Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Best route from San Diego to Pendleton, Or (Read 908 times) previous topic - next topic

Best route from San Diego to Pendleton, Or

   Getting ready to head up to Pendleton for the northwest chapter rally and what would be the best route.
  Thanks for any input.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Best route from San Diego to Pendleton, Or

Reply #1 –
Boring is interstate 5
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Best route from San Diego to Pendleton, Or

Reply #2 –
East to Santa Fe for a couple weeks at least, Raton pass and north to Colter Bay in the Tetons for a month or so, west through Idaho to Ontario, OR then on to Pendleton.

Anyway but CA.

MN is not too far out of the way.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Best route from San Diego to Pendleton, Or

Reply #3 –
Bob, thanks for all that information!
R&S, that sounds good. Wish we could be gone that long.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Best route from San Diego to Pendleton, Or

Reply #4 –
Quote from: rbark –
    Getting ready to head up to Pendleton for the northwest chapter rally and what would be the best route.
  Thanks for any input.
Head up 395 through the Owens Valley (Cadillac Desert fame) Crossing the Mojave may be warm until you start to get some elevation. Too many great stops to describe here. Bishop is one of our favorite stops. Easy to live here if you like small towns. From there, you climb up Sherwin Grade to Mammoth Lake then June Lake Loop where Craneman is today. Easy to make day trip into the high and less visited part of Yosemite NP. Lee Vining, Bridgeport, Bodie SP are all nice stops. We do this trip several times a year, once a couple of weeks ago and again at the end of June. OK, a couple more; Lone Pine with the Alabama Hills and movie museum, Mt. Whitney, etc. While Yellowstone is our favorite destination, 395 is our favorite highway in the States. Lots of RV parks, campgrounds, BLM dry camping, firewood, etc.

Scenic Highway 395 in Eastern California Photo Gallery

We were on a "City Bird" flight from Belgium to San Francisco a few years ago. A couple of women won a trip to the States and were going to rent a car and see it from Reno to LA on 395. They were reading a couple of books just dedicated to it.

Lots of books available with some examples here: books highway 395 - Google Search

Photos from our trip a couple of weeks ago at: 395 to June Lake, May 2018 - Google Photos

From 2011: June Lake 2011 - Google Photos

Lots of choices for routes to get back to Oregon.

Pierce

Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Best route from San Diego to Pendleton, Or

Reply #5 –
395 is a great road to take. One road that gave me pause, off 395, was the road over the hill to Death Valley: SR 190. You could see oil and water stains on the steep pull up the hill, then 'gasp' on the steep push down to the valley. I'd never do it in the heat!
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Best route from San Diego to Pendleton, Or

Reply #6 –
Quote from: mike leary –
395 is a great road to take. One road that gave me pause, off 395, was the road over the hill to Death Valley: SR 190. You could see oil and water stains on the steep pull up the hill, then 'gasp' on the steep push down to the valley. I'd never do it in the heat!
And there are several very steep grades in the park. I had a car flat with the OAT at 113 degrees. I was just able to get the spare on before the heat got to me. I stopped at a store that seemed freezing inside. It was 85 degrees.

The last time in summer with the U300 saw first gear with the heater and fan full on several times. Takes all the fun out of it. Descents  seem impossibly steep and almost like a roller coaster ride with huge drop offs. Have to really control your descents and watch air pressure.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Best route from San Diego to Pendleton, Or

Reply #7 –
190? has three ridge lines to cross.  While certainly doable in summer I have looked at the turnoffs many times and thought better of taking that road in our coach.  Not that pretty.  Desert.

All routes to eastern Oregon are warm. 

Alternate route, out of the way is through Vegas on I15 then up Virgin canyon to st George then through Salt Lake City, Utah.  Then north then back a bit west to Pendleton. Way out of the way but sure prettier

Less boring than 700 miles plus in the Central Valley, ca.

"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Best route from San Diego to Pendleton, Or

Reply #8 –
Pierce, the 395 route looks like the way to go. Would be an easy first days to Bishop then on from there. Thanks!
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Best route from San Diego to Pendleton, Or

Reply #9 –
Weasel trail.  Pretty. 
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Best route from San Diego to Pendleton, Or

Reply #10 –
I concur on just running up 395..
Will see You in Pendleton!

Be safe my friend
'02 40' U320t  4010WTFS Build 6036 1 slide
Motorcade # 17841
SKP 151920
Retired truck driver
 5 million miler
Still have itchy feet for travel

Re: Best route from San Diego to Pendleton, Or

Reply #11 –
Quote from: rbark –
Pierce, the 395 route looks like the way to go. Would be an easy first days to Bishop then on from there. Thanks!
We usually stay at one of the Brown's campgrounds in Bishop. Brown's Millpond is a few minutes north of town but has lots of big trees and shade if the weather is hot. Location on some maps is incorrect. Bishop, CA Campground Reviews - Best of Bishop Camping - RV Park Reviews
Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjNRHPh-1mM

If you want to drive another hour and want cooler weather at about 7000 feet, June Lake Loop is perfect. Craneman is in Oh' Ridge campground for the next few days. Nice beach and dogs are allowed on the northwest side of the beach. Dry camping but great views and sun if you have solar. Oh Ridge Campground, Inyo NF - June Lake, CA - RV Park Reviews

Lots of videos on the campground: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=oh+ridge+campground+

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)
 

Re: Best route from San Diego to Pendleton, Or

Reply #12 –
Thanks guys!
 See you there Red!
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel