More driving from Oregon

Originally Posted By dzy76

Since it's my first time driving down with the kids, I have lots of questions you all will be hit with before I make some final decisions. Just want to thank everyone ahead of time for your patience and help.

Is if faster, easier, or better coming down US97 or I5?

 

Originally Posted By DouglasDubh

Where are you coming from?

 

Originally Posted By dzy76

Pendleton Oregon. Eastern side of state. We are right on I84 though. So I could easily go east toward Boise, west towards Portland.

I've heard some say they go to 97 and down through Bend, some go to Boise and down, and others to I5 and down.

Our first stop I think I want to be about an hour or two above Magic Mountain where we will spend the night go to MM and then drive into Anaheim.

 

Originally Posted By DouglasDubh

I wouldn't go up to Portland and then down. It looks like a toss-up between going through Bend and Boise. The route through Bend is slightly shorter, but you'll spend more time on higher speed freeways driving through Idaho and Nevada.

If you've never been through Bend and down I-5 from northern California, it might be worth the extra time. Mount Shasta is pretty impressive. As I mentioned in another thread, OMSI members can go to Turtle Bay in Redding for free, which is a nice place to stretch your legs.

 

Originally Posted By crazy4mickey2

We've driven many times from Bend down to the Bay Area via 97 through KFalls connecting up with 5 in Weed. We love the drive. I agree with Douglas that Mt. Shasta is very impressive. Also Castle Craggs on the west side of 5 is beautiful. On a trip North last year we spent a few days in Redding and really enjoyed Turtle Bay (stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn just off the freeway). The bridge is phenominal. Have fun!

 

Originally Posted By dzy76

OK. Realistically, should I plan on doing it in a day or stay over somewhere? I'm so confused.

I'm thinking we can leave early on the 27th (Thurs). I'm planning on driving down with my boys, 19, 17, 14. So my oldest two can help drive. However, my middle son doesn't last long driving, he usually gets sleepy in the car. So don't know how much I can count on him.

There is so much to see on the way down, I hate to hurry, but I don't know where to stop, good places to stay etc.

I'm afraid to overplan in case we don't make it as far as I thought, but then again, I hate to wing it and not find a room.

Our first plan once down there is a day at MM. Maybe even a 1/2 day plus a full day. So I'd like to stay somewhere close by there that night. It'd be nice if we could drive that far the first day, but I just don't know.

Then after the full day in the park head to DL area that evening. That's a good hour away right?

We'll stay in DL area or another week-or hopefully 10 days. Then head back. I'm actually considering taking 101 back up to see that side of the state. I'd love the boys to see some of the coastal areas and the redwoods. Again, don't know how far to plan on making it the first day. Could finish off the second day staying at my Dad's in Newport, Oregon then heading home the next.

I know I'm rambling a bit, but I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with it all never having done it before.

 

Originally Posted By jkiwi


Last summer we drove from Portland to San Fancisco (well, Vallejo for Six Flags Marineworld). It was a long 10 hour drive down I-5 and my butt was SO tired of sitting by the end of the day. It wasn't so much all the driving that got to me, but all the sitting. If I were to do it again I would split that drive into two days, especially if I were going all the way to MM.

It sounds like you have plenty of time, so there is no real need to hurry (we only have 4 days total!) I would say find a half way point that would be interesting for an overnight stay, then continue on to MM for a couple days.

You'll have fun no matter what you do!!

Jenn

 

Originally Posted By dzy76

True. We drive to my Dad's at Newport (about 5 hours) and it seems like a long drive sometimes. We usually end up stopping in Portland at the mall to stretch our legs. I'm beginning to worry about trying to do it in a day. Maybe after I've done it once I would be better suited to try it.

 

Originally Posted By DouglasDubh

Yeah, that's a pretty long day, and it's still winter, so you could run into inclement weather and icy roads. If you've got the time, why not do it in two days?

 

Originally Posted By dzy76

Douglas I'm going down end of July - so other than fires and wind, roads should be OK.

 

Originally Posted By DouglasDubh

Sorry, when you said the 27th, I assumed you meant this month.

 

Originally Posted By crazy4mickey2

dzy76, I grew up in Newport! It's a small world after all. (Sorry I had to throw that in.)

Since your kids are older I'd probably skip Turtle Bay, at least the museum part. I'd probably try and make it down to the Sacramento area. I think someone mentioned the Holiday Inn in Elk Grove which we've stayed at. You could then leave early the next morning and get to MM.

The drive up 101 through Santa Barbara is beautiful and really gives you that Southern Calif. beach feel. From the SF area the 101 drive is pretty but I don't find it that interesting (maybe I've done it too many times). When you join the coast around Eureka the area looks a lot like the Oregon coast. It's a very long drive. If I remember correctly about 8 hours from the Bay Area to Crescent City. My suggestion would be to do 101 up to the SF area then connect up to 5 via 80 and head to Oregon. We usually take Hwy 20 from Corvallis to Newport.

If you have AAA they have this great service called Trip Tik that helps you plan your route. It gives you hotels, restaurants, etc. and travel times between stops. It's worth signing up for AAA if you don't have it.

Have fun!

 

Originally Posted By dzy76

Don't be sorry Douglas - I probably didn't mention the month! I'd drop over if I was trying to go this month, I take months planning anything. lol.

Hey crazy4mickey2 - where do you live now?

One of my boys and I were just sitting her pouring over maps and thought we could make it to Sacramento! I'll check the website for the hotel you mentioned. Just want something right off I5 and maybe with a pool for the boys to cool off in that night. Then back onto the road.

Looks like it's another 6 hours to Valencia. If we got up early and make the hotel there, we were thinking maybe of doing MM for the rest of the day and then the full next day. My boys are getting excited about the rollercoasters (yikes - I'm scared).

As far as coming back my youngest son just said he wanted to go through Santa Barbara and would like to cross the Golden State Bridge. I'm looking at it now, that is the 80 right?

 

Originally Posted By DouglasDubh

No, 80 goes over the Bay Bridge. 101 goes over the Golden Gate.

 

Originally Posted By crazy4mickey2

dzy76, we live in Redwood City on the SF Peninsula. We still have lots of friends and relatives in Oregon so we usually make it up there once a year. This year we're heading to Sunriver so we'll be doing the Hwy 97 trip.

Maybe you should stay a night in San Francisco so your kids can see the sights. We like to take guest across the bridge to the view point then come back and do the SF tourist sights like Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, and don't forget a cable car ride. If you decide not to do that but still want to cross the bridge you can take the Richmond bridge across the bay and connect up with 80 via 580.

 

Originally Posted By crazy4mickey2

I checked the AAA website and it says Elk Grove to Valencia should be 5 hours. You'll certainly have time for a half day of MM. I think they have pretty late hours in the summer so it may seem more like a full day.

 

Originally Posted By dzy76

I've thought about SF. It might be a good place to stop on the way back.

I checked the web site, hours those days are 10-10pm. So we can stay late the first day and then go early the second day and do what we didn't get to. Maybe even make it to Anaheim early enough to do DL for the night (it would be Sat). I'm getting excited.

 

Originally Posted By 4Disnee

Hello dzy76, If you are stopping by SF. We live in Vallejo and Six Flags Marine World is in Vallejo just about 30 miles North of San Fransico. Our DS loves the big roller coasters there and all the cool rides. If you are a member of AAA you can get discount tickets thru them. Just another thought to send your way. lol

 

Originally Posted By dzy76

4disnee you guys are great. I wonder if we had season pass for MM if we could use it for sixflags marine world?

 

Originally Posted By 4Disnee

Yes Yeah! Yes you can use a season pass for all the sixglags parks is my understanding unless things have changed since last year. That would be a good idea. Their season passes usually run about $49.00 if you buy 4 or more. But I think that they usually run about $56 per person if the prices have not gone up since last year. We used to have a season pass but now we have AP's at DL instead. LOL