restlesswind
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Can anyone tell me about US 12 going across Washington state?
Towing a 35 ft 5th wheel trailer.Campground,RV park information.Good road,bad road??
Will be in WA toward the end of August.
Thanks in advance
Ed
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Tom/Barb
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It's a slow go, but beautiful drive in the Mt Rainier area. The grades aren't bad thru White Pass, (4500') there should be a bunch of camp grounds in the National forest near Rim Rock or Naches, they will be no hookup camps, and a pay as you go $7-10 bucks per night.
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
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uS 12 through the Cascades is good. East side gets a little twisty but no big deal. Continue east on 12 all the way through Washington and into Idahoand Montana. Through Idaho has nice scenery up the canyons It has many turns but lots of pull offs.
US 12 is alot better then running down the interstate.
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paulj
Seattle
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enblethen wrote:...
US 12 is alot better then running down the interstate.
Doesn't US12 run with I82 for a ways?
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mockturtle
WA
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My usual route across the Cascades, whether in my current rig or bigger ones we've had. Last summer there were some long delays for road work but I'm planning on going that way next week and hope they've got that out of their system.
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jamesu
Snohomish, WA
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US-12 begins in Aberdeen on Grays Harbor near the ocean and continues to Clarkston on the ID border. It crosses the Cascades at White Pass next to Mt. Rainier, likely one one of the most scenic spots in the state.
In Yakima it basically merges with four lane I-82 for the entire length of the Yakima Valley all the way to the Tri-Cities (Richland, Kennewick, Pasco). Some cute little towns in the Valley (e.g. Toppenish murals), especially if you've never to been to Mexico.
E. of Pasco US-12 becomes a scenic 2 lane tour of S.E. WA farm/wine country through Walla Walla and all the small towns on the way to Clarkson. Clarkson/Lewiston is the Gateway to Hells Canyon.
* This post was
edited 08/07/12 11:54am by an administrator/moderator *
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
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Yers, Yakima to pasco, US 12 and I-82 are the same.
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Bigdog
silverdale wa.
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Actually US-12 starts at 101 in Aberdeen and runs all the way to Detroit.How's that for being a S/A.
It all depends which way you're going on it.The two major climbs on it westbound are just west of Clarkston and the long one heading over White Pass and the steepest part of that is just before the pass. Coming from the west,I believe the major ones are the relatively short,5 miles or so,heading up into White Pass and then heading up towards Lolo Pass in Idaho.
The only problem I would see with that route is that if you're a wine drinker,you're going to be traveling thru the Columbia Valley,the home of some of the best wines in the U.S.You'll want to spend some time in Walla Walla,home of Walla Walla sweet onions and some REALLY good red wines,and then at Wine Country RV park in Prosser,where you can walk to seven very good winery tasting rooms.
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paulj
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US12 is also a good route if you are a Lewis and Clark buff. It passes through Lewiston ID, and Clarkston, WA
Across Idaho their route took them along the ridge to the north of US12 (which mostly stays in the river valley). In Washington they took the Snake River west bound, and followed the smaller river valley(s) that US12 follows east bound. There are several COE campgrounds along the reservoirs of the Snake River.
There are only a couple of spots on US12 where you can see Mt Rainier (one is in Packwood). But you can easily take a side trip from US12 to see more of the national park. It also gives access to the east side of Mt Saint Helens. I don't recall if there are views of Mt Adams from the Yakima valley.
As pre-interstate federal highways go, the Washington part of US12 is a late comer. Parts of it used to be US410, of which only WA410 remains to the north of US12. If you are up for it, WA23 and WA410 are an even more scenic way across the Cascades near Mt Rainier.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_12_in_Washington
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restlesswind
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Thanks for all the replies.We are looking forward to the trip.Any suggestions on campgrounds,RV parks along the way?
We will be towing a 35' fiver with a Dodge 3500 CTD.
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