Phillydog

Rent a 4WD and go down the coast. Went from Porland to Mexico in late 60's - GREAT TRIP!
Go to the coast from Portland - Oregon coast is beautiful too.

sf7307

The Oregon coast is magnificent (only done it in summer, but really, really gorgeous!)

roguemckenzie

yes, me again! Thanks bbqboy, you are so right. And jumpingjack, remember this is the northwest, our winters are not even close to a Michigan winter. Before you decide to fly from PDX to SFO, or drive the coast only, look at these pictures of Jed Smith State Park http://www.redwoodhikes.com/Jed%20Sm...d%20Smith.html it is listed as a hike, but 99 drives right through these amazing trees! something you will only see out here in the west! Oregon Coast? nice for the first hour, cut it really all looks the same. I love Oregon, but can't beat the 101 in northern CA . . . Mendocino, etc. well, good travels! and really, don't sweat the I-5 over the Siskiyous, it is NOT that big of a deal when you have driven a Michigan winter.

Andrew

Actually, you mean US 199 Grants Pass to Crescent City, not 99 eh? Just to avoid confusing someone checking a map...

Just to be clear: unlike Michigan, Oregon DOES NOT use salt on the roads during snow storms. This makes a big difference in the drive-ability of the roads here; that's one big reason chains are usually required here during significant snow storms. Someone thinking, "Ha, I drive in the Michigan winters, Oregon no problem!" might be surprised at the more difficult driving conditions in the Oregon snows. I grew up driving in Pennsylvania snows and it's very different out here. One problem is the other drivers who also have to drive in roads plowed without salt. You may be fine, but they may not, and they may be in front of you...

That being said, you may still come to Oregon in January and find I-5 perfectly clear and no snow at all. Impossible to predict now.

janisj

"I 5 is fine. you are listening to people who never leave the northern 1/3 of the state, Rogue excepted. And it is quite scenic by midwestern standards. I'd drive and enjoy the trip."

Huh - what does that mean? Yes, I-5 IS totally fine (and scenic above Redding). But not so much when it is closed or when chains are required. I live in the southern Sac Valley, have many relatives in far northern CA and southern OR between Roseburg and the stateline, and have driven I-5 uncountable times. I have also driven in the northern Scottish highlands, the high Sierra, the Rockies, and the Alps.

Between Mt Shasta and Ashland . . . . not a road you want to be driving in a snow storm. No - we don't usually get blizzards like in the midwest. But - but we have these things called grades. It ain't flat folks . . .

Fodorite018

bbqboy--I have to agree with Janisj. First of all, many of us who do live near Portland visit all parts of the state. Her point about the grades is a good one as well.

We have made the trip down to various parts of CA many times. We try not to drive in the dead of winter because we know the road conditions can change in a heartbeat.

jumpingjack

You know how they say there are two things to not bring up at a party for fear of arguments (religion, politics)? I have just added a third, at least for parties in the OR and CA area. Snow chains! Controversy ridden that subject is.

But seriously, you all have great points and at the very least, the deciding factor is that if the police are going to require me to have chains, I am going to have chains. Perhaps there are times where they might possibly jump the gun a bit and be too cautious in requiring them because people are not used to the snow, but I can certainly see there being times, even a supposed snow driving expert like myself, would need chains on unplowed and steep graded roads. Lets consider the snow chains conversation over.

Any more input on things to catch or stop for along the way on 101?

P.S. Andrew, thanks for point out the 199 correction. I WAS looking at a map and noticed things didn't seem to be lining up but figured from the context they must have meant 199. Thanks for making sure though.

sheri_lp

Chains aren't really for the snow, but to keep you from sliding on ice. If you have the time, you might just want to make sure you drive only if the weather is good. If it's not, then you could easily make a Plan B and fly.

LoveItaly

Hi jumpingjack, if you find when you are in Portland the weather is such you do not want to drive to Santa Rosa you can take either Southwest or Alaska/Horizon from Portland to Sacramento Airport and rent a car there and than of course drive over to Santa Rosa.

Orcas

OK. Chains. I can understand why a rental car agency would not allow you to chain up their cars. You are not allowed to put chains on some cars because of the braking system. When a chain breaks, it has the potential of wrapping around the axle, which breaks the brakes in some cars.

Basically, if the mountain passes are so bad that chains are required, you should not be driving on them unless you have to. It's not fun to lay beside your car in the snow and ice, and chain up in a snowstorm. It's not fun to drive with chains. It's not fun to unchain.

All that said, odds are, there wouldn't be a problem on I-5. The highest point is probably near the border between California and Oregon. I'd think that could be a problem, but it is unlikely. I don't think I-5 shuts down often.

roguemckenzie

sorry about the 99 vs 199 confusion, thanks Andrew! I just received National Geographic magazine with the redwoods on the front! Hope you can take a look, it might help you to visualize what a drive down 199 could be! Beautiful . . .

jumpingjack

I should mention we made the trip with now snow to be seen. We did end up wimping out on the Crater Lake idea however so we could spend another day with family. Perhaps one day when we are more certain about the weather conditions we will tell the family to kiss off and head out there.