Help with route from Vancouver BC to Lake Havasu

We got lucky and had a great break in the weather after I-5. Took hwy 89 east from I-5 Mt. Shasta to 395 and down to 40. Great trip once we got off I-5 and even had some sunshine and bare roads. !-5 was torrential rain and 60 mph winds through WA and OR. Check the long term weather forecast before taking off to 395.

Hope people have already started south if they are going inland - snow is in the forecasts.

Tom/Barb wrote:
Vancouver Island, -> ferry to Port Angles, 1 south to Olympia , 5 south to 12 east to 97 south to 395.

X2 and more on the Coho from Victoria to Port Angeles. Take the first ferry (You can stay in their lot (locked in) over night--phone them first to check.) Follow the 101 down Puget Sound (not the west coast). Takes you to the I-5 at the south end of Olympia.

Se fuel up at the Safeway while DW gets groceries at Port Angeles. You can easily make Portland same day. If you don't like the city traffic (We sympathise!) stop for dinner at the last rest area before Portland then carry on later. (After 7:00PM) You can overnight at Camping World at Wilsonville or a rest area shortly after CW. NOTE Our Garmin gives false very wrong directions for that CW.

There will be some freeway and city driving but you really can't miss them all. Once through Portland the worst is over traffic wise. Also, going inland too soon and you run the real risk of ice and snow.

We now head south in Mid October after being forced all the way to California when leaving in early November.

From Portland (follow the 205 bypass) you have the option of I-84 East along the Columbia River -- very nice drive. Further along it gets high and can be snow/ice. Check weather forecasts first.

The I-5 through Portland can be better than the 205 if you miss the worst of rush hour. (unless you are going to take the 84 East) If your GPS has Traffic info, follow it

This year we went south to Salem then east on the 22 through Bend to then on to the 95 and south to Winnimucca on the I-80 in Nevada. Nice drive there too. This would be a good option for making easting. Others have made suggestions for southbound highways that cross the 80, such as the 93.

We go all the way across to Utah before heading south and east to New Mexico and Texas enroute to Mexico so the rest our route won't help you much!

Our Blog.

Lots of twists/turns on 20. I just like staying on 101 down to Petaluma if wanting to go across to I-5 and the Sacramento area. Other option is to stay on 101, take the I-580 across the bay (Richmond bridge) to Oakland (no toll going east), then join I-80 to I-880 around the east side of the bay, join up with the 101 south of San Jose and go on down to Gilroy, then 152 across to I-5 or 99.

Barb

In land routes are changing to winter weather.

Siskiyou Mountains are starting to see cold weather. Drive to Eugene the first day. Check Siskiyou's here.
http://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/RCMap.asp?mainNav=RoadConditions&curRegion=7#

Best alt route to 101 on the coast is 38 thru Drain to Reedsport. Figure one extra day of travel down this chicken route.

I normally cut back across to I5/99 at Petaluma. 116 out the East side of Petaluma and then 12, short section of 80 and back on 12 again. End up right at Flag City RV Resort at I-5.

I may try 20 by Clear Lake some day to cut back across.

Chris

RVcrazy wrote:
You may be too late to use a couple of these routes. 395 has snow. We prefer to avoid the white stuff!

This time of year, that might be hard to do.

You may be too late to use a couple of these routes. 395 has snow. We prefer to avoid the white stuff!

9" of snow in Flagstaff yesterday. Fall/winter has arrived in AZ.

Another way, is to come across at Port Angeles, travel south along Hood Canal to Olympia, WA, south on I-5 to Vancouver, WA, around east side of Portland, OR on I-205. Cross over Cascades on US 26 to US-97. Go south on US 97 to Bend, OR. Take OR 78 to US 95 and then south.
edit:
Got screwed up in head! Vancouver not Vancouver Island!

Thanks, I'll get out the maps and check all the different suggestions.