Route advise? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

cejones4210 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Route advise?

cejones4210 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ok, I have another question to go along with the above question, in mid-September we are thinking of driving through Washington on our way to South Dakota. Dave would like to see Mt. Rainier NP, but what is the weather like and road conditions at this time of the year. Is this park, not advisable for our rig? This is one park we know nothing about or what to expect. Comments?

P. S. I really dislike high mountain passes and try to avoid them when I can. LOL, but out west that is sometimes difficult depending on where you are heading. We do use the Mountain directory, so will be checking that out, but just looking for comments from folks who have been there.

Thanks!
Candy

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

cejones4210 wrote:
As I am working on our routing for the later portion of our trip in September, would any of you be able to tell me if US 101 south from Forks, WA to Astoria, OR is a safe route for pulling our 5th wheel. We are 55' long from the tip of the Ram to the back of the Montana. Going up to the penisula we will be traveling on the other side from Portland, OR to Olympia and up to Sequim, WA. It is quite a bit faster and shorter according to my AAA maping, but thought it would be nice to see the other side on our way back down to Portland, to drop off our daughter for her flight back home. We want to show her as much of the area as we can while she is visiting. I know it will be much longer and slower but the suitability of the road for the 5er is more my concern.
Any comments will be appreciated!

Candy

Highway 101 really isn't that great in WA. Most of the trip from Forks to Astoria WON'T be on the coast, but will be inland. Not really bad, and certainly doable with your rig, unless you want to visit Ocean Shores or Long Beach, I'd at the very least turn off 101 at Aberdeen and go back to Olympia and then down. Personally I'd go back the way you came, but that's just me.

As to Mt. Rainier. Early September is usually fine. I would advise you to think about staying somewhere along Highway 12 which is about 1/2 between Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier so that you can unhook and do a day trip to each. Well worth doing. As for Mountain Passes, get use to them. I would suggest taking Highway 12 across to eastern Washington - climb on the west side, but just rolling highs on the descent, really easy to do. Again, that's my preference, but then I do anything not to go north and take I-90 east. Even a little of the traffic beyond Olympia will not be a fun drive.

-- Edited by Barbaraok on Tuesday 5th of July 2016 03:09:49 PM

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Agree with Barb's comments, much of 101 in WA is inland, OR 101 is a much more scenic drive. The bridge coming into Astoria from WA is a bit of a surprise, very high, I felt like we were going up in the sky when we left Astoria headed to Westport WA.

Also HWY 12 is a good choice, I would not want to go over Chinook or Cayuse pass, did both in a smaller rig, but there aren't a lot of guardrails and some very steep dropoffs. You won't want to tow through either Mt. Rainier or Mt. St. Helens, I think you are longer than the legal limit on some of the park roads. We did both last summer in the truck and with dual wheels there were some very tight corners. HWY 12 takes you right into the WA wine country☺

cejones4210 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Barb and Ruth,
Thanks for the comments. I was thinking highway 12 also. I have driven quite a few passes but will never like them, but as we love traveling in the west, it is something I know I will have to do on every trip. I do 90% of the driving and enjoy it, but not roads with steep drop offs and no guardrails, so Ruth, thanks for the warning!
Now, I will start looking at campgrounds.

Thanks!
Candy

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are in Ilwaco WA, next to Long Beach, right now and know US101 in Washington quite well. Mostly it is inland, but very doable in a large rig. I recommend taking WA4 and WA401 for the last leg of the trip to Astoria, since US101 in that section has lots of slow curves. US101 is a bit more scenic than WA401, but slower. If you take US101 instead of WA4/WA401, take US101 Alt just before you get to Long Beach, it cuts off a few miles.

Mount Rainier and Mount Saint Helen's are both worthwhile and accessible from US12.