aspen634

I will be driving with my son this week from Boulder to Lincoln City. We are not on a fixed schedule but have planned for the trip to take 3 days, (8 hrs first 2 days then 5/6 hrs the third day). There are 3 different routes that we have picked out depending on the weather. I am most curious to see what others say the best route would be for us, of course knowing the weather will depend on the final route. I do not want to take I-80 or I90 through Wyoming, so our plan is to take I70 to Salt Lake unless I70 gets a huge snow storm, and then we would probably just delay our trip. We will be driving his Suzuki SX4 AWD. We just put brand new all season tires on the car and had everything checked out by the dealer so we are good to go. However, we do not have chains for the car and not sure we need to get them? Here are our 3 picked out routes:

Boulder to i70 to i15 Salt Lake, then I84 through Boise, Pendleton, Portland then to OR99 or OR18 to Lincoln City (22 hrs 1391 miles). I’m worried about driving the Columbia Gorge especially between La Grande and Pendleton.
or
Boulder i70 to i15 Salt Lake, I80 to Winnemucca, then North on US95, OR-78 E, US-20 W, OR-22 W and OR-18 W to Lincoln City (23 hrs, 1453 miles)
or
Boulder i70 to i15 to i80 to Sacramento, then i5 to OR22 to Lincoln city (30 hrs 1837 miles), this would be a last resort to avoid bad weather.

I’m worried about driving the Columbia Gorge especially between La Grande and Pendleton, but also driving through the Cascades if we go through Bend. Which route would be best over the Cascades, I84 or US20. Which of these routes would you suggest, or do you have a better route to take? Any other recommendations on roads, what to look out for, places to stay, eat? TIA!

tomfuller

No rain or snow for the next 6 days in Oregon or Idaho.
First night near Burley Idaho on I-84.
Second night in Bend. Fill your tank at the Pilot in Ontario before heading west on US 20. It is 240 miles from Ontario to Bend. Do not stop in Burns.
Bend is expecting daytime highs of low to mid 50's.
If there is a predicted snowstorm on the day you want to go over a Cascade pass, stop at Les Schwab (3 locations in Bend) and get a set of tire chains. If you leave them in the box you can return them for full credit at another Les Schwab.

aspen634

Thank you Tom! Can you tell me what it's like going over the Cascades on 20 after Bend? I've been on I-70 from Denver to Grand Junction numerous times a year and wondering how it will compare to that? Also, do you think cutting over on 20 rather than staying on interstate on I84 is a better option? I was only thinking of taking 20 because I've heard horror stories of I84 between Baker City and Pendleton, and the Columbia Gorge.

tomfuller

Yes stay on US 20 out of Bend. ODoT has been doing a great job of keeping the highways over the passes in good shape this winter. After you go past HooDoo ski slope on the Santiam Pass you will keep right to go on Rt. 22 into Salem.
It's only about 4 hours from Bend to Lincoln City. You turn onto 18 off 22 in Grand Ronde in the Coast Range.

aspen634

Hi Tom, I'm spending the night in Ogden, UT and am planning on only driving 8 hours which will put me at around Burns OR. Why do you say not to stop in Burns for gas, is there something bad about this town? It is almost 10 hours from Ogden to Bend and I don't want to drive that far in one day, so Burns turns out to be just 8 hrs. Is there another place to stay if I shouldn't stay in Burns that is close to 8 hours drive from Ogden? TIA

tomfuller

As I said, get your gas in Ontario after you get off the interstate. It is 5 (240 miles) hours even from Ontario to Bend.
Bend is a city of over 80K people with lots more to see and do than Burns with about 8000 people in Harney County.
Burns is the center of the hornets nest about the occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge occupation.
It seems to be an armed camp with lots of FBI and other law enforcement in the area.
There are still 4 holdouts at the Refuge complex after the OSP and the FBI ambushed the leadership on 395 north of Burns. The result was 8 arrested and 1 shot in the back and killed.
Once you are in Idaho on I-84 much of the way the speed limit is 80. I do remember driving from Ogden to Bend in 2005 when we were moving from PA to Oregon.

aspen634

Oh wow, I heard about that but didn't know it was near Burns. Thanks for the heads up, I appreciate it!

tomfuller

The armed occupation of the Wildlife Refuge SHOULD be over within the next 2 hours. The terms of surrender were worked out by the FBI, Michelle F. (Nevada) and Franklin G. (son of Billy).
This is day 41 and hopefully the last of the occupation.
Burns is ready to get back to as normal as they get without all the "extra" law enforcement.
Are you on your way aspen634?

tomfuller

Three of the occupiers have surrendered to the FBI.
David Fry is still talking and has declared war on the Federal government. He has changed the subject to abortion and paying taxes. It is not going to end well for him.
Cliven Bundy was arrested when he got off a plane at PDX at about midnight last night.

tomfuller

David Fry is alive and in handcuffs. The FBI is taking him back to Burns for transport to Portland where the others are in jail.
David got everyone to say Hallelujah to get him to come out without force.

aspen634

Glad it all seems to be ending. Tom we are leaving tomorrow (Fri. late morning sometime). I have been checking the weather and because it is a longer drive from SLC to Bend we are going to go I84. We are going to take I25 to I80 and take 80 to SLC. Spend the night, then take i15 to I84 and staying the night in Pendleton. Sunday drive from Pendleton to Lincoln City. I have been checking the weather, seems we will have great weather until we get close to Pendleton on Sat. evening. Sunday looks like rain/snow mix from Pendleton all the way to Lincoln City. Any other suggestions?

tomfuller

Why do you want to skip Bend? There will be rain on Sunday all over Oregon.
I thought you were going to Ogden instead of SLC.
Take US 26 out of Portland to Rt. 8 into Tillamook.
Make a stop in Tillamook at the cheese factory.
Have a good time in Lincoln City. Are you going to the casino?

Fodorite018

Tomfuller--That would be highway 6, not 8, but yes, that is a nice drive.

tomfuller

Are you somewhere in Oregon now? Can you write a trip report?

tomfuller

Can you write us a trip report aspen634?
Today the report on the death of Robert LaVoy Finicum was released in Bend.
The Oregon State Police were justified in shooting him in the back 3 times. At least 2 shots were fired by FBI agents but they did not reveal that they were fired. Five FBI Agents are under investigation for their actions.
Someone tried to use a taser on Mr. Finicum and he may have thought that he was justified in reaching for his gun at that point.
The name of the OSP officer that shot Mt. Finicum is protected from being released by an act of the Oregon legislature.