highway 97 in Oregon

[Golden_boys]

Has anyone taken route 97 from Oregon into California. We want to avoid the area near Portland. We will hook up with I-5 in CA to visit the Redwood Forest. Thank you SemperFi

[goducks10]

daveor wrote:

johntank wrote:

daveor wrote:
I would suggest coming south on 97 to the Diamond lake turn off, then take 138 into Roseburg, very scenic drive along the N. Umpqua river. Catch I-5 south to Grants Pass and then 199 to the redwoods. 7 feathers campground is very nice,, We live in Canyonville and have been to the campground a number of time.

Sounds better than what I was thinking 97 to 138 to 230 to 64 to 234 into Gold Hill then north to Grants Pass and 199 to Redwood NP.
Next time I go to see family in the Grants Pass area maybe I can remember to try 138 all the way to I-5 at Roseburg.

I think it is a lot prettier drive along the N Umpqua river.

I've ridden/driven 138 plenty of times. Never gets boring. Just drove it from Diamond Lake last Sun.

[daveor]

johntank wrote:

daveor wrote:
I would suggest coming south on 97 to the Diamond lake turn off, then take 138 into Roseburg, very scenic drive along the N. Umpqua river. Catch I-5 south to Grants Pass and then 199 to the redwoods. 7 feathers campground is very nice,, We live in Canyonville and have been to the campground a number of time.

Sounds better than what I was thinking 97 to 138 to 230 to 64 to 234 into Gold Hill then north to Grants Pass and 199 to Redwood NP.
Next time I go to see family in the Grants Pass area maybe I can remember to try 138 all the way to I-5 at Roseburg.

I think it is a lot prettier drive along the N Umpqua river.

[johntank]

daveor wrote:
I would suggest coming south on 97 to the Diamond lake turn off, then take 138 into Roseburg, very scenic drive along the N. Umpqua river. Catch I-5 south to Grants Pass and then 199 to the redwoods. 7 feathers campground is very nice,, We live in Canyonville and have been to the campground a number of time.

Sounds better than what I was thinking 97 to 138 to 230 to 64 to 234 into Gold Hill then north to Grants Pass and 199 to Redwood NP.
Next time I go to see family in the Grants Pass area maybe I can remember to try 138 all the way to I-5 at Roseburg.

[ktmrfs]

daveor wrote:
I would suggest coming south on 97 to the Diamond lake turn off, then take 138 into Roseburg, very scenic drive along the N. Umpqua river. Catch I-5 south to Grants Pass and then 199 to the redwoods. 7 feathers campground is very nice,, We live in Canyonville and have been to the campground a number of time.

same route I would take, but you've got the highway numbers to go with it. And either 7 feathers or Valley of the Rogue SP for camping.

and 199 is a very nice scenic drive.

and if you have the time and inclination on the way back, go north from the redwoods on 101 up the oregon coast. Majestic, lots of campgrounds, lots to see.

[donkeydew]

daveor wrote:
I would suggest coming south on 97 to the Diamond lake turn off, then take 138 into Roseburg, very scenic drive along the N. Umpqua river. Catch I-5 south to Grants Pass and then 199 to the redwoods. 7 feathers campground is very nice,, We live in Canyonville and have been to the campground a number of time.

x2 all good advice

[daveor]

I would suggest coming south on 97 to the Diamond lake turn off, then take 138 into Roseburg, very scenic drive along the N. Umpqua river. Catch I-5 south to Grants Pass and then 199 to the redwoods. 7 feathers campground is very nice,, We live in Canyonville and have been to the campground a number of time.

[cpaulsen]

I would come down 97 to Hwy.140 westbound(by KFalls) to White City/Medford and hit I-5 Northbound to Grants Pass then 199 to the Coast/

[bikendan]

if you want to get to the Redwoods, i see no reason to go all the way over to 97, unless, as others said, you cut across for Crater Lake.

we always use 205 around Portland during traffic times and cut across at Grants Pass to get to the Redwoods.

not sure where you expect to cut across to I5 to the Redwoods? 299 isn't a great drive.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Been over it once years ago. I called it the camel back road. Up and down, up and down, up and down. That road killed my fuel mileage. No big deal but be aware that this road goes up and down a lot. Nice river next to the hwy in a few spots.

[Bull_Rider]

We've taken 97 from Eastern Washington all the way to the end several times. As far as Portland goes, the 205 bypass works for us. I wouldn't go out of my way to avoid it, but I would not want to hit rush hour either.

97's a nice drive too.

[SteveAE]

Hwy 97 is a great route and some truckers prefer it over I-5. And it is by far, much more scenic. However, gas prices are a bit higher than along I-5.

Have fun,
Steve

[amandasgramma]

🙂 🙂 🙂 I live 1 1/2 miles off 97 just south of Bend. They're ALL right about the road. And I agree with ktmrfs about cutting over at Crater Lake cutoff. That's one of the prettiest drives in Oregon IMHO....:) 🙂 Enjoy!!!!

[ktmrfs]

nice drive, very scenic, lots of things to stop and see along the way, lots of nice campgrounds near/on 97. All in all a very good alternative to I-5. may take longer but much more scenic and relaxing and like you mention, bypasses, portland, salem, eugene etc.

There are enough pull-offs and passing lanes that traffic isn't much of a problem.

If your heading to the coast redwoods, you might consider cutting over to I-5 at the crater lake cutoff on 97, stay at crater lake or diamond lake. Then hit I-5 south and cut over to the redwoods in southern Oregon/Northern CA by the Oregon caves to 101. On I-5 7 feathers Casino RV park is very nice and inexpensive, or the Valley of the Rogue state park has great sites on the Rogue river. If salmon are spawning, you can watch them coming up river.

[path1]

Golden boys wrote:
Has anyone taken route 97 from Oregon into California. We want to avoid the area near Portland. We will hook up with I-5 in CA to visit the Redwood Forest. Thank you SemperFi

Beautiful trip. Don't know if you SemperFi'd long enough but Klamath Falls has facilities. Nothing special, but good place to overnight depending on space available.