Florida to Oregon in two weeks

[Bogie71]

Not in two weeks (January), but want to travel over the course of two weeks at the end of May.

Yeah, I am terrible at planning (my first time) and will be going from the Tampa Bay area to Grants Pass, Oregon at the end of May.

I've been looking at a couple of GPS and they all suggest going to I-80 and then getting off at Winnemucca, NV and taking Highway 140 nearly the rest of the way.

I have a 39' DP and will be towing a car, is this a decent route, or is there a better way?

I was thinking of just doing interstate all the way to Portland and then I-5 south to Grants Pass. It is a little out of the way, but thinking the interstate might be faster.

[Old-Biscuit]

Interstate to Portland (47 hrs 33 minutes)
3300 miles........236 miles every day for 14 days
*6 1/2 days of 500 miles each

140 out of Winnemucca (45 hrs 21 minutes)
3100 miles.......221 miles every day for 14 days
*5 days of 500 miles each



Hope your plan is to stay in Grants Pass for Long time (recover from trip)

[YC1]

One is assuming one way of course. Fl to Ca in 7 days was a bit grueling. I was the only driver too.

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by Bogie71

Not in two weeks (January), but want to travel over the course of two weeks at the end of May.

Yeah, I am terrible at planning (my first time) and will be going from the Tampa Bay area to Grants Pass, Oregon at the end of May.

I've been looking at a couple of GPS and they all suggest going to I-80 and then getting off at Winnemucca, NV and taking Highway 140 nearly the rest of the way.

I have a 39' DP and will be towing a car, is this a decent route, or is there a better way?

I was thinking of just doing interstate all the way to Portland and then I-5 south to Grants Pass. It is a little out of the way, but thinking the interstate might be faster.

IMHO - there are many BETTER WAYS - Look this over - https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=15f02...=2&form=S00027

Bing Maps get to Texarkana in two days - then on up to Amarillo, TX - from there across and into Colorado - Buena Vista/Salida/Leadville/RT 24 on up to I-70 where just before Glenwood Springs is a beautiful drive along the Colorado River, Special - to RT 128 into Moab - then on North to Grants Pass.

Sure would make the trip more fun especially spending almost a week in Colorado and Utah seeing the Sights

A suggestion would be to leave on Friday and just get maybe 4 hours in and extend the trip to 16.5 days? (1/2 Friday and then three weekends with 10 weekdays - 16.5) just makes the trip a little easier when you add a few days to the mix.

I just threw Salida/Buena Vista and Leadville in because it's the Heart of Colorado - then the ride along the Colorado River on RT 128 - you will not regret - Drive north to Grants pass will be a breeze. Note here there are many other Routes through Colorado that will also work you just need to ask.

Just a different option than most would take - and we love.

Hope this is of some help,

[Dick1142]

Take I-80 to Reno then 395 north to Lakeview, OR, then across to Grants pass, or cut off 395 and jump over to I-5 then north to Grants Pass.

[Dick1142]

Originally Posted by Dick1142

Take I-80 to Reno then 395 north to Lakeview, OR, then across to Grants pass, or cut off 395 and jump over to I-5 then north to Grants Pass.

ps....fuel up BEFORE you get to California!

[RRR]

140 from Winnemuccaca to Lakeview is nothing but a tumbleweeds, and no fuel stops, but there will be plenty of bugs to keep you company. The road is decent, there is one downgrade to mention, Doherty Slide about 25 miles from the town of Adel.

From Klamath Falls to White City the road will be rougher over the pass
( Lake-of-the Woods ) but totally doable. Fair amount of trucks use the route.

Busskipper has already weighed in and twogypsies likely will. They are the resident tour guides.

[Bogie71]

Thanks! Yes, we are staying in Oregon for 3 months before heading back down to warmer states for the Winter.

My main worry is mountain driving, which will be a fun new experience to me. Being a lifetime Illinois person, I've driven to Florida and South Carolina a few times, but wouldn't consider any of that "mountain" driving.


The I-80, 395, Scenic 140 route is another one that came up as Dick1142 mentioned.

Scenic is a plus, but for this trip mostly just looking for efficiency and not flying off the side of a mountain... or getting stuck in a hairpin turn somewhere.

Once I have the basic route, I will probably then plan out stays of a night or two just to stretch the trip out slightly and ease the driving on myself.

[twogypsies]

Get yourself the 'Mountain Directory for Truckers and RVers'. It was always our bible before planning a trip. We loved mountain roads and never found one we couldn't handle with the RV. Don't avoid them. That's where the beauty and leisurely driving is!! Busskipper, above, gave some very nice places in Colorado.

Two weeks is a very short time for this trip. Can you add more time? Drive shorter days and enjoy the areas.

[F4Gary]

Originally Posted by Bogie71

Thanks! Yes, we are staying in Oregon for 3 months before heading back down to warmer states for the Winter.

My main worry is mountain driving, which will be a fun new experience to me. Being a lifetime Illinois person, I've driven to Florida and South Carolina a few times, but wouldn't consider any of that "mountain" driving.


The I-80, 395, Scenic 140 route is another one that came up as Dick1142 mentioned.

Scenic is a plus, but for this trip mostly just looking for efficiency and not flying off the side of a mountain... or getting stuck in a hairpin turn somewhere.

Once I have the basic route, I will probably then plan out stays of a night or two just to stretch the trip out slightly and ease the driving on myself.

Nice route Busskipper. If he wants a little flatter but scenic route he could go through Santa Fe, Chama, Pagosa Springs, Durango, Cortez, and then up to Moab. Easy peasy for a motorhome with a toad.

[EEKodiak]

Originally Posted by Dick1142

Take I-80 to Reno then 395 north to Lakeview, OR, then across to Grants pass, or cut off 395 and jump over to I-5 then north to Grants Pass.

I agree with this, much better drive. Eastern Oregon isn't a very fun a scenic drive

[Bogie71]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

Two weeks is a very short time for this trip. Can you add more time? Drive shorter days and enjoy the areas.

Unfortunately I shot myself in the foot with this trip. I am still working so the trip across country will be using vacation days, so I want to make it as short as possible so I can enjoy the vacation days. This is my first go at full-time route planning and I am struggling a bit. I am a huge planner so I suspect that is really going to make things more difficult for me. Had I been thinking, when we leave Illinois for good in March I should have just headed Southwest. I don't know what possessed me to go to Florida first. I think it must have been one of those -30 windchill days and thinking warm thoughts.

The I-80 to Reno, then 395 to Oregon route and then across looks pretty solid so far. I had no idea the West was so big.

One question about I-80 - in Nebraska, RVTripwizard says to cut from I-29 along State Route 2 over to I-80 which in theory looks like it will save some time rather than going all the way to Omaha to catch I-80 and then back down. Alternatively I might go up Illinois to I-80 there and visit family for a day.

Mapping out KOA's along the way (I'd rather find other options but it is a good guide point), it looks like I can do it in about 11 days with only one or two really long days and the rest clocking in at 300 miles or less per day.

It's coming together. I am just hoping that May is early enough in the year that all the westward routes and campgrounds aren't completely full.

[BillJinOR]

As long as you aren’t staying near a large city or attraction you’ll have no problems booking spots IMO. Freeway parks in the middle of nowhere , aren’t the parks that are full. Destination spots are. Last year I only booked weekends and even then a day or two before.
80 to Reno and up are great choice for “easy roads” I’m near orlando and from Portland. My usual quick run is the southern route 10,40 .. and up through Nevada Reno etc to get to family in Roseburg. But I’ve done 80 also .. a lot … so I prefer staying lower.

[George Schweikle]

Rt. 2 is an easy and shorter route from Nebraska city to Lincoln. We use it once a year.


And, Lincoln has a nice municipal campground https://campaway.com/

Originally Posted by Bogie71

.... One question about I-80 - in Nebraska, RVTripwizard says to cut from I-29 along State Route 2 over to I-80 which in theory looks like it will save some time rather than going all the way to Omaha to catch I-80 and then back down.....