Forum Discussion

Mac964's avatar
Mac964
Explorer
Jan 13, 2014

NEW Rv-er with Mirada Class A 29ft Calif. to Spokane

Can someone please shed some light on the best and SAFEST route from Southern CA. to Spokane WA would be? I've driven the 5 North via car, but finding the safest route via a Class A, being new and all, need my concerns put to rest by hearing from experienced RV-ers. I was looking at 395 or it appears the 15 N. goes to the 90 W. Concerned about grades up or down. We are selling our home and heading out end of February 2014. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
  • 395 and 97 can see a lot of snow and freezing weather most winters. I5,I84 may be a bot longer, but generally lower elevations will mean warmer traveling and less chances of freezing until you get out of the Gorge around Biggs Junction.
  • I15 to I90 is not much different in distance from the alternatives. There are several passes, but nothing more difficult that those along I5. On the I15 ID/Mt state line there is a broad upland. I90 on the stateline the pass is a little more defined. That is another modest past in ID. Being further north there's more chance of snow, but those states know how to handle it.

    From I15 I think it's a toss up between going north to I90, and going NW on I84 to US395 and on.
  • is it worthy to take the 15 North to 90 West, pop out from Idaho into Spokane?
  • The I-5 north to Weed, California; US-97 northeast to I-84, east on 84 to the 395, north on US-395; east on I-90 to Spokane. There are a few shortcuts along the route to take off a few miles. We have made this drive many times in a 34' fifth wheel and our motorhome during winter and summer with absolutely no problems. Have a great trip.
  • US 395 to Reno and to Susanville; Susanville to Klamath Falls, then north to Bend and to Biggs on 97. There pick up IR84 to I82 to the Tri Cities area and on to Spokane on US 395. Done it several times. Very doable in an RV.
  • I don't why one route should be much safer than another, even in a big RV. Traffic and speed are more likely to cause accidents than snow, especially if you are thinking of serious ones. A Thule fog in the California Central valley can be especially dangerous. In Washington, icy roads are the biggest weather related cause of accidents, and those are more likely on bare roads close to the freezing point than on snowy ones. I84 east of Portland through the Columbia Gorge has a worse ice reputation than the higher I90 over the Cascades.

    Bridges ice up first. If I suspect the roads are icy, I pay attention to any wheel spin when accelerating, and test the brakes (when traffic allows). If your RV has ABS, read the manufacturers directions on handling icy roads. You may also need to carry chains.

    Any of the freeways (even US395 between I84 and I90 is freeway quality) will be similar in ease of travel. Check weather reports and road condition reports. All the state DOTs have reporting systems online, and also have 511 phone reports.

    The fastest routes that Google maps gives use non-freeway segments. All suggest US395 to I90 in Washington. One uses US97 in Oregon, another US95 in Nevada and Oregon, another US93 in Nevada. All can be cold, but won't be excessively snowy. I5 to Portland, and I15 to Missoula are nearly as fast - all around 19 hrs of driving time (by their estimated speeds).
  • Take I5 to Portland, I84 east to about 20 miles west of Pendelton, get on 395 north to I90. That time of the year 395 can have quite a bit of snow. Remember 395 is on the eastern side of the state and is cold in February. Now if you were traveling May or later I would take 395 in a heart beat.