Fastest route from Portland to Florida

paul102a3 · September 12, 2017, 09:21:55 AM

We are currently situated in McMinnville Oregon (just south of Portland) and need to get home to Florida ASAP to deal with damage from Irma.

Looking for the fastest options to get back. Mapping software says I-84 to I-80, etc however I-84 is closed due to wildfires so I need options.

Any help would be appreciated.

Boomer · September 12, 2017, 09:48:16 AM

Easy to get around that closure. Up 26 over Mt. Hood, then you can drop back down 35 to Hood River. Or you can go across central Oregon all the way to Boise and hook back up to 84/80 (would be my preferred route and it's flat country, no climbing Cabbage Hill over the Blue Mountains on 84).

B_K · September 12, 2017, 11:27:06 AM

Plane......

No seriously Boomer is correct!

BK

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · September 12, 2017, 08:36:38 PM

I just came thru there and am in Vancouver, WA tonight meeting with Roadmaster to install a breaking system on my Jeep toad tomorrow.

Coming west, I-84 is closed at the 62 mile marker so I had to detour at Hood River and cross the very narrow bridge to the 14 and then drive south on the north side of the river. You only have about 2 inches on either side of your mirrors on the bridge if you meet a truck. There are also about 6 tunnels that are also very tight so if you are in a 40ft raised roof bus you have to either be a very good driver or just close your eyes going over the bridge and thru the tunnels like I did.

Or you can go all the way around and enter I-84 at The Dalles, but that will add quite a bit of time. Dick Wright from Wrico International taught me all of this today as he is running the same route to get to the NWBN rally this week in Mt. Angel.

lvmci · September 12, 2017, 09:44:27 PM

You don't want to take a bus on I-84 over deadman's pass south east of Pendelton, OR, in either direction, if you can avoid it, lvmci...

Ed Hackenbruch · September 13, 2017, 07:27:13 AM

Done it both ways a couple of times in our 5A. You do want to pay attention to what you are doing though.....gearing and brakes.

paul102a3 · September 13, 2017, 08:31:08 AM

Thanks for all the info and advice. As it turns out, we were lucky and only had slight roof damage which has already been repaired.

We have decided to continue our West Coast adventures.