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Oregon coast to Yellowstone
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Linward View Drop Down
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Posts: 15 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Linward Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Oregon coast to Yellowstone
    Posted: 22 Dec 2021 at 7:33pm
Having recently retired, My wife and I are planning a road trip from the central Oregon coast to Yellowstone National Park in June 2022 towing our 2 year old 196.  We went to Stanley Idaho last summer with it and had no problems (other than a missed turn at Banks taking us to Cascade) Ermm Tow vehicle is a Ram 1500 with 5.7L hemi.  My question is route related.  We drove across Oregon on Hwy 20 last year and are now looking to take Hwy 26 for change of scenery.  My first question is, should we stay of Hwy 84 through Idaho to Island Park (Our base camp for touring Yellowstone and Grand Teton Parks) or should we head north at Twin Falls on Hwy 93 to Arco (past Craters of the Moon Monument) and then take Hwy 33 to Rexburg?  The truck has a 33 gallon tank so I can go >500 miles on a tank of gas.  I try to avoid interstate Highways because everyone seems to be is a hurry.
My second question is in regards to the return route.  Our son recently moved to Darby, Montana south of Missoula, so I was thinking of taking Hwy 28 west of Rexburg to Hwy 93.  I was planning on spending a couple of nights in the area of their property and found 2 possibilties: Sula Camp and Angler's Roost Campground.  Anybody familiar with either of these?     Now the real question.  Is Hwy 12 from Missoula to Lewiston a good road for trailer towing?  I've read that it is pretty but very twisty and narrow.  My wife does not like precipitous drop offs.  Or should we take Hwy 90 to Spokane?
It's all about choices.
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john in idaho View Drop Down
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Posts: 613 		Post Options Post Options   Quote john in idaho Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Dec 2021 at 7:57am
Depends on how big of a hurry you are in.  At Mountain Home, Highway 20 to 
Fairfield and beyond is fine.  I take it a fair amount with a 2007 Dodge hemi .  An easy haul to Island PARK AND BEYOND and Craters of the Moom visitors center is worth a stop on the way.  kYou could get to Darby from Salmon ID also which is just down the road from Stanley .  Highway 12 indeed is twisty and narrow.  I haven't been on it in years but it definitely is not a road for those in a hurry.  If you are not a mountain driver you might be happier another way.  But the road surface is smooth and fine.  It would be similar to the road you took from Banks to Stanley but tighter turns.  Plenty of gas stations if you don't go below 1/2.  Some of the climbs really suck the gas.  I try not to pass a gas fill just above 1/2.  Just don't look at the price and you will be fine.
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Linward View Drop Down
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Posts: 15 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Linward Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Dec 2021 at 7:00pm
Thank you John in Idaho.  I think I will skip Hwy 12, per my wife's insistance, and return from Darby via Hwy 90 to 395 to drop back down into Oregon (unless you have an alternative route).  I still prefer taking back roads for the scenery.
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john in idaho View Drop Down
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Posts: 613 		Post Options Post Options   Quote john in idaho Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Dec 2021 at 8:12am
the roads behind - to the west -of  Baker OR and Legrande , tho mountain roads, are quite scenic, with good pavement and uncrowded campgrounds.  It has been my impression over the 45 years we have lived in Idaho that the folks in OR concentrate on the coast, but leave the most beautiful scenery to us Idahoans on the Eastern side of Oregon.  We are cowboy action shooters, and travel some to cowboy matches. One of the neatest cowboy ranges, with western town fronts and good camping  is east of Bend.I have heard that some of the " folks"  from Portland  have taken over the coastal campgrounds, so be sure to look at the eastern mountains. But don't tell anyone - it is a secret.
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Dirt Sifter View Drop Down
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Posts: 170 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Dirt Sifter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Dec 2021 at 10:48pm
Originally posted by Linward

Thank you John in Idaho.  I think I will skip Hwy 12, per my wife's insistance, and return from Darby via Hwy 90 to 395 to drop back down into Oregon (unless you have an alternative route).  I still prefer taking back roads for the scenery.

At some point take Hwy 12 thru ID and Lolo Pass, it's beautiful. Going east bound there are LOTS of posted pull outs if that is a concern. I've taken it several times and while twisty, the beauty is remarkable. Grab a map, near the WA border from I-90, stop at Coeur D'Alene. Then think about traveling down Hwy 95 and pick up Hwy. 12 at Lewiston, cross into WA, thru Pomeroy and continue west. Do NOT come south on WA 121 and OR 3 if your wife doesn't like twisty with steep drop off roads; it's called rattlesnake grade for a reason other than just the reptile. My wife's a good traveler and said "Never again." (But she liked Hwy. 12 thru ID.) AND that Enterprise/Joseph/Wallowa Lake area is worth a trip via OR Hwy 82 from La Grande.
Greg n Deb 2020 195 HRE
'07 Tundra 5.7L., '17 Tacoma 3.5L. Both with tow packages
1 Puggle, 1 Chihuahua support staff
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Linward View Drop Down
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Posts: 15 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Linward Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jan 2022 at 2:14pm
Dirt Sifter, Thanks for the input. What do you think about driving Hwy 12 westbound from Lolo to Pomeroy? We are  in no hurry.  My wife would rather hug an ascending wall then ride next to a descending.  It looks like Hwy 12 would allow that along the Lochsa river to Kooskia.  Then it appears to cross over to having the river on the passenger's side.  If the drop down to the river from Kooskia to the junction with Hwy 3 is not too precipitous (and has a guard rail)  she should be fine. Thanks
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Dirt Sifter View Drop Down
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Posts: 170 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Dirt Sifter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jan 2022 at 8:03pm
I think you would be ok. When you do cross there are some man made stone wall fences and attractive pullouts. Its not a necessarily long steep drop to the river in most places. If all else fails, tell her to close her eyes and relax till you pull into a turnout and then get out and look around. (Wife's suggestion) DW also added that for the most part the drop from the hwy to the river isn't any worse than what she recalls driving along the Deschutes thru Bend and more like along the Snake at the OR/ID border.
Greg n Deb 2020 195 HRE
'07 Tundra 5.7L., '17 Tacoma 3.5L. Both with tow packages
1 Puggle, 1 Chihuahua support staff
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