WA to MD in JAN!!! Help!!

harold1946 wrote:

I-10 nor I-40 goes through Nevada. Maybe you were lost.

Well there WERE other routes involved too.
Went from LA to Phoenix on I-10 IIRC.

Sam Spade wrote:

2gypsies wrote:
I'd also highly recommend heading immediately south and then taking I-10 across.

Not an argument here, just a discussion.

Are there really significant places on I-40 that get significant snow and ice over the winter ?? I really don't know but am guessing not.

Then.....I was on I-10 this year from Calif. to Nevada and Arizona.
Sand, sand and more sand. Is it that way all the way to eastern Texas ? If so, driving that whole stretch can't be much fun regardless of what vehicle you are in.

Almost every winter I-40 will have closures due to snow somewhere between Kingman and Holbrook.
I-10 nor I-40 goes through Nevada. Maybe you were lost.

I40 starts at 600 feet at the CA border and rises to 5000 feet in less than 90 miles. The elevation then varies from 5000-7500 feet over the next 500 plus miles. Winter snows are common, but are usually well forecasted.

Sand, sand and more sand. Is it that way all the way to eastern Texas ?

Well, not ALL the way. Here is just one view near our home in East Texas:

We boondocked the end of April along with other motorists and semis just west of Albuquerque on I-40 because of a major snowstorm. No one moved until the road was clear.

Sam Spade wrote:

2gypsies wrote:
I'd also highly recommend heading immediately south and then taking I-10 across.

Not an argument here, just a discussion.

Are there really significant places on I-40 that get significant snow and ice over the winter ?? I really don't know but am guessing not.

Then.....I was on I-10 this year from Calif. to Nevada and Arizona.
Sand, sand and more sand. Is it that way all the way to eastern Texas ? If so, driving that whole stretch can't be much fun regardless of what vehicle you are in.

I40 does get major snow and ice storms and that 6 inches of snow in the Texas panhandle can turn into 8 foot high snow drifts.
Spent two nights in a motel in Grants NM due to a blizzard.
Flagstaff Arizona has an average of 33 snow days a year and over 100 inches of snow per year
If you are going to drive on I40 during the winter make sure you have -20 sleeping bags for everyone in the car along with a jar of peanut butter for each person along with drinking water.

2gypsies wrote:
I'd also highly recommend heading immediately south and then taking I-10 across.

Not an argument here, just a discussion.

Are there really significant places on I-40 that get significant snow and ice over the winter ?? I really don't know but am guessing not.

Then.....I was on I-10 this year from Calif. to Nevada and Arizona.
Sand, sand and more sand. Is it that way all the way to eastern Texas ? If so, driving that whole stretch can't be much fun regardless of what vehicle you are in.

I'd also highly recommend heading immediately south and then taking I-10 across. If you want this to be a vacation-type trip for the children there would be plenty of things to stop for and explore.

Taking one of the more northern interstates would not only be bad weather-wise but not much would be open to sitesee for the children and even RV parks would be closed. You'll be freezing the whole trip.

Take I-5 south to I-10 east. It will be the most relaxing for everyone.

I-5 south to I-10. Your only big snow will be over the Siskyous. Stop in Ashland, check the road conditions, and either hole up in Ashland or keep on going. (If you are going to have to wait for conditions to clear, Ashland is a great town to do that in.) Once you drop into Redding, you are out of the snow zone.

DeezPanthers1 wrote:
So we are being PCSd (transferred)in Jan to MD. We will be taking our OR roamer 310bhs (TT). My Husband has a F350 diesel TV, and I will be driving my minivan :o

We have not had to travel in the winter months like this, for a trip like this, and am very unfamiliar with the routes. We moved here from NC, but it was in Sept. and we did not have a TT. We want to make it a fun family road trip, and I want my kids to see some awesome sights along the way, as it will probably be the last cross country move for us (not a guarantee though;)

We obviously want to avoid any really bad weather. We are NC coastal natives and moved here near Seattle, so we are not pro snow drivers in the least. Hubby is a bit better than me, but after a really bad accident in college, putting me upside down in a creek, having to be pulled out by the fire department, I get a bit of anxiety driving in icy, snowy conditions. We also don't want to add a week to our drive time, bc of my fear. Do any of you have any good routes, or ideas that we could do.

Also, any tips, ideas or things to see on our way would be greatly appreciated. TIA.

Map - 6,000 miles but should be free from snow. Some/many of the stops could just be Drive Throughs to keep the ball rolling - but with some or many of these suggested sites you will see a lot of the country, and plant the seeds for a lifetime of adventures.

I was a Navy junior, and before I had graduated from High School we criss crossed this country 11 times - every time was a memory - some with National Parks and National Monuments, some we just visited Dad's old Buddies, but every time was a Memory.

Look it over, think about it, plan your long days and plan your stops, think about the Kids and what they will enjoy - remember - as I have done all of these once or twice as a Kid, and again once or twice as an adult. Every time it was GREAT! - as I have aged, I have slowed down and spent more time and discovered so much more around almost all these locations so .......... don't worry if you do not have time to do them justice - just do it, or some part of it and you will be back.

It's just TOO BEAUTIFUL and FUN not to Come Back for MORE!

Yes it is a long Trip and Yes it is a Challenge and Yes YOU will wonder WHY you even Tried to do it - but your Kids will never Forget It.

JMHO