Route advice: Las Vegas NV ---> Clackamas OR

That sounds like a smart plan that 20 sucks at night, you got deer, elk, ice and the dang LED super bright headlights that everyone loves, it just isn’t a fun road at night. They have a brand new Loves off the 97 in Madras Or it’s nothing special but it’s new and clean. I’ve been swinging in almost daily, always seems to have plenty of spots open.

 

Did someone say I84 closure?

Road & Weather Conditions Map | TripCheck - Oregon Traveler Information

https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Regions/Documents/Region5/I84_ONTARIO_Level1.pdf

 

Weather aside, wouldn't going up through Susanville and K Falls be an option? I guess it's been too long since I've been otr.

 

California. Not bad running but maybe not the best choice right now.

 

I'd take 200mi extra going freeway around any 200mi highway any time of the summer, let alone winter, unless it is a pickup/delivery there. Save on miles, loose on nerves, clutch, breaks, time, etc.

PS: in case of emergency if something on the truck goes belly up in the middle of nowhere with nowhere to stop, but travel lane.. just imagine..

 

You can &vshould monitor Oregon's official web page for road info. Tripcheck.com It is the best map of any state I've used. You can also follow Oregon's I-84 Twiiter feed for changes, like when they activate the chain law. Tripcheck.com also give chain law info but it's in the written notes, instead of with a symbol on the map. All of the interstates & state highways in Oregon have official Twitter handles. Like @Tripcheck - I-84 or @Tripcheck - US20. The advantage of using Twitter is you can see the last update instead of reading through all notes about all roads & mile markers. I would only drive on interstate highways like I-84. I-5, and skip the US highways like US20 if snow is forecadt. There are few places to even put chains on/off, let alone park in bad weather in OR except along federal interstate highways. I was in OR all last winter. Tripcheck is awesome parking is scare except along I-84. The Jubitz truckstop & TA at Troutdale, OR are about the only parking near Portland. You need to reserve a spot at Troutdale TA sometimes more than a day in advance.

 

That's how I did it often, WEATHER ASIDE. It's a great drive.

 

The summit there by Austin on US 50 can be REALLY interesting in bad weather. There is a hill just north of Winnemucca on 95 that can be fun. 78 has a short steep twisty part that gets ugly when its icy. 26 is just irritating ... lots of elevation change, lots of curves, lots of cars busy looking at scenery.

I run the same roads as you every week coming up from Arizona to PDX. Depending on the day. If the weather report says Meacham Oregon is going to get more than 5 inches of snow ... or hover around freezing ... I go 93 to 84 all the way across.

If 84 is going to be destroyed I go up thru cali

If cali is destroyed and I am willing to be the only stupid person out on desolate road. I usually go up 95 to 395. Then either hop over to the 5 on 44 then 89 or go up 395 to Alturas, Over to Klamath Falls on 299 to 139 to 39. Then take the 97 up to 58 over to the 5. Willamette Pass and the elevations involved there can be challenging. The road at the top is usually snow pack all winter.

DO NOT take the 20 or 20 to the 22 over the cascades during the winter ... just don't ... twisty and elevation make this road a headache any time of year. And speaking of time ... it is a big time suck to go this way ... really pretty tho

If you don't already know. Drive during the day. ODOT doesn't like doing any maintenance at night