DRIVING LAS VEGAS TO VANCOUVER
by: Henry Nowicki
12 August 1998
Driving from Las Vegas north to Vancouver to board a ship for Alaska seemed an easy task in mid-summer although temperatures were already in the triple digits throughout the southwest and extending north in Nevada. No matter, as it turned out there was more attractive weather putting in an appearance with every new day.
Las Vegas (Ref 1) needs little discussion as it seems everyone knows so much about it and it only served as the starting point for this account. The route selected was US 95 northwest along the California/Nevada boundary to Reno. Approximately 500 miles per day for three days was felt to be the best speed and was indeed very comfortable throughout although more miles per day were certainly possible.
Reno (Ref 2) was achieved late in the afternoon after day long driving through rather empty but not unpleasant countryside. Reno, the so-called largest little city in the world, still seems to merit the title as it remains quite compact. With the casinos, it shares some of the spotlight with Las Vegas but in a very minor way; nevertheless, it served admirably for an evening's stay on a long trip. Then again, the higher and cooler elevation of the city makes the evening much more palatable. A side trek to Carson City and Lake Tahoe is a must if one has not been there previously. Incidentally, here was the first bit of highway construction encountered which on the whole was quite limited and not really a factor.
The next day was spent driving due north on Route US 395 in California just west of the Nevada border. Again, what might have been a rather desolate journey became an enjoyable ride all the way to Oregon. It only required a jog to the northwest at Lakeview to reach Bend at just about the center of the state. East of the Cascades, the terrain is on the dry side as most of the moisture has been drained out of the westerlies coming from the Pacific and the vegetation is predominantly grass. Golden is certainly the color that characterizes eastern Oregon and Washington.
Route US 97 was followed north out of Bend but night fell just about halfway to the Columbia River valley and refuge was taken in the sometime-ghost town of Shaniko, Oregon (Ref 3). There is a most interesting hotel ($60/night) that should not be passed if you are in the neighborhood. It is almost exactly 100 years old and dates from the wild west times when a now-abandoned spur railroad from the north hauled wool to market. It won't take much to recreate impressions of those times as you roam the hotel and the few buildings left.
The next morning it's north to the mighty Columbia and into Washington still on US 97 through the fruit capitals of Yakima and Ellensburg. By then its I-90 for an easy run over the Cascades, summit at 3,000', and into Seattle...then north on I-5 to the Canadian border and Vancouver. Overall an easy drive and no surprises.
Vancouver (Ref 4) is quite a tourist center with a long list of attractions. The waterfront with all the boats, including the huge cruise ships, and the floatplanes coming and going provides a certain excitement. As for accommodations, they are ample but I opted for the Burrard Motor Inn right in the center of town ($60 US compared to more than twice that across the street at the Sheraton) partly because they stored the car ($8/night) in a secure spot for the week of the cruise. There is a valet service for storing vehicles (Ref 5) at $9/night right at the cruise piers.
Departing Vancouver south along Route 99 to the international border and then turning east from Burlington on Route 20 permits bisecting the North Cascades National Park (Ref 6) along a pleasant and well-constructed road. Nightfall came at Brewster, Washington which is located on the Columbia River as it courses through the dark basaltic lava flows so typical of this region. The small Brewster Motel ($55) was used to good advantage.
Then it's south to Richland, Kennewick and Pasco, the Tri-Cities area (Ref 7), where the Snake River joins the Columbia and on to I-84 for easy cruising through the northeastern part of Oregon (Ref 8) to Boise and Twin Falls in southern Idaho. Night again interrupts the non-stop drive at Twin Falls where the Motel 6 ($55) is chosen for the night because the advertisements have focused on their recent nationwide refurbishings; however, this one did not yet get the treatment. No matter, it was quite adequate.
Then comes the last leg of the 3,000-mile trip from Idaho south on US 93 along the empty eastern border of Nevada to Las Vegas. Surprisingly, it turned out to be most pleasant quite unlike what might have been imagined in this desert area. The road was excellent although facilities are quite far apart.
The week's drive was rather hurried but earns a high rating as it provided a cross-section of the country that is seldomly traveled but certainly not devoid of pretty views and good driving conditions.
Please contact WaikikiWeb@webtv.net for comments and/or questions.
References:
Reno Regional Guide
Renolinks Guide
Reno Travel
Shaniko, Oregon
Shaniko Background Link may or may not work
Vancouver Tourism
Vancouver Travel
Vancouver Guide
Vancouver Port
Vancouver Attractions
Vancouver Travel Guide
Cruisepark
North Cascades National Park
The Tropics Shoreline
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