Road conditions for proposed shorter route
We are planning a trip from Texas, up the California coast to Oregon, Crater Lake area. Then over to Idaho to visit DH's brother. It looks like we could knock around 200 miles off our trip from Medfor...
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From Medford, if you want to visit Crater Lake you could stay at Joseph Stewart State Rec Area on Hwy 62. Lovely big sites. Or you could take 62 to 230/138 to the Diamond Lake area just north of Crater Lake and there's a park road into the national park from the north. There are RV parks and campgrounds at Diamond Lake. Or you could get into the national park from the south and the park has a campground.
From 230/138 at Diamond Lake go over to Hwy 97 and drive north on 97 to Hwy 20 at Bend, OR. Take Hwy 20 all the way to Meridian. This is 476 miles.
If you go via the route you proposed it's 461 miles so no big deal. Both are good routes.
On Hwy 20 you'll have Drinkwater/Stinkingwater Passes.
Drinkwater at MM177-1/2 is 5% for 1 mile - definitely not a biggie.
Stinkingwater at MM161 is 5-6% for 5 miles - again, no issue. Some spots on interstates can be 6%.
You won't have any hairpin turns, steep drop-offs or narrow country roads. Either route goes through gorgeous wide-open countryside on a very good wide secondary road.
Fill up in Bend at 97/20 or on Hwy 20 at Burns. If you're ready to stop for the night around Burns, there's a very nice RV park if you take Hwy 78 south a few miles from Burns. It's called Crystal Crane Hot Springs and you can even soak for a while if you want.
I'd take a secondary highway anytime over an interstate! Go for it....
From 230/138 at Diamond Lake go over to Hwy 97 and drive north on 97 to Hwy 20 at Bend, OR. Take Hwy 20 all the way to Meridian. This is 476 miles.
If you go via the route you proposed it's 461 miles so no big deal. Both are good routes.
On Hwy 20 you'll have Drinkwater/Stinkingwater Passes.
Drinkwater at MM177-1/2 is 5% for 1 mile - definitely not a biggie.
Stinkingwater at MM161 is 5-6% for 5 miles - again, no issue. Some spots on interstates can be 6%.
You won't have any hairpin turns, steep drop-offs or narrow country roads. Either route goes through gorgeous wide-open countryside on a very good wide secondary road.
Fill up in Bend at 97/20 or on Hwy 20 at Burns. If you're ready to stop for the night around Burns, there's a very nice RV park if you take Hwy 78 south a few miles from Burns. It's called Crystal Crane Hot Springs and you can even soak for a while if you want.
I'd take a secondary highway anytime over an interstate! Go for it....
