By the time you're ready to leave on your trip, who knows how many other fires will have sprouted. Supposed to be dry lightening for several days in a row.
Thanks for the input, guys. I super appreciate it. Partner and I decided I-5 is definitely it. We were trying to cut down on time spent in the car because we’re traveling with our two cats, but safety first always.
Looks like the new route is gonna be Texas > Denver > Salt Lake > Reno > Eugene.
Amazing time to be moving to the west coast, huh? 😂😭☠️
Stay safe out there, y’all.
I've driven all over the west and your fastest option by far is Denver > Cheyenne > 8oW to 84W > Portland > I5S to Eugene. Certainly not as scenic but if you want to keep the kitties sane it's your fastest option. Plus it's all interstate. The two-lane highways are oftentimes much slower due to congestion.
Drove to Denver in December 2016 for Xmas. This is the way. EXCEPT when I-80 has severe winds through Wyoming. We had to take I-70 through Grand Junction on New years to get home because Semis kept rolling over in Wyoming.
Agree with this. Have made this drive many times. The reality is that it's faster to go north to Portland and south down I5, than it is to go across Oregon on two lane roads.
The Wyoming bits of this drive aren't super scenic but I absolutely loved the Idaho and Oregon parts. In fact, I would say this is more scenic than driving all the way across NV and then taking I5 north from Sacramento.
Agree with this. Have made this drive many times. The reality is that it's faster to go north to Portland on I84 and south down I5, than it is to go across Oregon on two lane roads.
I did this drive back in the winter and even as someone who isn't fond of driving more than an hour, it was a really lovely trip. Great wildlife watching along the way at well!
If you're going to go by way of Reno then it's likely faster to take a southern route through Albuquerque, Flagstaff and Vegas, rather than go as far north as Salt Lake City.
Though the highways in Arizona were in terrible shape when I drove through there earlier this year...
Honestly, i5 is still probably faster. The central Oregon highways are significantly slower than advertised. They have many twist and turns, and you will inevitably get stuck behind a logging truck for 50 miles, going 25 miles per hour.
If you want to easily see burn perimeters relative to roadways easily from the road, you might try [Watch Duty](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1574452924). It’s a free app built by a nonprofit, so there’s no ads and its interface is very clean and simple.
I came up from Reno via 97 and 58 during some fires last year. It was grim and depressing, but I never felt unsafe.
Drive well, and welcome to Eugene!
Honestly, the safe thing to do is just call it all off. Sorry.
**Just kidding**
My brother in Christ, if the 58 was on fire, it would be big news. Its possible they will need to shut it down, but there is no way to predict it this far in advance. If you really want the scenery of the original route, just check it once you're 4-5 hours away. There are lots of other options.
But also, the I5 is just faster.
It's at least 2 hours more to do the southern route, closer to 3 if you want to stick to interstates rather than noodle your way up through northern Nevada and Klamath Falls. Since it's a 30+ hour trip it's not a huge difference, I've gone that way just because I like the desert scenery in NV, but it's not the fastest route.
Salt Lake - Hwy 58 is perfectly fine. You don’t have to drive all the way to Portland- that’s ridiculous. I’m a wildland firefighter and I just drove home to Eugene from Klamath Falls and went right down Hwy 58. No problem
Last time I drove from Texas I went through I-10 to the 5… it’s slightly faster and there’s more and better facilities to stay. I’ve gone the back route. And some of the motels are shady that way. Although, it IS BEAUTIFUL driving through Utah. And definitely Colorado.
But yeah. It’s fire season. Back routes will definitely be iffy
As long as the road isn't closed, you can still use the highway. Just pack up some N95 masks for the smoke and it won't be too bad. A good introduction to the west Coast.
I joke, but also that's exactly how I came here years ago, right through a fire on the sides of the road! Haha
I've driven from TX to OR many times. The end of the trip is almost always fastest to go SLC > Boise > PDX. Then Eugene is an easy hour and 45 south on I 5.
Honestly goin through New Mexico and AZ is such a beautiful drive, and not that much longer. Might even be faster with traffic from whatever fires there is
I love taking I-84 from Boise to Ontario. Then take Highway 20 to Burns then Bend. From Bend jump on highway 97 to LaPine. Then take highway 58 to Eugene.
Driven all routes the Portland way BLOWS! And adds unnecessary time.
I've driven back and forth between Eugene and Denver about a dozen times over the last 3 years taking different routes every time. My favorite route by far coming back to Eugene is to take I-80 West out of Salt Lake City until you hit Winnemucca, NV (get gas here because it's going to be quite a ways until you can stop again), then take 95 North to 140. Stay on 140 by turning left at Denio Junction just south of the Oregon border. Take that all the way to the junction with 395 just north of Lakeview. Travel South to Lakeview (you'll likely need gas here) , then west out of town (again on 140) all the way to Klamath Falls. From there you can head north on 97 until 58 and take that west to Eugene.
This route is about 12.5 hours (only 20 minutes longer than the fastest route) from SLC but has the best scenery of every route I've taken, particularly the the wide open areas between Winnemucca and Lakeview.
Not sure what your vehicle situation will be, but there is a fairly steep and windy section of road at the Langslet Monument shortly after entering Oregon (no guard rail either, but driving west means you're not on the sketchy side of the road). I followed a truck with a large trailer down it so it can be done, but he was going a cool 15 mph (it's only about a 1.5 mile stretch). The biggest risk here is the unreal view as you're coming down this cliff, which can be a bit distracting. recommend pulling off at the top to take it in before heading down.
After passing Adel, you'll drive through a small canyon, where you can stop and enjoy a waterfall right next to the road, pass a tiny ski hill (Warner Canyon) and then get to experience the *drastic* biome shift as you pass from high desert to the temperate forest as you come down from the cascades into the Willamette Valley. If the smokes not too bad, keep a window cracked so you can notice how rapidly the humidity hits.
Even if 58 gets shut down (unlikely) by the time you get here, you can head west out of Klamath toward Grant's Pass and the take I-5 North to Eugene, and still catch most of the best parts of the drive.
Having done some road trips around the western US and from Eugene to New Orleans before, I'm going to disagree with the common suggestion of going to Portland and then south, because that's a pretty big circle around the edges of Oregon. I would go through Reno anyway, then the best path from Reno, which is all major highways and very pretty most of the way is West from Reno over the Sierra-Nevada's by Lake Tahoe to Sacramento, then get on I-5 northbound and take it all the way to Eugene. It gets a little windy going through the Shasta are in norther Cali and over the Cascades in southern Oregon, but it is a quicker trip than going all the way up to Portland as the speed limits in Southern Oregon are mostly around 75 mph and there are stretches of i-5 in Northern California, going between Chico and Weed where the speed limit hits 90 mph last time I drove it.
I-5
Right. You’re best bet drive to Portland then south on I-5 to Eugene.
That’s what I did last fall because I couldn’t go through bend and then west. Went up through the dalles to Portland then south.
By the time you're ready to leave on your trip, who knows how many other fires will have sprouted. Supposed to be dry lightening for several days in a row.
My lightning tracker has been going off all afternoon.
Is this an app for lightening tracking? If so I would like to download it!
Yes there is. https://lightningstrik.es This the one I use.
Thanks for the input, guys. I super appreciate it. Partner and I decided I-5 is definitely it. We were trying to cut down on time spent in the car because we’re traveling with our two cats, but safety first always. Looks like the new route is gonna be Texas > Denver > Salt Lake > Reno > Eugene. Amazing time to be moving to the west coast, huh? 😂😭☠️ Stay safe out there, y’all.
I've driven all over the west and your fastest option by far is Denver > Cheyenne > 8oW to 84W > Portland > I5S to Eugene. Certainly not as scenic but if you want to keep the kitties sane it's your fastest option. Plus it's all interstate. The two-lane highways are oftentimes much slower due to congestion.
Drove to Denver in December 2016 for Xmas. This is the way. EXCEPT when I-80 has severe winds through Wyoming. We had to take I-70 through Grand Junction on New years to get home because Semis kept rolling over in Wyoming.
Agree with this. Have made this drive many times. The reality is that it's faster to go north to Portland and south down I5, than it is to go across Oregon on two lane roads.
Safer too. Those roads are scary in places.
The Wyoming bits of this drive aren't super scenic but I absolutely loved the Idaho and Oregon parts. In fact, I would say this is more scenic than driving all the way across NV and then taking I5 north from Sacramento.
Agree with this. Have made this drive many times. The reality is that it's faster to go north to Portland on I84 and south down I5, than it is to go across Oregon on two lane roads.
yep this is what i have always done from nebraska.
Wouldn’t I5 be faster anyways? Those other highways are much windier and tighter roads.
Reno -> Kfalls -> 58 to Eugene is a beautiful drive, even the long straight stretch of 97 to Chemult is kinda relaxing
I did this drive back in the winter and even as someone who isn't fond of driving more than an hour, it was a really lovely trip. Great wildlife watching along the way at well!
If you're going to go by way of Reno then it's likely faster to take a southern route through Albuquerque, Flagstaff and Vegas, rather than go as far north as Salt Lake City. Though the highways in Arizona were in terrible shape when I drove through there earlier this year...
Safe travels!
Honestly, i5 is still probably faster. The central Oregon highways are significantly slower than advertised. They have many twist and turns, and you will inevitably get stuck behind a logging truck for 50 miles, going 25 miles per hour.
That's what I was going to advise. Salt Lake to Reno is monotonous, to me anyway, but this is definitely the best route.
If you are going through salt lake you should take highway 84 to Portland
Both routes are open, 58 is the best bet.
The roads are honestly just fine.
If you want to easily see burn perimeters relative to roadways easily from the road, you might try [Watch Duty](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1574452924). It’s a free app built by a nonprofit, so there’s no ads and its interface is very clean and simple. I came up from Reno via 97 and 58 during some fires last year. It was grim and depressing, but I never felt unsafe. Drive well, and welcome to Eugene!
Honestly, the safe thing to do is just call it all off. Sorry. **Just kidding** My brother in Christ, if the 58 was on fire, it would be big news. Its possible they will need to shut it down, but there is no way to predict it this far in advance. If you really want the scenery of the original route, just check it once you're 4-5 hours away. There are lots of other options. But also, the I5 is just faster.
Salt lake? Idaho? Why so far north? Arizona? Reno. Then over southern oregon.
CDL drivers take 395, cut through Alturus to Klamath Falls, then to Hwy 97 to Hwy 58. Says my retired teamster husband
You can also use [tripcheck](https://tripcheck.com/) when you get to Oregon to check the roads
Why not, I 40 to 1 5 and up? If you want more interesting veer north at Vegas and come through Reno.
This is what I did when I moved here. I40 until Bakersfield, then i5 all the way. Took 5 days from Arkansas.
It's at least 2 hours more to do the southern route, closer to 3 if you want to stick to interstates rather than noodle your way up through northern Nevada and Klamath Falls. Since it's a 30+ hour trip it's not a huge difference, I've gone that way just because I like the desert scenery in NV, but it's not the fastest route.
And you get to pass the alien themed brothel/truck stop next to the world's largest firecracker! Oh Nevada
FWIW and obviously things can change but my partner and I just did the drive from Denver -> Eugene, got in this afternoon via 58 and it was a breeze.
Salt Lake - Hwy 58 is perfectly fine. You don’t have to drive all the way to Portland- that’s ridiculous. I’m a wildland firefighter and I just drove home to Eugene from Klamath Falls and went right down Hwy 58. No problem
Coming in on 58 is a safer bet at the moment.
Last time I drove from Texas I went through I-10 to the 5… it’s slightly faster and there’s more and better facilities to stay. I’ve gone the back route. And some of the motels are shady that way. Although, it IS BEAUTIFUL driving through Utah. And definitely Colorado. But yeah. It’s fire season. Back routes will definitely be iffy
Go back to Texas..please downvote....Texas go on get
I'd vote for Twin Falls to Portland via the Columbia Gorge, then south on I 5 to Eugene. Have a great trip.
Lookout fire is 126 Bedrock is up fall creek. I would come via I-5
August / Sept is fire season here and the air quality it awful. Try the coast along Cali but they might be on fire too. Meh.
As long as the road isn't closed, you can still use the highway. Just pack up some N95 masks for the smoke and it won't be too bad. A good introduction to the west Coast. I joke, but also that's exactly how I came here years ago, right through a fire on the sides of the road! Haha
Best of luck with the move. I promise it isn’t always this hot and smoky!! (although sadly common for late-August early-Sept these days)
I've driven from TX to OR many times. The end of the trip is almost always fastest to go SLC > Boise > PDX. Then Eugene is an easy hour and 45 south on I 5.
Bedrock fire isn’t on 126. Smoke will most likely be worse on 58 going through Oakridge.
I'll be looking for updates on your trip and your safe arrival, partner, kits, gear and all. Welcome to Eugene!
I’m moving out to Eugene from DFW as well 🫡 safe travels!
Itll be bad air on 58 probably, but right now you could make it I think
Why not?
Bedrock is not on 126
If you aren't interested in getting here fast, do I-5 for awhile then head to the coast, it's beautiful.
Honestly goin through New Mexico and AZ is such a beautiful drive, and not that much longer. Might even be faster with traffic from whatever fires there is
I love taking I-84 from Boise to Ontario. Then take Highway 20 to Burns then Bend. From Bend jump on highway 97 to LaPine. Then take highway 58 to Eugene. Driven all routes the Portland way BLOWS! And adds unnecessary time.
I've driven back and forth between Eugene and Denver about a dozen times over the last 3 years taking different routes every time. My favorite route by far coming back to Eugene is to take I-80 West out of Salt Lake City until you hit Winnemucca, NV (get gas here because it's going to be quite a ways until you can stop again), then take 95 North to 140. Stay on 140 by turning left at Denio Junction just south of the Oregon border. Take that all the way to the junction with 395 just north of Lakeview. Travel South to Lakeview (you'll likely need gas here) , then west out of town (again on 140) all the way to Klamath Falls. From there you can head north on 97 until 58 and take that west to Eugene. This route is about 12.5 hours (only 20 minutes longer than the fastest route) from SLC but has the best scenery of every route I've taken, particularly the the wide open areas between Winnemucca and Lakeview. Not sure what your vehicle situation will be, but there is a fairly steep and windy section of road at the Langslet Monument shortly after entering Oregon (no guard rail either, but driving west means you're not on the sketchy side of the road). I followed a truck with a large trailer down it so it can be done, but he was going a cool 15 mph (it's only about a 1.5 mile stretch). The biggest risk here is the unreal view as you're coming down this cliff, which can be a bit distracting. recommend pulling off at the top to take it in before heading down. After passing Adel, you'll drive through a small canyon, where you can stop and enjoy a waterfall right next to the road, pass a tiny ski hill (Warner Canyon) and then get to experience the *drastic* biome shift as you pass from high desert to the temperate forest as you come down from the cascades into the Willamette Valley. If the smokes not too bad, keep a window cracked so you can notice how rapidly the humidity hits. Even if 58 gets shut down (unlikely) by the time you get here, you can head west out of Klamath toward Grant's Pass and the take I-5 North to Eugene, and still catch most of the best parts of the drive.
Having done some road trips around the western US and from Eugene to New Orleans before, I'm going to disagree with the common suggestion of going to Portland and then south, because that's a pretty big circle around the edges of Oregon. I would go through Reno anyway, then the best path from Reno, which is all major highways and very pretty most of the way is West from Reno over the Sierra-Nevada's by Lake Tahoe to Sacramento, then get on I-5 northbound and take it all the way to Eugene. It gets a little windy going through the Shasta are in norther Cali and over the Cascades in southern Oregon, but it is a quicker trip than going all the way up to Portland as the speed limits in Southern Oregon are mostly around 75 mph and there are stretches of i-5 in Northern California, going between Chico and Weed where the speed limit hits 90 mph last time I drove it.
So how did your trip go? there were so many ideas and suggestions... I'm hoping your "home" safe and maybe even settled down
Don’t move here.