travel between Tri-Cities & Seattle

[odie91]

Hm... so the drive to Portland doesn't involve an overpass? I'm shipping some stuff to Seattle (including a car), thus the reason for my trips. I could change the destination to Portland if that's better. I guess the other option is Spokane....

Originally Posted by M3 Mitch

A possible alternative, longer but lower elevation, is to go along the Columbia (either in WA or OR, in WA it's a 2-lane, in OR it's Interstate)

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by odie91

Hm... so the drive to Portland doesn't involve an overpass? I'm shipping some stuff to Seattle (including a car), thus the reason for my trips. I could change the destination to Portland if that's better. I guess the other option is Spokane....

The Gorge can get freezing rain at times in winter, even snow, so that's no freebie either. But it can be an option.

[sheltieluv7]

We are moving out of Washington state and planning to leave Nov 23rd. We've been told to go the southern route but we don't know what route that is...can anyone tell us a safe route with the least amount of mountains between here and Indiana? We will be pulling a small trailer behind a Ranger truck.

[M3 Mitch]

Originally Posted by odie91

Hm... so the drive to Portland doesn't involve an overpass? I'm shipping some stuff to Seattle (including a car), thus the reason for my trips. I could change the destination to Portland if that's better. I guess the other option is Spokane....

Going to Portland you are following the Columbia, so you don't get any real mountain passes. JKK is right, though, that this does not mean there is no chance of ice. Pick the right day and Snoqualmie is clear and the roads along the Columbia are iced up. They tend to get ice rather than snow too.

In the winter it makes sense to check the pass reports, etc. before taking off from East side to West. There is no "no brainer" route that you can count on being free of ice and snow all winter.

[M3 Mitch]

Originally Posted by sheltieluv7

We are moving out of Washington state and planning to leave Nov 23rd. We've been told to go the southern route but we don't know what route that is...can anyone tell us a safe route with the least amount of mountains between here and Indiana? We will be pulling a small trailer behind a Ranger truck.

Hi, welcome to the forums. Offhand I would guess you would take I-40 for most of the trip, by "southern" I think your friends mean I-40 rather than I-80.

You just need to pay attention to Weather Channel and etc. Make sure you have good tires on the truck, at this point in the year you have a decent chance of not seeing much snow.

You may want to post up this question in the "General Moving" forum as well.

You may want to specify what part of WA you are headed for, that can make a difference.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by M3 Mitch

Going to Portland you are following the Columbia, so you don't get any real mountain passes. JKK is right, though, that this does not mean there is no chance of ice. Pick the right day and Snoqualmie is clear and the roads along the Columbia are iced up. They tend to get ice rather than snow too.

Yes. I've driven I-84 in both hardpack snow and freezing rain. I'll take the snow. Freezing rain = hockey rink. Hardpack snow = slower but relatively consistent progress. In all cases, the major problem is two things the driver cannot easily control: sudden patches or spots that are slicker than what you are used to, and idiots. And I promise the OP he or she will see plenty of the latter.

I would counsel the OP to be sure to have full tanks at The Dalles (if I-84) or Cle Elum (if I-90) before attempting either route if there are reports of weather trouble. If you might have to chain up, have heavy gloves and something you can lay on (better than laying in the slush in the chain-up area). Couldn't hurt at all to buy a couple of space blankets, a jug of water and a box of granola bars--very cheap insurance against being stuck for five hours waiting for things to clear. My wife's job requires regular trips over Snoqualmie in all seasons, and I have her completely loaded down with that sort of stuff.

[skinem]

Originally Posted by sheltieluv7

We are moving out of Washington state and planning to leave Nov 23rd. We've been told to go the southern route but we don't know what route that is...can anyone tell us a safe route with the least amount of mountains between here and Indiana? We will be pulling a small trailer behind a Ranger truck.

Below are the websites for Washington DOT and Oregon DOT. Both sites have real time road condition reports, pass reports, weather conditions and highway cameras so you can see for yourself. Check both out once the weather forecast is out for the time period you're traveling and that'll help you make an informed decision about which route will be best for you. Of course, there are times, when none of them are good. Doesn't happen often, nor for long term (I think the longest I can remember the gorge being closed in my lifetime was 4 or 5 days.) but it does happen.

Unless your vehicle struggles with mountain passes, if the weather isn't an issue, Snoqualmie isn't a problem and it's a time-saver over having to go south and through the gorge, or through 410 for sure.

State of Oregon: Oregon Department of Transportation

Welcome to the Washington State Department of Transportation

[M3 Mitch]

Originally Posted by j_k_k

Yes. I've driven I-84 in both hardpack snow and freezing rain. I'll take the snow. Freezing rain = hockey rink. Hardpack snow = slower but relatively consistent progress. In all cases, the major problem is two things the driver cannot easily control: sudden patches or spots that are slicker than what you are used to, and idiots. And I promise the OP he or she will see plenty of the latter.

I would counsel the OP to be sure to have full tanks at The Dalles (if I-84) or Cle Elum (if I-90) before attempting either route if there are reports of weather trouble. If you might have to chain up, have heavy gloves and something you can lay on (better than laying in the slush in the chain-up area). Couldn't hurt at all to buy a couple of space blankets, a jug of water and a box of granola bars--very cheap insurance against being stuck for five hours waiting for things to clear. My wife's job requires regular trips over Snoqualmie in all seasons, and I have her completely loaded down with that sort of stuff.

Maybe it's just my iconoclastic personality, but when the weather is bad I really prefer blue roads to interstates - although truth told I prefer blue roads period. Just to say that the State Highway on the WA side of the river is an alternative to I-84. Blue roads tend to attract at least a better class of idiot, and fewer of them, and if you get stuck you can generally get to a small town at least better than on the super-slab. Like Mark Twain, when I find myself traveling with a substantial crowd, my first thought is that I have certainly made some sort of mistake...

In any case bringing proper outdoor clothing to include boots and gloves, as if you plan to be outside walking around in the snow, is a good idea, more than one drive has turned into a hike.

All this said, I know Horizon did at one time offer a discounted book of tickets, something on the order of $1200 for 12 (or maybe 10) round trips to where-ever they go. They go Tri-Cities to Seattle several times a day.