West - SLC to Seattle via Car Help

Hey all,

I'd like to thank you for your advice in advance, in case I forget once I start reading your informative responses :) My fiance and I will be taking a vacation, a much needed vacation coming up here in a couple of months. We're heading from SLC to Seattle. Besides some advice on some great places to eat in Seattle, things to do, I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on a fairly safe ride that direction. One of the travelers here is not a huge fan of mountain driving, so we're wondering if there are any routes that would bypass any large mountain climbs via car and mountain driving in general. I've heard that going to Portland from SLC, then carrying on to Seattle is the smoothest choice, but I was wondering if any fellow travelers could help me out. Thanks...

In a couple of months---means when ???

November/December means winter weather and start of snow at high elevations.

Reason seattle is popular is because of the summer weather with it cooler than many places in the country, greener, and many water options to chose from.

If you are going to drive its a LONG one day drive.

The easiest drive is to take I-84 to Portland then up I-5. the only mountain pass is in NE corner of Oregon when you go through the Blue Mountains. The climb is very easy to do on the interstate...but if you do it in the winter months snow is possible at this elevation.

The only other way to go...I-84...to I-82...to I-90...to seattle. I-90 is fine to drive over but you are much higher in altitude. the pass level is 4,000 feet so its quite common when the fronts start moving through in november/december you get snow falling at pass level thus chains could be required.

The drive is a long one from SLC to SEA (you could do it in about 13 hours or so with minimal stops). As a previous poster stated, the only pass is in the Blue Mtns in NE Oregon. While heading westbound isn't so bad (somewhat gentle climb up) the trip down the other side of the pass can be a bit tricky. Keep that in mind when you head eastbound on the return trip. The wind can be blowing a lot too. It is a major route for truckers so you will share the road with them too. If you add winter months to this trip, it can make it a little squirrelly.

I drove from Portland to the Grand Canyon in December 2002 on I-84 stopping overnight in Ontario, OR and Salt Lake City - the only area really to watch for winter driving is Deadman Pass/Meachman where we encountered blowing and drifting snow. Really depends on the weather though as I-84 can also be shut in the Columbia Gorge during ice/snow events. Take it easy and have some good chains plus studded or studless tires. I'd also recommend breaking the journey as well.

I drove from Portland to the Grand Canyon in December 2002 on I-84 stopping overnight in Ontario, OR and Salt Lake City - the only area really to watch for winter driving is Deadman Pass/Meachman where we encountered blowing and drifting snow. Really depends on the weather though as I-84 can also be shut in the Columbia Gorge during ice/snow events. Take it easy and have some good chains plus studded or studless tires. I'd also recommend breaking the journey as well.

Sure I-84 can shut in the columbia gorge---Columbia river could flood....

The likelihood of that is alot less than what you would go through on I-90 or other mountian passes.

Sure I-84 can shut in the columbia gorge---Columbia river could flood....

The likelihood of that is alot less than what you would go through on I-90 or other mountian passes.

I believe the problem with I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge is their proneness to have ice during the winter months. It can close for a several hours, backing up truck traffic. The I-90 pass is only 3500 feet (or there about). It does get quite a bit of snow. I would take it over I-84 through Portland only because it is a shorter route.

I believe the problem with I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge is their proneness to have ice during the winter months. It can close for a several hours, backing up truck traffic. The I-90 pass is only 3500 feet (or there about). It does get quite a bit of snow. I would take it over I-84 through Portland only because it is a shorter route.

I have lived in the Seatle area for quite some time. I-90 pass closes or requires chains quite often do to winter weather occuring over a 6 month period.

I-84 can get weather---but the liklihood is far less than I-90. If ice is forecast to fall guess what gets salted first...I-84 through the gorge. Unless you have a system coming through that day its generally very manageable.

As far as the difference in the drive...sure 82/90 is shorter but it depends on your final destination. If you are driving to Olympia then going through Portland is faster.