Do I need an 4WD? Guidance for a winter road trip through NM, CO, UT, ID, WY. and MT

A friend and I will be taking a road trip from Texas through NM, CO, UT, and maybe ID, WY, MT beginning the 3rd week of March and ending a few weeks later. I fully understand that March and April are highly unpredictable weather wise and I fully understand there are significant mountain passes involved but we are in absolutely no hurry and have no very specific places in mind or specific dates where I need to be in any one place. Just a lovely winter road trip to places we've either never been or to places i've been to just not in the winter. Do I absolutely need a 4WD to enjoy ourselves and also be safe? We would check road conditions consistently and either not use the road that is in trouble, take another route, or simply stay put until things clear up. I am concerned mostly between obvious routes between say Santa Fe and the Taos area, Taos to Durango, Durango to perhaps Ouray, Durango to Arches/Moab UT, UT up through perhaps WY or ID or MT. However I am completely open to alternate routes to increase our odds of good road conditions or good weather. As an example perhaps TX, to NM, to NE AZ, up to UT and then a dip into CO and back out to head up into ID or WY. Dunno... just a thought.

Trying to rent a 4WD and be guaranteed of a 4WD seems thus far to be a nightmare. The rental car companies either can't guarantee that one will be available or they don't even have them. Ive spent hours of time online with the rental companies and also hours on the phone with the same and it just doesnt seem that it will be a lock to rent a 4WD despite the price. I am not feeling very confortable that they will be able to snure I get what I pay for. I've driven in winter conditions but by no means am I a veteran. I've made the trip to the Taos area without trouble on a beautiful day in a solid front wheel drive and also up to Estes Park from Ft. Collins using the same but the weather was perferct. I simply want to enjoy these places and a bunch of new ones during winter. Aside from safety I want no part of digging a car out of the snow each morning. My limited understanding is that a 4WD really only helps in the acceleration department and helping to get unstuck. Not so much help in the handling or breaking departement. Futher, even if I were to be able to find an AWD car or 4WD SUV chances are the tires would not be rated for snow or M&S which I understand is absolutley necessary to be compliant with the various states tire and traction law. I also have no experience with snow chains and would/need to avoid them if possible. Not that I woulnd tmind having them in the trunk, just dont want to have to break them out. I have had a few spine surgeries so digging cars out of snow or spending time on my knees in a storm to learn how to put on snow chains is a non starter. Someone suggested that I try to only stay at hotels, resorts, etc... that might have covered parking to avoid digging our the car/SUV if a snow storm were to hit the night before. Dunno... just a thought.

Am I crazy that this can be done and fun can be had with a new quality wide wheel base front wheel drive vehicle and a careful driver or is a 4WD truly necessary? To reemphasize our goal is one of sight seeing and to experiencing these lovely states and people in the winter. Have no desire to hit all or any ski areas or basins (but it migt be nice) or to make some dangerous trek through the rockies. I have done that in summer and I very much understand how dangerous it could be with a big storm.

We are not going to ski but would like to see some of the towns in those areas. We are not going off-road but also don't want to be digging the car/SUV out all the time. We simply want to enjoy the winter wonderland of America. I dont beleive I am the first person to want to take a road trip to these lovely states in the winter. Especially given that we are completely flexible and could wait out any storm, road closure, or take alternative routes.

Can't change dates. This is the only time I can go.

All tips, advice, or routes are appreciated and welcomed. I've never been farther north in a car than Ft. Collins so the idea of WY and MT sound good but I want to be safe.

Any alternate routes or guidance is very much appreciated by those who either live there or have done it themselves.

All the best,

Jim

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

The very simple answer is no, you don't need 4WD to enjoy a winter roadtrip. Certainly, there are some advantages of 4WD, but the idea that it is necessary to drive through winter conditions is largely a marketing myth. A front wheel drive car will get through bad weather quite well, and in fact, there have been times I've preferred driving a front wheel drive car with good tires in snow, compared to a AWD SUV with mediocre tires.

You are also correct that 4WD does nothing for braking. It can impact handling to a degree, but the traction control systems in most new cars these days is more important in that regards than actual 4WD.

The biggest element of concern is that you're going to be traveling in mountainous areas, so conditions can change quite quickly. You could see sunny conditions one minute, and drive 10 miles and find yourself in a snowstorm (that happened to me a couple times while traveling through Colorado last April.) It would also make sure you are staying on major highways (US or State Routes), so you don't accidently find yourself on a road that gets minimal treatment during a storm.

You mentioned digging your car out, if you do see a winter storm, I'm not sure it would be possible to avoid that. Outside of urban areas, I don't think you're going to find many hotels with covered parking, so that may be a bit of a problem, but there's no way to know how often it could come up. I also imagine you could find a way to solve that issue (find some kids and offer them some cash to dig you out?)

Beyond that, I think you're certainly in the right place to start off with this trip. If you're willing to stay alert to the conditions adapt your plans to the weather, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to enjoy a winter roadtrip in nearly any car.

Thank you for the sound advice. Especially the paying off some kids to dig our car out..:) I feel better knowing we can enjoy this without having to fret about a 4WD. Do you see any trouble with the pass between Santa Fe and the Taos area and then the pass between NM and CO, and also the road between say Chama NM and Durango? That is our optimal route but I've heard its sketchy even in the warmer months. Its also been recommended to me that I purchase a winter car emergency kit. That sounds like a very sensible idea should the worst happen. I will be doing that. Thanks again.

You could get on the phone with the rental companies again and see if they have any Subarus. A quick online search shows that Enterprise, National, and Dollar do have them. The question is where. All Subarus except for the BRZ are AWD.

Just an aside - I have a RWD F-150 and haven't had any real issues with it driving in the snow. If you do encounter bad weather, stick to the Interstates and major US highways as much as possible.