Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 11-20-2015, 05:10 PM   #1
Member
 
Vindisl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Central Oregon
Posts: 42
Phoenix to Bend in Winter.

Hey Guys! We are driving during the week between X'Mas and New Year's Eve. Can spend 2 or 3- days on the road. Want to avoid the I-10 and I-5 corridors. Any suggestions or special concerns this time of year would be greatly appreciated!

__________________
2001 EB-350 7.3L SMB/PH Quadvan 4x4 285x70x17 orig. owner.
Vindisl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2015, 05:48 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Viva's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 879
Re: Phoenix to Bend in Winter.

I'll be reading with interest. I'm going to be heading from NW AZ, to Portland, OR, in a couple of weeks or so. Typically, I'd go up 395, which is a great road, but I can't see doing that in winter. So, I was planning to take I-40 to 58 - over Tehachapi - then up I-5, watching for a weather window to get over Siskiyou Pass (or rather, avoiding a bad window). I realize Bend is a bit east, so that may influence things. I despise I-5, but in winter....

Maybe I'll learn a new/better route now! Was not looking forward to I-5... I don't know if 95 up through Nevada is a good winter option or not. Guessing not, but... maybe?
Viva is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2015, 08:13 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
mikracer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 2,552
Re: Phoenix to Bend in Winter.

I drove to bend last year about this time and spun out in a little town about 45 miles south of bend. If you're 2wd, I would suggest taking chains just in case and be comfortable putting them on. Luckily I had chains but they broke and it was a loooong 30 miles into bend.
__________________
2005 E350 Chateau - V10 - Agile Offroad 4x4
2012 CTS-V Wagon - For the baby...
mikracer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2015, 10:54 AM   #4
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 43
Garage
Re: Phoenix to Bend in Winter.

I drive Seattle to Phoenix round trip twice a year in the SMB. With your 2WD and chains I wouldn't hesitate to do 3rd or 4th tier roads as 97, 395 variations and I-5 for sure are boring unless you've never driven them before, or are in a hurry. I take 2-4 days, see some of my favorites. PS: This is great country for a road-trip.

Paste these URLs into Google maps

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Phoenix ... 581728!3e0

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Phoenix ... 581728!3e0
dar636 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2015, 11:48 AM   #5
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: Phoenix to Bend in Winter.

I'd say take I-5 over the hills and split off to highway 33 for as long as possible then cut over to 101. You'd avoid much of I-5 but it sounds like there is a time constraint. Unfortunately all I see is to get there quickly is I-5 or 395. Highway 33 is a two lane road & is kind of like driving route 66 as it was taken over by I-5 years ago. So when you drive it you go through farmland (best seen in the springtime) and small cities that gives you a sense of the earlier 60's. But there are a lot of stop signs going through those towns. Above the bay area I prefer 101... it's just a pain getting there through the delta region.

During your drive (if you haul through CA) how far do you think you'll get before having to pull off to camp?
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2015, 05:52 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Bellpilot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Bend, Oregon
Posts: 491
Re: Phoenix to Bend in Winter.

I have made this trip many times and year round because we had elderly parents in Sun City. I would take 93 to Vegas, 395 to Reno and on through Alturas. 31 to 97, 97 on to Bend.
__________________
2010 E350 6.0 4x4 EB 50 SMB
Bellpilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2015, 11:36 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 181
Re: Phoenix to Bend in Winter.

Don't forget if you are in the boonies at night in OR those little towns shut down gas station between 5-6. We had a very stressful drive up 395 one very late night just hoping we wouldn't run out of gas.
CaptainVo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2015, 07:13 AM   #8
Member
 
Vindisl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Central Oregon
Posts: 42
Re: Phoenix to Bend in Winter.

I'm in a 2WD. Yes, hwy 97 south of Bend can be a little dicey some winter days. I'm not familiar with roads in NV and would like to try them.

SMB is stock 7.3L PSD. 450-mile range for trip planning purposes, w/ reserve.

I'm thinking: Phoenix to Vegas to Elko to Winnemucca. Then hwy 95 and via Steens hwy, approaching Bend from the east.
__________________
2001 EB-350 7.3L SMB/PH Quadvan 4x4 285x70x17 orig. owner.
Vindisl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2015, 07:17 AM   #9
Member
 
Vindisl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Central Oregon
Posts: 42
Re: Phoenix to Bend in Winter.

Oh, BTW - have never used chains in my life!
__________________
2001 EB-350 7.3L SMB/PH Quadvan 4x4 285x70x17 orig. owner.
Vindisl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2015, 07:37 AM   #10
Member
 
Vindisl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Central Oregon
Posts: 42
Re: Phoenix to Bend in Winter.

Hwy 93 ( Great Basin Hwy ) might seem like a tempting choice in winter?
__________________
2001 EB-350 7.3L SMB/PH Quadvan 4x4 285x70x17 orig. owner.
Vindisl is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Sportsmobile Registry

Bruce

Sboring35

#G0nz0

rumrunner73
Add your Sportsmobile
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:23 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.