I’ll be moving from Pittsburgh to Portland the week of February 18, and I’ve decided to drive across the country in my Hyundai Tiburon (front-wheel drive) to do so. However, many people I’ve talked to have put some pretty scary thoughts in my head. The I-5 looks to be pretty nerve-wracking, and some moving truck drivers don’t go over the mountains (coming in from the east) at ALL in February.
So, alternately, I was thinking of adding a day or two to my trip and driving up the 101 (hugging the coast as much as possible) and then coming into Portland on Interstate 26–a drive I’ve done before, in September. Is this smart? Am I being completely neurotic by not wanting to do this? Am I scaring myself for no reason? I’m going to buy some chains, since I’m required by law to carry them.
So basically, how hard is it to get to Portland in late February? I’d rather not be taking my life in my hands, but I realize that tons of people have probably done this. Thanks in advance for any opinions and advice.
Where’s your sense of adventure!
I’ve driven from SoCal to NoWA many times, occasionally in winter. I always took the 5 and had no problems with the weather. I was fortunate that I did not have to use chains to get over the mountains at the border. (Mt. Ashland?) But I was thankful for 4WD. The biggest problem I encountered were the slow Oregonian drivers who parked in the ‘fast lane’ (‘fast lane’ seems to be an alien concept to Oregonians and Washingtonians) and the semi-trailers that would wait until I was just about to overtake them before they’d move into the left lane.
I-5 is going to be a better bet even if you encounter snow. 101 can be very windy and suffers pretty frequent mudslides during storms. In addition, there are many places on 101 where it’s impossible to pass, so an accident can hold you up for hours.
The I-5 runs North-South. Why are you going to be on that road at all. Aren’t you going to come into Portland on I-84?
Anyway, 84 goes along the Columbia and I don’t think it has any of the big mounttain passes on it. But, there are mountains you might need to cross getting there (like the Rockies). I’d figure out what road you’re going to cross the rockies on (70, 80, 90?), and then ask about that.
Sorrys, Trunk. I should have been more clear. We’re going as south as possible to avoid passing the Rockies. So we’ll be driving south and most likely going through Texas and up to California, where we still need to get into Oregon some way or another, hence the I-5 question.
My parents live about 2 blocks from 101. I lived there for 15 years. I’ve gone to Portland and San Francisco both ways. Take the 5. Its in much better repair, 2 to 3 lanes each way, and the average speed is the limit plus a bit. 101 is often out for slides (where the road falls into the ocean), one lane each way, average speed is 35 mph.
So, are you coming to California on the I-40, or I-10? There are some stretches of the I-40 from Albuquerque, NM to Kingman, AZ that can be just as trecherous as some of the northern routes. Even the I-10 has a couple spots…but not too much.
Actually, I would watch the weather forecasts 5-7 days before you leave to make the best decision you can make. Right now, the best thing to do is study multiple routes, and plan each route out with each stop along the way. When the weather predictions come before you leave, then make that decision. I would stick to the interstates as much as possible, because the U.S. highways would usually shut down before interstates would, and the interstates usually open up before the U.S. highways would when it come to snow removal and salting/cindering.
I don’t know how 5 stacks up with East Coast snow-removal standards, but its usually only closed overnight during a storm for snow.
You may need your chains, but even then its not bad - the last time I did that was over Christmas 2004 in a 1989 Sentra. My teeny old car did fine, but the cd player started overheating - skipping from running for too long.
If you like, stop off in Sacramento, there are several Dopers here, we can have a mini-dopefest!
Just make sure you get the right chains. A friend of mine was coming south on I-5 from Oregon last weekend (just after the major storm we had) and didn’t have the cash to replace the chains he had bought 2 cars ago. Had to stop every 50 yards and refit the things. Got buried in drift when a semi went by. Not fun.
Pretty well, but a mountain pass is a mountain pass, and if it’s snowy you may not be going through for a while. Be sure you have food, water, and a set of warm clothes with you any time you’re going over a pass in winter. Then you can have an adventure instead of an emergency.
You may not care about aesthetics at all since you’re moving and not on vacation, but (imho) I-5 is fugly compared to 101, but I’ve been winding may way up and down 101 my entire life. I’m actually heading up to Humboldt from Los Gatos on 101 this very evening, 5 hours up there and 5 hours back on Sunday. It remains my favorite drive of all time, as long as you omit the Santa Rosa traffic.
I moved from Pittsburgh (actually Butler) to Portland in February of 2000; I took 80 to 90 to 84 to my apartment. Being from the Lake Erie area, I was ok with the idea of driving the northern route. The only part of the trip I didn’t much enjoy was driving through Idaho, where the interstate wasn’t well marked (the paint wasn’t reflective), and it was windy and stressful. I didn’t encounter storms anywhere, actually, it was pretty smooth sailing.
Anyhow, that said, and knowing that you’re planning on going up from CA, I would NOT take 101 up during the winter months. I5 is tough over the passes, and you need chains, not just because it’s the law, but because you need them to get anywhere.
Driving in the snow here isn’t like driving in the snow in Pgh - they do practically nothing to clear the roads here (no resources, since it doesn’t normally snow) Also, people will not let you turn left in front of them, nor will they have any idea what you’re doing if you’re trying to let them do so.
Personally, I would take the 80/90 route (I’ve done it several times, as have I done 80/I5, and regardless of the weather, I’ve always thought the 80/90 way was easiest.) So, to wrap it up, don’t take 101 (people DIE!), carry extra blankets and food and water regardless of the route, drive safely, keep in touch with people who know where you should be along the way, and you’ll be fine.
Enjoy it here!! Let me know when you arrive; I’m thrilled to meet other exPittsburghians.
I’m not overly fond of I-5 in winter–the passes can be downright scary in snow or heavy rain and the semi traffic can be heinous. On the other hand, 101 in February isn’t likely to be either terribly scenic or noticeably nicer to drive due to the high wind/heavy rain/landslide issues. I like taking 97 from Weed through Klamath Falls because it’s a straight, easy road that doesn’t get too nasty even when it’s snowing–even in a blizzard it’s easier to drive because the road is flat, straight and has a ton of room to either side for a run out in case of an accident on the road. I usually use 58 to cut over and catch I-5 at Eugene, handily bypassing the worst sections of the passes, from the Siskiyous to Roseburg. I and a friend of mine have taken this route multiple times, in all kinds of weather and I’m never taking I-5 to Cali again. The time difference is only a half hour in fine weather between the two routes.
If the weather’s decent and you take the 97/58 route, stop at Salt Creek Falls near Oakridge for a rest–nice parking lot and the falls are spectacular!
I have a friend in Oakridge, the whole area is beautiful.
On the other hand, I drive back and forth between Eugene and Northern California routinely and wouldn’t think twice about driving the 5 in February. It just wouldn’t occur to me to worry about it. I think the worst weather we’ve ever hit was immediately after Christmas–we’ve been delayed at the passes that time of year several times.
Living right next to one of the major I-5 passes, I can tell you that it’s rarely actually closed- at worst, it’s “chains required” and you really can make it through any day, though night is chancier than I like. Also, the worst weather is in December and January- February is usually not as bad. The coast road is really sinuous and much slower, but prettier. And there are many fewer cops on 97, which is why all the drugs come that way. 97 is not bad, but don’t try to cut over by Crater Lake- the I-5 passes are much easier than that. I’ve never cut over at Eugene, but I-84 is pretty good, if a little windy.
