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Old 12-21-2015, 01:34 AM
 
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,569 posts, read 57,493,759 times
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I need to get from Tucson to Eureka in less than 24 hrs. Solo driver, "beater car" towing a precarious load.

Hope to arrive Tucson by Tuesday AM, need to be in Eureka Wed early AM, and to Portland by Weds afternoon.
(I.e. the FUN, scenic, and curvy mtn roads of NoCA, (Redding to Legget) and crossing through SFO / Bay Area are probably not the best options)

Siskiyou Summit (I-5) may be the fastest option to Portland, but... beater car / bad tires / towing / winter weather means I-5 may not be best either. I did want to swing by Samoa Cookhouse for Wednesday French Toast. Not a strict requirement. Can do I-5 if clear / best route. (boring)
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Old 12-21-2015, 10:05 AM
 
25,619 posts, read 36,505,929 times
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Stay off our roads with your beater car and precarious loads.
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Old 12-21-2015, 12:34 PM
 
Location: Sacramento
1,226 posts, read 1,628,384 times
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I would suggest taking I-10 from Tucson to I-210 in San Bernardino. The 210 (Foothill Freeway) would link up to I-5. Take I-5 all the way to SR-20 at Williams and take SR-20 over to the US-101. From that junction, its about 3 hours to Eureka. From Eureka to Portland, take the US-101 to US-199 and the link up with I-5 at Grants Pass.
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Old 12-21-2015, 12:55 PM
 
Location: Eureka CA
9,519 posts, read 14,650,333 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bulldogdad View Post
Stay off our roads with your beater car and precarious loads.
What he said. You'll probably be driving in heavy rain, too.
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Old 12-21-2015, 01:14 PM
 
Location: TOVCCA
8,452 posts, read 14,951,941 times
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Carry great proof of insurance, everything working on the car, and all the legal accessories to tow---lights, proper weight, etc.---the Highway Patrol officers on the 5 are like vultures waiting for road kill
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Old 12-21-2015, 03:15 PM
 
8,364 posts, read 7,553,732 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nightlysparrow View Post
Carry great proof of insurance, everything working on the car, and all the legal accessories to tow---lights, proper weight, etc.---the Highway Patrol officers on the 5 are like vultures waiting for road kill
They're even worse on the 101 through Oregon.

If I needed to get to Portland quick, I'd stick with the 5, and take my overnight break in Sacramento or Red Bluff rather than Eureka.

The 101 through Oregon is a beautiful drive, but wouldn't be my choice for quick travel towing a "precarious load."
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Old 12-21-2015, 03:28 PM
 
Location: Under the Redwoods
3,751 posts, read 7,633,685 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sacreole View Post
I would suggest taking I-10 from Tucson to I-210 in San Bernardino. The 210 (Foothill Freeway) would link up to I-5. Take I-5 all the way to SR-20 at Williams and take SR-20 over to the US-101. From that junction, its about 3 hours to Eureka. From Eureka to Portland, take the US-101 to US-199 and the link up with I-5 at Grants Pass.
This is the exact route would recommend
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Old 12-21-2015, 05:41 PM
 
12,823 posts, read 24,282,550 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlKaMyst View Post
This is the exact route would recommend
Agreed, although look at Grapevine alternatives. 3K foot snow level later this week.
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Old 12-21-2015, 06:01 PM
 
Location: Silicon Valley
18,812 posts, read 32,262,905 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sacreole View Post
I would suggest taking I-10 from Tucson to I-210 in San Bernardino. The 210 (Foothill Freeway) would link up to I-5. Take I-5 all the way to SR-20 at Williams and take SR-20 over to the US-101. From that junction, its about 3 hours to Eureka. From Eureka to Portland, take the US-101 to US-199 and the link up with I-5 at Grants Pass.
I don't know about the trip from Tucson to I-5. But, I agree with taking SR-20 to Hwy 101. It's a tad curvy and only 2 lane most of the way, and you could possibly run into a little snow up at Clearlake. But, it's kept up and it's a pretty short route over to Hwy 101.

I also agree heartily that the best way from Eureka to Portland is to go to Crescent City on Hwy 101, then take Hwy 199 to Grants Pass to catch I-5 again. Hwy 199 is pretty curvy right out of Crescent City for a while, but the highway is in good shape. Also, right out of Crescent City, you'll be driving through giant redwoods on 199 - a lovely bonus :-)

Any of the other routes from I-5 to Hwy 101 will either be scary curvy and without cell service for long stretches, or will take you into SF Bay Area traffic.

The stretch of SR-20 between I-5 and Clearlake can also have spotty cell phone reception, but there is enough traffic to be able to get help if needed, and they have those call phones along the route. You wouldn't be on it for long, so you should be fine.

The rest of your trip would have good cell phone service - Verizon is the best in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, so if you have Verizon, you'll be in the best shape for cell phone coverage.

Have a great trip!
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Old 12-21-2015, 06:06 PM
 
Location: Silicon Valley
18,812 posts, read 32,262,905 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly View Post
Agreed, although look at Grapevine alternatives. 3K foot snow level later this week.
An alternative, if there's snow at Clearlake, but would involve a little Bay Area traffic, would be to take I-5 to Lodi, then take Hwy 12 to Hwy 80, then quickly get on Hwy 37 (better than taking Hwy 12 all the way), to Hwy 101.

It's all lower elevation and should have good cell coverage.

You'd end up at Petaluma, I think, and you'd be driving through Santa Rosa traffic. But, it's an option that doesn't involve curvy roads, snow or most of the SF Bay Area traffic.
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