Seattle to Augusta, What’s the Best Route?

[Mark Spears]

Hello,

I’m moving from Seattle WA to Augusta GA this summer. I’m looking for route suggestions that avoid major inclines because I’ll be towing my car behind my 29” gas powered Class C. It does okay on mild slopes, but it only has a Ford 460 so going up anything steep challenges it. Any suggestions would be great!

Thanks,

M.S.

[Skip426]

From Seattle, to the Mississippi , there are virtually no choices of routes that don't have significant climbs. You've got the get through the Rocky Mountains somewhere.

Because of the possibility of problems with the summer heat , combined with the climb, the further south you travel on I-5, maybe best to avoid that.
Already over 100 in many areas along the I-40 .
JMHO. I- 90 might be your best bet , but you won't get any relief from the climbing till you get to Billings and you're still in big hill country till Rapid City.

Good luck with your travels , you're setting out on a long trip.

[theroc]

Good grief, that is in fact a tough one as Skip426 has said.

I was going to suggest going way south and then across but not only does that take many more miles but still has many grades to cross. Even going south on I-5 you'll have to get over the Siskiyous.

Just curious, what do you consider a "mild slope?" ...for instance, I"m sure you're familiar with eastbound I-90 before Snoqualmie Pass. Is that a mild slope or would it tax your rig?

I'll be interested in what others do suggest.

[Honwing]

If there are two drivers in the RV it might be best to drive the car separately from the RV over the major passes. It’s not just the Rockies- Idaho has some long grades. Also some very steep downhill grades.
Just drove from the Florida Panhandle to Seattle 3 weeks ago and stayed on I-90 from Sioux Falls, SD to Graham, Washington. Hope you have better weather than we did. Our best route was what our GPS suggested.

[MapleKing]

In the west I would look at taking I-5 down to I-84 and then I-84 to I-80. You'll hit some grade climbing the Blue Mountains in Oregon and again in portions of Utah/Wyoming but you'll also have long stretches with them.

It's not just the west that you have to think about grades too. You might want to consider dipping south to Memphis to avoid going through part of the southern Appalachians.

There's no way to totally avoid grades so you'll just have to take your time when you do encounter them but I think the route I described above would limit them.

[450Donn]

I90 east you avoid many major cities. Somewhere around the Mississippi river head south east.

[saddlesore]

I-5 south to I-84 east to I-86 east to I-15 so to US-30 east to I-80 east to I-29 so to I-70 east (alternate is I-25 so thru Denver to I-70 east thru Kansas City) to I-270 (east (skirt St.Louis on north side) to I-255 so to I-64 east to I-57 so to I-24 east to I-75 so to I-285 (east loop) to I-20 east to Augusta..
(By going south to Portland you avoid Snoqualmie, and the 3 grades between Ellensburg and Yakima)
(By avoiding Montana you avoid pulling 5 additional grades.. some steep and some not so much
(By avoiding Utah you also avoid several grades)

Happy Trails..

[Bob_C]

Route that Saddlesore chose what I followed most of the way to Nashville......

[twogypsies]

I'd also highly recommend that you disconnect the car & two of you drive the uphills if you're concerned with power.

I-5 south to Bakersfield, CA then east 'might' work but then you'll have some hot desert areas and it still won't be without some uphills.

[MapleKing]

Originally Posted by saddlesore

I-5 south to I-84 east to I-86 east to I-15 so to US-30 east to I-80 east to I-29 so to I-70 east (alternate is I-25 so thru Denver to I-70 east thru Kansas City) to I-270 (east (skirt St.Louis on north side) to I-255 so to I-64 east to I-57 so to I-24 east to I-75 so to I-285 (east loop) to I-20 east to Augusta..

That's pretty much what I was thinking save the US 30 cut off. That looks like a lessor grade than sticking with the Interstate. It's also the approximately the same route that the pioneers took. If it was good enough for them, I think the OP should be able to make it!

[Bob_C]

The US 30 misses hav'n to deal with Salt Lake City and the long climb heading east out of there