Please critique my itinerary to WA/OR

[rp18104]

We're planning a six week trip from western VA to WA and OR in Sept./Oct. There are some people we plan to meet up with out there, so our itinerary has to mesh with the times they are available. So I'm working around that.

I've done a lot of research and have short listed the sights we're interested in, activities we'd like to do, and gathered information on campground choices. We love mountains and water, hiking, photography, kayaking (we're taking ours), fishing, learning about nature, and just hanging out in places with beautiful scenery and talking to fellow campers. Not so keen on cities, but will hit a few spots in Seattle and Portland. We've visited many western states, but this is our first time to WA/OR.

Our rig is a fairly new Silverado 1500 towing a 2285 Lance travel trailer. Our route will be mainly I-80, I-90, then up to WA.

These are the areas we would base and then branch out from there for day trips.

Here goes:

8/30 - 9/5 Travel starting in western VA (we have a couple purposeful stops along the way-visting friends, etc.)
9/5-8 – Coulee, Wenatchee, Lake Chelan
9/8-10 - North Cascades NP
9/10-9/15 – Seattle area (meeting sons here for a long weekend)
9/15-9/18 - Olympic NP
9/18-9/20 - Mt. Rainier
9/20-9/22 Mt. St. Helens
9/22-9/25 - Columbia River Gorge area
9/25-9/27 - Mt. Hood area
9/27-9/30 – Portland (day trip to Silver Falls SP)
9/30-10/4 –Coast (all the way to CA border - may hop over to Redwoods)
10/4-10/6 - Crater Lake
10/6-10/10 - Bend area (we have friends to meet up with here for kayaking and fishing)
10/10-10/15 - Drive home to western VA

I'd appreciate it if you commented on the length of time allotted for the various areas. Would you add or subtract time from some of them? Is there anything spectacular that I've omitted? We like to stay in a place long enough to immerse ourselves and relax rather than go, go, go.

The only reservations I've made so far are at the KOA near SeaTac. We're just going to wing it for the most part and don't mind boon docking, if need be.

Thanks to my veteran RVers for their great comments.

[amandasgramma]

donn0128 wrote:
Second generation Oregonian, I have seen hard freeze every month of the year in Central Oregon. While Sept on the coast is usually nice, by the second week of October the rains can set in pretty steady. Everbody has their opinions, and I expressed mine. You are welcome to express yours!

DITTO!!!!!
Also --- Not sure where you'll be in Portland....but a day trip to Silver Falls isn't enough, imho. 45 minutes from Salem to Portland (south end of Portland to outskirt of Salem), barring no traffic tie-ups. Then 1/2 hour or more out to Silver Falls (or more if you get lost...LOL)....Also, if you can take longer there, go to the Oregon Gardens...they're beautiful!

[Naio]

Another thing to consider: Early September has gorgeous, fantastic fall colors in the Oregon mountains. I haven't timed it right, but I would guess maybe late August for Washington mountains?

Later for lowlands, of course, and generally less color at lower elevations. Early Oct has some.

[Naio]

rp18104 wrote:
As part of my research, I did investigate the weather for the past few years during Sept./early Oct. in many of the areas in which we will be traveling. I found that the average temps and precipitation over the past few years (throwing out the extreme few days here and there, which are to be expected during the course of a month), were perfectly acceptable to us.

We will gladly take the cooler temps in Sept. to the crowds one would encounter a month earlier...
The beauty of having a flexible off season itinerary is that it can be altered if bad weather threatens.

Well, if you are ok with it...

Personally, I would do the inland mountain/desert part first, and the coast/Seattle part after. Your not going to have crowds anywhere, after Sep 1st when school starts. The northwest is not the Grand Canyon :). I would not think about crowds at all, except for sunny weekends on the coast. And even then.

As people have said, rain happens off and on in Oct. in the coast and valleys, but it's usually not real cold. Snow and ice in the mountain passes, though. And when does the road up to Crater Lake close?

[winnietrey]

rp18104 wrote:

winnietrey wrote:
I agree your time on the coast maybe a little short. One thing you might consider is coming in off I-5 half way down. To me the central a southern part of the coast, is the best.

The rouge river jets boats, are an awful lot of fun. Might consider a day there

Do you mean starting around Newport and going south from there? Yes, we have the Rogue River jet boats on our short list of activities as well as dune buggies.

Yeah or even Lincoln City. Thing is by the time you get from Portland to Astoria then down the coast to say Newport that is about a day.

Coast is winding and sort of slow going, best stuff to me is Lincoln city south.

[rp18104]

winnietrey wrote:
I agree your time on the coast maybe a little short. One thing you might consider is coming in off I-5 half way down. To me the central a southern part of the coast, is the best.

The rouge river jets boats, are an awful lot of fun. Might consider a day there

Do you mean starting around Newport and going south from there? Yes, we have the Rogue River jet boats on our short list of activities as well as dune buggies.

[rp18104]

As part of my research, I did investigate the weather for the past few years during Sept./early Oct. in many of the areas in which we will be traveling. I found that the average temps and precipitation over the past few years (throwing out the extreme few days here and there, which are to be expected during the course of a month), were perfectly acceptable to us.

We will gladly take the cooler temps in Sept. to the crowds one would encounter a month earlier.

Heck, last Feb. in "sunny Florida", we had many days with highs only in the 50's and close to freezing at night. We still did most of what we wanted to do. Jackets, hats, and gloves are marvelous things!

The beauty of having a flexible off season itinerary is that it can be altered if bad weather threatens.

[winnietrey]

I agree your time on the coast maybe a little short. One thing you might consider is coming in off I-5 half way down. To me the central a southern part of the coast, is the best.

The rouge river jets boats, are an awful lot of fun. Might consider a day there

[paulj]

Looks good to me. As long as you are flexible and prepared for some rain and cool weather you shouldn't have problems. Rainy weather can start in September, but can be delayed. Check park and forest service websites for any opening/closing times. Labor Day and school make a big difference in campground business, and in Oct, the hunters are out.

[dvitale300]

Shady cove. Perhaps some steelhead fishing on the Rogue rover. Klamath falls is also kind of interesting.

[Ed_Gee]

donn0128 wrote:
Second generation Oregonian, I have seen hard freeze every month of the year in Central Oregon. While Sept on the coast is usually nice, by the second week of October the rains can set in pretty steady. Everbody has their opinions, and I expressed mine. You are welcome to express yours!

Donn, my perceptions are different than yours. Our annual rainfall avg. here on the Central coast is only 5" in October, and negligible in Sept. However, it certainly can vary year to year.... and be more up North.....but my point is that it is nothing to be of concern for the planned trip by the original poster. Your temps in the Bend / Central Oregon area are the same situation ... I don't consider temps in the upper 20s to low 30s to be of great concern...although if it rains at those times that could be a problem on the passes. The zero degrees I experienced in Burns a couple Winters ago is definitely a "hard freeze", though. I just did not want the original poster to be too dissuaded from his trip during that period of the year as most of it should be just dandy for him.

[Army11Bravo]

The timing is fine in fall. My only concern is the length to drive the coast. To fully appreciate it, add many more days. We didn't on our trip and regretted not spending ten days on the coast.

[donn0128]

Second generation Oregonian, I have seen hard freeze every month of the year in Central Oregon. While Sept on the coast is usually nice, by the second week of October the rains can set in pretty steady. Everbody has their opinions, and I expressed mine. You are welcome to express yours!

[Ed_Gee]

donn0128 wrote:
Poor choices. Besides way late in the season, you need 10 days just for the coast to do it justice. Crater lake will be all closed down for the season, possibly snow by then. Bend area? Expect highs in the 50's and overnights below freezing. Bend area is high desert region. 4000 foot elevations. Coast by then will be 40's/50's and lots of rain.
Honestly your itiniary is at least 30 days late for the best weather.

You've got to be kidding! The very best months on the Oregon coast are September and October. ... at least they've been the best for me the past 12 years. ... and far too early to worry about freezing and snow in the Bend area, too.

[donn0128]

Poor choices. Besides way late in the season, you need 10 days just for the coast to do it justice. Crater lake will be all closed down for the season, possibly snow by then. Bend area? Expect highs in the 50's and overnights below freezing. Bend area is high desert region. 4000 foot elevations. Coast by then will be 40's/50's and lots of rain.
Honestly your itiniary is at least 30 days late for the best weather.

[gbopp]

If you're going to be winging it for most of the trip, did you check the following for possible overnight stops?

Free Campgrounds

Free Campsites

Casino Camper

There are other sites for free/cheap overnight stops. Just do a little research.

You have a full agenda but, I like to use Roadside America when traveling. Maybe you can find something interesting along your route.

Enjoy your travels.