Boise, Id to Grants Pass Oregon (Eugene, Bend: rental, hotel, buy)

[cmjones003]

I will be moving to Grants Pass Oregon from Boise Idaho toward the end of February, Wondering what is the best route weather wise for that time of year. Also, what are the spots that we should watch the road reports for the most?

Thank you!

[PNW-type-gal]

Tripcheck will show you the road conditions.

TripCheck - Road Cams, Road & Weather Conditions in Oregon - ODOT

Most of the mapping programs show Boise to Ontario, then out 395 to Lakeview, connecting to 140, which takes you across the Cascades and eventually to I5. About 520 miles.

That isn't a bad route, assuming that the weather is good. It is definitely the shortest, anything else has you going far out of your way and really for not much benefit, as far as weather and road conditions. If you have some leeway when you need to leave or arrive, you can watch the weather. You do travel some lonely road and need to have a winter kit with you.

The only route that takes you on major highways is Hwy20/I-84 to I5, which adds about 150 miles on the trip - and the weather through the Blue Mountains between, say La Grande and Pendelton, isn't much better, nor is the drive through The Gorge if it is icy. The road might be better maintained and plowed in inclement weather, at least. If you want to do the trip in 2 days, there are a lot more hotel options on this route.

Are you driving a passenger car/SUV or a moving van?

Also, to add - since you are coming from Boise, I am assuming you have winter driving and back road driving experience. If, instead, you've pretty much never left paved roads, or are driving a car crammed with kids and pets and stuff: take the I-84/I-5 route.

[cmjones003]

Thank you. I kept seeing a few different routes come up and haven't driven any of the highways of Oregon to know which ones have the worst passes, etc.

We are doing it in one day, no leeway on days, taking a moving truck and also driving a car at the same time, with kids.

Yes, we are experiences at driving snowy road in Idaho. My main worry is that rental trucks don't come with chains so if I can avoid the worse weather, the better.

Thanks!

[rtg143]

If you're going over any passes you need to carry chains no matter the weather. You'd only get a ticket if they stopped you or any other reason for them to check.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

From Boise to Bend, and then across the mountains right there from Sisters to Eugene. Then down I-5.

You'd best talk to the van company about chains, whether they can go on the van or not. There is no way to get from where you are to where you are going without doing a snowy mountain pass. Weather that time of year could be anything; there is no predicting.

If you buy a set of tire chains from Les Schwab and don't use them, they will take them back and refund your money at the end of snow season.

Keep an eye on ODOT tripheck. There are weather cams and road condition reports for Oregon.