Road trip

[Valuist]

Anyone make the car trip from the Bay area to the Midwest in winter? When I moved out to NorCal, I took I-80, but that was in summer. I would obviously prefer to fly but we have two dogs, and one of which (a 14 year old pug) will likely not be allowed to fly. The trip will go to Chicago, and ultimately suburban Cleveland.

From what I know about I-80, that is NOT an option in the dead of winter. I-40 would mean driving down toward Bakersfield before heading east, but there's no guarantee I-40 won't be wintry at that time. The other option is I-10, but we are talking about real far south; Phoenix and maybe either El Paso or San Antonio before heading north.

Anyone make this trip?

[vegasone]

I80 in the winter could be a real drag. I80 tends to close down around Wyoming and Nebraska on occasion. You would want to really check the weather before you head out. Snow around Reno also could cause a closure. As long as you aren't in a hurry if you have to stay over for a day or two or more 80 is doable in between snow storms. Had to get snow chains one time driving from SF to Tahoe



Gets really cold also. Dress warmly.


I40 is much better but has its moments also, around Oklahoma, Missouri, New Mexico and Flagstaff.


Just drive carefully. Just not all that much fun driving around in the winter in those areas.

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by vegasone

I80 in the winter could be a real drag. I80 tends to close down around Wyoming and Nebraska on occasion. You would want to really check the weather before you head out. Snow around Reno also could cause a closure. As long as you aren't in a hurry if you have to stay over for a day or two or more 80 is doable in between snow storms. Had to get snow chains one time driving from SF to Tahoe



Gets really cold also. Dress warmly.


I40 is much better but has its moments also, around Oklahoma, Missouri, New Mexico and Flagstaff.


Just drive carefully. Just not all that much fun driving around in the winter in those areas.

Obviously the further south you go the less the risk of snow and ice and the longer the journey. I made the trip from So Cal to Virginia 5 times when moving a little over a half dozen years ago from early November early to late February. I took one I-70 trip and four I-40 trips. Heading west on I-70 I had to turn south down I-25 and picked up I-10. I back tracked, caught a bad storm just past Vail Colorado. Towing a trailer in an SUV without 4-wheel drive through a snow storm in the Rockies did not seem like a good idea.


As mentioned I-40 has it's moments, in Arizona and New Mexico is where I got snowed on as in both states the road elevation goes over 7,000 feet. Coldest I ever been in was at that 7,000 foot level stopping for gas in New Mexico, it was -5. I barely got through a couple times. Had I-40 closures in the Arizona-New Mexico area twice just a day or two behind me in both directions.


As Clint Eastwood would say "Do you feel lucky?" The weather in some of those areas can swing wildly from day to day and 7 day weather forecasts aren't worth spit. As an example I went through that -5 area in New Mexico just a few days later and it was in the low 40's at the same time of night. Even stranger on one trip the temp in Virginia was the coldest place I was in and on another trip it was the warmest.


Whatever you chose best of luck and travel safe.

[Valuist]

Thanks for the feedback. I think I-40 would appear to be the best bet. Even heading down I-5 from the Bay area toward Bakersfield, its not a pure south drive; definitely some east in there, so the amount out of the way relative to I-80 would probably be about 200-225 miles each way.

I was checking the average weather on some of the I-40 stops for Jan 1. Last year must've been real bad. In OKC it was a high of 20 and a low of minus 4. That's pretty far south for a below zero temp.

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by Valuist

Thanks for the feedback. I think I-40 would appear to be the best bet. Even heading down I-5 from the Bay area toward Bakersfield, its not a pure south drive; definitely some east in there, so the amount out of the way relative to I-80 would probably be about 200-225 miles each way.

I was checking the average weather on some of the I-40 stops for Jan 1. Last year must've been real bad. In OKC it was a high of 20 and a low of minus 4. That's pretty far south for a below zero temp.

In all the bad sections I went through on I-40 where I was driving while snowing in Arizona and New Mexico there were plows all over the place, waiting, even when the roads were barely dusted with snow. Even if you time the trip poorly worst case scenario you get held up for a night somewhere. If you drive at night watch out for black ice, bring heavy gloves and cold weather clothes. Also if the track is clear and fast, watch out for cops in the center divider with speed guns once you get through Arizona. Some states use the Highway Patrol as revenue agents.

[Augenj]

One December several years ago, we drove across I-70 from Vegas to Colorado Springs to adopt a couple of greyhounds. The weather was supposed to be "clear" but some stretches of road were icy. Vail Pass had snow on the road and it was snowing as we drove. No chains required then but you have to consider that when you cross the Rockies either I-70 or I-40. We came back using I-25 south to I-40 and headed west without a problem. From where we live (Las Vegas), we use I-10 in the winter to go across the country. It's longer but lower elevation and farther south.

[Valuist]

Originally Posted by Inner Dirt

In all the bad sections I went through on I-40 where I was driving while snowing in Arizona and New Mexico there were plows all over the place, waiting, even when the roads were barely dusted with snow. Even if you time the trip poorly worst case scenario you get held up for a night somewhere. If you drive at night watch out for black ice, bring heavy gloves and cold weather clothes. Also if the track is clear and fast, watch out for cops in the center divider with speed guns once you get through Arizona. Some states use the Highway Patrol as revenue agents.

I've heard I-40 thru Oklahoma is a real bad spot if you are driving with California plates. The police pretty much assume you are running drugs to the East Coast.

[letswastemoney]

I once went up through Las Vegas on the 15 and then switched to I-70 east, through Utah and Colorado, on my way from Los Angeles to Louisville. This was in early January 2016. At some point, I had a feeling the wheel bearing in my car broken or was damaged, but I kept going because I didn't want to miss the first day of the semester (I was teaching English 101 at the time).

It was the worst drive of my life. There were some points up in the mountains around Grand Junction to Vail where I wasn't sure if I could see anything. I welcomed any car or truck to be nearby, because I needed another vehicle to follow since I couldn't see the lines on the highway. I somehow kept going.

If I could go back, I'd have written an email to all my students saying to wait a few more days.

I-40 should be fine. In terms of snow, the worst part in winter is Flagstaff. Parts of New Mexico can also get hit by snow too.

In early December or late January though, it shouldn't be too bad.

[letswastemoney]

Originally Posted by Valuist

I've heard I-40 thru Oklahoma is a real bad spot if you are driving with California plates. The police pretty much assume you are running drugs to the East Coast.

Nah, it should be fine through Oklahoma. My plates are California and I've done this drive 3 or 4 times by now.

The annoying part about Oklahoma are the toll fees for the turnpike. They don't take cards so cash is needed. I've never had a problem otherwise.

Remington Park is along the path too, so that's a nice place to stop.

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by Inner Dirt

In all the bad sections I went through on I-40 where I was driving while snowing in Arizona and New Mexico there were plows all over the place, waiting, even when the roads were barely dusted with snow. Even if you time the trip poorly worst case scenario you get held up for a night somewhere. If you drive at night watch out for black ice, bring heavy gloves and cold weather clothes. Also if the track is clear and fast, watch out for cops in the center divider with speed guns once you get through Arizona. Some states use the Highway Patrol as revenue agents.

Originally Posted by Valuist

I've heard I-40 thru Oklahoma is a real bad spot if you are driving with California plates. The police pretty much assume you are running drugs to the East Coast.

Ha,ha it was Arkansas where I got pulled over on I-40 repeatedly when I was doing nothing wrong, I got the old "You made a lane change without signaling" or "You were weaving", blah, blah,blah,. I went through Arkansas 4 times, on the last traffic stop through there I got an honest cop. When he came up to my SUV after pulling me over, he looked in and said "Drug dealers don't bring their cats along (my cat was in my lap), have a nice day.

[Valuist]

Originally Posted by Inner Dirt

Ha,ha it was Arkansas where I got pulled over on I-40 repeatedly when I was doing nothing wrong, I got the old "You made a lane change without signaling" or "You were weaving", blah, blah,blah,. I went through Arkansas 4 times, on the last traffic stop through there I got an honest cop. When he came up to my SUV after pulling me over, he looked in and said "Drug dealers don't bring their cats along (my cat was in my lap), have a nice day.

I've heard they will pull you over for ANYTHING if you have Cal. plates. What's worse is I've heard of advantage players getting considerable sums of money stolen, at least temporarily, by the police in that I-40 corridor. They believe with civil forfeiture they can take whatever they want. I've heard Tennessee is bad like that too.

[Mr.XXX]

Originally Posted by Inner Dirt

...Also if the track is clear and fast, watch out for cops in the center divider with speed guns once you get through Arizona. Some states use the Highway Patrol as revenue agents.

Affirmative traveling between Nevada and Texas(Texas to New Orleans and Florida much, much better; back to real bad north of Fla and Lousiana. And I'm old enough to have gotten many "We don't like Yankees down here" epithets).

Plus all the little two bit towns, parking a local cruiser on the freeway overpass.
After getting tired of so many tickets(If you look like a real square most those poor, corrupt little towns try to pile it on; pad the speed number and add other stuff. And if they see you still don't protest too much, the piece de resistance: "we can't seem to verify your license. We'll need to bring you in to resolve this, and btw tow your car. Either they get a kickback from the tow and/or own the business utilizing a beard] ) I just would look in the rearview mirror after passing underneath the bridge. If the cop car would start towards the ramp, I would floor it, take the next exit, then travel parallel to the freeway for a bit. Never failed.

True story from 1984 from one of my Air Force coworkers. Some New Mexico town pulled him over but just initially had him park on the median, doing the same to others until they had a row of about ten. They then made a convoy with a cruiser at each end, driving until they reached a remote ranch. They sounded their sirens, and someone out in the field on his tractor made a beeline for the house. Everyone was then escorted to the kitchen, then the guy from the tractor came in, dressed in overalls and a straw hat. "Everyone please remove all hats, caps and head coverings: you're in the presence of a Judge". He then bangs on the kitchen table,"Court's in session! First case. You sir, owe $175. Payable in cash only. If you can't pay right now you will have to go to jail and remain there until you can make arrangements to pay!"