Need advice!

[sbattle]

OK, So I moving From Seattle area to Jacksonville, FL. I'm leaving Seattle on Fbb 4th or 5th. I don't know which route to take. The most common route is the norther route along I-90 all the way through South Dakota, and then start cutting South. I've driven this route 3 times in the summer, and its not a bad drive. However, being that its the middle of winter I'm a little reluctant to drive that route, towing my wifes car on a flatbed trailer with my wife, 3 kids and the dog



My alternate route would be down I-5 and then connect to either I-40 or I-10 to florida, but its an extra 500 to 600 miles.



Does anyone have any advice? The northern route is less miles, and COULD save time if I don't run into a lot of snow.



Scott

2012 Ram 2500 4x4 Bighorn CC SB

 

[6speed]

I am not from that area of the world or have been there, but I think I would opt for the I-5 then across I10 just because I know the weather can be deadly if the right storm hits. My son just left FT Walton Beach to Tucson AZ and he hit snow in west TX, NM and AZ. Not enought to slow down but he was concerned with the bridges that seemed to have some ice. Just check the weather before and that will probably make your mind up for ya

 

[TLane]

Many states have maps with road conditions, webcams, etc. online. Here's one for Wyoming:

http://map.wyoroad.info/

Check the conditions just before you leave, and check the weather forecast.

 

[HBarlow]

There is no easy or absolute answer to your question. Traveling farther south before turning east probably reduces chances of snow and ice but, as 6speed suggested above, it is possible to encounter snow on I-10 as well. As he suggested, I would check a website like weather underground for the period you plan to travel as the date approaches and then decide.

Its possible to find heavy snow along I-5 in the Siskiyou Mountains of southern OR and northern CA also but possibly less likely than traveling east on I-90.

 

[BIGNASTY]

I live about 70 miles NE of Missoula MT we have a bunch of snow if you drive this way, I wouldn't go all the way down I 5 to I 10 or I 40 seems like a long way around the horn to me. Look at 84 south east to I 80 and across NB and drop down threw Missouri,Kentucky,Tennessee,Georgia you are STILL LIKLEY TO HIT SNOW ALONG I 80. Could go south on I 15 out of Salt lake and find a way south down to New Mexico and Texas to get to a milder clime. Could look at I 70 to 191 to Moab491 to Dove Creek to Cortez or stay on 191 to AZ 160 and down to 40 ONE THING TO THINK ABOUT ON THE LAST TWO IDEA'S AZ 160 IS ONE VERY, VERY DESOLATE STREACH OF ROAD!!!!!!!MAKE SURE OF YOUR TRANSPORTAION cause their AINT I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER OUT THERE. 191 Ut aint got much to see either.


As others have said its hard to figure the North route but it a gamble no matter what way you go storms come and go stay on top of the weather reports and road conditions for several routes and take your best shot.

Im jealous of your adventure that is what made truck driving fun dont know WHAT THE HELL YOUR HEADING INTO


AS ALWAYS ONE HAS TO DEFEND HIS OR HER OPINION SO THAT IS JMO

BIG

PS just to be a wise A** if it were me I would think about putting the wife and kids in the car on the trailer and talking to the dog for the trip they dont say much dont ask much and always willing to be your friend dont need to stop to pee at the most inopportune time no fighting with siblings AND YOU HAVE CONTROL OF THE RADIO!!!!

 

[dullpain]

PS just to be a wise A** if it were me I would think about putting the wife and kids in the car on the trailer and talking to the dog for the trip they dont say much dont ask much and always willing to be your friend dont need to stop to pee at the most inopportune time no fighting with siblings AND YOU HAVE CONTROL OF THE RADIO!!!!

BIGNASTY - You are my new hero , finally found somebody that thinks like me , great to be validated !!

 

[Grizzly]

If you are a AAA member have them make you a Trip Tik. They can find you the best route with keeping current weather conditions in mine. I usually have them make me a Trip Tik for a major RV trip. click here





Hope this helps, george

 

[BIGNASTY]

PS just to be a wise A** if it were me I would think about putting the wife and kids in the car on the trailer and talking to the dog for the trip they dont say much dont ask much and always willing to be your friend dont need to stop to pee at the most inopportune time no fighting with siblings AND YOU HAVE CONTROL OF THE RADIO!!!!



BIGNASTY - You are my new hero , finally found somebody that thinks like me , great to be validated !!

Only ONE TIME the wife BEFORE she was, went with me on a road trip in my Pete THAT I DIDNT MIND HER GOING . We left MT she had worked all day so she said she was tired I told her to jump in the sleeper and take a nap!!! first thing that came out of the sleeper and on the passenger seat were her pants went a few more miles and out came the blouse few more miles came the bra when her drawers hit the gear shift I flat spotted tires Oo.

 

[sbattle]

The obvious advantages of a sleeper cab :-laf

 

[BIGNASTY]

Mr sbattle

I hope you know that I was just goof-in around with the wise A** remarks road trips are good for the young ones to see a little of our country and a bonding of the entire family. When I was trucking it was work I did enjoy the sights but it was still work the wife could NEVER see that even after we were married and she went she JUST DIDNT GET IT.

 

[KEnglish]

I did the reverse of your trip last winter towing a car from the east coast to Oak Harbor, WA. I took the southern route to avoid weather and fought snow on I-20 from about Odessa west. Then they closed I-10 from Las Cruces to somewhere around Willcox for about 18 hours. They also had I-40 and I-25 closed. So, like others have said, there's no perfect route. You just have to check weather and be flexible. Good luck.

 

[farmboy]

We just did a round trip over Christmas/New Years from south of Indy to Great Falls,Mt. There are several ways to do it so I looked at each states dot web page for road conditions Up to 500 miles out and overall whole route. Our normal is 65/74/80/29/90. We had to use I-70 to Colorado then turn north on US-385 to 80 then west to 25 to 90. I-80 was snow bound at the time in Iowa. We did our normal route home with sun all the way over a 4 day period. Coming home was 170 miles shorter. We also did this normal route in FEB. of '99 without snow or cold issues. Have a good move.

 

[GAmes]

I Could go south on I 15 out of Salt lake and find a way south down to New Mexico and Texas to get to a milder clime. Could look at I 70 to 191 to Moab491 to Dove Creek to Cortez and down to 40

I chopped up the route, but essentially that would be my choice. It avoids the big hills to cross the Rockies.



From Provo, Ut to Gallop, NM Hwy 6, and 191 and 491 or 550 from Shiprock, NM to Albuquarque. I like the Gallop route better, it is a few miles farther, but faster. I-40 to Amarillo then 287 to Ft Worth. I-20 to Jackson, MS 49 to Hattiesburg, 98 to Mobile 3071 miles according to Streets & Trips rather than 2991 miles going the northern route.

 

[richardcoxid]

Check out-



http://www.accuweather.com/



http://www.b.weather.com/?pin=true



Enter the towns that you think that you will be going thru,

As suggested by some of the previous posters check the various states winter weather road maps. Here are some of the individual states road condition sites-



http://www.az511.com/adot/files/traffic/ (AZ)



http://www.cotrip.org/home.htm (CO)



http://511.idaho.gov/



http://www.montana.edu/msuinfo/gen/wx/



http://www.safetravelusa.com/nv/ (NV)



http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/f?p=100:pg:0::::V,T:,1673



http://www.wyoroad.info/highway/text_road.html



If you take I84 thru southern ID to miss Salt Lake/Lake effect snow along I-15 and if you don’t mind driving 100 miles between fuel stops, turn off at Bliss (exit 137?) onto Hwy #30 to Filer them south on 93. At Ely, NV take the truck route bypass around Ely to US 6 south to the junction of NV 318, to rejoin 93 between Hiko and Ash Springs. NV 318 is excellent road and is shorter and less climbing than 93.



As an alternative take I-84/I-86 to join I-15 at Pocatello then south to McCammon (I-15 exit 47) then take 30 to join I-80 in WY. US 30 is well traveled by 18 wheelers avoiding the SLC area when heading east. Be sure to stop at Little America’s convenience store and get your $ 0. 75 soft ice cream cone!



Are you Diesel?



Richard

 

[sbattle]

Thanks for all the info everyone. I'll be taking it all into consideration. Richardcoxid..... yes, I'm diesel. What else?

 

[JLeake]

The net of several posters has been that the weather can be good, or bad from Seattle to Florida (at least until you get east of the Rockies). How much of an adventure are you willing to take with your family and a trailer?

Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and Montana can be very nice, or be really nasty with blizzard conditions this time of year. And they conditions change day by day. A friend at work was in Moab over the holidays and it was very cold (highs below freezing the whole time) which is unusual. I would make sure I had something to get current forecasts and be willing to alter plans when conditions change.

Other things to consider are how good of travelers are your wife and children? If they get nervous in bad weather then that means more caution.

Pulling a trailer in bad weather can be "fun"

 

[BIGNASTY]

I chopped up the route, but essentially that would be my choice. It avoids the big hills to cross the Rockies.



From Provo, Ut to Gallop, NM Hwy 6, and 191 and 491 or 550 from Shiprock, NM to Albuquarque. I like the Gallop route better, it is a few miles farther, but faster. I-40 to Amarillo then 287 to Ft Worth. I-20 to Jackson, MS 49 to Hattiesburg, 98 to Mobile 3071 miles according to Streets & Trips rather than 2991 miles going the northern route.

GAmes Im sure you would know better than I it has been many years sense I drove down that way and the only reason I did it was because of truck weight and log book'S being so out of wack.

 

[richardcoxid]

Here are some Diesel Truck stop price sites-



http://www.dieselboss.com/fuel.htm



http://gasbuddy.com/ Click on their Diesel tab.



http://www.gocomchek.com/ Enter state, highway type and direction of travel and it will list truck stop Diesel prices in direction of travel, however it won’t list the smaller Mom/Pop stations that also sell Diesel.



With the 60 gal fuel tank I can go 500-550 miles with the RV and 1000- 1100 miles solo, when I am going to make a trip I figure where to get fuel miles and miles before I get there. With the large fuel tank sometimes I can drive thru a state w/o having to stop for fuel!



Richard

 

[SnoKing]

Once you start heading East or Southeast your routes are weather limited with little choices. I would head south on I-5, if the Siskiyou are a problem go out thru Drain to Reedsport and down 101. East on 40 or 10. Chris