Best route I-5 to Depoe Bay

20 is my preferred route. Easy hop from Eugene/Coberg. Some twists and turns as you approach Newport but take it slow and let traffic pass when you can. I don't do it at the end of a long day.

I agree that 22/18 at Salem is a winner.

When you get to Depoe Bay, be sure to consider lunch @ Tidal Rave (north end of town). After a storm and high tide the waves are incredible and food is good.
Usually places to park RV just off (parallel to the highway) just north of the restaurant.

Head to Salem then hit 22/18 and come out at Lincoln City....south about 10 miles to Depoe Bay. Easy drive.

emarkwick wrote:
So, heading from the Sacramento, CA area up to Depoe Bay, OR this summer, wondering about the best route across from I-5 to Depoe Bay. I've done 138/38 from Sutherlin to Reedsport a couple of times when we went to Florence, but there's some other options further north that I haven't been on. 22/18 looks pretty easy on a map. 20 looks a little worse, but not as bad as some the traps I've fallen in crossing over down around Sea Ranch and Manchester.

My 1st. choice would be Hwy. 42 over to CoosBay/Hwy. 101. I use this route every year and tow a 33 ft. 5th wheel.
An alternative route would be:
Sac. I-5 north to Hwy. 20 at Clear Lake over to 101 and then north up the Oregon coast. RV friendly route and gives you a great scenic trip up the whole Oregon coast to Depoe Bay. I suspect the milage is approx. the same. This also eliminates going over the Siskiyou mountain.

I absolutely can not recommend Hwy 20 unless its middle of the day and low traffic. I did it with our 35' motorhome no toad, at night in the rain. Worst drive of my entire life.

Hwy 126 from Eugene is pretty good, but the road is not in great shape in parts, once you get to Mapleton, then it gets some waves in the road since its on very soft ground, some of it gets pretty wild. Very doable just not great.

Hwy 38 from Drain over to Reedsport would be my choice, much better road the whole way and easy drive.

You could pick up 126 from Eugene over to Florence and up 101...easy route. That said, we've come across US 20 from Corvalis with no problems. There's some switch backs but not too terribly bad. We're 65' so you should be ok....Dennis