Hwy I-5 winter travel questions - Vancouver to Palm Springs

Plan an overnight at SevenFeathers in Canyonville, Or. so that you can time the pass south of Ashland for afternoon. It is a great place to get road conditions. They get lots of updates from ODOT and truckers going both ways over the pass. Also check out TripCheck.com and follow the cameras along I 5 in Or and Ca.

Thank you all for your excellent information. As an RV newbie I am so very pleased at the neighborly and helpful nature of nearly everyone we meet in our RV travels. We have certainly selected a great way to tour Canada and the USA. Thanks again!
Gary

As stated Southern OR and Northern CA are potential snow areas, 7 Feathers Casino (Canyonville OR) has a great RV park, spend the night and leave when highway check is clear.

I carry chains to be legal otherwise I just pull over and wait. So if you can, build an extra day or so into your travel plans and relax.

If its snowing on I5 in Cali. Most of the time they just shut the road down. Even in the north. Grapevine its yeh or nay.

Carry chains for one truck axle and one trailer axle.
Stay about three days behind any storm and you should never need the chains except to show if asked.
Although you should test fit them before the trip.

I prefer link chains on the primary drive axle and carry flimsy cables for the trailer.

Normally you can plan around any storms along I5. Just north of Grants Pass there is about 5 mountain passes, short mountains - just about 1,200' at the most over each one, then back down to the valley with a river to cross, then back up over a small pass.

From Ashland to Redding is a large mountain pass. If it is raining in Medford and Grants Pass, then likely it will snow at the 4,500' pass above. You can spend a day or two in Grants Pass, Rouge River, or another area. Then take the pass when good weather will happen for the next 24 hours. It is unlikely that you will have bad weather, yet it only takes about 3 days to get great weather.

Once south of Redding, then you are in another valley, and not likely to see any snow until south of Bakersfield. There I 5 goes over another 6% grade and 4,500+ foot elevation. If it is raining, spend the night, and then try in the morning. Likely it will clear up. Or you can take highway 58 east to highway 395, then south to Palm Springs, and never go over about 3,500' elevation, and MISS a lot of LA traffic. Even save a few miles too!

Fred.

I5 does not cross any passes in Washington. Travel on Washington I5 will similar to driving Hwy 1 in the Lower Mainland BC. Same for the northern half of Oregon. It's likely to be wet, unless a cold ridge has drifted south from the BC interior, and leaks cold air through river valleys.

Oregon chain laws are very explicit. Carry chains for both the tow vehicle and also the trailer and use them if directed or face a pretty hefty fine. You can read more Here

In Oregon your major passes on I5 to watch out for are Sexton Pass North of Grants Pass and naturally the Siskiyou's South of Ashland into California. The next area to watch is from Weed Ca South almost to Redding. After that it is clear sailing.

We carry chains to meet the law but usually just lay over if it really looks like it is going to get bad.

If your rig is over 10,000 pounds you must carry tire chains for towing vehicle and trailer for last braking axle. Book says you must carry a spare chain as well. The book says you must chain if signs require autos to have snow or traction tires. Doesn't matter whether tow vehicle has four wheel drive or no.
Standard trailer tires are sufficient.
Only real place you could have issue is south of Ashland, OR and down to around Mt. Shasta, CA.
Watch the weather and hold up is my advise. We have carried chains for MH and toad. I would never put them on. I would wait out any storm and wait for truckers to go with out chains.
Oregon chain requirements
Washington chain requirements
California chain requirements