Planning a Route Home

Snowbirds head north finding an anxiety-free return trip.

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Destinations

Words and photos by Perry and Cindy Mack

Plan, plan, plan. For many RVer’s driving is the worst part of the RV experience. Anxiety is elevated by rough roads, rain, wind, snow, challenging fuel stops, and of course border crossings. Add the potential difficulties brought on by mechanical failures, either on the road or at an overnight stop, and you have a recipe for stress rather than serenity.

Aside from self-medicating, the best option is thorough preparation. It may not guarantee a trouble free road trip, but it will alleviate many of the negative thoughts that can plague the mind.

This year we were leaving southern California for our home in southern British Columbia at the beginning of April. We began by checking weather forecasts along our proposed routes, where overnight stops separated by roughly 4-5 hours of drive time. Once we’ve chosen the potential stops, we create a spread sheet that includes the probable temperature, precipitation and wind speed at each stop using ten-day weather forecasts. We leave ourselves some leeway on our departure date, so we can compare alternate departure dates and choose not only the best route, but also the best days. The values for temperature (+), precipitation (-), wind (-) are totaled to give each day a value, and the higher the value, the better. As mountain passes can greatly influence weather, we include those as well. Since wind and precipitation are bad for driving, they get are assigned negative values. If this sounds like a bit of work, you’re right, it is, however it does present a clearer picture of the most pleasant and relaxing route home.

This year we narrowed our choices down to I-15 through Utah, and US-93 through Nevada, both of which then take I-84 through Kennewick and north to the border at Oroville. Our third choice was the I-10 to the I-5 through California, avoiding Los Angeles, eventually swinging east at Portland on the I-84, and once again heading north on the I-82 through Kennewick and on to Oroville via US-395/WA-17/WA-97.

We have driven all three routes in the past. The I-5 and I-15 benefit from a higher speed limit (could be a pro or a con), more fuel stops, more rest stops, often smoother pavement, and closer assistance should mechanical/medical challenges arise. The US-93/95 through Nevada is the shortest and least mountainous route, but fuel, rest stops, overnight stays, points of interest, and opportunity for assistance are few.  And yet, this is the route we have taken the most often. In our opinion, it is the most boring highway in the USA. A straight road where the scenery is unchanged for six hours (or more).

Our tools for ‘building’ our route plan includes the Roadtrippers Trip Planner, Harvest Hosts and KOA. Memberships are required to get full access and discounts, but we find them well worth it for the best RV experience on the road.

As it turns out, the weather forecast for the I-5 California route was the best, with snow forecast in Utah/Idaho and high head winds through Nevada. For the most part, the I-5 met our expectation except for the road conditions on the I-210 which skirts Los Angeles before climbing over the mountain range at Santa Clarita. Up until Gorman, we, our motorcoach, and our back molars were shaken, bounced and rattled horrendously.

Our first overnight stop was Almond Tree Oasis RV Park. Almond trees yes, oasis no. This is not one we can recommend. On the plus side there are two fuel stations right outside the park so you can fill up with fuel the night before and head out first thing in the morning. Expensive fuel, but plenty of space for us in our 35’ gas motorcoach plus a towed, to pull in, fill and leave, stress free. The park, however, was different. Our site was so narrow our slide was at the line of our neighbours’ site, and the hood of his car was partially parked underneath our slide. We had hoped to get some assistance with our fee the next morning, but no one opened the office at 8 am as advertised, and no one was there when we left at 9:30 am. 

Our second night was at the Red Bluff KOA. This is a nice park with attractive landscaping, spacious sites, and well maintained amenities. The sites are paved, and park is on the Sacramento River allowing for a relaxing riverfront walk. We would definitely stay again.

The third night was spent at Sutherlin Umpqua Valley KOA. Originally a drive-in theatre, they’ve kept the screen and projector and show movies in the evening. It was a cool evening for us, but gas fires burned between the Adirondack chairs, and blankets and hot cocoa were also provided no charge. Pleasant staff, sites with concrete patios, furniture and privacy fencing, and our required two good off-leash dog parks, made for an excellent stay so we recommend this park and would definitely stay again.

Last, but clearly not the least, Umatilla Marina and RV Park is a small municipal park south of Kennewick. Clean, well-kept, and on the water with 12 easy pull-through sites makes it a favourite for us as well. A large, maintained field is adjacent to six of the pull-thru sites so there is plenty of privacy and a large area to let our dog run. The other six overlook the marina and river, also making them a good choice.

From here, we made good time on Hwy 97 and decided to make a run for the border and head home.

Weather was as good as was forecast, making the planning of our route home worthwhile.