Central Fl to Seattle area

[acker1]

Leaving Fl the last week of Apr and need to be in Seattle area by last week of May. MS S&T 2013 shows northern Rt and I am concerned about weather problems during that time range. Allowing a month just in case.

From MS S&T 2013:





And from Garmin Base Camp: Base Camp is frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Thanks
DICK

[fanrgs]

Ivylog wrote:
From UT depending on the weather I would go to Grand Lake CO for RMNP and then to Jackson Hole/Tetons. By then the south entrance into Yellowstone should be open. Yes, it adds 1000 miles to your trip but I can always go back to these areas.

Probably not a great route for the OP in May, since Trail Ridge Road in RMNP never opens before Memorial Day due to the 20-30' snow drifts over the road until the plows finally clear it.

[dedmiston]

Our kids went to college in Wyoming and they got snow every year during finals week in May. We got snowed in and the highways were closed for graduation. It's predictably unpredictable up there that time of year.

[paulj]

The default routing option is fastest, or maybe shortest. Nothing about best weather or 'best' as another RVer would choose.

The slightly curved line looks like shortest as a plane flies.

[acker1]

Thanks for the replies!!

Any ideas why Garmin did the route that way?

Thanks
DICK

[Fizz]

I would head west on the 20 or 40 then turn north once I got over the mountains. The mid west is never a sure thing weather wise in Spring.

We use to go the opposite way, from Arizona to Ottawa. Go east all the way to Atlanta then turn north. Spring weather is always tricky.

P.S.

South of I-40 all campgrounds are open year round.

[agesilaus]

ppine wrote:
There can be snow in the Rockies but by May 1 it does not last long. The passes are the main concern. Watch the weather and you will be fine. The worst that happens is you might have to wait a day.

Just checked the spring long range forecast and Accuweather and Intellecast both have snow thru MT down into WY and CO and across into the Dakotas. How accurate this will be won't be known until summer of course. I saw another one that was calling for deliteful warm weather in the same area. So YMMV. Did not check the official weather bureua since that calls for global warming no matter what.

[Tom_Barb]

Should be a nice trip, weather sure won't be too hot, but winds on the flat lands might a bother.

Don't forget to check back and let us know how it went.

[ppine]

There can be snow in the Rockies but by May 1 it does not last long. The passes are the main concern. Watch the weather and you will be fine. The worst that happens is you might have to wait a day.

[Ivylog]

Since you have a month to get there and Paulj, I'm pretty sure he's concerned about snow that early. I would suggest heading to Utah and seeing that area at the best time...before it gets HOT. You could include the Grand Canyon...maybe even the N Rim which I prefer.

From UT depending on the weather I would go to Grand Lake CO for RMNP and then to Jackson Hole/Tetons. By then the south entrance into Yellowstone should be open. Yes, it adds 1000 miles to your trip but I can always go back to these areas.

If a thousand extra is an issue then I'd take I-70 past Grand Junction and then I-15 and I-84 which adds 200 extra miles.

[agesilaus]

The main difference that we make in that route is to go a little further north and cross the Mississippi at Iowa rather than go thru St Louis, which we avoid at all costs.

[paulj]

Most of the route(s) is freeway, and the logical shortest/fastest.

One exception is US212 from South Dakota to Montana. That cuts a corner that I90 takes. That choice has come up often on this board. 212 is a little faster, by about an hour, but more remote. If you are at all uncomfortable taking it, stick with I90. There's nothing wrong with that choice. Sights in this area include Black Hills and Devils Tower.

Google Maps gives several alternatives, and lets you tweak the routes. This route and an alternative using I80/84/82 have about the same distance and time.

With a month, the direct fastest time isn't important.

I don't think driving weather will be problem, at least not with snow. Storms across the Plains might add some excitement. Campgrounds, though, might not be open. You'll have to check around. Opening dates for Yellowstone give you an idea of what's available above 7000 ft.

Switching to I40 across NM and AZ, and then north through Nevada or eastern CA only adds 500 miles. There might be more open camping that way.

Think of this route as a rubberband between the two corners of the country. You can stretch it quite bit either side of the direct route (the third map) without it breaking.

[stickdog]

Just use google maps it will give you several options. Driving across the great plains gets boring after a few trips but it does give respect to our pioneer forefathers toughness.

[Tom_Barb]

I-90 route you may hit a snow storm early in the year, but it will not hold you up more than a day. I-90 is by far the lowest route. and least likely to get snow this time of year.

Just stay out of California. It's 55 or pay big fines

[paulj]

What weather problems are you worried about? Hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards?