Vancouver to Yellowstone National Park

I5 to Seattle, I90 east. Scenic option is hwy2 from MtVernon east.

BC 3 across the Cascades will bypass the busier border crossings and the Seattle metro area. US97 to the Columbia River, followed by WA17 will take you to US2 and east to Spokane, where you can pick up I90.

You could cross the border almost anywhere along BC 3. US395 would be next major highway south.

The Abottsford border crossing and WA9 to WA20 is another nice option. WA20 is one of the more scenic crossings of the Cascades. If you are coming and going, do both.

I'd cross at Sumas. connect with I-5, to US 2 east, or if the cross cascade is open, down Wa-9 to 20 east, or 2 to 90 east.

stop and see Grand Cooley.

Consider a route that takes you past Grand Coulee Dam. There are grades around the dam canyon, but the dam itself is worth seeing. And there's a nice campground on the reservoir just upstream from the dam.

Once, with a small sailboat in tow, I left Vancouver Island (having sailed the outer coast), drove Hwy 3 to Ossoyoos (sp?) down 97, then a diagonal (WA 156?) to the dam, spent the night there (sunny and dry after a rainy time on the coast). Then US2 to Spokane and US90 to Missoula. After night there on to Yellowstone - and ended up camping at a boat-in lake spot (all regular campgrounds were full).

With your 8 & 10 year olds, I'd definitely go to Yellowstone rather than Yosemite. Be sure to take in Grand Teton Nat'l Park, also, which is right next door and wonderful easy hikes to beautiful spots - lakes, waterfalls. Take a gentle raft trip down the Snake River in the park itself (Teton) and you just might see a moose in the water with you. We did!

Take I-5 and I-90 east and you can take one of three highways into the park; 287, 191 or 89. All are good for RVs.

If you have time, you could also work in Glacier Nat'l Park.

Have fun planning this great trip!

2gypsies wrote:
With your 8 & 10 year olds, I'd definitely go to Yellowstone rather than Yosemite. Be sure to take in Grand Teton Nat'l Park, also, which is right next door and wonderful easy hikes to beautiful spots - lakes, waterfalls. Take a gentle raft trip down the Snake River in the park itself (Teton) and you just might see a moose in the water with you. We did!

Take I-5 and I-90 east and you can take one of three highways into the park; 287, 191 or 89. All are good for RVs.

If you have time, you could also work in Glacier Nat'l Park.

Have fun planning this great trip!

Great advice,