Seattle to Arizona

[Lynn L]

Need some advice on travelling from Seattle to Quartzite bypassing the fire areas in California in late January.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Lynn L

Need some advice on travelling from Seattle to Quartzite bypassing the fire areas in California in late January.

Google says southeast to Idaho, then south at Twin Falls to Vegas.

[h2owmn]

Unless you were planning to go to the CA coast, you should be fine. What's your Arizona destination? Edited to add that weather in the northern part may affect your route. By northern, I mean from Eastern WA down through CA, depending on whether your CA route goes along I-5 or along the eastern sierras.

[Lynn L]

Originally Posted by h2owmn

Unless you were planning to go to the CA coast, you should be fine. What's your Arizona destination? Edited to add that weather in the northern part may affect your route.

Quartzite

[h2owmn]

I-5 is the least scenic and the most dependable weather. You don't have to go all the way to LA to head east--bypass all of the sprawling mess, and at Bakersfield you could go by way of Joshua Tree NP (it'll be COLD! at night) by taking 58/14/138/215/10, or also from Bakersfield take 58 to 395 to 40 to 95.

[Lynn L]

Originally Posted by h2owmn

I-5 is the least scenic and the most dependable weather. You don't have to go all the way to LA to head east--bypass all of the sprawling mess, and at Bakersfield you could go by way of Joshua Tree NP (it'll be COLD! at night) by taking 58/14/138/215/10, or also from Bakersfield take 58 to 395 to 40 to 95.

Hi h2owmn currently Bakersfield is in a fire zone

[h2owmn]

hmmm. Here's the cal fire map link. CAL FIRE - California Statewide Fire Map

It doesn't show anything near there. The Santa Barbara area fires may be sending smoke that way, but Bakersfield is nearly 100 miles mostly north and a little east from there as the crow flies.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by h2owmn

I-5 is the least scenic and the most dependable weather.

I'm not even sure what dependable weather means anymore when you go I-5 through Oregon. There's several major passes...snow and ICE you should watch. And in the winter there's always the treacherous Siskiyou pass between Oregon and California. Oh my.

[Lynn L]

Originally Posted by h2owmn

hmmm. Here's the cal fire map link. CAL FIRE - California Statewide Fire Map

It doesn't show anything near there. The Santa Barbara area fires may be sending smoke that way, but Bakersfield is nearly 100 miles mostly north and a little east from there as the crow flies.

My mistake.. Hope that route stays clear so we can get through to Quartzite.

[Lynn L]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I'm not even sure what dependable weather means anymore when you go I-5 through Oregon. There's several major passes...snow and ICE you should watch. And in the winter there's always the treacherous Siskiyou pass between Oregon and California. Oh my.

Thanks Donna worth taking into consideration for sure👍

[Steve Clark]

Lynn, if it were me, I’d follow Robert’s advise and head south on the eastern side of the Sierras. That’s your final destination (Arizona). No sense in going south through Ca. and then back across the mountains near Bakersfield.

[Lynn L]

Ah-ha now I understand the alternate route, thanks all.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Lynn L

Ah-ha now I understand the alternate route, thanks all.

I don't know if I'd call it an 'alternate' route Lynn, since it's the shortest one. But to be more specific, east to Yakima, then Boise, south on US93 at Twin Falls, all the way to Vegas. Then US95 south to the Quartzite area. I grant you, traveling south on US93 through eastern Nevada isn't the most scenic route, but there are less pleasant routes.

[Rossue]

Most of Nevada is very stark; the roads in winter can be an issue. And watch your gas gauge as gas stations can be few and far between.

Goes without saying that you need to do a route assessment just prior to hitting the road that time of year as winter weather is so variable lately.

[Allan Bornestig]

Hello Lynn L.
Here is our planned route.Vancouver I 5 to Toutle River rest area at Castle Rock southern WA.
Following day down trough Oregon to Rogue River S.P. bottom of Oregon.From there tackling the mountains trough to California stopping at Brannan Island S.P. for the night.South of Sacramento.
The following day Brannan Isl. to 58 at Bakersfield 395 past Adelanto and the high desert, San Bernadino Highland on 215 and 210. I 10 going east to Joshua Tree N.P.
Next day to Q.
We have done 40 trough the Mojave to Parker, it works but personally don,t like that route.
Just my humble opinion.Using Rand Mc Nallys RoadAtlas 2018 edition.I know I am old fashioned, but at my age I need maps so I can see where I am going.Drawing the route with yellow highlighter
is part of the fun.
Happy Trails
Allan and Raili.

[caddoster]

weather condition wise I5 is plowed more often than any of the other eastern routes. It's also opened the quickest if there's severe weather.. The less traveled roads usually dont get plowed the quickest if there's snow.. Eastern Washington/Oregon/Nevada route is easier to drive tho because there are fewer cars and you are less likely to run into drivers who don't understand a car towing a trailer doesn't stop like a car...

[Allan Bornestig]

Hi Caddoster.
I agree with you on going inland, but would worry about snow.We have come up from Lake Havasu to Vegas and Tonopah (6.000 feet) on to Hawthorne to Reno and Susanville and coming out on I 5 at Mount Shasta and onto I 5 north.I think this is what they call the lonliest highway in the lower 48 (95). I 5 is boring but fast, lots of big semis.Tried 99 going down trough Central Valley in California but found the road to be in pretty bad shape, but lots of little towns and better scenery in farm country.
Good to try different routes, but weather is also important of course.
Keep on trucking.
Allan

[caddoster]

We've done I5 to 97 to Oregon to Washington and through 90 to Seattle in the winter a couple of time and back, I agree I probably wouldn't tow a trailer on this route if snow or the chance of snow is present. It was a much nicer drive in the summer time. Not sure what winter condition is like for 395 in northern CA, south of Reno the road is pretty well maintained and plowed pretty fast too.

I think for winter drive I5 is still the safer bet.

[noblets]

The elevation down eastern California and (either side of) Nevada can get pretty high; 7000' or more. In the winter, this can be a snow problem. It is true that I-5 over Grant's Pass and the Siskiyou inclines in Southern Oregon and northern California can get icy, but there is a LOT of truck traffic and the road is kept pretty clear. Without a really good weather forecast, I would stay away from the Reno/Ely area in the winter.

[currinh]

Originally Posted by noblets

The elevation down eastern California and (either side of) Nevada can get pretty high; 7000' or more. In the winter, this can be a snow problem. It is true that I-5 over Grant's Pass and the Siskiyou inclines in Southern Oregon and northern California can get icy, but there is a LOT of truck traffic and the road is kept pretty clear. Without a really good weather forecast, I would stay away from the Reno/Ely area in the winter.

I agree with this. You can hit snow on I-5 around the CA/OR border, but only for a short distance. Going east of the mountains (Cascade/Sierra) you can run into snow the whole way. I'd go I-5 this time of year. That even though we seriously dislike traveling through CA, and gas cost more in CA.

We're currently in Brenda, AZ and the weather is much better than "up north". Hurry down.