Oregonians, fastest easiest road from I-5 to the coast

scottmandue · 08-01-2011, 11:59 AM

Yes I know there is no easy way to do this, but I see there are several roads connecting I-5 to the coast.

Say we are leaving Portland heading south (on I-5), what would be the smoothest ride. My wife gets carsick so looking for something not too curvy (if that is even possible.)

Also not afraid to backtrack North is that is the answer.

Thanks in advance,

teenerted1 · 08-01-2011, 12:12 PM

post on the NW board will get better local results

i'd say 26 or 30 might be your best bets till you get response form locals

Jared at Pelican Parts · 08-01-2011, 12:15 PM

26 to Seaside.

You can take the 30 out to Astoria, but it's a much longer drive heading North.

icemann427 · 08-01-2011, 12:20 PM

Yep, 26 to Cannon Beach/Seaside.

Dottore · 08-01-2011, 12:41 PM

Yup. The 26.

Half way there is a great burger stop on the left hand side...this great big log house building with logging equipment in the parking lot. I forget the name. But really great burgers.

If you need tips for Cannon Beach please pm me. We spend a lot of time there.

LakeCleElum · 08-01-2011, 01:29 PM

Anything other than the 99W which turns into the #18.......Stoplight to Stoplight from I-5 thru McMinnville.....My sister lives in Dundee which is a real bottleneck. Backups miles long.......Agree with 26.

Oregon coast on a summer weekend? I won't do it anymore.....A town every 10 miles.......Miles of campers, logging trucks and tourists just creeping along....Gotta get to the southern 1/2 of the state for the roads to open up. G'luck...

scottmandue · 08-01-2011, 01:56 PM

What is 20 out of Corvallis like to the coast? We will be eventually driving south to California down hwy 101.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 08-01-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

We will be eventually driving south to California down hwy 101.

And your wife gets carsick? Probably not the best choice of roads.

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

The 20 is not too bad. I usually take the 126 out of Eugene since we have friends there. It is not bad either.

Try to go during the week...the weekends anywhere towards the coast can get a bit plugged up and sometimes there is limited passing available. Should be good weather this week though.

Have fun,

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

Does your wife get car sick if she is driving?

pwd72s · 08-01-2011, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

What is 20 out of Corvallis like to the coast? We will be eventually driving south to California down hwy 101.

If you don't mind construction delays, not too bad. But agreed with above. 101 south is a royal PITA...especially in the summer. A vespa as fast as a ferrari in the traffic conditions.

Lots of pullouts with scenic views, if that's your bag...but it does get old.

scottmandue · 08-01-2011, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jared at Pelican Parts

And your wife gets carsick? Probably not the best choice of roads.

I have been told this... funny, I used to drive up 101 and don't remember it being all that bad... but that was a long time (20 years) and I don't get car sick so I wouldn't have noticed. The most direct route south is I-5 but I wanted to see some different scenery.

This is not a trip in the near future... a vacation somewhere off (not weekend or summer)... and wife prefers I drive.

Oregon Cab · 08-01-2011, 02:16 PM

The coast will be long and curvy. 26w is a breeze to cannon but for a smooth trip to Ca, just go I-5 all the way.

LakeCleElum · 08-01-2011, 02:20 PM

Hitting the coast and heading south from Florence or Reedsport is enjoyable in the off-season....Fastest time and still hit the coast is I-5 to Grants Pass, then 199 to Cresent City......Enjoy.......

Seahawk · 08-01-2011, 02:29 PM

What is considered the off season?

I'm planning to head north up 101 to Crescent City then to Grants Pass in mid September or so.

scottmandue · 08-01-2011, 02:35 PM

Yes, as much as I love the scenery of the OR. coast... may I-5 it to 199 or something like that.

We have done 26 to Astoria... loved it... wanted to move there (could sell my house and buy a Victorian for cash!), wife said NO WAY! Apparently they have extreme weather (it was sunny the day we were there), and jobs are hard to find.

pwd72s · 08-01-2011, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Yes, as much as I love the scenery of the OR. coast... may I-5 it to 199 or something like that.

We have done 26 to Astoria... loved it... wanted to move there (could sell my house and buy a Victorian for cash!), wife said NO WAY! Apparently they have extreme weather (it was sunny the day we were there), and jobs are hard to find.

Better listen to your wife...employment is grim along the coast...mostly serving the tourist industry, mostly minimum wage, and even those get scarse in the winter. Tourism is pretty much the ONLY industry along the coast.

How much rain & wind per year can you tolerate? On the plus side, below freezing temps are rare. Brookings, wayyy down south, is the Oregon coast's "banana belt"...often warmer than the rest of Oregon during the winter.

herr_oberst · 08-01-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottore

Half way there is a great burger stop on the left hand side...this great big log house building with logging equipment in the parking lot. I forget the name. But really great burgers.

Camp 18.

scottmandue · 08-01-2011, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Better listen to your wife...employment is grim along the coast...mostly serving the tourist industry, mostly minimum wage, and even those get scarce in the winter. Tourism is pretty much the ONLY industry along the coast.

How much rain & wind per year can you tolerate? On the plus side, below freezing temps are rare. Brookings, wayyy down south, is the Oregon coast's "banana belt"...often warmer than the rest of Oregon during the winter.

Wife is moving to So Cal... I was just dreaming (Astoria on a nice day is pretty)

My brother lived in Brookings and yes it is very nice too.

The trip we are planing is for my wifes exodus to the evil south next year. We are planing to take a week or more and see some sites along the way

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

What is considered the off season?

I'm planning to head north up 101 to Crescent City then to Grants Pass in mid September or so.

different phases beginning after Labor Day; mid-Sept. should be pretty decent

even better during a storm in Nov. to Feb., but some people flock to the coast to be closer to big storms...

if you get to Eugene, call me - will buy you a beer