Route from Bend OR to South Lake Tahoe

[KAM]

Hellow RV Fellows. Just a quick post to inform the newbies like me out there on routes to and from Bend OR and South Lake Tahoe CA. First of all before planning your route, if you are traveling during the months of July- October, check the routes for wildfires and road closures at tripcheck.com We decided to take hwy 31 over 97. The cons on this choice would be the roads arent as well maintained. They are narrow 2 lane roads & no emergency lanes on hwy 31 most of the way. 31 isnt nearly as scenic as 97. Pros are that it is the road much less traveled & it is a flatter drive with very little grade changes. It takes you through the dry desert valley on the east side of the Cascades. If you dont care about touring crater lake, dont care about the scenic drive & want to avoid the tourist crowd, then hwy 31 is for you. But if you are here to see all the beauty Oregon has to offer and have the time and patience to run with the tourist, then hwy 97 is for you. It does have a more mountainous terrain, but the Cascade mountains are why you are here right! Make sure you have checked your brakes and feel good about them before taking this route, 97 has much steeper grades and curves as you come down into Klammath Falls area. As a sidenote, since we are foodies, we stumbled upon the absolute best little cafe in Lakeview, OR- “The Dinner Bell Cafe.” It is fabulous! These ladies know how to cook. The menu has alot of breakfast lunch and dinner options. Plenty to chose from & the portions are definitely large. Their strawberry/ blueberry cream cheese filled crepes are are the best crepes we have ever had. We know our crepes. If they are on the menu- we test them out. If you are driving a big rig have no fear, their are large pull off areas just past this little gem of a cafe where you can park.

 

[murphysranch]

Since Breakfast out is my most fav meal, I'll have to pass thru Lakeview from Medford, someday. YUM!!