Portland to Sun Valley - RV-Dreams Community Forum

RV Guests · RV-Dreams Community Member

Portland to Sun Valley

Mark Serley · RV-Dreams Family Member

you can google the weather around that time and it will give you an average. i would expect some snow sometime as last june we were at the grand tetons eating our picnic lunch in our truck because of the snowstorm! it was still beautiful, probably my favorite place so far, or maybe sedona, or maybe...... mark

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have driven I-84 at that time of year with no problems, but once you go into the mountains things can be more dicey. My gut is you will be about 80% safe.

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have driven I-84 many times and never hit snow when it was miserable up on I-90. Let me find some wood to knock on. There is one heck of a climb just east of Pendleton that I wouldn't want to make in the snow. In October you will probably be fine. The key will be what the weather looks like leading up to it. November through March are usually a lot sketchier than October. But it is the northern Rockies. Most weathermen up there are issued both a ouija board and a pair of dice.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

You can also camp or boondock at the casino east of Pendleton just before you climb the high passes. There are good Passport America campgrounds in Hermiston OR, Caldwell (Boise) ID, and Hagerman ID that we have stayed at through the years.

-- Edited by bjoyce on Monday 4th of March 2013 06:40:12 PM

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

The area between Pendleton and La Grande can be a bit dicey so allow plenty of time. OR has a nice state park near Pendleton, that's a little noisy because it's close to the Interstate but is a nice and convenient place to stay when traveling through there, it's probably about your halfway point if you want somewhere convenient to stay.

Hwy 75 north into Sun Valley / Ketchum can also be a bit tricky if they've had snow. We were in that area a couple of years ago over Labor Day weekend, driving through the Saw Tooths and were surpised by snow on our way to Stanley ID from just outside of Sun Valley as we crossed Galena summit. We had hiked there 2 days earlier in sun and dust, so it can change quickly. We were definitely not expecting snow at the begining of Sept.

If the weather holds for you, the drive north of Sun Valley on Hwy 75 should be beautiful with leaf changes that time of year.

Will you be returning to Portland or heading south after that festival? Note the in WA / OR (not sure about ID), chains are required to be carried after Nov. 1 when driving through the mountain passes. Our theory is that if you're driving in an area where chains are required, you need to know how to use them.

RV Guests · RV-Dreams Community Member

We hadn't even thought about chains. We will be headed back to Oregon as that is home. We haven't stayed at that park near Pendleton, but we'll check it out. Thanks! That is all great advice. The city RV park in Boardman is really nice albeit windy. Each site gets about an acre.

Helen & Rob

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for the tip on the Boardman RV park, looks like it might be a fun place to explore once we sell the house.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

This is no help to the original poster, but it is a general thought for traveling. From my point of view, if an area even "might" need chains for travel, it is likely a place I will avoid like a plague during winter months, especially if my travel include towing our fifth wheel.

Terry

RV Guests · RV-Dreams Community Member

Good advice too. Avoiding snow sounds like an all around good idea.

Thanks Terry,

Helen & Rob

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry,
That's not as easy as it sounds. The first place I ever chained up my big truck was... Wait for it... Atlanta!

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Trust me !!!!!........................stay away from the snow.....this year..2 Nor'Easters...1 Blizzard...and a storm for Wed. .....I figure Im a pro at it nowShhheeeeeesh!!!!

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry & Mike - I totally agree that we want to avoid the possibility of snow, but you know, even in Seattle we once in a while get a little bit of that dreaded white stuff, another reason we'll be happy to not be here next winter. 2 years ago we had the TT in for service and it just had to snow right before we needed to pick it up and get packed for an out of town art show. We actually had to use chains just to get it into our neighborhood. We NEVER want to do that again.