Southwest PA to Santa Cruz, CA and back
Need opinions on what the latest date you would travel on a return trip from Santa Cruz. My preferred route would be I-80, obviously concerned about weather out west.
Forum Discussion
- Thanks brooks379!
- From Salinas...101N -156 E- I 5N- I 80E
To Barstow to I 40....I 5 south at Lost Hills 46 east to Oildale 99S to Bakersfield across Tehachapi Pass 58E into Barstow to I 40 E - Thanks for the replies. brooks379, what routes from Salinas to I-80, also what routes to Barstow?
- I drove a semi from CA to NYC and back for 35 years.. Any time from September on you could get winter weather. I always watch the weather and if they are calling for a lot of snow I would drop down to Barstow and pick up I40 I 44 I 70 then on to NYC. Don't just look at California (Donner) weather check NV, UT,WY too If they are calling for sunny weather I always left Salinas, CA and went across I80. Just because it is winter doesn't mean the roads will be bad. So it's not about how late in the year to run I 80 it's about 2 or 3 days weather forecast because any route across can get bad weather. A few years ago me and about 2000 other travelers spent the night in the middle of I 40 in Tucumcari, NM because of black ice and the road was....SHUT DOWN. Good luck.
- In general, I normally would not have any concerns going over Donner (I-80 between Sacramento and Reno) before mid November. After that, you never know. Technology has made winter travel much more doable with accurate weather forecasts and road cams that can let you see storm and road surface conditions. Cal Trans Road Cams - This Area
