Seattle to Vermont in December

Roy&Lynne wrote:
Thanks again, we have decided to leave the RV at home and take the car. If the weather maps look bad,stay put, or drop down to I70 after Denver. If it looks really bad,we'll hit 40, but I think we will be fine as we have nothing but time·

Good idea! Especially since you don't have a time restriction.

A particular trouble spot to be aware of (staying on I-80 all the way) would be in Wyoming between Rawlins and Laramie and between Laramie and Cheyenne. Separately, these two stretches can get shut down due to blowing/drifting snow, not necessarily during a storm, but afterwards. And they frequently get shut down together. Laramie and Cheyenne can become landlocked during such times, with all routes in/out of each closed down. Fortunately, it doesn't last too long, but just something to be aware of. www.wyoroad.info is the best place to check conditions through Wyoming.

While it can also happen in the stretch from Denver across the Colorado Outback to Kansas on I-70, it's not as likely as it is in Wyoming.

Have decided to take the car and motel it Train isn't an option either as have stuff to take to the grandkids.

Much good advice has been given here, all I can add is a warning based on my experience traveling from Indiana to Vermont in January a few times, is watch the weather, as was said most storms move west to east, if you can, keep ahead of it, if caught up in it, get off the road, into a rest area asap. Remember, the "road" can be cruel, especially in winter. The only campground open year round that I know of is in Stowe, getting there could be a challenge though.

Carl

Roy&Lynne wrote:

DownTheAvenue wrote:
That time of year, and the possible weather delays you will experience, I would just fly. It will be impossible to camp along the way as virtually all campgrounds will be closed.

I know what your saying but flying is just not an option, I would rather have a root canal. LOL. But maybe it would be better to leave the RV home and stay in motels.

If you wont fly have you looked into Amtrak?? Takes less time than driving and YOU can watch the scenery also!

Thanks again, we have decided to leave the RV at home and take the car. If the weather maps look bad,stay put, or drop down to I70 after Denver. If it looks really bad,we'll hit 40, but I think we will be fine as we have nothing but time·

Roy&Lynne wrote:
Gpt to do it, want to spend Christmas with the kiddos so what route would you suggest, would I 84 to I 80 be better than just taking I 90 across?
Coming back in Jan won't be an issue as we have tons of time so will just aim for Texas and take the southern route

Leaving close to Thanksgiving should make it "Possible" - you just need to be SMART - leave as early as possible and use the weather maps to dictate your travel.

For a number of reasons I would roll down towards I-80, watch out for Chicago then just get close to the appointed destination ASAP. Stay away from the lake effect snows - get out to the Right Coast and then you can help with the whole Christmas experience, even decorating the tree.

We have done the Rockies often in the months of November - December - January and lived to tell about it, watch the weather - be smart - take our time - stop if necessary, you will be fine. Back when the Kids were young we had to drive all the way to Mont Trem Blanc just to find snow after Christmas, so it can be bad but it can also be a piece of cake. And we Skied all through New York and Vermont and New Hampshire Using the Motor Home as the mode of transportation.

JMHO,

North or Lakes Erie and Ontario can be just as bad. We are SE of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, can be lots of snow. Last Dec 11 we had 24 INCHES in one afternoon.

Ken

I 84 I 80 is the way to go. I 90 has too many big pulls. It will be cold but just watch the weather good and wait out any big storms. I drove semis across all year for many years. I like running across I 80 much better in the winter. It might be snowing and blowing or you might have sunny days with dry and dusty roads. Just because it's December doesn't mean every day will be a snow storm. Plus it makes for a good memory.

Life's an adventure but memories of driving through whiteouts in Montana, SD, ND in younger years would make me quite leary of driving through the heartland in the dead of winter anymore. I would never think of towing it. I'd fly. But then everyone's different and so is his/her adventure quotient at that stage in life.

Campfire Time wrote:

Naio wrote:
I think a sleeper would be less expensive than driving an RV and/or staying in hotels. It's 3 nights, IIRC, to cross the US, and about $100/night.

Amtrak routes go through beautiful areas. Straight through Glacier National Park, for example! The routes are often out of sight of any roads, just going through national forests and grasslands.

$100 a night! I wish it was that cheap! For coach it's about that. More like $1000.00 - $1200.00 total for bedroom on a trip like that.

It was about $100 a night this spring, the last time I got a sleeper.

If you are being quoted a sky-high price like that, try different dates. Amtrak prices like airlines (sort of). They sell the cheapest slots first. But they have a LOT of the cheapest ones, and if you have even a little flexibility on dates you can get the good price.

The seat is about $350-400 per person for the whole round trip, and the bed is in addition. Beds are prices per night, so you don't have to get one for every night if for some reason you don't want to.