Moving Cross Country - need advice on route to take

[oldtrader]

If you need chains and are pulling a car, if it is snowing and you are not an experienced truck drive, spend a day extra in a motel. Snow conditions do not last long and are limited, if you take the southern route to 1-5.

If you take the other route, you can be in snow for hundreds of miles, and very slick roads. I know that area very well, having been through it in the winter time many times and always with a 4 wheel drive suburban or pickup and studded snow tires. Unless you are experienced in that kind of driving, driving the truck pulling the car is asking for one or more accidents.

I have used a rental truck to move not only household goods but other things over the years, and only had one problem when a gasket blew out. It was under warranty and it was fixed quick, and they paid for the hotel we had to spend the night at along with a days food allowance, and gave us 3 extra days to make the trip Free. Don't be afraid to take the truck.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by amplee

This route I'm completely unfamiliar with and would like a little advice for. We'll be traveling with two cats and the prospect of seeing some new scenery is nice. We'd like to avoid as much traffic as possible and want a mellow stress free drive. Can anyone give advice as to any mountain passages or severe weather areas we might encounter taking this route...

I am extremely familiar with the portion of this route between Salt Lake City and Eugene.

Do not go this way at all in the winter, especially if you've got a truck. It's a very gorgeous route, with a very high chance of seeing multiple wildlife including Deer, Antelope, Wild Burros, Wild Horses, Egrets, Coyotes, and a ton of rare birds.

But there are very few places to stop. More importantly, few places to get gas or food. In between SLC and Winnemucca you pretty much have to stop in Echo, NV for anything you need although there are several smaller towns dotted through the area here and there.

From Winnemucca NV to Lakeview Oregon along highway 140, the ONLY gas station is in Denio Junction, NV. If it's closed, or out of fuel, you're out of luck as the next nearest gas station is 100 miles. Luckily they do have pretty long hours as there is a bar inside the gas station. They also serve a limited menu, and doubles as a poorly stocked quick-stop store. Don't expect any hotels between Winnemucca and Lakeview either.

The gas station/restaurant in Adel about 100 miles west is in better shape, but has even more limited hours. In fact to get service you frequently need to go knock on the owner's door down a dirt road. Most people just continue on to Lakeview.

Highway 140 is also very poorly plowed, and tends to get a lot of snow at the top of Doherty Pass at Abert Rim. Typical traffic is less then 50 cars a day on that road, yet more truck wrecks happen at Doherty Pass then any other location in Oregon.

Once you get to Lakeview, you can fill up there, then top off again in Klamath Falls before heading to Eugene. You'll also be able to get food and lodging in both places.

And last tip, cell phone service between Winnemucca and Lakeview for all carriers is non-existent once you're about ten miles from either city.

Between SLC and Winnemucca it's better, but spotty.

[amplee]

Originally Posted by hamellr

I am extremely familiar with the portion of this route between Salt Lake City and Eugene.

Do not go this way at all in the winter, especially if you've got a truck. It's a very gorgeous route, with a very high chance of seeing multiple wildlife including Deer, Antelope, Wild Burros, Wild Horses, Egrets, Coyotes, and a ton of rare birds.

But there are very few places to stop. More importantly, few places to get gas or food. In between SLC and Winnemucca you pretty much have to stop in Echo, NV for anything you need although there are several smaller towns dotted through the area here and there.

From Winnemucca NV to Lakeview Oregon along highway 140, the ONLY gas station is in Denio Junction, NV. If it's closed, or out of fuel, you're out of luck as the next nearest gas station is 100 miles. Luckily they do have pretty long hours as there is a bar inside the gas station. They also serve a limited menu, and doubles as a poorly stocked quick-stop store. Don't expect any hotels between Winnemucca and Lakeview either.

The gas station/restaurant in Adel about 100 miles west is in better shape, but has even more limited hours. In fact to get service you frequently need to go knock on the owner's door down a dirt road. Most people just continue on to Lakeview.

Highway 140 is also very poorly plowed, and tends to get a lot of snow at the top of Doherty Pass at Abert Rim. Typical traffic is less then 50 cars a day on that road, yet more truck wrecks happen at Doherty Pass then any other location in Oregon.

Once you get to Lakeview, you can fill up there, then top off again in Klamath Falls before heading to Eugene. You'll also be able to get food and lodging in both places.

And last tip, cell phone service between Winnemucca and Lakeview for all carriers is non-existent once you're about ten miles from either city.

Between SLC and Winnemucca it's better, but spotty.

Wow, thanks for the breakdown! I think we'll definitely take a road trip some time using this route, but will take the safer, albeit busier southern route for the move.

We're flying out tomorrow to hopefully find a place. Can't wait!

[WolfBoy914]

That's the safest bet, plus it's a fairly easy drive.

Welcome to Oregon, we just moved here in the spring and I don't plan on leaving.

[dhmunoz]

My advice is to take the southernmost route. There will be snow in Utah, probably Nevada, and in Oregon for sure. The traffic in Salt Lake City is INSANE and the road construction has been ongoing for more than 10 years. The freeways through SLC have very narrow lanes, are not well planned, and have a crazy amount of traffic. I cannot stress this enough. I'm a California native and I can truthfully say that I'd rather go through LA than SLC.