Before retiring, we spent almost two decades heading from PA. to FL. for the Christmas holidays. We were not able to be flexible at all with our travel times, and always took 81-77-26-95, regardless of anticipated weather. During that time we had weather issues exactly once, and it was the hundred year storm that shut DC down for nearly a week, and dumped 30" of snow in the lower half of VA. If 77 is your desired route, check the weather, and do it. Blocking out months at a time, because 77 is somehow "unsuitable for travel" due to potential weather danger, as some suggest, is simply irrational.