College son and four friends need to drive from Bend, OR tomorrow (Sunday, 3/16) morning to Portland to catch a flight. They are driving a rental pick-up truck. There’s currently a winter storm that’s occurring, and expected to continue, through late tomorrow night. In good weather, we’d suggest they go RT. 26 through MT. Hood, as it’s the shortest distance, but given the snow storm, we’re thinking they should go 97 to 197 to 84W. It’s a little longer, but looks like just rain.
The concern is, if the temps appear to be in low 40’s with rain (real feel of 25ish), is there a risk of icing along 84W through the gorge? At what temp/real feel should that be concern? What about fog? How common is that and at what temps? We are checking Tripcheck cams and 26/Mt. Hood looks like heavy/packed snow on roads. Is 84W dangerous in terms of wind/rain?
Again, they’re in a pick up with no weight in the back and no chains on tires. What do folks from that area do when there is heavy ongoing snow in the passes in terms of route from Bend to Portland? Also, Google maps doesn’t always show the best choices, which is an issue. For example, they can’t just enter Portland as destination, have to enter Portland Airport, or they’ll only get choices of bad/more dangerous routes. Thinking of telling them to put in The Dalles and then once there, put in Portland. Also, they can only put in Google map choices from Redmond side of Bend, and not the other side, or route choices are terrible. Ugh.
Any advice? THANKS!
Ok, I live in Portland, I’ll try. 84W and RT26 through the mountain pass requires that you carry chains in there is winter weather at all. Your son should ask the rental car company for them.
I would not personally drive the 26 pass with a pick up truck without all wheel drive, it is packed snow on the roads often this time of year. The gorge can get icy and very windy but is probably a better bet. It doesn’t look like the temp is too bad tomorrow. Mostly just rain. Make sure he has lots of gas, there’s long stretches without any stations on 97-197.
I don’t want to freak you out and he’ll likely have no problems. Have you considered having him take a quick flight to PDX? We fly on Alaska to Bend quite often and it’s fast and often cheaper than a rental car.
Appreciate your response. He’s with four friends, and they have to return the rental to the Portland airport- it’s through a rental app (a personal rental) and not an agency, since they’re not 25- and no, I’m not happy with that, but what’s done is done. I, of course, also worry about how great of shape the rental may/may not be in.
In your experience, how is a temp of low 40’s and rain in terms of the gorge route? How to gauge how windy is too windy, if ‘real feel’ of 25ish makes a difference for icing, etc.
I’d just be aware that he can technically get a ticket for not having chains. That said, they are rarely checking unless he’s pulled over for something else. I ran a weather check on the roads for you through AI, and it looks like the 97-197 route is much better. I’ve gone that way before, it is very remote in places so please remind him to watch his gas and I would carry some extra food and water just in case. I am paranoid 
Best of luck!
Here is what the road conditions say:
US 97/197/I-84 West
US 97 (Bend to Madras)**: Residual snow or ice possible south of Bend from Friday’s storm, but north toward Madras (elev. ~2,200 ft) should see slush or wet pavement by Sunday. Morning frost could linger; daytime warming (likely low 40s°F) should help. No closures reported.
US 197 (Madras to The Dalles)**: Mostly clear or wet roads expected, with minimal snow risk at lower elevations. Winds may persist, potentially blowing debris.
I-84 West (The Dalles to PDX)**: Wet pavement likely, with rain showers possible in the Gorge (temps near 40-45°F). Gusty winds (20-30 mph) are common here, and fog could reduce visibility near Hood River or Multnomah Falls. No scheduled closures, though hydroplaning is a risk if rain pools.
PDX Approach**: I-84 to I-205 or Airport Way should be straightforward, barring urban traffic.
Local weather report 1:
The forecast hasn’t changed for the Cascades-- we’re still looking at 2-3 feet of snow accumulation over the weekend, with the biggest “surge” happening as that atmospheric river kicks up Saturday evening. From tonight through Sunday evening, the snowfall will be pretty steady above 2,500 feet. Plus, it’ll be gusty at times (wind more of a concern tonight through Saturday morning). The Winter Storm Warning continues through 11 p.m. Sunday. Plan on winter travel conditions all weekend long!
Local weather reporter 2:
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Winter Storm Warning in the Cascades will remain in effect through Sunday night. In elevations above 3000 feet, up to 4 feet of snow could accumulate in that region by the end of the weekend. By Saturday afternoon, expect 1-2 feet of snow in the Cascades. Expect the passes to be impacted by this as well. If you must travel there, ensure your vehicle is equipped for winter weather.
Portland person here.
The Gorge itself won’t be frozen as it’s not far above sea level. It will be VERY WINDY and wet, which requires a lot of focus and both hands on the wheel. But it will not be ice.
I would highly encourage them to leave Saturday ASAP, in the next few hours, and then stay at a motel outside Portland Saturday night (if they’re worried about money), but get out and through the Cascades before it gets bad if they don’t have chains or snow tires.
Oregon Trip Check will be helpful for real time conditions, but the guys need to think about the forecast, not the clear roads they may see right now.
Now I’m incredibly anxious. I don’t think they’ll leave today, because they have an event they need to go to and they need to clean the Airbnb.
That said, I know they’re leaving early tomorrow morning because they need to be in Portland by 12-1pm. I’m going to send them the 91-197-84W route through the gorge. It looks like the weather forecast above say the highest wind warning is/was for this morning, so I am hoping for that. I’m not sure that today through the gorge/that route looks better for today/vs. tomorrow?
None of this is ideal, and certainly not what we’d recommend, but again, what’s done is done. I don’t love they’re in a personal rental, but at least it’s an AWD pick-up. They’re not well-versed in mountain driving, but they go to school in a very snowy city and are well-versed in snowy/rainy driving. I will certainly tell them to have a full tank of gas.
Any other suggestions welcome.
I appreciate this. I really feel like this is the only option. It looks like wind gusts in the gorge were biggest risk this morning- as of now, doesn’t look like that’s forecast for tomorrow. I will definitely tell them to fully gas up. They have an AWD pick up rental. They plan on leaving Bend around 8-9am.
Going that route is about 3:30-3:45 hours on a bluebird day, so I would suggest adding at least 60 minutes for slower driving and poor conditions. Remind them that “all wheel drive” as they say is not “all wheel brake” - and that in the snow up here they need to use a much larger following distance between themselves and the car in front of them, and to be slow, controlled, and easy going through the curves. A snowy pass and curvy roads are different than snowy flat driving. Take their time.
The Gorge won’t be an issue; they may feel the windiness, and you want to watch out for cars and trucks wavering in the wind. There will be places with standing water with the rain that’s coming that they need to watch out for so as not to hydroplane.
(Returning the rental and getting to the terminal is another time bucket that they need to plan for - more than they think.)
I’m someone who usually gets to the airport as late as possible, but if I were in Bend with this weather I’d personally leave 1.5 hours earlier than than the map driving time estimate, in advance of the earlier time needed for the rental as well.
It won’t be possible to “push the speed limit, we’re running late” - and the Portland airport TSA can be long.
Best of luck, they’ll be fine, I know you’re going to be stressed until they get there 
This is really encouraging! My kid has friends heading out from Walla Walla to Seattle today (hazardous, but they have chains
) so everyone’s eyeballing the weather.
It looks like the back way your son will take up 197 is going to avoid the weekend storm dump
Update- Son and teammates made it to Portland! Flew out late last night and they just landed in DC. That “back” route went well! I obsessively checked the weather along the way and every road cam on Tripcheck. My husband said at this point I could be an official OR tour guide. 
This past week was a doozy (may have taken a couple of years off my life) that involved my son’s initial rental losing a wheel (yes, the wheel fell off, and it was a personal rental with the owner living in a different state 
), my son fracturing his fibula, having his license confiscated by a liquor store owner who didn’t believe it was real (it is), and a multiple day blizzard. By far my most stressful parenting moments yet- ‘supporting’ from across the country, but no real ability to ‘parent’/force choices of a college senior. Hopefully some life lessons learned by these young adults.
Thanks all for the input!
So glad they got back safely!!!