Kennewick to Joseph

[keymastr]

Heading to the campout this afternoon and there are 2 main routes showing from Waze and Mapquest, 12 through Walla Walla or 82 through La Grande. Which is best from a towing and time aspect? Quickest and least stressful is the goal although if I can only choose one then just least stressful.

[ME for Maine]

Originally Posted by keymastr

Heading to the campout this afternoon and there are 2 main routes showing from Waze and Mapquest, 12 through Walla Walla or 82 through La Grande. Which is best from a towing and time aspect? Quickest and least stressful is the goal although if I can only choose one then just least stressful.

If narrow, 2-lane rural roads stress you, then I-82 to I-84 to Rte 82 avoids the narrower roads and takes about the same time as the more scenic Rte 12 options. I've driven the Rte 12 to to Rte 204 from Westin, through Tollgate, to Elgin in my 24 ft with a toad and it was fine - if a bit twisty.

[keymastr]

I guess I will head down on 82 and maybe come back the other route. Mapquest says it is 50 miles farther on 82 but the same drive time, roughly 4 hours but probably 5 towing. Should put us there about 8 pm. Would have liked to leave much earlier but the wife has a staff meeting this afternoon.

[fisher99]

Going 82 over to 84 and through Pendleton and La Grande gives you the most freeway, but you also get the "pleasure" of climbing Cabbage Hill on 84 between Pendleton and La Grande. Nice, wide, multi-lane road, but your Expedition will get a good workout on Cabbage Hill...

Going through Walla Walla gives you the option of following 11 through Milton-Freewater and then over to Pendleton, where you would meet up with 84 (and still climb Cabbage Hill) or you can cut over to 204 at Weston and climb up over Tollgate. It's a much more scenic drive, but is fairly twisty 2 lane road from Weston, up over Tollgate, and dropping down into Elgin. We do it regularly with our 34' TT though and it's really not bad and it's a beautiful drive.

Whichever way you go you will end up in Elgin and then head to Joseph from there. We much prefer going over Tollgate, but then again we live in Milton-Freewater, so that route makes the most sense for us. But your idea of going one way and back the other is a good one, as you will then know what you want to do the next time.