Best route thru NW April 26, 2014, 04:35:31 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145971Greetings,Would like to ask of your favorite or preferred route across WA going from east to west vs south to north. I have avoided driving thru Seattle so far - by either going up thru Olympia to Port Townsend, ferry to Whidbey on up thru Anacortes onward to BC... And I took the scary grade on I-84 out of ID, into OR to pick up Highway 97 in WA and onward to BC. But I need to pick up a friend near Bellingham before heading for BC. How might I get to Bellingham coming from the east? Any suggestions? Is there a favorite backroad? I'm not crazy about driving interstates.I'm coming in from MN and beyond that, I'm open for ideas how to approach this.Thanks for your help, its appreciated.Melinda 2011 27' MB http://wovenjourney.blogspot.com
Best route thru NW Reply #1 – April 26, 2014, 04:45:13 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145972There is no way to get to Bellingham without some freeway driving. Your best bet is to take SR2 across northern Washington and over the North Cascade pass (very scenic). You wil hit I5 at Burlington WA. From there it is only about a 15 minute drive north on I5 to Bellingham. Tom
Re: Best route thru NW Reply #2 – April 26, 2014, 04:51:56 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145973Melinda, you didn't mention which part of MN you'd be coming from, but you might look at heading west on US Highway 2 across ND, MT, and the panhandle of Idaho. At Newport (at the very edge of WA just west of Priest River, ID), take Hwy. 20 to Tonasket, and head down 97 until you hit 20 again at Omak and head west. 20 goes through pretty country, including North Cascades NP. You can catch I-5 at Burlington and go up (about 20 miles or so) to Bellingham, or for a more 'pastoral' experience (but a bit longer and slower), you could take 9 north at Sedro-Wooley; 9 turns into 542 as it goes into Bellingham from the east.Have a good trip!Joan
Re: Best route thru NW Reply #3 – April 26, 2014, 04:56:35 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145974I know zip about the routes in that area, but wonder if the Bellingham passenger could Greyhound it to a better pick up place to save you the agony. Or would you go right through there anyway? Are you going to use the crossing at Blaine?I did a Google Map query and just stretched the route that was shown (pretty much all I-5) away from I-5, and got this:http://goo.gl/maps/y96ls .I started at La Conner because that is where we drove from once to Bellingham, actually Ferndale, but we went through Bellingham. But you said you were coming from the east, so that route is not pertinent to that direction. It was just fun for me to relive that trip a little bit! ;->Virtual hugs,Judie http://dorrieanne.wordpress.com
Re: Best route thru NW Reply #4 – April 26, 2014, 04:58:58 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145975I wanna go with Joan on this route! ;->Virtual hugs,Judie
Best route thru NW Reply #5 – April 26, 2014, 05:11:37 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145976Joan is right. I forgot about highway 9 from Sedro -Wooley into Bellingham. That's a nice country highway. JTom
Re: [LD] Re: Best route thru NW Reply #6 – April 26, 2014, 05:11:37 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145977This was exactly the route I was going to suggest! While US-2 across Washington is an interesting route, it meets I-5 at Everett, meaning many more miles of Interstate driving up to Bellingham, although you'd miss going through Seattle.Linda HyltonQuoteMelinda, you didn't mention which part of MN you'd be coming from, but you might look at heading west on US Highway 2 across ND, MT, and the panhandle of Idaho. At Newport (at the very edge of WA just west of Priest River, ID), take Hwy. 20 to Tonasket, and head down 97 until you hit 20 again at Omak and head west. 20 goes through pretty country, including North Cascades NP. You can catch I-5 at Burlington and go up (about 20 miles or so) to Bellingham, or for a more 'pastoral' experience (but a bit longer and slower), you could take 9 north at Sedro-Wooley; 9 turns into 542 as it goes into Bellingham from the east.Have a good trip!Joan
Re: [LD] Best route thru NW Reply #7 – April 26, 2014, 05:13:42 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145978Tom, I think you're missing a "0" -- it's SR-20 you're describing.Linda HyltonQuoteThere is no way to get to Bellingham without some freeway driving. Your best bet is to take SR2 across northern Washington and over the North Cascade pass (very scenic). You wil hit I5 at Burlington WA. From there it is only about a 15 minute drive north on I5 to Bellingham. Tom
Re: Best route thru NW Reply #8 – April 26, 2014, 06:28:12 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145979You are right!!!!!! I guess I better refresh my mind with a map before giving someone directions. :^ ) So I restate my recommendation: Either US2 out of Spokane, across central WA to Everett, then north to Bellingham about 50 miles on I5. or the slower, more rural route, Route 2 out of Spokane, north and across northern Washington to Sedro-Wooley, then north on route 9 to Bellingham and avoid freeway alltogether. I prefer the second way, but we are never in a hurry. North Cascade crossing on Route 2 is extremely scenic. There is still another way, and that is to go west on US2 out of Spokane until you reach a point in just about the center of Washington state, then leave US2 and go north on 97 until you reach Route 20, then head west on Route 20 to Sedro-Wooley.Happy travellingTom
Re: Best route thru NW Reply #9 – April 26, 2014, 07:40:36 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145980It is might be a non-issue driving west, but there may be greater traffic than normal on highway 20 west of the Cascades. The stretch of highway 20 between Rockport and I-5 is part of the detour route from Darrington, which was cut off when the tragic 1 mile square mud-slide covered parts of Oso, WA, and made the normal route to Darrington, highway 530, impassable (a situation likely to last until at least the fall. Taking highway 2 to Everett and driving north for a longer distance on I-5 to Bellingham would avoid that.Anne (in Washington)Sent from my Windows PhoneFrom: Sent: 4/26/2014 3:28 PM To: lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [LD] Best route thru NW You are right!!!!!! I guess I better refresh my mind with a map before giving someone directions. :^ ) So I restate my recommendation: Either US2 out of Spokane, across central WA to Everett, then north to Bellingham about 50 miles on I5. or the slower, more rural route, Route 2 out of Spokane, north and across northern Washington to Sedro-Wooley, then north on route 9 to Bellingham and avoid freeway alltogether. I prefer the second way, but we are never in a hurry. North Cascade crossing on Route 2 is extremely scenic. There is still another way, and that is to go west on US2 out of Spokane until you reach a point in just about the center of Washington state, then leave US2 and go north on 97 until you reach Route 20, then head west on Route 20 to Sedro-Wooley.Happy travellingTom
Re: Best route thru NW Reply #10 – April 26, 2014, 08:26:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145981This might affect the suggested routes:http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/northcascadesJoan
Re: Best route thru NW Reply #11 – April 26, 2014, 08:56:02 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145982I agree with most everything that has been said. It depends a lot on what time of the year you want to come. We lived in Spokane for 17 years, and I was stationed there in the Air Force when we first got married, so very familiar with that part of the country. If it were me, I would take I-90 to Spokane, then Hwy 2 to Everett. Be sure and stop at Leavenworth on Hwy 2. It is a lovely little town patterned after a Swiss village. Lots of little shops if you like that kind of thing. We actually bought a grandfather clock in Leavenworth while on a motorcycle trip! No, we didn't strap it on the back of the bike to get it home. :-)Dick
Re: Best route thru NW Reply #12 – April 26, 2014, 11:23:55 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145983Ooh you are ALL wonderful, the absolute best - thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Thanks to for the tip about what roads are closed and its alternate routes due to that tragic landslide.To fine tune some of the details... I will be coming out MN - west of St. Cloud when I truly head west. Time frame - mid-May when I start this. May very well get on Highway 2 in MN, as its not that much further north of where I will start. I love new routes..And someone (Judie?) asked if I was going thru Blaine. I could, but generally use Abbotsford.I-5 north of Seattle is not near as bad as it is thru Seattle or LA or... so will do it. ;-)Melinda 2011 27' MB http://wovenjourney.blogspot.com
Re: Best route thru NW Reply #13 – April 27, 2014, 09:39:49 am Yahoo Message Number: 145984SR 20 (over the pass) should be open by mid-May; there will likely still be snow on the roadsides, but the road itself should be clear by then. I do suggest being aware of the overnight temperatures; if they drop below freezing, there's a good chance of ice patches on the roadway, particularly in shaded sections, in the mornings.Joan
Re: Best route thru NW Reply #14 – April 27, 2014, 11:28:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145989Ah yes, icy patches.. good point to stay alert. Thanks! Would Highway 2 have this issue as well? I will ask about the 2 different routes over the Cascades when I get there.Melinda
Re: Best route thru NW Reply #15 – April 27, 2014, 11:44:23 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145990US-2 could have some black ice depending on the weather. However, the US-2 pass over the Cascades is about 1,500 feet lower in elevation than that on SR-20. By the middle to the end of May, though, road conditions should be OK. The morning before you go over the pass (whichever one), dial 511 to get road conditions of the pass.Linda Hylton
Re: Best route thru NW Reply #16 – April 27, 2014, 11:54:03 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145991Highway 2 is, and will be in May baring a freak storm, completely passable. When I was last over it in March, there was snow at the pass (but still fully passable) and I would be very surprised if it's any issue at all in May. It's a major route over the Cascades and is plowed throughout winter, unlike highway 20, which is closed and the snow is allowed to accumulate until Spring. That said, in mid-May highway 20 should be plenty passable as well. It really comes down to personal preference for what you might like to do or see along the route. I wouldn't be intimidated by the route difficulty/ease as they both have elevation, 2-lane stretches of highway, views of majestic mountains with cascading waterfalls that will be impressive in May with Spring runoff, and quaint stops (notably cowboyesque Winthrop for 20, and faux-Bavarian Leavenworth for 2).
Re: Best route thru NW Reply #17 – April 28, 2014, 10:22:56 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145996How do I place my 1992 LD for sale ? Bobby Tong
Re: Best route thru NW Reply #18 – April 28, 2014, 10:30:35 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145997"How do I place my 1992 LD for sale?"Bobby, if you go to our website's Files area, you'll find a Buying & Selling folder, and inside that, a "FOR SALE - Lazy Dazes" folder. The first document in that folder is an explanation of how to post a for-sale ad.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels
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