Texas to Washington State

[MerryLynn]

Hello,
I'm an RV newbie and have been living in my RV for the past month. I had planned stay in Texas for the winter, but my situation changed and now I'm moving to the coast of Washington State. I'm leaving in late October and taking the trip slow; planning to drive about 300 miles a day for a total of 10 days. I'm towing a 20-foot Rockwood Mini Lite travel trailer with a 2018 Toyota Sequoia.

To avoid the winter weather likely on the most direct route, I plan to take Interstate 40 to California and then head north on Hwy 101.

Can you see any potential problems with this route? Any areas I need to avoid? (Note: I've already removed California's restricted routes from my plan)

Thanks in advance for your help!
Merry

[Lwiddis]

Be prepared for freezing temperatures....antifreeze etc...but it should be a great drive.

[TexasShadow]

We've been over most of the roads mentioned so far in this thread and Islandman's suggestion sounds the best to me for avoiding weather conditions and tough grades.

[Islandman]

I'd work my way over towards Bakersfield, then north up towards Sacramento and then a little farther north, take CA 20 over to Clear Lake and then west to US 101. Follow US 101 all the way up thru OR (some nice CG's along the way) and then crossing into WA. Next route depends on where you're heading in WA. Either work your way over to Olympia and then up I-5, or if you're going to the coastal area, stay on US 101. If you're going up to the NW part of WA, then catch WA 20 which is west of Port Townsend and take it over to wherever you may need to go. Big thing about I-5 is that you need to plan on driving thru Seattle area between 10 and 2 to avoid heavy commuter traffic, Sunday is the best day unless there is a football game. Have a good trip!

[Tom_Barb]

Weather-----Weather --- Weather,, You may luck out, I-40 to 25 to I-80- I-84 -I-90
Well traveled route, Even I-5 may have snow and hazardous conditions.

[dedmiston]

The 101 is definitely prettier than I-5.

Going up I-5, you would need to cross the Grapevine, which is a tough tow.

If you take the 101, you'll have a big grade after you get out of L.A. before you get to Canejo and another one after San Luis Obispo (the Cuesta Grade). There's also a small grade between those two in Gaviota. Don't let your nav send you over the San Marcos Pass. You'll hate it and everyone on the road will hate you. It only shaves 20 minutes off the drive for a passenger car--not worth it.

You can avoid the Canejo pass if you're coming in on the 10 by taking 210 > 118 > 23 > 101. This avoids a lot of city traffic too.