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Eastern Oregon in spring

Veebyes
Explorer II
Explorer II
Looking at Ontario on the ID OR line to Eugene using 26 & 126 later part of April. Too early? Not too fussy about driving in snow with the 5er.
Boat: 32' 1996 Albin 32+2, single Cummins 315hp
40+ night per year overnighter

2007 Alpenlite 34RLR
2006 Chevy 3500 LT, CC,LB 6.6L Diesel

Ham Radio: VP9KL, IRLP node 7995
14 REPLIES 14

vermilye
Explorer
Explorer
I stayed in Fossil, OR at the Wheeler County RV Park at the fairgrounds. Around $20.00 per night for full hookups. An interesting little town that I used to serve as a hub for visiting the 3 sections of the John Day Fossil Beds. If you go, check out the museum. First Night of 8.

Naio
Explorer
Explorer
242 is closed in April, gated off. It opens when the snow melts, usually mid June to early July.

It's a beautiful but very, very slow road. Great for camping in a small rig.
3/4 timing in a DIY van conversion. Backroads, mountains, boondocking, sometimes big cities for a change of pace.

ORbiker
Explorer
Explorer
Veebyes wrote:
Thanks for the 242 info. Had it in the original plot. Had my suspicions about it. It is just a pencil line on MS S&Ts but looked nice.


If you have the time stay in Sisters, Oregon for 3 or 4 days if 242 is open. Tripcheck again will tell you. 242 is the original road going over the Cascade Mountain Range. There is wilderness boundaries 50 ft off of the highway on both sides. The scenery is fabulous. Mountains on all sides.

Backpacker and tent camper all my life. Motorcycle trips with a tent too 1978 to Present. 2016 Grand Design 380TH as of 10-29-2015. Now a New 2018 374TH-R Solitude as of 3-16-19. 10-19-18-traded truck for a 2016 Ram 3500 DRW Laramie Crew Cab 4x4 Long Box.

goducks10
Explorer
Explorer
Been on 26-126 many times. 26 is a must do beautiful drive. Prineville St park is open year round.

Chiefelectusn
Explorer
Explorer
We took 26 in mid-September with 40โ€™ RV and towing the Jeep. No problems, great little RV Park in Dayville besides the great restaurant.
Watch the weather, snow is not for me driving the RV.

Veebyes
Explorer II
Explorer II
Thanks for the 242 info. Had it in the original plot. Had my suspicions about it. It is just a pencil line on MS S&Ts but looked nice.
Boat: 32' 1996 Albin 32+2, single Cummins 315hp
40+ night per year overnighter

2007 Alpenlite 34RLR
2006 Chevy 3500 LT, CC,LB 6.6L Diesel

Ham Radio: VP9KL, IRLP node 7995

Veebyes
Explorer II
Explorer II
Slow route is OK by us. Time is something we will have. Don't mind a somewhat challenging road either. Just don't like snow on the road or excessively steep grades. At home in Bermuda I live with extremely narrow roads, lots of traffic & nothing but twists & turns.
Boat: 32' 1996 Albin 32+2, single Cummins 315hp
40+ night per year overnighter

2007 Alpenlite 34RLR
2006 Chevy 3500 LT, CC,LB 6.6L Diesel

Ham Radio: VP9KL, IRLP node 7995

rhagfo
Explorer III
Explorer III
Yes, TripCheck, will be your friend, possibility of snow on Santiam Pass.
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

ORbiker
Explorer
Explorer
SteveAE wrote:
Hwy 26 is pretty, but slow. And the road conditions will probably be fine in April. Might be some snow flurries, but unlikely to be "lasting" snow on the roads. Just watch Tripcheck (Oregon road conditions website).
Hwy 20 isn't as pretty, but much, much, faster.
In a hurry? Take 20.
Wana take a whole day and rubber neck? Take 26.
Safe travels.


I agree with Steve

There is not a lot of places to stay. John Day fair grounds is ok. Clyde Holiday State Park is nice.
Sisters, Oregon is nice too. There is a city RV Park too.

DO NOT even think about highway 242 with your 5'er. *35 ft max total length)

Dayville Cafe is beyond great food.


There is room for a big rig to get in the picture at this view point.
Backpacker and tent camper all my life. Motorcycle trips with a tent too 1978 to Present. 2016 Grand Design 380TH as of 10-29-2015. Now a New 2018 374TH-R Solitude as of 3-16-19. 10-19-18-traded truck for a 2016 Ram 3500 DRW Laramie Crew Cab 4x4 Long Box.

SteveAE
Explorer
Explorer
Hwy 26 is pretty, but slow. And the road conditions will probably be fine in April. Might be some snow flurries, but unlikely to be "lasting" snow on the roads. Just watch Tripcheck (Oregon road conditions website).
Hwy 20 isn't as pretty, but much, much, faster.
In a hurry? Take 20.
Wana take a whole day and rubber neck? Take 26.
Safe travels.

Ed_Gee
Explorer
Explorer
You said highway 26 from Ontario? No way I would haul a fiver over that route if memory serves me!! It was pretty curvy and narrow in places as I recollect when we took our 30โ€™ class A over it years ago. On the other hand, highway 20 is a piece of cake....
Ed - on the Central Oregon coast
2018 Winnebago Fuse 23A
Scion xA toad

donkeydew
Explorer
Explorer
you should be fine but as noted above use tripcheck.

Lwiddis
Explorer
Explorer
Donโ€™t miss Juniper Reservoir RV Park if open -10 miles east of Lakeview on OR Hwy 140.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

donn0128
Explorer
Explorer
East of the Cascades are notorious for the possability of snow any month of the year. Keep an eye on Tripcheck for live camera feeds for the whole state.