HELP Road trip route!! (no snow) (Flagstaff, Maricopa: motorhomes, safe, bars)

[hiltongrl05]

I'm planning a trip to Maricopa, AZ to see a friend in the end of March/ early April of next year. I plan on driving my Chevy Malibu from Tacoma, Washington. I don't want to drive through California because I have done that route a few times and wanted to avoid the big cities. I wanted to drive along I- 84, through Oregon, Idaho, and Utah. We are meeting at the Grand Canyon. Can anyone PLEASE tell me if there will be mountain passes to cross and will there be snow/ice on the roadways along the way???? How many mountain passes are there. I tried to google some information but did not come up with much. If anyone has another route that avoids mountain passes... feel free to pass that info on to me!!!!! This is my first road trip by myself so I want to be safe as well.. THANKS!!!!!!

-Meme

[ElleTea]

No one can predict the weather that far out. That time of year snow is pretty likely in the higher elevations of the mountains.

[borregokid]

That time of year usually doesnt have any snow. Thats when the snowbirds return with their motorhomes and trailers. The shortest and quickest route would be from Tacoma to Twin Falls and then Salt Lake City staying on the interstate. If you want to look at absolutely nothing in the American west for about 300 miles or more with gas stations 100 miles apart then at Twin Falls Idaho you can drive to Las Vegas on hwy 93 and spend the night in Las Vegas. According to google map the travel time is about the same but the Salt Lake City route is 46 miles shorter. Ely Nevada on the scenic route is 7,000 feet and spring comes very late there. Expect to see some snow on the side of the road but it will be melting. Ely is an interesting town and it might be worth stopping there for the night.

[borregokid]

By the way all through the mountain west there are mountain passes. If you want to add 100 miles and feel safer then just head down I-5 and then at Sacramento get on Hwy 99 to Bakersfield. At Bakersfield you drive on 58 over Tehachapi Pass to Barstow which is in the desert. Continue to Las Vegas and then the south rim of the Grand Canyon. You have two mountain passes the Siskiyous and Tehachapi. I have travelled this route many times in the winter. Because these are major highways the state keeps them cleared.

[adventuregurl]

Originally Posted by borregokid

By the way all through the mountain west there are mountain passes. If you want to add 100 miles and feel safer then just head down I-5 and then at Sacramento get on Hwy 99 to Bakersfield. At Bakersfield you drive on 58 over Tehachapi Pass to Barstow which is in the desert. Continue to Las Vegas and then the south rim of the Grand Canyon. You have two mountain passes the Siskiyous and Tehachapi. I have travelled this route many times in the winter. Because these are major highways the state keeps them cleared.

There will still be at least one mountain pass that way around Southern OR / Mt. Shasta CA.

The OP should be fine at the end of April but there's always a chance of snow at high elevations.

[teddyearp]

Hiltongirl, that would be probably your best route. I have taken that route several times from Randle over white pass and then to Arizona. I think for you your worst part will be getting over Snoqualmie pass. By March-April everything should be OK. the only other part of possible concern would be on I-84 east of Pendleton, OR you climb back up fairly high.

Just south of Beaver, UT take the Utah SR20 east until you get to US89 south and follow the signs to take you towards Flagstaff. Then north of Flag you will find the turnoff to Grand Canyon.