Need Help Determining Safest Driving Route (pulling trailer) - Austin to Portland (Bend: home, high school)

[CpdxB]

Hi All,

I'm leaving Austin, TX for Portland early next week. I was hoping I could get some advice on the route - I am driving a 2WD 4runner pulling a 4x8 Uhaul trailer. I'm looking to take the SAFEST route possible i.e., avoid high elevation, winding mountain passes and adverse weather conditions. This is definitely not a scenic trip. Would like to complete it in 2 nights, 3 days because I have two animals with me, one of which is diabetic. I do realize, however, that some patience will be in order.

The way I see it, I could go up through CA, but I've heard the mountain ranges among the CA/OR border would be tough going and have ice/snow. I was thinking about heading a route that goes TX --> Albuquerque --> Provo --> Salt Lake City -->Twin Falls --> Boise --> Bend --> Portland. I realize that I'd be hitting some mountains en route, but I was hoping they wouldn't be as serious as the CA/OR range or the Colorado Rockies. What do you all think?

I could really use your help on this.

Thanks

[pdxMIKEpdx]

If it was me I would go west to CA and then go North to Oregon.
Your worst area would be southern Oregon , but if the weather cooperates, it should be fine.


The TX --> Albuquerque --> Provo --> Salt Lake City -->Twin Falls --> Boise --> Bend --> Portland route seems like the looooong way to get here.

[PNW-type-gal]

Particularly with towing, I'd trust the I-5 passes before I'd tow through the often very windy Columbia Gorge on I-84.

[karlsch]

Austin, TX to Portland, OR - Google Maps

Do NOT go through Bend - stay on I-84 all the way to Portland.

Check the weather before you leave.

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

Places in Oregon that sometimes are troublesome are Ladd Canyon between Baker City and La Grande, Cabbage Hill near Pendleton and stretches of the Columbia River Gorge.

Two of the many cameras available:
TripCheck-Road Camera
TripCheck-Road Camera

[CpdxB]

Yeah, I just got some guidance to head through CA while avoiding the Siskiyous.

This route:

Austin west through El Paso on 10, take that basically to LA, turn north on 5, then veer to 101 around SF to skip the passes in the Siskiyous in S OR, then come east to PDX on highway 6 over the coastal range from Tillamook.

[CpdxB]

Thanks all for the advice. Definitely keep it coming if you got more. 2WD + trailer + 2 animals necessitates careful planning.

[Steve Pickering]

Unless you go west on I-10 and up I-5 you can't get to Oregon without mountians, and than you will still have a couple of high passes. Otherwise go north to I-84 and all the way to Portland. Do not use 101. People haul trailers with everything every day up and down the interstates. You don't want to go almost 5 to 8 hours and a couple of hundred miles out of your way to avoid something that is a non-issue

[karlsch]

Originally Posted by CpdxB

........ then veer to 101 around SF to skip the passes in the Siskiyous in S OR, then come east to PDX on highway 6 over the coastal range from Tillamook.

You will be driving almost the full length of Oregon on highway 101 - 2 lanes, sometimes curvy, often wet, occasional fog, people pulling out from side roads, driveways and parking lots, teenagers driving home from high school, old people driving to the optician's office - to name a few problems.

This route will probably take an extra day.

[EnricoV]

Yeah, you don't want to take the 101 route, unless you know the weather in the Siskiyous is really bad. Otherwise, I-5 is well tended, and always the better route. Especially with a trailer.

[Rob Allen]

Steve, karlsch and Enrico have the right idea - stay on I-5. Unless you happen to be crossing the Siskiyous during a blizzard, it will be fine. And there are no blizzards in the forecast.