Next 7 departures
- TueOct 13
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 41–55°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Partly sunny48°F Olympia8 AM PDT Partly sunny45°F Longview9 AM PDT Partly sunny46°F Portland9:45 AM PDT Partly sunny46°F Sandy10:15 AM PDT Partly sunny50°F Blue Box Pass11 AM PDT Mostly sunny41°F Madras12 PM PDT Sunny55°F Bend1 PM PDT Sunny55°F - WedOct 14
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 48–61°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Mostly cloudy53°F Olympia8 AM PDT Cloudy53°F Longview9 AM PDT Mostly cloudy50°F Portland9:45 AM PDT Partly sunny51°F Sandy10:15 AM PDT Mostly cloudy53°F Blue Box Pass11 AM PDT Mostly sunny48°F Madras12 PM PDT Sunny61°F Bend1 PM PDT Sunny61°F - ThuOct 15
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 49–64°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Partly sunny51°F Olympia8 AM PDT Mostly cloudy52°F Longview9 AM PDT Partly sunny53°F Portland9:45 AM PDT Partly sunny56°F Sandy10:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny58°F Blue Box Pass11 AM PDT Sunny49°F Madras12 PM PDT Sunny62°F Bend1 PM PDT Sunny64°F - FriOct 16
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 48–68°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Mostly sunny53°F Olympia8 AM PDT Partly sunny48°F Longview9 AM PDT Mostly sunny57°F Portland9:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny58°F Sandy10:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny61°F Blue Box Pass11 AM PDT Mostly sunny51°F Madras12 PM PDT Sunny68°F Bend1 PM PDT Sunny67°F - SatOct 17
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 44–63°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Chance of light rain56°F Olympia8 AM PDT Chance of light rain53°F Longview9 AM PDT Slight chance of light rain55°F Portland9:45 AM PDT Slight chance of light rain56°F Sandy10:15 AM PDT Slight chance of light rain55°F Blue Box Pass11 AM PDT Slight chance of light rain showers44°F Madras12 PM PDT Mostly sunny63°F Bend1 PM PDT Mostly sunny63°F - SunOct 18
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 42–58°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Mostly cloudy52°F Olympia8 AM PDT Mostly cloudy46°F Longview9 AM PDT Mostly cloudy50°F Portland9:45 AM PDT Partly sunny52°F Sandy10:15 AM PDT Partly sunny52°F Blue Box Pass11 AM PDT Mostly sunny42°F Madras12 PM PDT Mostly sunny57°F Bend1 PM PDT Mostly sunny58°F - MonOct 19
CautionLight rain showers likely near Blue Box Pass around 11 AM PDT.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Chance of light rain52°F Olympia8 AM PDT Chance of light rain46°F Longview9 AM PDT Chance of light rain50°F Portland9:45 AM PDT Chance of light rain52°F Sandy10:15 AM PDT Chance of light rain50°F Blue Box Pass11 AM PDT Light rain showers likely37°F Madras12 PM PDT Chance of light rain showers52°F Bend1 PM PDT Chance of light rain showers49°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Seattle (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Seattle, WAStart 134 ftelevation
- Olympia, WAMile 60 · 1 h 4 min 18 ftelevation
- Longview, WAMile 126 · 2 h 5 min 22 ftelevation
- Portland, ORMile 172 · 2 h 50 min 34 ftelevation
- Sandy, ORMile 193 · 3 h 17 min 983 ftelevation
- Blue Box Pass, ORMountain pass · Mile 230 · 4 h 2 min 4,029 ftelevation
- Madras, ORMile 285 · 5 h 7 min 2,246 ftelevation
- Bend, ORMile 328 · 5 h 59 min 3,625 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Seattle, Blue Box Pass and Bend.
| Month | Seattle Sea-Tac Airport station · 370 ft | Blue Box Pass Government Camp station · 3,980 ft | Bend 3,660 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 48° / 38° | 0.4 | 37° / 26° | 9.6 | 43° / 25° | 2.9 |
| Feb | 50° / 38° | 0.7 | 38° / 26° | 9.3 | 46° / 24° | 1.9 |
| Mar | 54° / 40° | 0.1 | 41° / 28° | 8.6 | 52° / 28° | 0.4 |
| Apr | 59° / 43° | 0 | 45° / 31° | 6.2 | 58° / 31° | 0.1 |
| May | 66° / 49° | 0 | 54° / 36° | 1.6 | 66° / 37° | 0 |
| Jun | 71° / 53° | 0 | 59° / 41° | 0.2 | 74° / 42° | 0 |
| Jul | 77° / 57° | 0 | 69° / 48° | 0 | 84° / 49° | 0 |
| Aug | 78° / 57° | 0 | 70° / 48° | 0 | 83° / 48° | 0 |
| Sep | 72° / 54° | 0 | 64° / 45° | 0.1 | 76° / 41° | 0 |
| Oct | 61° / 47° | 0 | 53° / 37° | 1.1 | 63° / 34° | 0.1 |
| Nov | 52° / 41° | 0.1 | 42° / 30° | 6.8 | 49° / 28° | 0.5 |
| Dec | 47° / 37° | 0.6 | 35° / 26° | 11.6 | 41° / 23° | 2.3 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: SEATTLE TACOMA INTL AP (USW00024233, 370 ft); GOVERNMENT CAMP (USC00353402, 3,980 ft); BEND (USC00350694, 3,660 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Washington and Oregon rather than repeat them.
- Washington · WSDOTReal-time travel map
- Washington · winter rulesMountain pass reports and traction rules
- Oregon · ODOTTripCheck road conditions
- Oregon · winter rulesChain laws
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Seattle to Bend with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Seattle to Bend?
328 miles, about 6 hours of driving without stops, by way of I-5 and US-26. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Blue Box Pass, at 4,029 ft. It comes at mile 230, about 4 h 2 min of driving after you leave Seattle.
Does it snow at Blue Box Pass in November?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Government Camp (3,980 ft), averages 30.6 inches of snow in November, with about 7 days of 1 inch or more (1991–2020 normals).
How cold is Bend in January?
Bend averages a high of 43°F and a low of 25°F in January (1991–2020 normals).