or south to Carson City and then east and get on route is US 95 to Las Vegas.
larry_barnhart
Explorer
Sep 15, 2016
mockturtle wrote:
My preferred route in 93 through NV, using the 318 cutoff. Fine for any size rig and scenic.

Nice highway to drive because it is smooth.
chevman
mockturtle
Explorer II
Sep 15, 2016
My preferred route is 93 through NV, using the 318 cutoff. Fine for any size rig and scenic.
larry_barnhart
Explorer
Sep 15, 2016
ReneeG wrote:
I just did a Google Maps plan from Seattle to Las Vegas just to see what was recommended. We just drove the GBH route from Boise and it'll not be a problem at all. Any grades will be out of Ely and they'll be downhill going that direction and minimal in grade. We took Ely to 6, to 318, then 93 to I-15 into Vegas. A lot of RV's on that route.

Renee did not go from Seattle so I will help her with this answer.

the grade called Cabbage Hill going from Pendleton Oregon towards Boise is a nice climb. Maybe to some not so nice but we have used that route coming home each April with out any issues.

chevman
ken56
Explorer
Sep 14, 2016
Well, they want to go along the Columbia River and possibly a stop in Bend and Pendleton and just what ever may strike their fancy, time is of no factor. They mentioned the national parks in southern Utah so that's just the direction they chose.
bobsallyh
Explorer II
Sep 14, 2016
Just what ReneeG said!
DanNJanice
Explorer
Sep 14, 2016
Not sure why they would want to go over to SLC, it is several hundred miles out of the way when going from Seattle to Las Vegas.
If it were me (I like the good 2 lane roads) I would go down the Gorge from Portland, then turn south on 395 at Pendelton. You can stay on 395 all the way down into California or you can split off onto 95 and head south all the way to Vegas. Both of these roads are in good condition. 395 does have some long grades down by Mono lake.
time2roll
Nomad
Sep 14, 2016
Been up and down GBH every couple years.(socal to boise) Once went around through SLC, never again. SLC is longer and slower with more traffic. We stop in Ely to split our drive.
jmtandem
Explorer II
Sep 14, 2016
I have friends that are in Seattle right now and wish to go down to Vegas, I am not familiar with the GBH so anyone here think they would be better off going into SLC and taking I-15 into Vegas? They want to come across the Columbia River Valley on I-84 and were asking me about what way to take.

They have a Georgie Boy gasser and was telling me how it had a hard time climbing some of the grades going out to Seattle and they are mostly worried about steep grades on the GBH. I have done the I-84 route from Portland to SLC and didn't think that the grades were anything they needed to worry about and told them so, but they seem to want to see the GBH. Any advice here? Thanks.

Why not just go IR 5 to Mt. Shasta in California and then over to Susanville and Reno and down US 95 to Las Vegas? Is there a reason your friends want to take IR 84?
ReneeG
Explorer
Sep 14, 2016
I just did a Google Maps plan from Seattle to Las Vegas just to see what was recommended. We just drove the GBH route from Boise and it'll not be a problem at all. Any grades will be out of Ely and they'll be downhill going that direction and minimal in grade. We took Ely to 6, to 318, then 93 to I-15 into Vegas. A lot of RV's on that route.

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