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

donn0128
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2015
Whats in Bend that a must see?
lifeinthesnaill
Explorer
Oct 10, 2015
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
enblethen
Nomad
Oct 10, 2015
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.
paulj
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2015
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 ...
donn0128
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2015
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.
enblethen
Nomad
Oct 10, 2015
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.

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Which way to Bend, Oregon

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