We are Heading down to visit in both Yuma and Tucson sometime after Christmas in our 34' class A. This will be our first big trip in the big rig! We did take our small class c to the Oregon coast in September a few years ago, and also have been to Vegas -but in an SUV with good winter tires. I'm nervous about snowy roads and mountain passes, and would love to hear from some experienced snowbirds please! We are not in a serious time crunch, in fact we are not even sure yet where we should stay along the way, or in Tucson! The whole thing is a bit overwhelming so any advice on routes and stops would be welcome, thanks!

Welcome to RV.net!I would watch the weather. Then go east to Butte,MT and go down I-15.

There is a possibility of snow no matter how you go. We have gone through Tri-cities through Pendleton, Boise etc and it was a bad trip the snow over immigrant pass was really scary. Last year we went eat on I-90 and then south from Butte we encountered snow that way also.My recommendation is to check the long range forecasts pick a time and go on the I-90 route. Only travel when you are comfortable. There are lots of rest stops along the way if it gets bad stop. Don't push it. Worst case is you stop at a motel and "hole up" until the snow passes.The nice thing is once you get South of Salt Lake City the weather gets noticeably warmer and you will start to relax.jesse

koochi wrote:We are Heading down to visit in both Yuma and Tucson sometime after Christmas in our 34' class A. This will be our first big trip in the big rig! We did take our small class c to the Oregon coast in September a few years ago, and also have been to Vegas -but in an SUV with good winter tires. I'm nervous about snowy roads and mountain passes, and would love to hear from some experienced snowbirds please! We are not in a serious time crunch, in fact we are not even sure yet where we should stay along the way, or in Tucson! The whole thing is a bit overwhelming so any advice on routes and stops would be welcome, thanks!Before starting out on your trip to Ariz:1. buy an Emergency Road Side Service plan. I have had the Good Sam ERS plan for 20 yrs. and have good experiences when I needed to use it. There are others but stay away from ERS plans like AAA.2. Buy the Good Sam "Travel assist program". They will provide medical assistance in the event of a serious medical incident where you can't drive. They also fly you to a Hospital in your home town. If needed they will have a professional driver drive your rig back home.3. have your tires checked, replace if in any doubt then have your bearings serviced.4. Use a weather application like Weather Bug", "the National weather Channel" and "Wind Alert". Put them on your computer and your iPhone. Approx. 30 days before departure date, start printing out the weather forecasts for at least 10 days in advance. Set your departure date when your weather reports present the best weather conditions for your trip. Recheck your forecasts every morning once you are on the road. Make a list of possible locations from Oregon to Yuma, about 300 miles apart that you can park and stay if you run into bad weather.5. Places I would stay:a. 7 Feathers RV/Casino in Cannyonvilleb. Rolling Hills RV/casino park in Corning ca.c. "A Country RV Park" on highway 58 at Bakersfiled Ca. d. Pick any RV Park in Indio, I stay at the Elks Lodge but you have to be a member.e. Out of Indio head south to El Centro, Ca.f. El Centro to Yuma:)If you more specific information, send me a private email.Dick

Head west to I-5. Cle Elum should be about the worst of it.

Your going to hit snow anyway you go so if I were you I'd watch the weather forecasts and make a break for it when you see a few days that look clear and bright. Before you go stop by Les Schawb and get some chains and a little block of instructions on how to put them on. I believe that Les will take them back if they are unused, but don't quote me on that as we never took ours back. Also have a good weather radio. I've heard there are some real horror stories about taking I 84 in winter so I'd take 395 to I84 west and go south to I205 and then I5. I 5 shouldn't be bad except for the Siskiyou's and like the person said above, if you can get to 7 Feathers, its a great place to stuck at, and wait out any bad weather. The I90 option to I 15 also an option, but I have no experience with I15 at all above Salt Lake City.

Spokane Wa. area to Yuma or Tucson avoiding snow in January

paulj
Explorer II
Dec 11, 2014
This would be a good time to check driving conditions along proposed routes. Lots of rain, strong winds predicted especially for Oregon, and dropping temperatures that may produce snow in the mountains.
enblethen
Nomad
Dec 10, 2014
I-84 between Pendleton, OR and Ontario, OR can be a real nightmare. The Oregon Blue mountains can get hit by major snow storms very quickly.
wintersun
Explorer II
Dec 10, 2014
The most direct route will be trhough Idaho and Utah and also where the weather will be cold but snow should not be a problem if you travel on Hwy 84 to Hwy 93 and then south through Las Vegas. Not the most scenic route but the shortest. With this route you travel 1400 miles with a drive time of 21 hours. Possible stops include Boise ID, Wells NV, and Las Vegas.

An alternate route is I-15 via Salt Lake City but I greatly dislike driving through this area and its mandatory weigh stations for RV's and avoid it if at all possible.
obgraham
Explorer
Dec 08, 2014
I would recommend Pauli'a route: 395-84-93. But weather is the main issue. It can be as bad as anything I experienced in many years in Canada, and US93 is pretty desolate.

Look at each state's road conditions and cameras. Sometimes there is cruddy weather spots in between the main reporting cities.

So for the route suggested, I would look at these weather and cameras:
I-84: Pendleton, Meacham, LaGrande, Baker, then Nampa, and Mountain Home.
US93: Jackpot, Wells, Ely, and Caliente.
Then you're pretty home free.
grandma_lynn
Explorer
Dec 08, 2014
why not take 195 south out of Spokane, no passes. Pick up 95 at the top of the hill above Lewiston, Idaho, then stay on 95 till you get to I84 at Fruitland, Idaho. You can stay on 95 into Nevada or head east on I84 to Twin Falls and go south on 93. You can check Washington department of transportation for road reports and Idaho road reports at 511.idaho.gov there are cameras that you can check the actual pictures of places that could be an issue when traveling. I have traveled all of this route and as long as you check road conditions and weather you should have no trouble. 195 in
Washington and 95 in Idaho are 2 lane tho. Rv parks are open in Lewiston, Idaho.
greenskeeper
Explorer
Dec 08, 2014
Having made this trip for the last 6 years always in the winter, we go the same way every time and return the same way..........From Cle Elum Wa to Boise, Twin Falls Idaho, to Jackpot NV, to Ely Nv, to Alamo Nv to Kingman Az, to Quartzsite Az. to where ever we want to go,,,,
we now are in Casa Grande Az,,,,we have had snow only once and that was in march coming back in Wells Nv. I , myself will not use I 5 again to much snow in the siskiyous......so I just stay with what I know......Just give yourself plenty of time and listen to the weather and watch it on the net..
Us_out_West
Explorer
Dec 07, 2014
We leave Wednesday for Casa Grande from our home base in Reno and like to get over the hill on 80 into CA to get warm.

Hooking up with 99 to Lodi for a night then the 5 to Bakersfield then to Indio for 4 days before arriving in Casa Grande on the 17th until late March early April.

We find this route works best for us avoiding the cold and possible snow going South through NV.
dfm
Explorer
Dec 07, 2014
I don't know where in Canada you are leaving from, but We are doing the same from Southern B.C.
We go to Vancouver and then south on I5 to Northern Ca. Then down 99 to Bakersfield .We have never had a problem with snow on roads. We watch weather to see if any storms forecasted but have never been delayed. 1st Objective is to get to Redding,Ca.as soon as we can because then you know it's going to be warmer than home no matter where we end up. We stay in Casa Grande Az. for 2 months every year.
Noel
Explorer
Dec 07, 2014
Well, here is a silly suggestion: Ask UP or BNSF to put your RV on a flat car and take you to CA or AZ.......
Blazing_Zippers
Explorer II
Dec 07, 2014
I travel for work -- use I-90 to I-15 at Butte, Mt. Head South and the highest pass is Monida at the Mont/Id state line.
Two large truck stops at Rocker (Butte, Mt.). Heading South, there is a rest area just north of the state line big enough for any rv just past the truck scales. Blackfoot, Id has a Wal-Mart just off the freeway, and there are a couple large rest stops too.
Salt Lake is pretty high and can get lake effect snow, but for the most part, it will be pretty smooth sailing. Oh, there is a Cabelas South of SLC but I can't recall the town---it has rv parking and a dump too.
The book "NEXT EXIT" is a good source of info. You won't have any problems, the U S has wimpy weather compared to Canada.