Best route from Salem, OR to Houston, TX

[LMSG30]

I have a 32' Grand Design 5th wheel being pulled by a 2012 F350 Super Duty 6.7 diesel. I'm looking for the best route from Oregon to Houston. I'll be traveling in spring March-April-May - so, I'm not worried about weather, but would like to avoid the really bad passes, the lower elevation, the better. I know my rig is just fine for just about any conditions, but the thing I like the least is steep grades. Thank you!!!

[toornot2]

to avoid steep passes,from salem go north to 1-84 east through the columbia river gorge to the dalles then us hwy97 come down the east side of the cascada to hwy 395 through california to barstow hwy 58 east will become !-40. stay on 1-40 until hwy 95 az to I-10 east to hwy 85 BY PASS to interstate 8 , interstate 8 merges with interstate 10 then to huston

[LMSG30]

Thanks everyone... I was unaware that snow might be an issue in April/May. I planned a southern route per most of y'all's advice.

[obgraham]

Seems to me the I-5 then I-10 route fits your criteria.
But it's all Interstate, and for me that is more hassle than a few mountain passes. I'd rather use less congested routes.

[paulj]

The immediate climb east of Salem will be, I think the longest and steepest you'll encounter. If you continue east on 20 to I80 you'll be at the high desert level until SLC without significant passes. Winds will more of an issue on I80 across Wyoming. Or turn SE to NM.

[TexasShadow]

I-5 south to I-10, then east to Houston.
The by-pass of Phoenix is good....hwy 85 south to I-8

[Thom02099]

LMSG30 wrote:
I have a 32' Grand Design 5th wheel being pulled by a 2012 F350 Super Duty 6.7 diesel. I'm looking for the best route from Oregon to Houston. I'll be traveling in spring March-April-May - so, I'm not worried about weather, but would like to avoid the really bad passes, the lower elevation, the better. I know my rig is just fine for just about any conditions, but the thing I like the least is steep grades. Thank you!!!

For crossing the northern or central Rockies, consider I-80 as an option. The highest point on all of I-80 is outside Laramie, WY at ~9600 feet. Lots of rolling terrain across Wyoming coming out of Utah. Not aware of any passes of note beyond the Reno NV area (there's the passes around Tahoe area). There's some climbs out of Salt Lake City area and then a 7 or so mile climb out of Laramie to the high point. Once across that, it's down hill to Cheyenne area. From there pick a route south to Houston.

OR...drop down through your favourite route in CA to I-40 or I-10 and then east. Advantage here would be less likely to have snow, whereas through Utah and Wyoming there would be more chance of snow in your March-April-May timeframe. March and April are the snowiest months, at least for CO and WY. So if that's an issue for you, heading further south may be your best option.

I'm sure others will have other opinions and responses.