Travel and Winter roads on I84 Idaho, Oregon, Washington

I84 is fairly flat all the way from Salt Lake City to Ontario, Or. Then is becomes very mountainous with multiple passes until you drop down a 10 mile 6% grade into Pendleton, OR close to the Columbia River. Then it is a fairly flat road again until you get through Yakima, WA and then you will start multiple long upward grades until you drop down into Ellensburg, WA where you would pick up I90 into Seattle. Snoqualmie pass on I90 isn't very difficult after the ones you have encountered between Ontario, OR and Pendleton and between Yakima and Ellensburg. The weather can be really nasty in any of those areas. If you are pulling a heavy 5th wheel I would recommend taking an alternate route by going from Ontario, OR to Bend, OR and then head North on 97 to Madras, OR then head NW towards Mt Hood into the Eastern Suburbs of Portland and pick up I5 North to Seattle. Longer but much better winter road conditions and many less passes. The only area where road conditions might get dicey in the winter would be around Mt Hood. Watching the weather forecast would be an absolute must no matter which way you go, Once you get into Western, WA you typically will only be dealing with rainy weather but the temps can drop below freezing there too and the roads can become treacherous with ice and snow but not nearly as often as the mountain passes. .

I live in The Gorge. It can get nasty with ice or snow at times. We can also have freezing fog, as we have had for the last several days. Watch the weather reports and we try to drive during the daytime. Good luck! :)

Like everyone said, watch the web cams and weather reports and have chains ready for your 5er, if you're towing one. Oregon is pretty strict on having them for the trailer. That is one beautiful drive in summer, and can get pretty ugly in winter.

Done it enough times to know that it's about staying on top of the weather info...when it's bad the Blue Mtn canyons from the Idaho line to Baker City can be a problem...next is the backside of Cabbage and as already mentioned the ice/black ice on 84 along the river to Portland.

Here is the link for Idaho traffic cams . We are having serious inversion problems this year and the fog through the western part of I-84 has been very bad. Check your road and weather conditions carefully before you head out.

The descent from Emigrant Pass (aka Deadman pass) will be pretty hairy.

When I was growing up it was always called 'Cabbage Hill'. :) It's a very long grade.

amandasgramma wrote:
Check this website EVERY day.....TRAFFIC CAMS

Oregon is having less snow this year again......but I84 up by the Columbia Gorge is notorious for ice rains.......so be VERY careful......

Oh, and we're not fans of going west on the Washington side.....curvy, narrow roads.....:) I84 to Portland is kept as plowed, etc, as possible because it's a main thoroughfare for truckers.

x2

Check this website EVERY day.....TRAFFIC CAMS

Oregon is having less snow this year again......but I84 up by the Columbia Gorge is notorious for ice rains.......so be VERY careful......

Oh, and we're not fans of going west on the Washington side.....curvy, narrow roads.....:) I84 to Portland is kept as plowed, etc, as possible because it's a main thoroughfare for truckers.

donn0128 wrote:
Do a search for tripcheck Oregon starting about a week before you plan to travel. Look at the cameras for up to the minute information. If your heading to Seattle area ( I am sorry for your problem) consider taking I82 just west pr Pendelton connecting to I90. Shortens the drive some what. If you come into Portland, Take I205 north connecting to I5

It does shorten the trip, but there is the 4 hills in the way, Snoqualmie pass, and Manastash ridge, and the two lower ridges south of it, north of Yakima.

If you stay on 84 to I205, you may have icy roads in The Gorge. You will need to watch road reports and the weather reports closely in this area, and make your choice based on the best condition.

Do a search for tripcheck Oregon starting about a week before you plan to travel. Look at the cameras for up to the minute information. If your heading to Seattle area ( I am sorry for your problem) consider taking I82 just west pr Pendelton connecting to I90. Shortens the drive some what. If you come into Portland, Take I205 north connecting to I5