Best route? Spokane - Twisp - Toppenish

[The_Barbarian1]

Need help on two parts of a trip:
First part from Spokane to Twisp, WA
First Choice: Highway 174 from Grand Coulee to Brewster.
2nd choice:
highway 155 from Grand Coulee to Omak and then onto Twisp.

The second part of the trip is from Twisp to Toppenish, WA. Highway 97 down to Ellensburg? This is new driving territory for me. All help is welcomed.

[The_Barbarian1]

We have long since moved through the Methow Valley, Twisp and Pateros several weeks ago. It is strange to watch on TV and read in the newspaper how the massive wildfires have moved through this area. Our friends home in the mountains above the Twisp River is still standing according to the maps. Our best wishes and prayers go to people effected by the fires, because these fires are not under control.

[The_Barbarian1]

Pulled into the Yakama Nation RV park in Toppenish this afternoon. The information on the route out of Spokane and into Toppenish were dead on. The only sign that really caught my attention was the tote board of the number of deer hit by cars on Highway 153. 89 deer this year? Holy smokes it sounds like a video game!

[paulj]

There are only 3 roads to Twisp - WA20 from the east, WA20 from the west, and 153. 20 from the east crosses a modest pass, and as such does have the curves typical of a good 2 lane mountain road. I don't recall anything tight, but you will be turning the steering wheel most of the time (no long straight stretches where you can put it on autopilot). 153 follows a minor river valley. It's been a while since I drove it, but I don't recall it being particularly twisty.

But since you are going to Twisp, and then leaving again, I'd suggest taking 20 in, and 153 out.

None of these roads are anything close to the California 'RV/Bus restricted' category.

Get on Google Maps and zoom in (with terrain mode and streetview) to see for yourself.

[clikrf8]

If you travel from Pateros on 153 to Twisp, try to stop at the fruit stand on your left. Yummy homemade pastries and organic hand-picked fruit. We were there last Wednesday and they had organic cherries for $3.50 a pound.

We have a TC but I don't remember any places a bigger rig couldn't handle.

[The_Barbarian1]

Solid research folks - it is appreciated. We are looking for the route with the least curves - tough in this part of the state. On that basis, is highway 153 from Pateros up to highway 20 big rig friendly?

[paulj]

http://www.parks.wa.gov/288/Ginkgo-Petrified-Forest
Wanapum is closed due to dam repairs.

[louiskathy]

On that last part of your trip... from Twisp to Toppenish,WA.
I am NOT a fan of Blewett Pass. It's not scenic. It's a long gradual uphill drive that eats gas. It's not hard. It's just a very long uphill pull going from Wenatchee toward Ellensburg.

I would drive hwy 97 to Wenatchee... then go hwy 28 to hwy 281... connect into Interstate 90.... cross the Columbia River to Ellensburg and then Interstate 82 to Yakima and head down to Toppenish.

There are two things I want to point out. First of all, the beautiful overlook of the Columbia River on your RIGHT as you head west on I-90... Look for it after you leave hwy 281 behind. 2nd of all... at the same time... look on the ridge on the left and you'll see a metal sculpture of a herd of horses racing on the ridge. You'll want to stop to take it in. I think it's mile post 139 on I-90.

And if you want a beautiful campground...seek out Wanapum State Park on Huntszinger Rd (mile post 136 maybe) it will be just as you come off the I-90 bridge...on the WEST side of the Columbia River... SOUTH of Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park.

It's a long uphill pull to get from the Columbia River to Ellensburg. No getting around going uphill. Does not matter whether it's Blewett Pass or coming this way... you got to do the uphill somewhere.

There's a really scenic (curvey) road from Ellensburg south to Yakima. It's Hwy
821. Lots of parking areas to pull off and get down to the river... but not all of those parking areas are paved. The drive is beautiful though and you'll be going downhill from Ellensburg to Yakima on it.

[louiskathy]

hwy 2 to hwy 174... toward Bridgeport,Wa. you don't have to go into town... but if you do need a campground there is a very clean and nice small one on the river... by 7th and Jefferson ave. (the town is not very big so you can sure find it.) Bridgeport has a gas station but not a grocery store.

then take hwy 17 around the north side of the Columbia river... connect to hwy 97 then go west toward Brewster, WA. (Brewster has a grocery store and a small hospital)

Then continue west on hwy 97 to Pateros... and take hwy 153 up (and it will be a gradual up... no passes) to Twisp. (Actually hwy 153 does not go all the way to Twisp. It runs into Hwy 20 and you take hwy 20 west to Twisp.)

The drive from Pateros to Twisp is curvy, scenic and follows the Methow river.

Twisp has a grocery store... HANKS... that is known for it's home smoked bacon, salmon and jerky. Groceries are pricey in the Methow Valley. Buy your coffee somewhere before you get there! Gas prices are usually higher there, too. So fill up in Bridgeport or Brewster!

[Bull_Rider]

From Twisp to Toppenish I would go south to 97, then south through East Wenatchee, south on 28 through Quincy, then south from Quincy to I-90. West on I-90 to Ellensburg, then south on I-82 through Yakima to Toppenish.

You will have a hard pull west from the Vantage Bridge, but Blewett Pass is a pretty good pull too.

We've pulled RV's both routes many times and we live in the Wenatchee area.

[mockturtle]

'Best' meaning easiest? Most scenic? Fastest?

[paulj]

How are you on hills and grades?

All crossings of the Columbia River involve a drop from the plateau to river level. That includes the one at Coulee City. I90 is most gentle. There will be some climb on the other side, though most routes follow a river valley.

Omak to Twisp involves a modest pass, Loup Loup. From a tourist standpoint, Wintrop is more interesting than Twisp itself.

US97 has a couple of passes, Blewett south of Winatchee, and another ridge crossing south of Ellensburg. But it is a major highway all the way.