Oregon & Washington folks heading south in the winter

Additional note: the coast highway receives alot of rain during the winter and with many mud slides, downed trees, and poor driving conditions. It is an alternative but not without it's own problems. Good planning and having a few extra days to use avoiding the weather on the high passes is the best idea. We have being doing this for 12 years and the only time we got caught in the snow was when I decided to be a bit more adventurous. Yes it was an adventure but easily avoided with an extra day. Good travels.

George H wrote:
Spend the night at Seven Feathers and check the weather in the AM, wait out the nasties before hitting the pass.

Thanks for info! Looks like a great place- have made note for this December.

Curious as to how you Oregonians and Washingtonians find your way south (Arizona & New Mexico) after the New Year. Seems we're often snowed in - east on hwy 84 can be treacherous. South over the Siskiyous (and beyond) is frequently very treacherous (two years ago were required to mount chains three times on I-5 south). We tend to head south a little later but often have road problems. Seems the only sure way is to travel along the coast and then well south in California before heading east. Suggestions?

I think for most folks this is a non issue. Just plan your trip to cross the mountains on IR-5 between storms. Watch the weather and go when there is no snow. If it is not looking that good, just spend some time in Medford, Ashland or the Rouge River area. Rarely will you have to wait more than a day or two. If you are really concerned try to cross the passes between noon and around 4:00 pm, typically the warmest part of a winter day.

Spend the night at Seven Feathers and check the weather in the AM, wait out the nasties before hitting the pass.

I've only had to wait one day (once) going over the Siskiyous on I-5 in all the years we go down to Lake Havasu City, AZ and back. Interstate-5 is a major commerce trucking route linking North & South the Western United States with Mexico and Canada, therefore I-5 gets high priority for it's roadwork to keep it free of ice and snow. I've seen it snow and get real icy on the coast route, when the temps really drop and a bad storm goes thru the Cali/Ore border areas. I always stick with the I-5 route, more business if you need services, more lane choices and wider road then the coast route.

That does sound like a great idea. You can get very reasonable monthly rates in places like Brenda AZ, just east of Quartzsite. Some sites rent for a year for only about $800 and you can use it anytime that whole year, or leave it all winter there until you feel like moving it again. Of course that does not include electricity.

Spirit Airlines has some budget fairs, if you will not be bringing any luggage (except a handbag or briefcase that fits into the space under the seat in front of you.) You can even upgrade to forward seating *their version of fist class) for about $50 at the time of booking if they have space!

Problem might be getting from the RV to the airport. Brenda is a long ways from Phoenix. I do know that Tiffany RV resort in Mesa AZ is a great place, I spent one summer and fall there. It is close enough to the airport that it will not break the bank to take a taxi to the airport, or a shuttle van service.

You can also plan the trip via Weather.com

This works well if you have a 3-5 day window of when you will be leaving, and can leave a day or two early if weather looks promising. You can stop in Eugene or Grants Pass if you need to wait a day or so for the pass near Ashland, and then when weather is good, make you way all the way to Sacramento. From there, weather will be acceptable all the way to Bakersfield, as the valley starts near sea level, and goes up to about 800' elevation near Bakersfield.

At Bakersfield, if the weather over the grapevine looks bad, then check out highway 58 towards Barsto. From there, you can take highways 14 or 395 south into the LA area, or stay on 58 to meet up with I 40 into Arizona, and stay near Laughlin.

I40 into Flagstaff will surely be covered with something called "FeetofSnow" by January, you do not want to go there.

Benson AZ can get snow in the winter, it is at a higher elevation than nearby Tucson. If you find snow up there, try Tucson. Lake Patagonia is one place I spent Thanksgiving, it was very nice that time of year.

Between Tucson and Texas, the elevation climbs on I10. It can get a lot of snow each winter, but not all at once, you normally can have 3-8 day windows with sunny weather, and be able to get through the area with dry roads - even in the winter.

Have a great time camping!

Fred.

Why not take it south before the snow is a problem, put it in storage for a couple of months and then fly home? There are cheap air fares on airlines like Southwest. You can drive your toad down in January. A couple months of storage for the MH won't be too expensive.

Bill