Michigan to California this December

Could be hairy both I 70 and I 80 were closed due to winter conditions in late April and early May this year when we were driving from California to Minnesota.

Since you're going to So Cal, I'd take 69 to Indianapolis. Pick up 70 to St Louis (you can spend the night in the Costco parking lot if you're a member). From there take 44 to Oklahoma City and then 40 to Barstow. From Barstow take 15 into the LA Basin. We've done this route from Battle Creek to Barstow about 5 times but never in winter.

Notice that all of these roads are interstates. If you do get a storm they'll be the roads to be cleared and maintained first.

I go from WI and take 40. Watch the weather and generally OK. If big storm coming and you prefer not to sit cut down to 10. I would not do northern route in Winter.

I have done it via the high road (I-80) and.. Well.. I left on Thanksgiving and stopped for the weekend in NE (Pender, Blue OX) continued on Monday or Tue and a blizzard chased us out of NE and across till we turned south (it was like half a day behind) went to bed one night with the weather report predicting 19 as the low, just one degree below my safe rating.. Woke up at minus six outside and all water lines froze solid, One fitting cracked.

I would recommend nothing north of I-40, go south as fast as possible and on your way back to MI, when it looks like freezing weather, blow out your water lines (Fresh) several times (opern all valves) pull the red wire on an Atwood Water heater or otherwise disable it, epically electric (Turn off breaker) and drain it, carry water in jugs inside motor home for washing, drinking and other use (Flushing) and dump tanks ASAP when in range of where you winter-park it.

Or, do what I do now.. Go south and stay their till spring.

Drop down to I20 which turns into I10 in Texas and go west on I10. This way you will avoid the worst winter weather.

I-10 is the best way to go at that time of year and you'll end up in southern California without having to cross mountains.

Goldencrazy wrote:
I go from WI and take 40. Watch the weather and generally OK. If big storm coming and you prefer not to sit cut down to 10. I would not do northern route in Winter.

x2

The nice thing about crossing the mountains in the winter (both the Rockies and the Sierras) is the weather does not sneak up on you. The snow comes from storm fronts that move in from the North Pacific or down from Canada. That means they can see them coming a week in advance and can usually predict how much snow they will drop. So just check the weather forecast before you trip and if it looks bad, then take the extra time and go South and come across that way. But there are mountains to cross down there too so watch the weather on them too.

I know others have driven their RV in the snow, I don't think I would do it on purpose. I'd go around or park and wait before snow driving, especially across mountain passes.

I'd go the I-20/I-10 southern route...weather is more predictable and it's an easy drive.....Dennis

I'd go the I-20/I-10 southern route...weather is more predictable and it's an easy drive..you may get some rain but no snow......Dennis