Southeast Washington to Southern CA route suggestions?

[Superdawg]

Not a hauling, towing or RV trip, just flying there and driving home w/ my son this Friday and Saturday. We will be driving a stock 2007 Tacoma TRD 4x4 with new tires (Dodge is in the shop getting a Trutrac). I have been watching weather and looking at the Windy.com site for temperatures, rain and snow forecasts. To avoid too much ice on the roadways, the warmer route appears to be 84 west along the Columbia River Basin to Portland and south on the 5 all the way down. We have a set of snow cables.
What say you for those that have more experience driving through the Northwest in the winter?
I just drove the opposite direction a couple weeks ago but we went 97 East through Bend that time and hit a patch of good weather.
Thanks,
Superdawg

 

[GAmes]

A friend of mine who has been a trucker in the PNW for a couple decades turned my on to 97 in the winter. The theory is that the mountains wring out a lot of moisture so the snow conditions are not as bad. After one trip when I5 was reported to be nearly impassable, chain required, etc I was convinced after taking that route.

 

[SnoKing]

Comments: The highway is closed. Use alternate routes. Highway 97 Southbound is closed at Dorris. Use alternate route.
https://tripcheck.com/

This time of the year I would head over to I-5 South and at Anlauf decide if you take 38 to the cost to bypass the Siskiyou's and about 5 other lower bumps/passes before there. 38 is one of the lowest routes to 101 on the coast. Took that route several times coming down between Christmas and New Years. Tripcheck with a bowser on the smart phone is a great tool.

 

[AEdelheit]

I live in Bend so always on 97, it can be better but often very Icy and 1 lane in each direction for a lot of it so often has wrecks that close it down too. Checking the conditions closer to the trip will be the best bet.

 

[SnoKing]

I live in Bend so always on 97, it can be better but often very Icy and 1 lane in each direction for a lot of it so often has wrecks that close it down too. Checking the conditions closer to the trip will be the best bet.

And from Klamath Falls to Weed, is a winter desert and lonely road!

 

[petersonj]

Since your starting point is in southeast Washington, personally I would avoid the congestion of Portland, Salem, Eugene, etc. and use Hwy 97. Even if there is no snow or ice, there will likely be fog and rain and lots of road spray from constant passing vehicles.

Any of the routes can have problems with winter conditions, but the air is much drier on the east side of the Cascades, so poor driving conditions have a tendency to clear up faster (in my opinion). Plus, overall there is just less traffic.

I used to live in the Willamette Valley and I drove the I-5 corridor many times during the winter months. I now live in Baker City and I much prefer driving on this side of the state during the winter months, or during any month for that matter.

- John

 

[Superdawg]

Thanks for the suggestions. After I made the post my timeline got bumped up. I flew out today instead of tomorrow. In Seattle now. Connecting flight to Walla Walla. Based on the weather I am leaning towards inland, Walla Walla to Boise and probably into Salt Lake tonight. Salt Lake to Southern California tomorrow and I can beat the incoming storm.

 

[HPSimpson]

Sorry to disappoint you the storm from Ventura north along California coast inland to Serra Mountains is on now suppose to last until Saturday, currently on Catalina Island rain heavy this morning.

 

[BoeingDiesel]

Weed to Redding I5 can get a little nasty this time of the year. Have driven it many times going to and from the Tule refuge. The weather pic' is the Weed area.

 

[Superdawg]

Thanks boys. My 20 y/o son has some post covid asthma issues so I am getting him home ASAP. Drove 10 hrs to Ogden, Utah and slept a few hours. The last 150 miles were snow flurries. 0 to 2” on the road. It’s a shame I went through the most beautiful country in the dark.

Going to push home down the 15.
I have a plan to avoid Cajon Pass if I need to. I can drop south from the 15 at Baker and weasel my way to the 40 and avoid the high passes.
HPSimpson, you are about 25 miles from my final destination. Every so often I spend a weekend at Emerald Bay. That means however long it takes to forget I get seasick.

 

[Superdawg]

Mission accomplished. Thanks guys.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Another HappyEnding on the TDR.