Thread started by et at 11.18.10 - 9:47 am

Ok, driving question (yuck I know but I need some wisdom).

1. How long does it take you to drive up to Portland (realistically). Google maps says 16 hours.

2. When you drive where are your stopping points?

3. Do you do it all in one day?

4. Do you have more than one driver?

k, thnx. hearts.

et!

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I've done it a few times. All in one day. It usually takes an entire day. So make sure you leave like 9 or 10am .

I hit the rest stops to get out and stretch. But don't waste too much time along the way or to go out to eat some place or you will get to PDX really late.

Bring food with you in the car. Hope you are not going alone. Stay alert and I hope you have a place to stay when you get there.

It's pretty gruelling but if you have some good tunes. (I do audiobooks too) or if you have some good company to go with, then you should handle it fine.

Be safe! And be sure to Zoobomb on Sunday!



Joe Borfo
11.18.10 - 10:04 am

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Thanks Borfo! :)



et
responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
11.18.10 - 10:12 am

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1. 11 hours driving straight.
2. random gas stations... when you need gas or food... the TA centers work best.
3. yes leave at like 8 am
4. you can.. or you can do it all in one swoop, i dont know what kind of driver you are....
5.. have fun.



theshues
11.18.10 - 10:31 am

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1. With the van, it usually takes us 20-22 hours each way- but that's because no stop is under an hour long, as Borfo warned against. I'm assuming you won't have a dozen people that need to eat, pee, and smoke a bowl at every stop.

2. The 5 has ton of great stopping points- Weed, CA is always a favorite. Just be careful of the 75 mile stretch near San Fransisco where there aren't any stops- gas gets quite pricey those last couple exits.

3. Never done it any other way.

4. Always- I personally can drive one and a half hours safely when I'm tired, and between 3 and 4 hours when I'm well rested. Marcus can drive longer than that. Every person's different, so just know your limits. It gets scary if you push it, so don't.



danya
11.18.10 - 10:54 am

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Noted! 20 hours!! That sounds like painful FUN! Thanks for the tips! That bit about the no gas stations on the 5 is key.



et
11.18.10 - 11:06 am

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Remember, 70-80mph can be effectively pulled off if you've got the right vehicle and shoot straight up the 5.

All posters are dead on about the 10-11 hrs to cover the 1100-odd mile distance to get up there.
I did it a few times myself, but took a day and a half due to starting out from various points and "10 hr break rules".



bentstrider
11.18.10 - 12:35 pm

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Portland driving. Fuck Ya!



^olsko*jr7
11.18.10 - 2:46 pm

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ive done the drive multiple times.
you can get there from LA within 11-16 hours. Right now Grants Pass is due for snow, so it could take much longer.
Stopping points vary. Theres a cool soup spot along the 5.
Anyway, I know a few folk who are coming and going in the next month, if you want partners, holler! Oh.. and say hi to me while youre up here!!!!!



Coe coe buttaa
11.18.10 - 5:26 pm

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1. 16hrs but took 2 days to enjoy the route

2. stopped just outside of sacramento and bakersfield somewhere & grant's pass, or; corvallis, or for gas or food.

3. no, took 2 days. stayed the night in redding, ca at the best western (includes buffet bfast)

4. yes, 2 drivers traded at every other gas stop



icarus
11.18.10 - 6:21 pm

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Also-
I usually do it all in one day. Best to leave PDX early like 8am to get to LA by midnight (give or take a few hours).
When driving to Portland from LA, I suggest leaving LA late at night so that you don't drive through Grants Pass in the dark. It's scary when weather conditions are iffy.
Just my two cents.





Coe coe buttaa
11.18.10 - 7:32 pm

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For when you you get there: Beat a 30 minute track stand record and your coffee is free:
http://www.oregonlive.com/living/index.ssf/2010/11/look_ma_no_movement_track_stan.html#incart_hbx



OverTheHill
11.18.10 - 8:50 pm

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Wow thanks everyone for the tips! You guys are true awesome!



et
11.18.10 - 9:04 pm

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Damn shues, 11 hours? For me, It takes 15 hours in a sedan driving 8 mph over the speed limit at all times. I've driven straight there by myself, stopping only for fuel. I suggest leaving at around 11pm, that way you can avoid all traffic in CA. But obviously you have to be on the right sleeping schedule, it's also nice to arrive in the afternoon while the city is still functioning.



franz
responding to a comment by et
11.19.10 - 1:27 am

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stick 2 yerba maté tea bags in 1.5 liter bottle of water (shake well) and nurse it empty every few hours, add another bag when you refill it with more water.

I did this on a solo drive to vancouver and it worked great. clean sharp high with no jitters or sugar crash.



trickmilla
responding to a comment by et
11.19.10 - 10:36 am

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damnit i wrote this whole thing and it got erased

if you're planning on driving between now and march, you need chains, you're required to have them in everycar on every highway in oregon this time of year.

also, all the passes, specifically the siskyous which are way more important than grants pass are all covered with snow. the siskyous are the mountain range on the border of CA and OR

i was supposed to do the drive from PDX to LA this week but my car broke down in eugene so it didnt happen. Also be aware that its raining everywhere this time of year so it will add another hour or 2 regardless of what route.

also, i would avoid the 5 this time of year. shasta is scary normally, but especially with snow and so are the siskyous.

katbear and i drove up early nov just the two of us, and we did it in about 18 hrs. we did the 5 the whole way, but we also stopped in san jose ( i had a job interview ) it took us so long because once we got into ashland/medford, it got super dense fog that we couldn't see at all over grants pass and were going 25 mph with the hazards on.

regardless, i would do oregon /super norcal during the day, as theres less a chance of ice on the highways as there is during the night. so leave LA at like 11pm. if you're too worried about snow, take the 101 after san fran and then one of the smaller highways to get back on the 5 ( i was going to take the 38 from reedsport to drain, which connects right at eugene since it follows the river and has lower elevation. )

during the summer its no big deal and just take the 5 all the way.

hit me up when you're here! ill be in LA dec1-13 but then i'll be back in portland indefinitely. :)


oh and YES have more than one driver.. from SF to PDX is like 8-11 hrs alone. its a loooong drive. although people have done it alone, i dont recommend it.



tinycities
11.27.10 - 2:00 pm

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also

tripcheck.com is really helpful. its cams on all the highways so you can see the conditions. it also tells you the weather conditions in specific areas.



tinycities
11.27.10 - 2:01 pm

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I don't like driving long distances. It's 1,000 miles.
I've done it twice with overnight stops.
I like to fly. 2 hrs from Burbank.
Most people I know who do this route rideshare or take the Amtrak.
Just came back from Portland yesterday.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/umaru/sets/72157625473670874/



marino
11.27.10 - 2:24 pm

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