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What’s the best route from Portland to Bend in the winter?

I’m heading from Portland to Bend for a ski trip in January, and while I have a 4x4 SUV that handles great in the snow, I’m still a little nervous about running into bad weather. What’s the best route from Portland to Bend in the winter?

avatar
Amber Reed · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
There are a few ways to get from
Portland
to
Bend
, but if you’re making the trip in the winter we suggest taking I-84 to US-197 and then taking US-97 to Bend. This route is about 45 minutes longer than the direct route under normal traffic conditions, but it has the advantage of allowing you to cross the Cascades close to sea level. This means it’s often less snowy than US-26 and Route 22.
While this route is usually the best way to go from Portland to Bend in the winter, you should still consult your
preferred navigation app
, as well as tripcheck.com—a website that provides information about
Oregon
roads, including weather conditions—before you leave.
It’s also a good idea to prepare a
winter emergency car kit
and to update your car insurance policy with
roadside assistance
coverage in case you run into trouble.
For help finding low rates on the coverage you need, check out the
Jerry
app! Just answer a handful of questions, and you’ll get cheap
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