We’re new to this forum and snowbirding. Found an RV spot near Phoenix for 2 months but I’m a little nervous about the idea of towing our trailer over the Siskiyou’s in January. Looking for the safest route to take from Seattle to Phoenix in January ( we will have lots of time, just want to get there alive lol). Would love any suggestions.. Thank you!!

It's all weather dependent, no matter which route you choose. If you prefer to avoid the Interstates as much as possible, take I82 and I84 to Twin Falls, then US93 through Nevada to Vegas, then Kingman and Phoenix. I've run it many times. Good road surfaces, biggest climb is Cabbage Hill at Pendleton.But Nevada is very remote, and don't run it if snow is forecast.Otherwise, Salt Lake, then Page, Flagstaff and Phoenix. Flag is the weather mess on that route.

I-5 would be the safest bet. Corning CA will be the start of good weather. There will be some rough spots like Weed.

2oldman wrote:I-5 would be the safest bet. Corning CA will be the start of good weather. There will be some rough spots like Weed.X2 Just came down I5 and about half of I5 had rough spots in CA. Wait for the Siskiyou's to clear as necessary. Ditto at Lost Hills for the passes. I5, 210 midday, 10 is one route. 46, 99, 58, 40, several ways to 10 is another.Check I10 in Phoenix for closures on the WE. There have been many due to the 202 extension interchange. They claim it will be done this year :@

Use this webpage to view current summit conditions. Watch weather reports before leaving. You can be just fine.https://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/View-Custom-Cameras?CamIds=2305

Trich820 wrote:We’re new to this forum and snowbirding. Found an RV spot near Phoenix for 2 months but I’m a little nervous about the idea of towing our trailer over the Siskiyou’s in January. Looking for the safest route to take from Seattle to Phoenix in January ( we will have lots of time, just want to get there alive lol). Would love any suggestions.. Thank you!!If at possible, change your trip schedule to one earlier or 1 month later. I drive:1. I-52. East on hwy. 58 out of Bakersfield3. south on 395 to I-104. East on I-10 to Ariz.

Easiest snowbird route from Seattle to Phoenix in January

15 Replies

robatthelake
Explorer
Sep 26, 2019
In 20 Years we have only ever had to skip a day due to snow on I5 at Ashland!

Vancouver Island to Sunshine and Warm weather!
MarkTwain
Explorer
Sep 23, 2019
CA Traveler wrote:
MarkTwain wrote:
At 101 I would head south to Hwy 20 and go east to I-5
Popular route but I'd take Lakeville Rd from Petaluma 37 780 680 580 5. But either way you still have the 2 passes out of Lost Hills to consider.

Of course you can cut back to 101 and deal with LA...

I would not take 299 through Redding, too much road construction, mud slides and possible snow. The Lakeville Rd route would have more traffic, especially when towing.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Sep 23, 2019
MarkTwain wrote:
At 101 I would head south to Hwy 20 and go east to I-5
Popular route but I'd take Lakeville Rd from Petaluma 37 780 680 580 5. But either way you still have the 2 passes out of Lost Hills to consider.

Of course you can cut back to 101 and deal with LA...
winniman
Explorer II
Sep 23, 2019
Stay at a hotel instead of in the RV when you get to Baker or La Grange so you can keep the rig winterized.

You can stay in the rv with it winterized. We just bring a pail of water in the shower to use the toilet. Keep the furnace on for heat. We only use the toilet, so we put a jug of rv antifreeze into the toilet to keep stuff from freezing. It would only be one night until you are out of potential freezing. No need for a motel when you are driving one.
MarkTwain
Explorer
Sep 22, 2019
navigator2346 wrote:
We live in Birch Bay and head south for the winter. We leave the week before turkey day and drive non stop to Salem where we spend Thanksgiving with our friends. We then continue on until we hit the Rolling Hills casino in Corning. From there you should be free of bad weather. Unfortunately, we have to stop in Komifornia to spend Christmas with our daughter and then on to AZ and then Mexico.

Watching the weather, we might head to the coast at Grants Pass and continue down 101

At 101 I would head south to Hwy 20 and go east to I-5
2oldman
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2019
Roy&Lynne wrote:
Stay at a hotel instead of in the RV when you get to Baker or La Grange .
LaGrande?
Roy_Lynne
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2019
We live near Olympia and had to go to a funeral in San Antonio in early Feb last year and we just took I90 to the Yakima turn off and then took I82 to Pendleton and caught I84. The snow was deep along side the road but they really keep the interstates as free of ice as they can for the truckers and we didn't even see any wet spots. Then if I were going to Phoenix I'd take 93 south. The secret is to just watch the weather and leave when you see a dry spot in the future. Stay at a hotel instead of in the RV when you get to Baker or La Grange so you can keep the rig winterized. Id probably stay in a hotel at Twin Falls or Ely also but both places have some nice RV parks so just make the decision when you get there. I suggest stopping as tired driving in winter just isn't smart. Happy travels.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Sep 22, 2019
395 is very slow with multiple stop lights before I15. I take 15, 215, 210, 10.

It's also nice to continue on 40 and stay along the Colorado River.
ppine
Explorer III
Sep 22, 2019
Take I-5 unless the weather is unseasonably warm.
The Siskiyous are not that high. Just time it right. Go over the pass mid day when it is not snowing. It thaws out pretty fast.
winniman
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2019
MarkTwain wrote:
Trich820 wrote:
We’re new to this forum and snowbirding. Found an RV spot near Phoenix for 2 months but I’m a little nervous about the idea of towing our trailer over the Siskiyou’s in January. Looking for the safest route to take from Seattle to Phoenix in January ( we will have lots of time, just want to get there alive lol). Would love any suggestions.. Thank you!!

If at possible, change your trip schedule to one earlier or 1 month later. I drive:
1. I-5
2. East on hwy. 58 out of Bakersfield
3. south on 395 to I-10
4. East on I-10 to Ariz.

This is the way we went from BC at the end of January. The only bad spot we had was the pass east of Bakersfield. We stayed over in Bakersfield due to high winds in the Tehachapi pass. A tractor trailer got blown over, glad we stopped for the night. Road reports can be had on govt dot websites to keep you up to date. Many passes have webcams you can access on line as well to assess the area in question.

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Easiest snowbird route from Seattle to Phoenix in January

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