Need Help with Route Across Oregon
 

We are planning a trip from Northern California in early October. First stop, the Applegate Valley for wine tasting. Then we plan to go to Crater Lake, then head across Oregon to Idaho, Boise area. On the map it appears that Highway 20 is the best way across. Can anyone provide information about that route? How is the highway? Any estimate of the time from Crater Lake to Boise? Thanks for your help!

I haven't headed toward Idaho from Crater Lake but I think someone will pipe in to answer that.

I would guess the drive from would be an all day trip.

Thanks. eurotraveller. Hoping for some more specific information!

Hmmm... Looking at the map I would suggest heading up 97 to 20 or 26 and then over to Boise. That being said, I have never taken either of those routes to get to Boise so I don't know which road for provide the fasted route. 84 is the major hwy to go to Boise but that is a bit out of your way.

I know the drive from Portland to Boise on 84 is about 7 hours. From Crater Lake I would guess it will be a 10-11 hour drive but, again, just guessing.

Anyone else want to chip in on a more accurate guess?

I have done a couple of these routes. 84 is definitely more out of the way for Boise, so much so that I wouldn't even consider it. The most direct would be 97 to 20 then to 84 for the last little bit. This is only a 7-8 hour drive, so not too bad.

Thanks again, eurotraveller and mms. We will try 97 to 20 and down 84 to Boise. I'll report back when we return!

I didn't clarify that I take 84 from PORTLAND to get to Boise.

97 to 20 to 84 is the better route if you are coming from the south.

eurotraveller--gotcha! That's what we will try. Thank you.

Have you tried MapQuest?

I've driven both 20 & 26 across. I thought 26 was definitely the prettier of the two, but 20 should be faster.

It's a 2-lane until you get to Idaho (when you want to hop on 84), but there's really nothing in that part of Oregon to slow you down. A couple of towns with some traffic lights (Bend & Burns), but other than that wide open road. I have a couple of pictures of what the road looks like here http://travel.webshots.com/photo/105...39645027JZtSyG