We've been traveling for two months in our little Toyota RV, "The Snail". Started in Atlanta and have driven 5000 miles. We've hit Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier, Waterton, Banff and now we're in Hamilton, Montana. We need to be in San Francisco November 4th. The question: We want to spend a lot of time in Oregon, but at the same time, we don't want to miss great stuff in Washington and Idaho. Should we go through southern Idaho and the Sawtooth Mountains to Bend, Oregon then on to Hood River, Portland and the coast of Oregon or.... should we go Coure de Lane, ID, Snoqualmie, Seattle, Mt Rainier and then down to Oregon?Here's our youtube Channel ***Link Removed***https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3YOrFypkFhlCmXbSlPhaoA

Take I-90 west into Washington, then US 2 west to Seattle.South on I-5 to US 12, east to US 97 and south.This would see more of WA, but miss Portland.Could go south on I-5 to Portland then East on I-84 for US 97 then south.

Remember central and eastern Washington and Oregon will have lows in the 20s now. Lots of camping places especially state parks will be closed. Personally I would head west as fast as possible. From your location I90 west to Ritzville,WA, south on 395 thru TriCities and pickmup I84 west. Visit the Columbia river gorge and the water falls. Thru Portland on US26 to 101 and head south. A month on the coast is easy to do.

OK, Hamilton is on US93 south of Missoula.Going back to Missoula and taking I90 to Washington is the least interesting choice.US12 to Lewiston and points west is good. So is 93 into Idaho, and ID75 to Stanley.ID75 to ID55 to US95 will take you back to Lewiston.ID71 takes you to the Snake and on to Baker City (or if you are a bit more adventursome take a pave Forest Service road north to Joseph and go around the north side of the mountains. You can see Hells Canyon from a couple of view points.US12 can be taken to Yakima, and on over the Cascades. Mt Rainier is just to the north. WA410 is a more scenic route directly to Rainier.I84 through the Columbia Gorge is a top scenic route (or WA14 on the north side of the Gorge).There are too many choices ...

OP had mentioned Seattle, Mt Rainier and Portland. He should have sufficient time to travel west over US 2 through Leavenworth and into Seattle area before turning south.Yes, US 12 over the Rockies into WA is a good route.

Thanks everyone. I guess the question I souks have asked is should we go to Idaho or Washington. In Idaho we can go to Salmon, gold bug hot springs, sawtooth mountains. In washington we can go to snoqualmie, Seattle, rainier. Oregon we're more sure about. We're definitely going to bend, hood river, portland, crater lake and much of the coast

Which way to Bend, Oregon | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

paulj
Explorer II
Oct 11, 2015
There's an interesting description of the current Western Washington weather on Cliff Mass's blog

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2015/10/tropical-air-brings-warmth-and.html

We had heavy tropical rain (and wind) Saturday, with a typical October sequence of rain and clear predicted for the next week.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Oct 11, 2015
enblethen wrote:
OP had mentioned Seattle, Mt Rainier and Portland.
He should have sufficient time to travel west over US 2 through Leavenworth and into Seattle area before turning south.
Yes, US 12 over the Rockies into WA is a good route.

donn0128 wrote:
Whats in Bend that a must see?

I agree Levenworth is a "Must See" this time of year! Donn0128, Bend and Sisters is also a great place to visit, I like the suggested route above!
lifeinthesnaill
Explorer
Oct 10, 2015
Thanks for that info! Would we be missing out big time by not going to coeur d'alene?
kknowlton
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2015
Definitely Idaho! (I admit to a little bias.) The Sawtooths, the area around McCall, and the drive across Idaho on US 12 are all beautiful, and we are having an especially nice October, so take advantage of it!
lifeinthesnaill
Explorer
Oct 10, 2015
Thanks again everyone! It really doesn't matter whether Bend is worth visiting. We're definitely going there. So I'm trying to decide whether a more awesome route is to go check out parts of Washington or more of Idaho. Bend just happens to be a place I know we'll end up in that's in Oregon. We're going see a lot of Oregon. I'm just wondering Idaho or Washington. Right now, I'm leaning towards Hwy 12 following the Lewis and Clark Trail. We could head up to Rainier and Seattle if we feel like it after Oregon
paulj
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2015
I think of Bend as a hub for sightseeing on the east side of the Oregon Cascades. I've never stayed there, but I've passed through several times.

To the NW is Cove Palisades - a piece of Utah in Oregon.

To the W is Sisters, Camp Sherman and the headwaters of the Metolius

To the SW is Cascade Lakes Loop

To the S is LaPine, and Newberg Crater

There are other volcanic features in Christmas Valley, and more 'outback' basin-and-range (Nevada) scenery along OR31.

OR 20/22/58/138 all cross the middle Cascades.

In various trips around and through Oregon I've gone up and down portions of US97. I haven't driven much of I5 south of Albany, though I've crossed it at Salem, Roseburg, Grants Pass and Medford.
The_Texan
Explorer
Oct 10, 2015
donn0128 wrote:
Whats in Bend that a must see?
I was wondering the same thing ???? Bend, at one time was really a nice town, worth spending time, but no more. We try and avoid the place like the plague.
ReneeG
Explorer
Oct 10, 2015
If you are near the Sawtooth's now, or within the week, do that first. The weather is beautiful right now with highs in the mid 70's and lows in the mid 30's in and around Stanley. Perfect dry camping weather. Not sure what campgrounds are open, but there is a nice little RV park called Torrey's between Stanley and Challis off Hwy 75. Full hookups and less than $30 a night right on the banks of the Salmon River. Some of the smaller campgrounds along Hwy 21 between Stanley and Lowman may be open, but you'll need to check.
paulj
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2015
Given where you are, and if the weather is to your liking, I'd say sample the Idaho mountains.

Enjoy the hotsprings. There's a commercial one just north of the US93 summit, other commercial ones near Challis and New Meadows. And numerous free informal ones on BLM and FS land along the highway.

Western Washington is rainy, and it doesn't clear until Wed.

But I don't we can choose which you'd enjoy more.
enblethen
Nomad
Oct 10, 2015
I will revise route.
US 12 into WA, then north to I-90 to Snoqualmie and Seattle. You would miss Leavenworth, a Bavarian Motif, and the Tumwater Canyon with colorful leaves.
From Seattle south to Rainier, don't forget Mt St Helens, then to Portland.
US 12 goes through the central panhandle of ID.