JeffG:
Yes, much better to wait 24 hrs than die a gross horrible death by being bent while driving over a 3000ft pass.
I sense a tad bit of skepticism that it could happen.
Allow me to share a personal experience (first person account):
Two days after diving (40 feet, average depth 20 for 30 min, 2 hr surface interval, 40 feet average depth 15 feet, 30 minutes) I drove to Hemet California, elevation 1,400 feet from sea level to attend a meeting. The drive taking about just under 2 hours. I immediately turned around and in considerable discomfort drove back to sea level and the nearest decompression chamber. Two rides in the chamber over the next two days.
So yes, it can happen. It is possible to get bent (or at least aggravate the symptoms) from driving to altitude. Does it happen often? Probably not. Were there other factors? Yes almost certainly - I had been bent the week before and was not yet healed enough to go to that altitude. So this was really a continuation of the first bend. But the point is 1,400 feet of elevation was enough to trigger a reoccurrence that was actually more severe than the first. (And no in the 4 years and 200 dives since then I have not been bent again). In this case some minor nerve damage did result.
Second hand story: Dive buddies husband (who no longer dives) was bent. Unable to return to his home at 3,000 feet elevation for over 2 weeks. Every time he tried he had to turn around due to pain (got bent). Had to stay in a seaside motel.
Bottom line, can you get bent from a drive to 3,000? IMHO yes it is possible. Is it likely? IMHO no it is not. Should you leave the water and start your trip immediately? No, I would not recommend it. I would suggest it is probably a good idea to relax, enjoy a meal and some good conversation for a few hours before starting the trip over the hill. Give the body time to off gas for a while before starting the trip. Then I would observe the speed limit and not try to make the drive up the hill a speed contest. The longer you wait the better. I would also not dive aggressively and push the limits either with the slower drive allowing a better off gassing opportunity. The move nitrogen loading (or aggressive the diving) the longer I would suggest waiting. No flying (same as driving to 7,000- 8,000 feet) for 24 hours after diving is the recommended guideline from DAN. As has already been discussed you are changing pressure groups, so some caution is in order.
Disclaimer: Not a doctor, medically qualified person or even dive professional. The above is IMHO. Your results may vary.