Traveling to Yuma from British Columbia Canada December 27 2023

[Patman]

I'm leaving Prince George B.C. approximately around this date and plan on entering the USA at Sumas border crossing near Vancouver. We are booked at the Westwind RV and Golf resort in Yuma Arizona till the end of March 2024. I'm planning on going down I-5 all the way to Bakersfield Ca. then taking Hwy 58 to Barstow, then Hwy 40 to Hwy 95 Arizona south to Yuma. Does anyone have some knowledge on where we should stay along the way? We are planning on only stopping to sleep and driving eight to ten hours a day until we arrive. Are Wallmarts and truck stops or Cassinos a good bet or campsites? Does anyone have information on which ones or where to stop? First time doing this and I think this would be a good route at this winter time of year? Any suggestions from someone experienced on this path would be great! I am towing a 2018 Reflection 315 RLTS with my 2016 Chev Silverado diesel, so knowing some good accessible fuel stops would be great also. Thanks in advance!

 

[pengle]

[MENTION=40995]Patman[/MENTION]
Walmart? Can I or can't I stay overnight? https://www.walmartlocator.com/walmart-map/

Where is there free camping along my route? https://www.campendium.com/campgrounds/map#price_range=0-0

Another site with a map you can drill down into and find places to camp for free. https://freecampsites.net/

AND obviously you are going to have to figure out HOW FAR you can drive in your 8 or 10 hour days and identify those locations so that you can use those sites above.
AND I like your route. Avoiding Los Angeles is a great idea.

 

[Patman]

Thanks for the info, very helpfull!

 

[BoredWeasel]

Most walmarts near medium large citys no longer permit overnighting. Small towns it is still accepted.

 

[Riverhouse]

we've done this trip , if you go down I-5 , you'll need to be able to chain up TV .........Grants Pass is nasty due to elevation .........we went down the coast on US 101............good luck

 

[Patman]

we've done this trip , if you go down I-5 , you'll need to be able to chain up TV .........Grants Pass is nasty due to elevation .........we went down the coast on US 101............good luck

So, carry chains for the truck just in case?

 

[Riverhouse]

I believe it's the law ..... others here would be able to clarify

 

[Patman]

Okay, here in British Columbia Canada after October 1st you have to have certified snow tires on your vehicle.

 

[Patman]

we've done this trip , if you go down I-5 , you'll need to be able to chain up TV .........Grants Pass is nasty due to elevation .........we went down the coast on US 101............good luck

Any other passes along I-5 that I should be concerned about? I have a set of tire chains that I will pack with me. Also should I just stay on these major routes that I mentioned, or is there better bypass routes around the big cities while pulling such a long trailer?
This is off the topic, but can any Canadians or Americans on here recommend a cell service plan for the three months while we are there? What companies, how to go about it? We are on KOODO here and they charge $14.00 a day extra to use their services in the U.S.A. Thanks again!

 

[Bungy]

Any other passes along I-5 that I should be concerned about? I have a set of tire chains that I will pack with me. Also should I just stay on these major routes that I mentioned, or is there better bypass routes around the big cities while pulling such a long trailer?
This is off the topic, but can any Canadians or Americans on here recommend a cell service plan for the three months while we are there? What companies, how to go about it? We are on KOODO here and they charge $14.00 a day extra to use their services in the U.S.A. Thanks again!

We have a Telus US/Can unlimited talk & text with 100 gigs of data, no extra roaming charges in the US, 75CAD.

 

[jlk111]

So, carry chains for the truck just in case?

Yes, Oregon chain law states if tow vehicle requires chains so does at least 1 braking axle on trailer. Chains or traction tires are required to be "carried" when winter driving conditions may change. See ODOT Website for clarification. You can check out road cameras at different locations each day before hitting the road. Siskiyou Pass at Or./Cal. border is 4129 feet and gets occasional closures in winter doe to snow/whiteout conditions. ODOT website quote..... "In very bad winter road conditions all vehicles may be required to use chains regardless of the type of vehicle or type of tire being used. This is known as a conditional road closure. A conditional road closure may occur on any of Oregon's highways and are frequent in the winter on Interstate 5 through the Siskiyou Pass south of Ashland."

 

[Ryorke]

Little More Info

We have made this trip many times from Seattle area to California. I will try not to duplicate….
1. Lots of rest stops along the way. Oregon and Washington allows up to 8 hours.
2. We use Pilot truck stops. There are literally dozens along the way
3. There are also lots of good Sam parks along I 5
4. Give your self extra time: if you are going through Seattle during the week, traffic is bad. Try not to stop, there is a good rest stop just south of the airport.
5. Take the 205 cutoff around Portland, it is longer but we have saved an hour due to traffic in Portland
6. Mountain Passes:
Roseburg to Medford, Oregon
The Syskiyous: If the weather turns bad, we will stay in Medford and wait it out. Like others have said get chains
Shasta summit: Stop in Yreka and check the road conditions.
Tehachapi Summit: Just east of Bakersfield on 58. You should be okay, but every once in a while it closes due to snow
Others have mentioned the coastal route to avoid the passes in Oregon and California. 101 can be troublesome if there is a lot of rain. But it is a beautiful drive. We usually cut over either in Portland or wait until Eugene. And then back to I5 via Clear Lake, drops you off at Williams. You can take 101 all the way to Paso Robles, but you better like driving in heavy traffic through the Bay Area. Have a great time

 

[Brainzino]

At the 95 I hang a left and go to Laughlin
TONS more stuff to do than Yuma
Check out Don Laughlin RV Park and Avi Resort KOA

 

[Richard Allan]

Different Route to Yuma

I'm leaving Prince George B.C. approximately around this date and plan on entering the USA at Sumas border crossing near Vancouver. We are booked at the Westwind RV and Golf resort in Yuma Arizona till the end of March 2024. I'm planning on going down I-5 all the way to Bakersfield Ca. then taking Hwy 58 to Barstow, then Hwy 40 to Hwy 95 Arizona south to Yuma. Does anyone have some knowledge on where we should stay along the way? We are planning on only stopping to sleep and driving eight to ten hours a day until we arrive. Are Wallmarts and truck stops or Cassinos a good bet or campsites? Does anyone have information on which ones or where to stop? First time doing this and I think this would be a good route at this winter time of year? Any suggestions from someone experienced on this path would be great! I am towing a 2018 Reflection 315 RLTS with my 2016 Chev Silverado diesel, so knowing some good accessible fuel stops would be great also. Thanks in advance!

We are from Vernon so we go south on 97 crossing at Osoyoos/Oroville, are stops are all casinos starting at Omak (12 Tribes), then Pendelton (wildhorse), then Jackpot (Cactus Jacks), and then Las Vegas (Sam's Town KOA) then we hit Yuma around 3pm, at del Pueblo resort (check it out). This is year 5.
Like the casino due to having gas, services (Jackpot no water). You can stay on a site or just hit the lot. Got all the gas stops you'll need if you take this route.

Only weather could be leaving Pendelton to go over the Blue Mountains, the rest is easy. we arrived last week.

Text at 416-624-6325 for more or find us when you get here.

Rick

 

[lorend]

We are from Vernon so we go south on 97 crossing at Osoyoos/Oroville, are stops are all casinos starting at Omak (12 Tribes), then Pendelton (wildhorse), then Jackpot (Cactus Jacks), and then Las Vegas (Sam's Town KOA) then we hit Yuma around 3pm, at del Pueblo resort (check it out). This is year 5.
Like the casino due to having gas, services (Jackpot no water). You can stay on a site or just hit the lot. Got all the gas stops you'll need if you take this route.

Only weather could be leaving Pendelton to go over the Blue Mountains, the rest is easy. we arrived last week.

Text at 416-624-6325 for more or find us when you get here.

Rick

Have you ever done this route in January? We were thinking of this as an option from Seattle area but decided just following I-5 was the safest. Ended up not getting to go, but still planning for 2024.

 

[lorend]

We have made this trip many times from Seattle area to California. I will try not to duplicate….
1. Lots of rest stops along the way. Oregon and Washington allows up to 8 hours.
2. We use Pilot truck stops. There are literally dozens along the way
3. There are also lots of good Sam parks along I 5
4. Give your self extra time: if you are going through Seattle during the week, traffic is bad. Try not to stop, there is a good rest stop just south of the airport.
5. Take the 205 cutoff around Portland, it is longer but we have saved an hour due to traffic in Portland
6. Mountain Passes:
Roseburg to Medford, Oregon
The Syskiyous: If the weather turns bad, we will stay in Medford and wait it out. Like others have said get chains
Shasta summit: Stop in Yreka and check the road conditions.
Tehachapi Summit: Just east of Bakersfield on 58. You should be okay, but every once in a while it closes due to snow
Others have mentioned the coastal route to avoid the passes in Oregon and California. 101 can be troublesome if there is a lot of rain. But it is a beautiful drive. We usually cut over either in Portland or wait until Eugene. And then back to I5 via Clear Lake, drops you off at Williams. You can take 101 all the way to Paso Robles, but you better like driving in heavy traffic through the Bay Area. Have a great time

On number 5 for mention a rest stop south of the airport, If you are referring to the one in Federal Way, the southbound rest area is gone, but still one going north bound. Seems like all of the rest areas from Seattle to Portland are usually jammed pack with semis. One place that I don't see mentioned is that if you check out some of the hotels, like Super 8, a lot of them have a lot close by that they use for overflow parking that is not actually owned by the hotel. You have to check places like Google Earth to find them. I second using 205 going around Portland.

 

[SilentService]

Only weather could be leaving Pendelton to go over the Blue Mountains, the rest is easy. we arrived last week.

Absolutely check weather conditions for the Blue Mountains. Also make sure you maintain your speed and have chains thru this area. Oregon State police are always checking for violators (for your safety of course) at Pendelton and Baker City, the other side of the pass, in Oregon.

 

[mbergthold]

We're 710 miles south of Prince George, 3 miles east of I-5 at exit 21 (Woodland, WA)
You're welcome to stay at our place overnight, send me a PM if you like
We went thru Prince George (RT) in June 2018, driving up to Alaska again summer of 2025

The route you laid out is how I would get to Yuma - much more services and rest areas on I-5 than if you take the 84 or 80 East. The 58 and 40 are pretty desolate, so plan your stops out. Arizona fuel prices are lower than CA, there's a Pilot just after you turn south on AZ95 from the 40. There's a diesel fuel savings card that RVers use, suggest checking that out (I don't recall the name, last diesel I had was an 04 Silverado 2500HD).
A full set of chains (not cables) for the Silverado are a must, cheap insurance. As stated, watch Mt Ashland at OR/CA border, Mt Shasta area (several hours south of border), and Tehachapi (usually windy, possible snow).
With your 38' trailer, I wouldn't do the coast route in the winter - great scenery year-round, but it's a leisurely drive, not one you can make time on. We're 30' and there are some narrow windy sections I'd avoid unless necessary.
Safe travels!

 

[Patman]

We're 710 miles south of Prince George, 3 miles east of I-5 at exit 21 (Woodland, WA)
You're welcome to stay at our place overnight, send me a PM if you like
We went thru Prince George (RT) in June 2018, driving up to Alaska again summer of 2025

The route you laid out is how I would get to Yuma - much more services and rest areas on I-5 than if you take the 84 or 80 East. The 58 and 40 are pretty desolate, so plan your stops out. Arizona fuel prices are lower than CA, there's a Pilot just after you turn south on AZ95 from the 40. There's a diesel fuel savings card that RVers use, suggest checking that out (I don't recall the name, last diesel I had was an 04 Silverado 2500HD).
A full set of chains (not cables) for the Silverado are a must, cheap insurance. As stated, watch Mt Ashland at OR/CA border, Mt Shasta area (several hours south of border), and Tehachapi (usually windy, possible snow).
With your 38' trailer, I wouldn't do the coast route in the winter - great scenery year-round, but it's a leisurely drive, not one you can make time on. We're 30' and there are some narrow windy sections I'd avoid unless necessary.
Safe travels!

Thank you so much for your offer! Everyone on here is so nice! I'm kind of leaning on going through the Okanagan now. A few other people I've talked to have said, although a colder route to travel,probably Blue mountain pass south east of pendelton may be our biggest concern? Please keep on sharing your knowledge as you contribute to our adventure!
Hey Rick, I'll try to look you up at del Pueblo resort. We are already booked at westwind for the three months, maybe next year!
Thanks again
Pat & Liz

 

[MBtraveller]

US Cell

Check Public Mobile. They have a $65 per month plan for Can/US. We love it.