Washington State Travel Forum

What's the best route to take from Seattle, Washington to Bend, Oregon? We are making the trip in one day in early June. Any suggestion for some quick, fun stops along the way?

I am brazilian but I bought a Corel Draw CD with some Maps clips included.
I suppose I will not answer as a american because changes on information may be happened. Your good route from Seattle to Bend/Oregon shall be:
Seattle--> Interstate 90--> Interstate 82-->Yakima--> Goldendale--> Oregon Interstate 97--> Bend
Cassiovieggore

Mapquest is the best mapping program to use on-line and I have found their miles and times to be pretty close. According to Mapquest take I-5 south from Seattle to Portland, Hwy84/30 east for a few miles, then Hwy 26 to Hwy 97 and south to Bend. Should be about 330 miles and take about six hours depending on your traffic getting out of Seattle and getting through Portland, both of which can be bad during rush hour.

Thanks for the quick responses. I am familiar with using Mapquest and other internet or software maps to find the quickest route. I was wondering more if there is a different route that is more scenic or has more interesting stops along the way or on a short detour, even if it takes a little longer. Is the route from Portland the best for this, or would we be missing anything exciting on the Yakima route?

"Best" is in the eye of the beholder.

There are a few alternative ways ... all have their own great attractions... on my many trips Seattle to Bend I vary between them.

***Option 1***
Fastest:
I5 to Portland (boring freeway),
then US 26 over the shoulder of Mt. Hood to Madras (beautiful mountain terrain & Timberline Lodge),
thence US 97 to Bend (high desert with mountain vistas).
Sights: typical western WA until you get to Mt Hood
Highlight: This gives you the chance to stop in at Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood ... one of the more magnificent of the grand 1930's lodges.
http://www.timberlinelodge.com/index.php
http://www.friendsoftimberline.org/about_lodge.htm

***Option 2***
Next Fastest:
I90 across Snoqualimie Pass to Ellensburg (typical freeway over foreseted Cascade Mtn. pass),
then I82 / US97 to just SE of Yakima (typical freeway over high desert mountain passes)
then US97 south to Columbia River Gorge and The Dalles(nice view of the eastern end of the gorge and a chance to stop at Maryhill (see below)
thence US 197 and US97 to Bend (high desert with mountain vistas).
Sights: The dry sunny side of the Cascade Mtns ... nice relief from green wet side
Note: the normal US97 bridge over the Columbia is closed for repair last I hear, but you just proceed a few miles west to The Dalles to the next bridge
Highlights:
Vistas over dry east end of Columbia Gorge
Maryhill Museum (a *very* good art museum in the middle of no-where overlooking the Columbia - 87 works by Rodin, lots of travelling exhibits - a fascinating history of the place built by a railroad mogul in the very early 1900's for "Marie, Queen of Romania" ... nearby he built a fullsize replioca of Stonehenge
http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/home.html

Both above easily do-able in 1 day
If you extend it to 2 days there are several more alternatives as follows:

***Option 3***
I5 to Portland to Columbia Gorge
thence I84 (freeway) or WA State Route 14 (leisurely drive) through Columbia Gorge to The Dalles (seeing waterfalls, windsurfing, magnificent cliffs)
thence thence US 197 and US97 to Bend
websites:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/
or
http://www.gonorthwest.com/oregon/columbia/Columbia_River.htm

***Option 4***
WA State Route 410 to Mt Rainier (taking detour to Sunrise as high on the Mtn as roads go)
thence US 12 to Yakima,
thence US97 per route described above
websites:
http://www.nps.gov/mora/
or
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/destinations/Mount_Rainier_National_Park/Around_Mount_Rainier.html

***Option 5***
I5 to US12 south of Chehalis
thence US12 to turnoff to Mt St Helens
detour to Mt St Helens to see the volcanoe
thence thence US 12 to Yakima
thence US97 as described above
website:
http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm/

On the last reply, Options 3, 4, and 5 are fantastic for scenic routes! I have to say he gave very good options. The Dalles really does have some great waterfalls and cliffs! There are a few look out points on top of bluffs that offer vistas of 8 miles or greater.

If you take I-5 don't expect to see any views.

Drive Safe!

d

Ellebegewa's suggestions are very good. Things that we've enjoyed on the way to Bend:

-- Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, on a side road off I-5. It's always a pleasure to see this smoking volcano, and maybe go for a short hike. But be forewarned that the access road is about 50 miles each way, so this will eat into your timing.
-- In Oregon, going south on 197, you can turn off on a smaller road and go through the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, which has an excellent museum of Native American history, arts, foods, and crafts.
-- Continue down to Madras and then take a slight detour to Sisters, a very small town, for a stroll. They often have arts-type festivals in the summer, and there's an excellent bakery here that opens around 0600 in the morning, if you're ever on the road early.
Bon voyage!