SoCal to North Central Washington: 395 or 95?

US395 in the south is between the Sierras and Death Valley, and then the White Mtns. There are a couple passes north of Bishop. The freeway in the Reno area. It continues at that inland 4000-5000 ft level into Oregon. North of Burns is crosses a low mtn range. and across the Columbia into Washington.

US97 to the west is closer to the Cascades, but is generally flat and straight. Some take a diagonal from 395 to 97 in N Calif, others pick it up from I5. It has more of a grade when crossing the Columbia (both sides). OR31 is another diagonal from 396 to 95.

US95 is deeper into the Nevada desert. Once in Oregon you could cut west to 395, or stay on 95 to I84. I84 also has some uplands before it gets to Pendelton.

In Washington, 97 has a low pass before merging with I82. There's anther pass crossing from I90 to US2, followed by river side driving all the way to Twisp (WA20). If entering around the Tricities (I82), some take WA17 across the Columbia Plateau. There are grades dropping from the uplands to the Columbia River.

I don't think it matters too much which of these routes, or mix of them, you take.

So far, no votes for 95?? Google says it's the fastest. Must also be the dullest, I guess?

Keep those suggestions coming -- thanks!!

395 is scenic and not crowded. 97 is also scenic and takes you by some cool stuff (Crater Lake, all the volcanic stuff south of Bend, Bend itself) but would be more crowded. If it were me I'd probably do 395.

I drive from Reno to Seattle at least once a year. I like the east side. Take US 395 north. There are several routes you can take. I like to go through Lakeview, OR and then up through Paisley and Silver Lake. I often camp in the Fremont NF which is about half way before I get to Bend. Then take US 93 up the east side of the Cascades. I drop in to Seattle over Snoqualmie Pass. You can keep going up along the Columbia up to Mazama, WA.

If you're bored with I-5, I would go the 395 route. It's new scenery and there are some great little towns along the way with unique food and shopping. Quite a few historic sites as well.

I've done them all a few times. I love 395, especially in Oregon but also in California. Lots and lots of sites to see and places to visit from old ghost towns, Mono Lake, John Day fossil beds, and so much more. But in Washington, not so much but the Hwy 14 along the Columbia is a great road and you could take that to 95 and then go north.

I did the I-15 thru UT for many years. 93 via E NV is kinda cool. 97 thru Bend OR is pretty. Nice dry camping at Rufus OR along the Columbia on the I-84.

I always found the drive thru the tri-cites of WA to get on 395 very confusing.