best route to portland oregon from lake tahoe ca.

If you are looking for the nastiest, boringest route it is I-80 to I-5 straight into Portland. Shorter and not too hard is 395 to Susanville to the 49 to the 89 and up the i-5 from Shasta. That is likely the route your GPS is using and is a good road with no big climbs. a Much nicer drive.

But probably to be considered is if you are going to do the whole drive in one long painful slog. If you are planning to stay somewhere on the way, I think the recommendations would change.

David, we like to take 395N to Alturas then 299W to Canby then 139N & 39N into K-Falls and 97N to 58W to I-5N. Born & lived the first 35 years of my life in Portland so been this route many times. Dick

tvfrfireman wrote:
......We are traveling with an animal that gets car sick and am trying to avoid winding roads and steep passes.

......Then you can forget about my recommendation. :)

Around Portland which roads are good for you, and which do you avoid. That may give us something to compare.

dicknellen wrote:
Did you mean to say to Carson Utah or Carson City Nevada? What part of Lake Tahoe are you in North or South shore? Do you want Interstate freeways or other good highways?
Dick

yes, I meant to say Nevada. We are traveling with an animal that gets car sick and am trying to avoid winding roads and steep passes. Thanks for your response. David

If I was traveling without time constraints, I would take 89 north all the way to I-5 at Mount Shasta. Great time of year without the snow.

1-80 to I-5 in Sarcramento. Straight north to Portland. Stop at 7 Feathers RV park in Canyonville Oregon.

Did you mean to say to Carson Utah or Carson City Nevada? What part of Lake Tahoe are you in North or South shore? Do you want Interstate freeways or other good highways?
Dick

Carson, utah?

The easiest route off of Lake Tahoe is US50 east to Carson and freeway to Reno.

There is a decent state highway from the NW corner (I forget the number) past Sun Valley to I80 and Truckee. It follows the outlet river so does not have climb.

From Truckee it is a short climb to the I80 summit, and a longer drop to Sacramento and I5 (which will take you all the way north).

Generally following CA89 NW to Shasta is a fine drive. Mostly it stays in the 4-5000 ft level. Some ups/downs and curves, but nothing major.

US395 all the way to Oregon is also a good option.

The mountains of NE California don't have the well defined passes of the Sierras to the south or the Oregon Cascades. Shasta and Lassen are the 2 big peaks, and the roads go around them (except the Lassen park road).

395 north to Lakeview, 31 NW to LaPine,97 north to Madras, 26 over the mountain. Fast, easy drive, not a lot of traffic during the week. Option is at Alturis NW to Klamath Falls and then 97 north. But I like the drive on 31. Beautiful interesting country.