Yellowstone to Portland (OR): Go through Washington or Idaho?
 

We are facing a nice dilemma for an upcoming Summer trip (last week of June- 4th of July 2011). We want to drive from Yellowstone National Park to Portland, Oregon. There are two almost equal loops (time-wise) to get to Portland; the North loop goes through Washinton State (Spokane, etc....). The South Loop takes on Idaho (Pocatello, Twin Falls, etc....).

Which one would you take/taken? Why?

If I was to declare a bias right now, I would be biased to the North only only because we drove portions of the the south loop some years back.

Help please!!

We drove the north route a couple of years ago from Bozeman, MT. The area through Idaho is windy and a little slow (canyon). Coere d'Alene is a nice town to visit though.

Most of the drive through Washington is dry country but the landscape is unique and interesting. Some areas are heavily irrigated and it's a major grower of fruits and vegetables. NOW, if you want to make a stop at Mt Rainier National Park, that would make the north route very worth it. We loved visiting Mt Rainier.

Depends a little on how much time you have. Personally I think the ride across Idaho is pretty boring, as is most of eastern Oregon - near desert conditions etc.

For me, I'd head east on I-90 from Bozeman to Spokane, then US 2 across to the junction with US 97. Then I'd head south on US 97 all the way to the Columbia River near Goldendale, then into Portland via the Columbia Gorge (north side of the river to Hood River, then historic Gorge Hwy on the south bank the rest of the way.) There's quite a variety of landscapes with this route - Grand Coulee Dam, the orchard country around Wenatchee, wine country around Yakima, then some great "old west" scenery between Yakima and the river. Stops can include the Grand Coulee Dam, great views of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams from US 97, Maryhill Museum at the east end of the Gorge, various waterfalls etc. along the Gorge.

Doh. That would be <i>west</i> from Bozeman on I-90, preferably including a stop at the Land of Magic Supper Club in Logan for one of the best steak dinners on planet Earth.

I would drive through Ennis and Virginia City to Missoula. Then to Lewiston on Highway 12 (very scenic), Walla Walla, and into Portland on WA-14 (also very scenic).

This is a beautiful drive and the mileage is about the same as going through Boise and Twin Falls.

HTTY

That sounds and looks like a really nice drive.

You guys are THE BEST; real class act(s). I will explore every answer and will keep post of desicions and outcome. Anyother suggestion, please free to add. Hope I can return the favor someday.

Is there something that you always wanted to see on either route? Both routes have long stretches of high desert with gas stations spread pretty far apart.
Living in Oregon, I like the route over US 20 from Ontario to Bend and then over the Cascades through Salem to Portland.

Happytrailstoyou, I like the looks of this trip. We are coming from Illinois through Yellowstone and headed to the Redwoods in CA. Have a long way north or south interstates but like what you proposed. We are going mid-August so weather should not be an issue. I am trying to follow your directions from Ennis to Virginia City and then to Missoula where we drop down and catch 12. There are roads shown that cut across to Missoula- 287 to 41 to 278 to 43 to 93 to 12. Is that the route you recommend? Or would it be better to go straight north on 287 to I90 to Missoula??? I guess this is an old post and you probably won't reply but I'll give it a try just the same... Thanks for offering the route. I think it is where we will go this August. Thanks again!!!

Here I am!

I would drive 287 and I-90 to Missoula (193 miles/3 hours).

Also, if I were curious about Anaconda and Philipsburg (and had the time), I would make a detour to see those towns.

Enjoy, HTtY

Sorry. That got posted prematurely. If you want to see Virginia City, take 287 to Twin Bridges and 41 to I-90. It's all good. It just depends on how much time you have. HTtY