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Topic ClosedWinter Traveling Advice from Washington To Arizona

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SailorDude View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Winter Traveling Advice from Washington To Arizona
    Posted: 03 Jan 2021 at 11:30pm
I'm considering going taking my RPOD down to Southern California and Arizona for a month or so in March 2021.  I live Washington, so of course heading right down I5 is the quickest.  Any thought on safe and quick routes to Southern California from the Seattle area during March? Any advice on traveling through Southern Oregon, and Northern California during this time frame. I'm guessing if it starts to look bad I could always hang out for a few days.  I really don't want to do the Oregon/California Coast, but I might.  I've been on the Washington Coast for the last week and we've had a lot of rain and wind.  Will COVID-19 complicate finding places to stay in California?  Any advice will be helpful. 


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Jan 2021 at 6:26am
Yeah just shoot down I5, that’s the easiest. Your only high spot is Siskiyou pass at around 4500 ft, once you drop down off that you’ll be fine. By mid March you’ll have 12 hours of daylight so pick a good weather day, you can easily make it down into CA in a day from Seattle if you get an early start.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Jan 2021 at 12:02pm
I5 would probably be the quickest, and going coastal (Route 1 and 101 mostly) would be spectacular, but a lot slower. I would consider US 395 maybe a good compromise. We love a lot about it, it's less traveled for the most part, and the views are out of this world.

I also think there are more camping opportunities along US395, but that may be a bit subjective.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 4:53pm
Depends on the time you have and what you want to see. Either Hwy 97, 95, and/or 395 is great, but you'll have several mountain passes and slower two lane road altho each is good hwy for the most part. 101 is beautiful going north to south is best for pulling off the highway to take in the many vistas. On I-5, I'd plan on stopping at the 7 feathers casino and RV park at Canyonville, OR. It is a great park and a good first day's stop (or any day's for that matter.) The climb between Roseburg and Grants Pass isn't as high as the Siskiyou's but it can be a bit of a strain at the end of the day;a better drive when fresh.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jan 2021 at 10:29am
Consider 395 to Reno, 50 to Ely, then 93 to Las Vegas.  Since you aren't likely to be driving 70 on a freeway, these mostly 2 lane road have little traffic and lots to see and enjoy.  If you do 50, called the loneliest highway, be sure to keep an eye on your gas and don't pass a gas station between Fallon and Ely with out filling up.  It's likely to be the same from Ely to Las Vegas.  Even though these areas are remote, you'll find gas prices far better than the over $5 a gal. that is typical on 395 between the NV state line and near Mojave.  As for things being closed in CA due to Covid, we've cancelled 2 trips to the Bay Area since early Dec. and are likely to cancel a 3rd scheduled for the end of this month.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jan 2021 at 1:36pm
Dude, I'm not sure what part of WA you'll start in, but 395 is quite aways east.  Many folks do like Hwy. 97 to Klamath Falls then choose a route to Reno, but if you get to Reno, just follow south to Vegas. We live in the far eastern part of OR and take Hwy 95 to Winnemucca, then NV 305, 375 to Tonapah, and 95 to LV. There are a lot of good routes once you get away from CA and the population centers. If you've got time, Ely is cool - I've hit snow there in April. Watch the weather as you've said; its all good.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jan 2021 at 1:41pm
As a rainbird from the upper left hand corner...avoid California like the plague...to expensive, gas, to crowded, crappy state parks. Go down through e wa to NE or, to Idaho cross at twin falls down the las Vega run through ely...cut over to zona chill for awhile then head to deigo on 10 or any other southern route. Don’t worry about snow and ice...in March it ain’t that bad...just stay out of California it will drain your pocketbook...just my humble opinion 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jan 2021 at 3:33pm
Buffalo, lay off the politics stuff please.  It violates the posting rules and leads to some very ugly interactions between board participants.  Some board members may agree with your opinion about California politics while others may be in strong disagreement.  

Thanks in advance for editing out the political comment in your post.  

As for campgrounds in California, folks should check them out on a site like Campendium for the latest information and site quality.  It's a very good resource.  Personally, I agree that California State campgrounds tend to be overpriced for what you get, but there are lots of other options available.  
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jan 2021 at 5:07pm
Oh so sorry...I lost my head...just have had such a bad experience...campgrounds overpriced food, gas and facilities, people regulations...that I lost my sense of perspective...I’ll just keep to the nice things and and forget about the rest
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jan 2021 at 6:31am
Originally posted by Buffalohunter

Oh so sorry...I lost my head...just have had such a bad experience...campgrounds overpriced food, gas and facilities, people regulations...that I lost my sense of perspective...I’ll just keep to the nice things and and forget about the rest


No reason to keep only to the nice things, it can be very useful info to share not so nice things you run into, especially if they are specific so others can choose to avoid them (or not). And if someone disagrees I’m sure we’ll hear from them.

I think it was just the political portion of your post lostagain was referring to.
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