Driving to Seattle
 

Hi,
I had posted a month ago about driving to Seattle from San Francisco. The weather turned bad and I postponed my trip. I was hoping to do the trip on the 31st over 2 nights and 3 days. Folks had recommended driving on 101 and avoiding 5 in California and going through Bandon and Eugene and then taking I5 to Seattle. We will be a family of 4 (2 + 2 : aged 8 and 12).
Any advice for those who drive this route in the winter?
thanks!

Too far in too little time -- the advice you were given before still stands . . . Fly.

That is a 16-17 hour drive plus stops - over a holiday - with short days - with rain and or snow forecast over parts of the route both Sat and Sun.

I've driven the route many times during winter months. "Folks" gave you the right advice. You shouldn't have a problem if you go up 101. There is always a remote chance of snow at some place on the route, but it is very rare.

I don't know where the snow is when you will be traveling. I see sunshine in Ukiah and Eureka and no snow along the Oregon coast or around Portland or Seattle.

And two nights is very doable. Driving 101 to Florence, OR, and then going to I-5 for the drive into Seattle is fewer than 900 miles, and it's quite a nice drive until you get to I-5.

Take time to drive at least part of The Avenue of the Giants--your older children will love it.

One caveat: If you are incapable of or unwilling to drive for 5-6 hours a day, take a bus, train, or plane.

HTtY

Per the forecasts rain and/or snow is forecast in northern OR both days.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/por...t/350473?day=1

Slight chance of rain on the coast

Not terrible but definitely not clear -- and especially the 31st is not a good travel day.

But if you your kids are OK sitting in the back seat 7 or 8 hours a day - go for it.

I-5 seems to be in pretty good shape now. I see no need to use the US 101 route unless you want to see something special along the way.
I'm planning on going to Seattle next Tuesday 1/3/17 from central Oregon. It will be very cold but there is no precip predicted. I'm dropping off my DW at PDX for the red eye to Atlanta and then heading to a motel near SEATAC. On the 4th, I have an appointment at Geocaching HQ in Seattle.

Thanks for all the pointers. I'll keep looking at the weather channel and the skies till we pack and leave. We are 2 drivers so I am hoping if I need relief I can get it. I have driven 13 hours with the kids when they were younger but in much nicer weather.

Day 1 - SF to Eureka/Arcata on US 101 via Avenue of the Giants. Dinner at the Samoa Cookhouse in Samoa - http://samoacookhouse.net/

Day 2 - Eureka/Arcata to Cottage Grove or Eugene via US 101, Oregon 38 and I-5. More redwoods, great coastal scenery, and look for roadside elk on SR 38 just east of Reedsport.

Day 3 - Cottage Grove/Eugene to Seattle via I-5. Nothing very scenic, nothing very hard.

https://goo.gl/maps/kw6enhqBm2x