Tour the Northwest, Estes Park to Oregon & CA

Question

We are planning to leave next week from Hutchinson, KS for 5-6 weeks. We drive a 35' class A, pulling a Jeep Wrangler. We love the outdoors and stay in State parks when possible. After spending 3-4 days in Estes Park, CO we will head west on I80. In Oregon we want to spend several days in the Klamath Falls/Crater Lake area and a few days in the Bend area before heading to the coast. At this point we don't plan on being further north than Newport, before heading south on the 101. We will end up in northern CA to see the giant redwoods for at least a week, before heading back east, stopping in Salt Lake City to see family. Trying to figure out best route from I80 up to Crater Lake. I've not read very much about northern CA, other than the coastal area, so not sure if we might want to see the Lava Beds, going north from I80 on 395 to 139. Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome!

Ann from Kansas

korbe · Answer

The next 5 to six weeks should be good weather in northeastern California. Maybe a bit cool in the mornings though. Lava Beds is worth the short detour. There is a big forest fire in northern California which makes some of the region a little smokey, based on wind conditions and direction.

Reno to Crater Lake: 395,299,139,39,97,62.

donn0128 · Answer

You will find that a lot of the state parks east of the Cascades will be closing or partially closing Oct1.  While the parks may be open water is likely not going to be available.  34 this morning in LaPine

padredw · Answer

I can tell you what we did (in reverse to your route).  At Klamath Falls we took Oregon (then Nevada) 140 all the way to intersection with US 95, north of Wennamuca, Nevada. It is a lonely road, but we enjoyed it and would not hesitate to take that exact route again. I-80 goes through Wennamuca, of course, so you could take US 95 north to the intersection with Nevada 140 (west) all the way to Klamath Falls.

thom02099 · Answer

Doin'it wrote:We are planning to leave next week from Hutchinson, KS for 5-6 weeks.  We drive a 35' class A, pulling a Jeep Wrangler. We love the outdoors and stay in State parks when possible. After spending 3-4 days in Estes Park, CO we will head west on I80.  In Oregon we want to spend several days in the Klamath Falls/Crater Lake area and a few days in the Bend area before heading to the coast.  At this point we don't plan on being further north than Newport, before heading south on the 101.  We will end up in northern CA to see the giant redwoods for at least a week, before heading back east, stopping in Salt Lake City to see family.  Trying to figure out best route from I80 up to Crater Lake. I've not read very much about northern CA, other than the coastal area, so not sure if we might want to see the Lava Beds, going north from I80 on 395 to 139.  Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome!  Ann from KansasIn Estes Park, you'll be hitting it just before most of the commercial parks start to close, which is late September.  Estes Park CG at Mary's Lake is open til mid-October.  In RMNP, Glacier Basin is closed for the season, but Moraine Park remains open.  You'll also be here just in time for the changing of the Aspens, which has begun.  If you have the time, a drive along the Peak-to-Peak Highway (CO 7/CO 72) between Estes Park and Nederland would be a very enjoyable drive in your toad.  That drive, in all honesty, is better than going up into RMNP; past couple of seasons, the change up there has been rather dull.

dick_b · Answer

My only suggestion is to get a copy of Mountain Directory West to help in your route planning. I believe the RV.net bookstore has them.

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Tour the Northwest, Estes Park to Oregon & CA

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