Long Beach, WA to Spokane

[MRC54]

Need some advice... There are three routes, and they're all within minutes for driving time, and close for distance. Driving tomorrow, leaving 9ish

1. 101 to 5, Olympia, Tacoma, 18 to 90
2. Back to Portland, 82, 182, 395, 90
3. 20 to Longview, 5, 12,90

1 ton DRW, towing 41' 5th wheel, 16k loaded

any opinions out there?

[MRC54]

and BTW, our 1st night is in O'Sullivan's Sportsman Park (on Moses Lake near Othello, WA). Really a nice park. Large sites, lots of grass, paved streets.

[MRC54]

Thanks to all the responses!Love this forum.

We leave in an hour or so, and after consideration of the suggestions, we chose #2. Takes us thru Kennewick for our 1st stop, then up thru Spokane on the way to Missoula. Staying there in a Harvest Host brewery.

[rhagfo]

Well what route did you decide on?

[rhagfo]

MRC54 wrote:
Need some advice... There are three routes, and they're all within minutes for driving time, and close for distance. Driving tomorrow, leaving 9ish

1. 101 to 5, Olympia, Tacoma, 18 to 90
2. Back to Portland, 82, 182, 395, 90
3. 20 to Longview, 5, 12,90

1 ton DRW, towing 41' 5th wheel, 16k loaded

any opinions out there?

Well my vote is for #2. The only real traffic will be the early part of I84 east of I205 until Troutdale, from there I84 moves well and you will have a strong tail wind.

My second choice would be I5 to SR 12, north of Yakama I82 climbs over three ridges getting to I90.

It all depends on how well you can maintain speed climbing on a two lane road.

I lived in the greater Olympia to Seattle area 25 years ago, traffic was bad then, and hasn’t gotten any better sucks from Olympia North!

[RickLight]

paulj wrote:
Kind of hard to approach Spokane from the W/SW without using I90.

We could direct them further north and take US2 across the Cascades and eastern Washington.

Better yet take WA20 across 🙂

We live there and do it all the time. WA20 WA26, US2 are also good options. Ritzville is about an hour from downtown via I90 so 395 isn't bad but not fun.

[paulj]

RickLight wrote:
Whatever you do avoid I90 like a blank wall in a hospital....

Kind of hard to approach Spokane from the W/SW without using I90.

We could direct them further north and take US2 across the Cascades and eastern Washington.

Better yet take WA20 across 🙂

[Y-Guy]

IMHO I'd go through the Gorge to the Tri-Cities and beyond.

[RickLight]

Whatever you do avoid I90 like a blank wall in a hospital.

Once you get over the Cascades the Yakima valley I82 and Walla Walla US12 wineries are a great time and well worth the time. The rural countryside and small towns can be fun too!

[obgraham]

MRC54 wrote:
Thanks obgraham

I know I can't avoid the passes, but if I DID mind the passes, which route would you recommend?

I guess I'd go Tacoma--18--I-90, but only because Portland is even more annoying.
I, like others here, still think White Pass is your best choice.

[mockturtle]

I'd go with scenic US 12, White Pass. From 12 you can access I-90 by heading north from Yakima and east at Ellensburg. All sizes of rigs take this route. The only problem is that in summer there are often some areas of road construction.

[enblethen]

State makes a big difference!
Could look at WA 6 to Chehalis, then US 12 to I-82, WA 821 up the Yakima River canyon, Great camp round along river at Big Pines. Then I-90 to Spokane

[RedRollingRoadb]

I avoid freeways like the plague. This is the way I would go. White Pass is very doable. WA 24 & 26 are good roads and basically flat and US 395 is all four lane now up to I-90. Plus is that you miss pulling the grade out of Vantage. Used to run Portland-Yakimia-Spokane and from Yakima that was the route we took.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Long+Beach,+WA/Spokane,+WA/@47.284874,-117.7064745,9.87z/data=!4m24!...

If you go Portland you aren't missing any grades as you need to make the pull over Horse Haven on I-82 between Umitilla and Kennewick.

[gotsmart]

When I go to Spokane I break up the drive by going to Wild Horse Casino in Pendleton, OR for a day or 2. They have an RV park (nothing to write home about), commercial truck parking area, an RV parking area, and an Arrow gas station. I use the RV parking area with the other RVers. The casino has a nice buffet and a 5 theater cinema. The buffet has a nice view of Cabbage Patch Hill. I don't know what their present restrictions are.

I'm in Chinook right now. This is the route I would take:

101 South to Astoria, OR
OR-30 East to Longview, WA (433) - (it's easier than driving WA-4 on the WA side of the Columbia)
In Longview - 433 to 432 to I-5 South
I-5 South to I-205 South to I-84 East to Pendleton, OR

Then double back 30 miles on I-84 West to I-82 West
I-82-West to I-395 North to I-90 East to Spokane

I have found that Biggs Junction, OR is an easy in/easy out location for fueling.

I-395 is a really nice road. You can set the cruise control and enjoy the drive.

[Thermoguy]

If you want a scenic drive and avoid stop and go traffic, go White Pass, but plan for a scenic drive with winding roads, a pretty good incline and good hill going down the pass. This is my choice if I don't want to sit in stop and go. This is also our newest destination for camping - but before you go, check the fires in Yakima. Not sure if any fires are effecting the roads over there.

If you want the easiest drive on your vehicle, lots of freeway, truck traffic, stop and go, then go 90. Once you get to North Bend (or off 18) it is pretty good, freeway travel. This is also your fastest option, depending on how much rush hour traffic, or just plain overcrowded.

If you haven't done White Pass, I would recommend that for the view and scenery.

Don't go Portland to 84, unless you are trying to avoid a pass. Long boring and lots of traffic.