Highway 97 to 84 from Bend to Portland (Maupin: dangerous, safer, best)

[blue412]

I just moved to Bend this summer so I don't know much about the roads. During Christmas my sister came to visit from Portland. She took Santiam pass down, which was a harrowing experience for her. When she went back to Portland we decided that route 197 to 84 was the best route and least dangerous. She didn't have to use her chains going back but she said driving through (or near )the town of Maupin was nerve-wracking because of the winds blowing the snow over the roads and not being able to see when the road turned. Any chance someone here as taken 97 all the way north to 84 and can tell me if this might be safer (albeit, longer) in the winter and more level? From what I gather on Google maps it doesn't look like there are any mountain passes and the elevation doesn't seem so high.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

The weather is not uniform across the state. Sometimes 1 road is better, sometimes it is a different route. Use ODOT trip check weather cams to check the state of the roads.

[hamellr]

Highway 26 is the main route from Portland to Bend, and as such tends to be plowed/sanded first. It tends to not get the winds of 197 because it's sheltered by the mountain.

197 to 84 is likely fine for the most part, but 84 itself isn't always a good winter drive either. The Columbia River Gorge funnels all the wind and weather. Plus it has a lot more big trucks that can be scary to drive past if the weather conditions already aren't the best.

But going over any type of mountain pass in the Winter is going to be a problem if you're not a confident and cautious driver.