Driving from Southeast to Tacoma, Wa (Riverside: best, areas, cities)

[drivungthere]

Ok, I need help here. I am traveling from Hattiesburg, Ms to Tacoma, Wa. Problems: limited snow driving experience, phobias of high bridge, mountain driving for one of the drivers. Positives: having enough time to make a slow drive.

Which route should we take? I-20-to I-10 to I-5 (LA, TX, NM, AZ, CA, Or) OR Go up diagonally taking I-40 to 70 (AK, KN, Ok, WY up to ID)

[CarlB328]

Wait until summer would be the best advice.

[Harrier]

The southern route is best - doing this you will only travel on mountain roads in California(between Los Angeles and Bakersfield) and around California-Oregon border. Check weather reports for snow conditions in those areas and when traveling in Oregon and Washington. If you time the trip right - you may avoid snow altogether. The northern route will guarantee driving in snow as you will have to cross two major mountain ranges(Rockies and Cascades. Taking 10 and 5 - you only have to worry about San Gabriel/Tehachapis(Los Angeles) and the high elevation on Cal-Oregon border.

[drivungthere]

Thanks for the info Harrier. I just looked at the forecast and S. Cali is expecting some snow, San Diego/ Riverside area. I'm not going to Riverside or San Diego. I checked a 10-day forecast and didn't see that there is snow for northern Cali cities that I'll touch down in. But did see snow for WY and UT. So I guess 10 to 5 is going to be a better choice. About the high elevation, you mentioned (Cali-Oregon border), are we talking rollercoaster, stomach churning high?

[Harrier]

Originally Posted by drivungthere

Thanks for the info Harrier. I just looked at the forecast and S. Cali is expecting some snow, San Diego/ Riverside area. I'm not going to Riverside or San Diego. I checked a 10-day forecast and didn't see that there is snow for northern Cali cities that I'll touch down in. But did see snow for WY and UT. So I guess 10 to 5 is going to be a better choice. About the high elevation, you mentioned (Cali-Oregon border), are we talking rollercoaster, stomach churning high?

No - I mentioned elevation because once you leave Redding, CA I-5 ascends into a mountain area and this stretch is like that until you are into Oregon. I looked up the elevations for towns along the route and they confirm my decription.

Redding sits at about 500' - as does Roseburg, OR. Between the 500 ft. cities are :Shasta Lake - 1067', Dunsmuir - 2280', Mount Shasta City - 3606', Weed - 3425', Yreka - 2582', Hilt, CA - 2900', Ashland, OR - 1895', Medford - 1382', Grant's Pass - 960'.

It isn't terribly high 1000'-3500' but high enough for snow and the road twists and turns a lot.

[VOC1]

I'd wait until summer then take the NW route (2nd one you mention). The drive is much more interesting and lots of good sights.

That southern route is boring and tortuous. Somewhere around western OK and Amarillo/panhandle TX on the 10 you'll want to kill yourself out of boredom. Worst most boring stretch of driving you can imagine. Though once you hit NM it improves, and on through AZ is cool, but once you hit the i-5 corridor up through California it is boring city again. That road is just neverending orchards and burnt dusty fields of veggies. Once you hit northern Cali around Redding it gets cool scenery again and on through Oregon and WA.

I'd take the other route, no contest.



But if you can't wait until summer, you're going to be stuck on the southern route. It's still possible to hit snow in southern Oregon/Northern California though.