We are in Reno/Sparks and had planned to work our way over to I-5 to go north to Prince George BC. With the bridge out in WA we are rethinking our route. Should we consider 395 all the way to the border? We are towing a 22' TT w/ our GMC Sierra 4x4 truck. Any suggestions will be appreciated. lizzie

395 is a fine road. But to avoid some mountain passes consider heading east on I90 to George WA and cut north on 183/17/174. This will put you close to Grand Culee Dam, Dry Falls and end up back on 395. From there it is a great drive all the way north. Once you cross the border be sure to stay for a few days in the Okanogen valley and enjoy the wineries. Just made this trip back form a few days in Penticton. Other than hassles at the border going north it is a nice trip. Remember 395 takes you clear Prince George.Be sure to spend one nith at Goose Lake State Park right on the OR/CA border. Tell the ranger Tim hi for us.

US395 to the border, BC 3 west BC33 north to Kallowna, BC97 to Prince George would be fine.You could also take WA17 across the middle of Washington to US97.Or jog east a bit (somewhere) and take US93/BC93, and take 93 through the Canada parks to Jasper, 16 west to PG.All of the US# highways running north through this area would be fine.

donn0128 wrote:395 is a fine road. But to avoid some mountain passes consider heading east on I90 to George WA...Aren't you thinking of US97 here? US395 in Washington runs NE toward Spokane, and from there NW to the border. It only crosses mountains in NCentral Oregon. US97 has 3 modest passes in Washington, Satus, Manastash, Blewett. Going east on I90 only bypasses Blewett.I'm also confused by your 183/17/174 sequence.

Oops, ypur right. 395 north to Lakeview, and 31 over to 97. From there 97 north to I90 in Washington.Dang fingers.Yea, it is 283 from I90 at George,WA takes you to SoapLake. Where you can get on 17 up to 174. This is a mostly nice drive. The state park at Dry Falls looks really nice for a nite. 174/17 will dump you back on 97 north. Be sure to fuel up at Omak as north of there fuel gets expensive as heck.

395 is a fine road from Spokane on. Just follow division and keep going north. All of it is my old stomping grounds. I've also traveled it from the Oregon side and enjoyed it too so long as one isn't in a hurry.

Reno NV to Rosslands (Lake Christina)BC on 395?

Lowsuv
Explorer
May 28, 2013
sparks to susanville to alturas to lakeview to bend .
97 north from there
paulj
Explorer II
May 28, 2013
'best' for a drive this long is a fuzzy concept. With 24hrs of driving, a hour or two difference in estimated time does not matter much. Even if I5 has a time advantage (on paper) that could evaporate if you hit Portland or Seattle in heavy traffic. According to the WSDOT page, delays in Mt Vernon have not been long. The detour adds about 15 minutes to the drive. In heavier return traffic today that grew to 30 minutes.

Google Maps gives as its fastest choice US395/US97/OR58/I5. But not much different is US95, I84, WA17, US/BC97. That bypasses all major cities.

US395 to WA17 is basically the same. US395 to Spokane adds 2 hrs.

How do you want to break up those (roughly) 24hrs. 3 8hr days means 2 overnights. It might easier to find a Walmart or Pilot to stop at if you take I5, easier to find a forest service campground if you take an inland route.
garyhaupt
Explorer
May 28, 2013
Get to Oroville/Oyoyoos whichever way...then cruise the Okanagan..hit the wineries. Nice weather and all...then to Kamloops, Cache Crik and to PG.

Gary Haupt
lizzie
Explorer
May 28, 2013
What I really need is advice on the best way to get from where I am (Sparks),across the border and headed for Prince George BC. Is I-5 still a viable option? Should I take I-5 to US 97 and go north there? It looks as if 395 will be longer and much slower. Thanks so much, lizzie
paulj
Explorer II
May 27, 2013
Washington now hopes to get a temporary fix in within 3 weeks, and permanent one by September.

Try to use a map with terrain to see what kind of land the various routes cross.
lizzie
Explorer
May 27, 2013
Thanks everybody. We are sitting down tonight to study the maps and make a decision. You have suggested some alternatives that I had not considered. lizzie
Gemstone
Explorer
May 27, 2013
You might consider 395 to Alturas, 299W to CA139N/OR39N to 140 just south of Klamath Falls to 97N.

Regards
Gemstone
71stang99
Explorer
May 27, 2013
395 is a fine road from Spokane on. Just follow division and keep going north. All of it is my old stomping grounds. I've also traveled it from the Oregon side and enjoyed it too so long as one isn't in a hurry.
donn0128
Explorer II
May 27, 2013
Oops, ypur right.
395 north to Lakeview, and 31 over to 97. From there 97 north to I90 in Washington.
Dang fingers.
Yea, it is 283 from I90 at George,WA takes you to SoapLake. Where you can get on 17 up to 174. This is a mostly nice drive. The state park at Dry Falls looks really nice for a nite. 174/17 will dump you back on 97 north. Be sure to fuel up at Omak as north of there fuel gets expensive as heck.
paulj
Explorer II
May 27, 2013
donn0128 wrote:
395 is a fine road. But to avoid some mountain passes consider heading east on I90 to George WA...

Aren't you thinking of US97 here? US395 in Washington runs NE toward Spokane, and from there NW to the border. It only crosses mountains in NCentral Oregon.

US97 has 3 modest passes in Washington, Satus, Manastash, Blewett. Going east on I90 only bypasses Blewett.

I'm also confused by your 183/17/174 sequence.