Forum Discussion

Jandsa's avatar
Jandsa
Explorer
Dec 24, 2014

Heading south the middle of the winter from upstate NY

Hi everyone,

As it is getting closer to our trip to Florida after the holidays, I am getting the jitters of "what if?"...thinking about snow storms, icy roads, etc. We towed our 5ver 70 miles from the dealership to our home in Nov. and that seemed worrisome enough with the cold weather and wondering if it would snow.

I am thinking we must be crazy to do this during mid-winter! Any advice from your experiences will be greatly appreciated. We plan on using campgrounds at the base in Jacksonville and then off to Patrick AFB. Thank you!
  • We head down each year a day of two after New Year's Day, from mid-Michigan. It seems like each year it snows the night before we leave, but since we never plan to go more than 200 miles in the first day we are not in a big rush. Hook up and put 4WD on and go slow and safe. We usually run out of the snow somewhere in Indiana, although one year we did not thaw out until Tennessee. We always plan to stay in hotel at least the first night out, but have a couple 2.5 gallon water bottles with us in the truck. Always worked for us.
  • This is our second trip to Florida during the week of Christmas. Last year Falling Waters State Park. This year St. Joeseh State Park. Like you, two years in a row when we made the reservation we had no idea on weather conditions in Indiana for this week. We had a contengency plan in the event so snow at home when planning to leave....trip canceled and just forefoot our reservation. So far Santa has been good with the weather. You just have to plan on a contengency.
  • I81 has motels and other services every exit if you hit weather you find a place to park or get a room. As you get further south in VA. the chance of snow or ice decreases, by the time you get to I77 you should have no worry. If you are going I77 into NC be aware just before the NC border you will come down Mt Airy it its very steep and very long they have ramps for runaway trucks go easy and save the brakes. Have a safe trip and enjoy the sunshine.
  • We go thru the same jitters every year as we leave on 12/28 and return early February. One time, on the way back, we had to stay at a campground an extra day to let a `front' pass from our path. Much better than being stranded on the highway.
  • Leave when no snow is called for a couple days. Take water food and some of the pink stuff to flush the toilet, until you get to warmer weather. Carry elect heaters for your stay at campgrounds, I dislike TV dinners, but eat them when traveling.
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    Wait until the next storm is forecasted to be two days away and the leave. Roads will be clear and you will. E ahead of the next.
  • Four years ago we left the Rochester area on the 5th of February. We didn't have any major plans or reservations. So we just watched the weather looking for a break. Due to all the storms that we moving up the coast that year, we headed more inland using I81, I77. I26, then finally I95.
    Even tho we had to dig out from under 18" of snow, we had none once we hit the road.
    We actually un-winterized while hooked up at the house, loaded we everything we needed and set the furnace at 50-55 to keep things from freezing. The first couple of days we traveled with the furnace on at that low setting.
    Now we leave in early October and don't return till May.
    Good Luck and just take it slow and easy if you hit bad weather.