Oregon 242 126 Sisters to Eugene RV friendly?

enblethen wrote:
I am quite sure that no 18 wheelers go on OR 242.
I know down on the Sister's side that OR State Police were citing people. That was a few years back during one of the events in Sisters or Bend. Was a big sign just west of Sisters and east bound by Foley Springs and another by junction of OR 126.

We were camped there last weekend at Alder Springs campground ( tent camping out the trunk of our car.) We were nearly run off the road on the approach to Dee Wright observatory by a 24-28 ft camper. Later that evening after we set up camp,we saw a semi truck with a 53 foot trailer coming down past the campground.

Good info..thanks. We're going to go south on 97 instead. I now remember last time over it was 2003 in an F250. I do remember some hairpins and narrow roadway.

I am quite sure that no 18 wheelers go on OR 242.
I know down on the Sister's side that OR State Police were citing people. That was a few years back during one of the events in Sisters or Bend. Was a big sign just west of Sisters and east bound by Foley Springs and another by junction of OR 126.

Sorry -- diazr2.....I disagree. Do NOT take a large RV on it. Last year a large RV got stuck going around a hairpin curve. There is not a hell of a lot they can do to get the rigs out of there. And you'll face a HUGE fine. I doubt very much you're talking about the same highway. The 24 foot C CAN do it, it will be hairy to put it mildly.

on edit: DH looked up info. Here's from the ODOT website......

"The McKenzie Highway has two travel lanes and narrow shoulders within a consistently narrow roadbed. The paved width is about 17 feet. Because of the narrow width and sharp curves throughout the route, vehicles longer than 35 feet are not permitted. The grade is generally moderate to steep (estimated between one and six percent), and the asphalt concrete surface is in fair to poor condition"

Consider your rig is probably 8 foot wide....meet another one rig on the road and you are REALLY having a scary time.

I think the restrictions are still in place but nobody worries about it. I saw many 18 wheeler s on it and one double. Once your on your on there is no place to turn a big rig around.

And if you see a sign that says "sunken grade" or something similar, hit the brakes! If you keep your speed up, you will be launched into next week.

Did they remove the width and length restrictions on OR 242?
There use to be no trailers or wide vehicles. I would call ODOT to verify.
Up on top in the lava beds, there was places the lava was out nearly to the lanes. Road was very narrow. Very twisty going down west side. Rig may drag on the hairpins.
It has some great scenery but I would be leery about taking rig over it.

If you take 242 your correct the scenery is beautiful if you take a second to look at it, it just might be your last trip of any kind. The road is good but narrow with many many hair pin turns I just traveled it last week with a 24ft fiver. I had no problems but a 26 wheel double almost wiped me out on one of the turns I tell you it was close close. Had the trucker not been going so fast I am sure he would have plowed right into me. But because he was traveling at a high rate of speed he slid right by. 126 is not as pretty but has a whole lot fewer switch backs. 20 is good also but it's way out of the way. Good luck and keep your eyes on the road.

Looks like 20 across would be safer bet.

The state's DOT description of the hwy

http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION4/pages/mckenzie_pass_project/mckenzie_pass_project.aspx

US20 to OR126 is a good alternative to the narrower, twisty 242.