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RE: Ohio to Wisconsin
The usual advice is to accept the urban traffic on I80 across the south side of the Chicago metro area, and then head north on I39 (or may for SW WI, maybe further west). You have to go quite a ways further south to avoid suburban roads.
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paulj
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05/03/23 09:21am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Arizona, lots of great routes... roads, not so much
Flagstaff weather prediction is a low around freezing, and chance of rain or snow Thursday. I don't think that's optimal pothole patching conditions.
https://azdot.gov/adot-news/adot-crews-moving-quickly-address-pavement-damage-storms
https://azdot.gov/news/i-17-pavement-improvement-project-starts-again-south-flagstaff
https://azdot.gov/news/governor-hobbs-joins-adot-announcing-505-million-investment-road-repair
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paulj
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05/01/23 09:26pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Yellowstone closed roads?
Here as in Washington, if it isn't National Forest, it's going to be open range land, with relatively straight and flat roads. Google Maps terrain mode gives more details.
Most questions about the area have to do with crossing from east to Yellowstone. For that the Big Horn Mtns are the main concern, with US16 easiest, US14A hardest. And going into Yellowstone, there's climb west from Cody, and another seasonal drive NW to US212 and the NE entrance.
And south of Termopolis the highway goes through a canyon, with at least on tunnel.
Otherwise, I think wind will be more of an issue than grades or curves.
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paulj
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04/04/23 01:42pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Yellowstone closed roads?
Are you asking about roads within Yellowstone, or state roads going around it. The big flooding news last year was on the north side of the park, the north entrance through Gardinier, US89. That was washed out in many places. I haven't kept up with repair or reroutes. Maintaining access to Gardinier and Cooke City is a winter priority.
I also recall flooding images around Red Lodge on US212, but I don't think that was severely damaged. US212 is closed for the winter, with a late opening.
The Google Maps closures in the park mention either April 5 or May 26 for opening. Other than 212, I don't see any closures outside the park.
ON the park's road conditions page the only mention I find about flood damage is
Northeast Entrance Road (Flood Recovery)
Location: East of Tower Junction between Lamar Canyon and the Northeast Entrance
Access: Expect up to 30-minute delays beginning early summer 2023 through fall 2023.
Improvements: This project includes the completion of work to address flood-damaged areas of the Northeast Entrance Road. Construction will include completion of a two-lane realignment in Lamar Canyon, paving a second lift north of the Trout Lake Trailhead, stabilization of streambanks adjacent to the road, and work in the Pebble Creek Campground and Warm Creek Picnic Area. Additionally, some guardrails, culverts, and other drainage structures will be replaced.
The rest looks like the usual winter reopening details.
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paulj
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04/03/23 09:43am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Page AZ to Flagstaff
Several years ago there was a landslide on US89 that blocked the climb north of the US89alt turn off. While that was being repaired (over a year if I recall correctly), the Navajo route through Lechee was paved and made available as a detour (instead of the much longer detour via 98).
Google "chooses" routes more on time (that is distance * estimated speed), not on quality. So yes, if this is shorter, and it applies the same estimated speed, it will recommend it. That doesn't mean you should follow that.
From the streetview at the Sinclar gas station at the south end, people are still using this 'detour'. But there is a "watch for animals" sign right away - that is free range cattle. That's probably more of a concern if driving it at night.
Google has multiple years of streetview images for 89, but only part of IR 20 (from 2019). IR20 is clearly a lesser route, with narrower shoulders.
2013 item about paving N20. I forgot that it was that long ago!
https://azdot.gov/adot-blog/state-transportation-board-approves-funding-shorter-us-89-detour
https://azdot.gov/node/8417
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paulj
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04/01/23 10:28pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: California Highway 20 or 299
A quick check of Oregon Tripcheck does show widespread 'chains or traction tires', especially I5 border crossing, but also elsewhere. Even a few hills on 101. So using 20 to get to 101, and staying on that to Washington is the best way to avoid those, at least for the next few days.
Seattle area has predicted snow showers without accumulation Sun, Mon, Tues AM.
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paulj
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03/31/23 10:58pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Vancouver island and Prince Rupert to Jasper.
Some more details on the ferry schedule. This was in May 2003, with Port Hardy departure around 6pm, 3 stops during the night, and arriving in PR late afternoon. Our ride to HG was the next evening around midnight, arriving with the morning mists. We got a cabin for both legs, but not for the daytime return ride from HG.
We got to Port Mcneill in the afternoon, and took the ferry to Malcom Island, and camped on the north shore. That was a nice ocean view campground with hiking to the point. The only downside was some local kids partying in the evening. Besides some history at Sointula (sp?), the island has some nice hiking, with cute locally painted signs.
The ferry also serves Alert Bay, with more history and culture sights, but we didn't stop there. It may also be a cruise ship stp. Since the ferry didn't leave until the evening we spent time hiking at Fort Rupert.
While I believe there's a RV park near the PR ferry terminal, I opted for the nearest Provincial Park (which had just opened), Prudhomme Lake. That was the first a nearly constant week of rainy nights. We toured Terrace and Kitimat, with short hiking at Lakelse. And Greek restaurant in Terrace (don't all BC towns have a Greek restaurant, as well as Canadian-Chinese?).
On the return we drove straight to Terrace, and got a motel for showers and laundry (and a tire patch at Canadian Tire). On the earlier return trip from Alaska we did the full tour at Ksan, but this time just spent time viewing the rapids.
It used to be that the summer ferry was nonstop and only 12 hr; now it's 16hr with one stop, leaving PH 7am, and arriving 11ish. For that I've probably try to get reservations at private campgrounds near both terminals.
Our return from Haida Gwaii had a bit of schedule change. For the first part of the week we camped on the north shore near Tow Hill, the second part as near Village of QC, with several day trips. A ferry employee stopped by in the evening and said we needed leave a day early. There was a delay in bring in a summer boat on line, so they had to juggle the schedule, and continue to use the Queen of the North (yes, the one that later sank) for this run. So we had to pack up early the next morning to get to the Skidagate terminal and wait. I think this was Victoria Day.
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paulj
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03/23/23 10:04am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Vancouver island and Prince Rupert to Jasper.
I hadn't thought about your charging needs. I've watched some electric youtubers, including one group that took a Ford Lightning on the Dalton in Alaska. My earlier cars where a 84 Trooper II, a S10 pickup, a 1st gen RAV4, and now a Honda Element. Mostly it's been tent camping, with some nights in the Element. Cape Scott was a short backpacking camping hike.
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paulj
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03/21/23 10:31pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Vancouver island and Prince Rupert to Jasper.
There's lot to see and recommend; may be it'll be easiest to enumerate my trips
1980s - Sunshine Coast (kayak Sechalt), Powell River, Comox, Tofino (beach camp), Victoria, Port Renfrew (Botanical Beach)
- With trailer sailboat, Nanaimo, Campbell River, Kayokot Inlet
- return from Alaska via Stewart, Terrace, PG, Jasper, Banff, Calgary
1990s - Powell River, Campbell River, Strathcona PP, Victoria
- Carmanah PP (major gravel road)
- Gulf Islands, esp. Ruckel PP on Salt Spring
2000s - Campbell River, Ralph River (Strathcona), Port Hardy, Cape Scott (gravel), Little Quilcene
- Port McNeill, Malcom Island, Port Hardy, 24 May boat to Prince Rupert, week on Haida Gwaii, PR, Terrace, PG, Wells Gray
- Williams Lake, Bella Coola, and back (lots of gravel).
- Englishman Falls PP, Mt Washington Ski area hiking, back roads from Comox to Port ALberni, Bayfield, Carmanah, Gordon Bay, Port Renfrew, Victoria.
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In a sense I could pick almost any provincial park on the Island and find good camping and hiking. But trying to focus on Parksvile and north. Originally the drive north was a bit slow, but scenic along the coast. Now its freeway all the way to Campbell River.
There's lot to see around CR - Elk Falls PP, Strathcona PP, Quadra Island.
The next leg is through more remote working forest, with a scattering of Rec Sites and PP, but not a lot of sights close to the highway. Little Huson Caves is worth a stop.
At Port McNeill you are back at the coast, with a short ferry ride to 2 nearby islands, and other coastal fishing resorts. Closer to Port Hardy, there's nice beach hiking at Fort Rupert.
When we drove this in May, the run to Prince Rupert had several stops and took 24+ hrs; summer run I believe is 12 hrs. We had a small dog, who tolerated the long ride, but didn't enjoy it.
An alternative to PR would be Bella Coola; that's a shorter ferry, and over all I think the BC area is more interesting the PR (unless you go out to the Islands).
Between ferries at Prince Rupert we drove inland to Terrace, and south to Kitimat - that's industrial, but there's a nice big lake on the way.
Further inland on 16, New Hazelton and Ksan Village/Museum is worth a stop.
There's probably more to see along 16, but both times I drove it, I was pushing to get beyond Prince George, so didn't look too much at sights.
Anyways, it's been fun taking a mental inventory of many trips up there. I don't know if we'll get back to BC any time soon.
(p.s. this thread might be moved to the Canada/Alaska section, where Canadians may be able to add more)
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paulj
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03/21/23 09:36pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Hwy 89A in Northern Arizona
89A has two distinct sections. The early replies assumed you were talking about the southern one, heading out of Sedona. The northern one crossing the Colorado is quite different. It does climb and curve more than 89 through Page, but it's still ok for big rigs.
From Google Maps terrain mode I see that Kanab is 5000ft, Jacobs Lake is 7800, and Marble Canyon 3600 (and north rim is 8200).
The problem stretch from Sedona, heads north up a canyon, then quickly climbs out of in a series of tight turns. I17 climbs the same amount, but with more distance and less curves.
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paulj
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03/16/23 10:36am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: hwy 140 from Merced to Yosemite...any advice?
Not too long ago there was another question about driving to Y. That poster didn't like the long down hill on the 120 route. He seemed to be ok with the new Priest Grade up, but got hot brakes on the downgrade.
https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/30375639.cfm
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paulj
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02/12/23 06:46pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: hwy 140 from Merced to Yosemite...any advice?
Not too long ago there was another question about driving to Y. That poster didn't like the long down hill on the 120 route. He seemed to be ok with the new Priest Grade up, but got hot brakes on the downgrade.
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paulj
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02/12/23 06:27pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: best route, West to East?
If you are ok with US50 over the Sierras (that's your backyard?), any of the freeway crossings of the Rockies should be a piece of cake. Roughly speaking US80 has a climb into Wy, and then stays relatively flat across the state (but the winds are notorious). I70 stays a long the Colorado River for quite a ways in Colorado, and then climbs over the Rockies. So that's a delayed, but higher climb. And a steeper drop to Denver. But it is heavily used by Denver residents for ski and other mountain rec.
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paulj
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01/21/23 12:19pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Hwy 15 Indiana
I thought the twining of 31 was completed several years ago, but that may have just been the northern part, close to South Bend. The connection to Elkhart has been done for years. (My inlaws had a house that was demolished to make way for that expansion)
Looking more closely on Google Maps, I see that the new, full freeway quality part is north of Kokomo (or US24).
Further search with Indiana DOT, shows that there is a construction project for several miles on 31 near Indianapolis. And some preliminary work on an intersection on 15 near Goshen.
An interesting novelty on the I DOT travel map - their snow plows have webcams.
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paulj
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01/10/23 10:21am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Hwy 15 Indiana
US31 and 20 is a bit longer, but limited access all the way, so no slowing down through towns.
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paulj
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01/09/23 09:44am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Beat Canadian road atlas
Backroad mapbooks gives the most detail, possibly more than you want
https://www.backroadmapbooks.com/travel-category/brmb-products/books/
For example British Columbia is covered in 6 volumes, Ontario in 4. The detail is comparable to the Delourme and Benchmark atlas for the US states.
Years ago I first found these in BC groceries and ferry giftshops.
You might also browse a larger bookstore like B&N.
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paulj
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01/08/23 02:43pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Kalamazoo, MI to Gulf Shores, AL
I think the main new thing in the last 25 years is that US31 in Indiana is divided limited access.
I69 Indianapolis to Evansville is also newish, but with, I think, still some gaps - that's a work in progress.
Take GMaps suggestions as just that - suggestions. For the most part they aren't based on "what's best for your rv", but rather a mix of distance (an objective measure) and speed (at best an estimate), yielding a "time".
Use Sat view and Steetview to get more details as to the road condition (and views), but for construction areas note the dates of the images. I uses these a lot, but more for western mountain driving.
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paulj
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12/31/22 02:50pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Best route from Salem, Oregon to West Valley City, Utah?
For the first part of the trip, locals, your friends and neighbors probably can give better advice than us - they can see your rig, and have driven the route(s) many times. Local news will also tell you a lot about pass conditions. There's also the State `Tripcheck` website.
Going east on 22/Santiam Pass is mostly uphill, peaking at 4600 ft, and only dropping to 3200/3500 for Sisters and Bend. After that 20 is relatively flat, but remote to Idaho. I84 in Idaho is fairly flat and straight, with a broad pass crossing into Utah.
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paulj
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12/26/22 06:15pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Need help with route north
The only way to really avoid mountains is to do as boaters do, and take the Great Loop. Up the coast to NYC, then the Hudson and Eire Canal to the Great Lakes. Or along the Gulf Coast to Alabama, and up the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.
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paulj
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11/28/22 10:04am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Pahrump to Winnemucca
While taking US95 as far as Tonopah, there appear to be multiple choices from there. Continuing on US95 to I80 may be a bit longer, but stays closer to civilization. It may also have better gas choices.
I have passed through Tonopah, but in a East-west direction, from Caliente to Big Pine. Tonopah was a welcome gas stop since there wasn't much of an alternative in the 200 miles from Caliente.
The most direct route through Austin doesn't look too bad - gas wise. The Champs gas station appears to be an important stop for US50 travelers. It closes at 9 (according to GM), and even has a EV charging station.
I just watched a vlog of a world traveler passing through Austin on US50. Looks like more of a historic mountain town than I first realized. With some history, gem shops, and such.
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paulj
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11/26/22 09:40am |
Roads and Routes
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