Winter drive from Connecticut to JBLM Seattle Washington

Good morning. I got orders for my new assignment at JBLM. I was authorized in my orders to drive 2 vehicles but given the condition we plan on shipping them and renting a 4wd instead. We have a 5 month old and we are concerned for our safety in the trip. Specifically, the road conditions to drive during 1st week of March. We have been In other forums and so far we get a 50/50 answer on driving vs taking the train. Some soldiers say the drive is doable as long as you drive careful, others say avoid it like the plague. The army only allows a max of 400 miles per day to drive. Obviously, we will drive more and sleep on hotels along the way. Any help would be most appreciated as we are nearing our report date and have to make a decision soon.

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

The good news is that thousands of people drive from coast to coast every day of the year, including in winter, and including across the northern tier of the country.

The other good news is that you are being given plenty of time, and in winter travel, time is more important than anything else. At 400 miles a day, you're being given 7 or 8 days for this drive? We recommend limiting yourself to 500-600 miles a day - which means you've got 2 or 3 extra days to work with, and 2 or 3 days where you can stop and wait out a storm if need be. That is more than enough in nearly all cases.

The bad news is that no one can tell you what the weather and road conditions might be 2 weeks from now. All you can do is keep an eye on the forecasts and stay flexible, both to avoid a storm if one is in the forecast and to pull off and wait if conditions do deteriorate.

I will say the generic advice many people will give of "go south" is actually pretty horrible advice as all it does is adds time to your travels, reduces the extra time you have if you need to wait out a storm, and provides very little protection from winter weather (as the current problems in Texas should be a good reminder of). Going south also means places that are less ready to deal with snow if they get it, and often can get ice storms instead of snowstorms, and I'll take driving in snow over ice any day of the week. The general routes you should be looking at for this trip are either ones based on I-80 and I-90 - with the more northern I-90 actually often being preferred across the Rockies, due to easier travel through Montana vs. the High Plains of Wyoming.

I will also say that I would not necessarily recommend renting a 4WD vehicle, especially if you aren't already comfortable driving in snow. When traveling in winter weather on the interstates, the most important thing is the ability to stop - and 4WD does nothing to help you in that regard. Instead, it often gives people a false sense of confidence which can lead to crashes. 4WD is very helpful if you're in a spot that's just got several new inches of snow, and the plows haven't been out on the road yet - but when talking about long distance travel, the better answer is to simply stay put until the plows have gone through, especially since the Interstates are usually the first roads to be cleared during and after a storm.

I can make a suggestion for a route to take. This route avoids the majority of tolls and large metro areas, and keeps you away from possible lake effect snow. It's also 100% Interstate highway which will have the best maintenance in bad weather. It's about 200 miles longer than the shortest route. It's approximately 3150 miles from Hartford to Seattle via this route.

Take I-84 out of CT to Scranton PA.
Take I-81 to I-80 to Youngstown OH.
Take I-76 through Akron to I-71 to Columbus OH.
Use the I-270 bypass around the NW side to I-70 to Indianapolis.
Take the I-465 bypass around the S side to I-74 to Peoria IL.
Take the I-474 bypass around Peoria back to I-74 to I-80 to just east of Omaha.
Take I-880 to I-29 to Sioux Falls SD.
Take I-90 to Seattle.

If the weather is decent, this can be done in 6 days.

Thank you so much for your information. I am now more confused than ever and overly concerned on which route to take. Someone suggested this, " Personally, I would plan on driving via St Louis - KC - Denver- Salt Lake City. Getting across Kansas/Nebraska was my biggest concern due to the potential for bad winds, snow and ice. Once you get to Denver, you can check the weather and go via 70 or 80. When you get to Boise, you can choose from going via 84-I5 or north and across the mountains on 90."

To which someone else replied, "I do NOT recommend doing 1-90 in Idaho, if you can stay south do it. I tried doing this pass last year to get back to MN for a funeral, after two days stranded my sister and I caught a flight out of Spokane. Perhaps I’m just a baby about driving THOSE mountains in winter... but they’re scary!!"

I'm not sure what to do now...

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Thank you so much I will definitely take this route into consideration. We are posting this question in another forum only to cross refence Information. This was a comment we got, "So we had weather when we were driving when we got to Montana and we ended up driving faster than the storm to get through. We never had an issue getting hotels covered and we’d book them the day of. We also stayed flexible. If weather or something was getting bad we could change plans. Honestly a lot of the highways in Montana are protected by mountains so driving wasn’t too bad. If you’re going across the Great Plains you’ll be way more exposes"

I-90 is almost always an easier drive across the Great Plains and Rockies than either I-80 or I-70. That's why I suggested you head north on I-29 to get to I-90.

I would be VERY hesitant to use anecdotal stories (e.g.: "I tried doing this pass last year...Perhaps I’m just a baby about driving THOSE mountains in winter... but they’re scary.") That's one person's experience on one particular road on one particular day in one particular year. It is no basis for making a decision for your own trip. Period.

You've already gotten the best advice anyone will ever be able to give you for a trip such as the one you'll be making. Namely - Take the shortest all-Interstate route you can. Interstates are kept open when other roads are closed. They are, after all, officially designated The Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways. The time you save by using such a route then allows you to simply sit out any inclement weather in a warm and dry room while the road crews do their job.

AZBuck

The panic about Lookout Pass doesn't take into account that the I-90 route is on average lower than I-80 and just has Lookout Pass and 4th July Summit which are pretty short pitches up and down where you get the elevation gain and loss over with rather quickly.

I do Colorado to Seattle every Christmas (except for Covid) and greatly prefer the I-90 route to I-80 for the above reason. Another reason is that the I-80/I-84 route goes thru the Blue Mountains in Oregon. Oregon has a 65 mph speed limit and the Blues are pretty big repeating roller coasters of trouble in slick conditions.

Thank you.

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Originally Posted by AZBuck

I would be VERY hesitant to use anecdotal stories (e.g.: "I tried doing this pass last year...Perhaps I’m just a baby about driving THOSE mountains in winter... but they’re scary.") That's one person's experience on one particular road on one particular day in one particular year. It is no basis for making a decision for your own trip. Period.

You've already gotten the best advice anyone will ever be able to give you for a trip such as the one you'll be making. Namely - Take the shortest all-Interstate route you can. Interstates are kept open when other roads are closed. They are, after all, officially designated The Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways. The time you save by using such a route then allows you to simply sit out any inclement weather in a warm and dry room while the road crews do their job.

AZBuck

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You make a solid point regarding the interstate usage and using one user's experience as the sole basis from which to base this trip in. Is all too easy to be confounded with unique stories and deem them convention. Thank you for your insight. Did you mean the route GLC suggested? If yes time to break out the paper map and plan accordingly because im not so good with technology i.e, Google maps, so I can reroute using the suggested routes provided by GLC.

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Originally Posted by noFanofCB

The panic about Lookout Pass doesn't take into account that the I-90 route is on average lower than I-80 and just has Lookout Pass and 4th July Summit which are pretty short pitches up and down where you get the elevation gain and loss over with rather quickly.

I do Colorado to Seattle every Christmas (except for Covid) and greatly prefer the I-90 route to I-80 for the above reason. Another reason is that the I-80/I-84 route goes thru the Blue Mountains in Oregon. Oregon has a 65 mph speed limit and the Blues are pretty big repeating roller coasters of trouble in slick conditions.

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So far the concensus seems to be i90. I think the route suggested to use all interstates is spot on. This feed has been a trove full of insight and excellent knowledge. Thank you.

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Originally Posted by Midwest Michael

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

The good news is that thousands of people drive from coast to coast every day of the year, including in winter, and including across the northern tier of the country.

The other good news is that you are being given plenty of time, and in winter travel, time is more important than anything else. At 400 miles a day, you're being given 7 or 8 days for this drive? We recommend limiting yourself to 500-600 miles a day - which means you've got 2 or 3 extra days to work with, and 2 or 3 days where you can stop and wait out a storm if need be. That is more than enough in nearly all cases.

The bad news is that no one can tell you what the weather and road conditions might be 2 weeks from now. All you can do is keep an eye on the forecasts and stay flexible, both to avoid a storm if one is in the forecast and to pull off and wait if conditions do deteriorate.

I will say the generic advice many people will give of "go south" is actually pretty horrible advice as all it does is adds time to your travels, reduces the extra time you have if you need to wait out a storm, and provides very little protection from winter weather (as the current problems in Texas should be a good reminder of). Going south also means places that are less ready to deal with snow if they get it, and often can get ice storms instead of snowstorms, and I'll take driving in snow over ice any day of the week. The general routes you should be looking at for this trip are either ones based on I-80 and I-90 - with the more northern I-90 actually often being preferred across the Rockies, due to easier travel through Montana vs. the High Plains of Wyoming.

I will also say that I would not necessarily recommend renting a 4WD vehicle, especially if you aren't already comfortable driving in snow. When traveling in winter weather on the interstates, the most important thing is the ability to stop - and 4WD does nothing to help you in that regard. Instead, it often gives people a false sense of confidence which can lead to crashes. 4WD is very helpful if you're in a spot that's just got several new inches of snow, and the plows haven't been out on the road yet - but when talking about long distance travel, the better answer is to simply stay put until the plows have gone through, especially since the Interstates are usually the first roads to be cleared during and after a storm.

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Thank you so much. Up until this point I underestimated the power of knowing how to stop vs relying on 4WD or AWD as a feature of enhanced protection. My admiration for the pros on the road doing this daily is now ever more evident. I never drove across the states, not at least to such great lengths so I was and still am very concerned, especially for the safety of my family. But, thanks to everyone's insight I feel slightly more confident knowing the drive is doable and it could be done safely. Thanks again sir.

Although you are not so good with technology, I highly recommend that you download the free app called iExit. I’ve found it to be very helpful even on short trips.

You select your state, highway and direction. You can then scroll through a list of every exit, including rest areas. I find THAT very helpful.

Select an exit and you will see a sorted list of gas stations, hotels, restaurants, hospitals and other places of interest. Sometimes a special hotel rate will appear. I believe this app is sponsored by one of the free travel booklets you get at the rest areas.

I also find it helpful to have a travel app such as WAZE. They can sometimes reroute you around accidents, construction etc. If not, they can at least show you how far ahead the congestion continues. KNOWING you have a three mile backup is much less trying on the nerves than NOT knowing! Also, pack an “emergency” snack box to be opened only during such delays. Some snacks, a bottle of water and maybe a tuna lunch kit will make such delays much more bearable.

And whatever you drive, make sure you have a good set of all weather tires.

Have a safe trip.

Let's just run down the two best all-Interstate options you have. BTW, I used Groton as your starting point.

1) Shortest: I-95 to Rye NY, I-287 around NYC, I-80 through PA and OH where it merges with I-90, and I-90 the rest of the way. You can, of course use options like staying on I-80 just past Chicago and then I-39 north to rejoin I-90. That route is roughly 2,960 mi. (city center to city center).

2) glc's route: As listed I-84/I-81/I-80/I-76/I-71/I-70/I-74/I-80/I-29/I-90 (with bypasses). That comes in at 3,100 mi., but saves a lot on tolls, certainly more than you'd spend on gas for the extra 150 mi. or so, and while CT-9 from Groton to Hartford is technically not an Interstate, it is of Interstate quality.

If you're starting from New Haven (DLA) or Waterbury (ACE) you'll have to make slight adjustments to your initial route, but the object is to get around NYC as easily as possible and then onto I-80 ASAP. The basics of the main portion would still be the same. Given a choice, I'd probably go with glc's route which is only a bit longer and does avoid some major cities and the attendant tolls.

Oh, and BTW, there are very nice 'rest areas' all along whatever route you choose.

AZBuck

If you are in fact from Groton, avoid Hartford by taking CT-9 to Middletown, then CT-66 to I-691 to I-84 if you are taking my route.

Even though this is a road tripping forum, I also ride the rails when it makes sense. If the Army is willing, I would explore options for a family type room on Amtrak from Hartford to Seattle. All meals are included (at least on the D.C. to Chicago and Chicago to Seattle legs) and would likely be delivered to your room. So ma ny things would be simplified.

Thank you. Never heard of that app but it sounds like a very useful tool for the tool box. Is amazing how far we have come with technology...I could only imagine the arduous task of having to map and trace your interstate trip using hardcopy maps. Although coming to think of it is a skill that if mastered could be a life saver. Love the tuna suggestion 😋

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Originally Posted by AZBuck

Let's just run down the two best all-Interstate options you have. BTW, I used Groton as your starting point.

1) Shortest: I-95 to Rye NY, I-287 around NYC, I-80 through PA and OH where it merges with I-90, and I-90 the rest of the way. You can, of course use options like staying on I-80 just past Chicago and then I-39 north to rejoin I-90. That route is roughly 2,960 mi. (city center to city center).

2) glc's route: As listed I-84/I-81/I-80/I-76/I-71/I-70/I-74/I-80/I-29/I-90 (with bypasses). That comes in at 3,100 mi., but saves a lot on tolls, certainly more than you'd spend on gas for the extra 150 mi. or so, and while CT-9 from Groton to Hartford is technically not an Interstate, it is of Interstate quality.

If you're starting from New Haven (DLA) or Waterbury (ACE) you'll have to make slight adjustments to your initial route, but the object is to get around NYC as easily as possible and then onto I-80 ASAP. The basics of the main portion would still be the same. Given a choice, I'd probably go with glc's route which is only a bit longer and does avoid some major cities and the attendant tolls.

Oh, and BTW, there are very nice 'rest areas' all along whatever route you choose.

AZBuck

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Thank you for that detailed explanation. I cannot thank you enough. This has got to be the most help I've ever had in my life. I'm thankful for there are still people who not only take their passion for the road seriously but are also very supportive in sharing it with others. 🙏🏽

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Originally Posted by landmariner

Even though this is a road tripping forum, I also ride the rails when it makes sense. If the Army is willing, I would explore options for a family type room on Amtrak from Hartford to Seattle. All meals are included (at least on the D.C. to Chicago and Chicago to Seattle legs) and would likely be delivered to your room. So ma ny things would be simplified.

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I have to say this made me chuckle and actually laugh out loud. One advantage of your suggestion is that you don't have to be a low key ferroequinologist to cross our country, just hop on and off you go. If it were just my wife and I we would definitely take this drive whether ( no pun intended) it'd be in winter, spring, summer or fall... heck now with all this Information I'm curious and excited to drive it one day. But, given the fact that we have a baby something tells me is just easier to pay a little more and focus on making sure everyone is stress free, at least from driving in the winter through these otherwise beautiful roads. Thanks for your Input.

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Originally Posted by Hceballos

Thank you. Never heard of that app but it sounds like a very useful tool for the tool box. Is amazing how far we have come with technology...I could only imagine the arduous task of having to map and trace your interstate trip using hardcopy maps. Although coming to think of it is a skill that if mastered could be a life saver. Love the tuna suggestion ��

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Kids these days....... Rand McNally Road Atlas and hard copy maps are still my favorite.
And they always work, regardless of cell service.

The hilighter that I applied to the pages of my paper maps tracing my cross-country motorcycle trip in 1983 (post-Navy service celebration trip) is still legible. Try THAT with your fancy computer files......

I am also one to prefer paper maps and guides. Technology is only as good as its weakest link. Too many times, a GPS will lead you down the wrong path. You DO have to use common sense when deciding to rely on a GPS. A paper map, paired with some common sense and road signs, should lead you on.

As far as iExit, etc., I prefer a book called "The Next Exit". It gives the same information, probably more detailed than the electronic version, and I can look ahead a whole lot easier than on my phone.

The only apps I really, really like when we travel, are TripAdvisor, and GasBuddy. The latter helps me find out what the gas/fuel prices are in various places, so we can plan fuel stops to take advantage of "better deals". Still, we've been known to see a sign at an exit and immediately get off, though we hadn't planned on fuel there, if the price was better. TripAdvisor is good for both lodging reviews/prices, and food reviews/prices. For reviews - if one person had a bad experience and the rest of the reviews were good, we go.


Donna

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Originally Posted by DonnaR57

The only apps I really, really like when we travel, are TripAdvisor, and GasBuddy. The latter helps me find out what the gas/fuel prices are in various places, so we can plan fuel stops to take advantage of "better deals". Still, we've been known to see a sign at an exit and immediately get off, though we hadn't planned on fuel there, if the price was better. TripAdvisor is good for both lodging reviews/prices, and food reviews/prices. For reviews - if one person had a bad experience and the rest of the reviews were good, we go.


Donna

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One other app I use from time to time is Opentable to make restaurant reservations, primarily to make sure I have a place to eat when I get to a stopping place.

Selection is limited and tends toward high-end places, but not always. As a test, I just checked dinner in Fargo, ND at 7pm today; it came up with a few openings, including 5 or 6 in Fargo and some more in the surrounding area.

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Originally Posted by noFanofCB

Kids these days....... Rand McNally Road Atlas and hard copy maps are still my favorite.
And they always work, regardless of cell service.

The hilighter that I applied to the pages of my paper maps tracing my cross-country motorcycle trip in 1983 (post-Navy service celebration trip) is still legible. Try THAT with your fancy computer files......

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Love it. I agree technology however advance it is, but it has somehow made more ignorant. I will look into a hardcopy map. Thank you.

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Originally Posted by CalOldBlue

One other app I use from time to time is Opentable to make restaurant reservations, primarily to make sure I have a place to eat when I get to a stopping place.

Selection is limited and tends toward high-end places, but not always. As a test, I just checked dinner in Fargo, ND at 7pm today; it came up with a few openings, including 5 or 6 in Fargo and some more in the surrounding area.

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Thank you. That is a great suggestion, with covid and reduced limited seating it will be a shame to be turned away due to no reservations. Thanks

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Originally Posted by travelingman

Although you are not so good with technology, I highly recommend that you download the free app called iExit. I’ve found it to be very helpful even on short trips.

You select your state, highway and direction. You can then scroll through a list of every exit, including rest areas. I find THAT very helpful.

Select an exit and you will see a sorted list of gas stations, hotels, restaurants, hospitals and other places of interest. Sometimes a special hotel rate will appear. I believe this app is sponsored by one of the free travel booklets you get at the rest areas.

I also find it helpful to have a travel app such as WAZE. They can sometimes reroute you around accidents, construction etc. If not, they can at least show you how far ahead the congestion continues. KNOWING you have a three mile backup is much less trying on the nerves than NOT knowing! Also, pack an “emergency” snack box to be opened only during such delays. Some snacks, a bottle of water and maybe a tuna lunch kit will make such delays much more bearable.

And whatever you drive, make sure you have a good set of all weather tires.

Have a safe trip.

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Thank you very much 😊 we have a little pantry on our car just in case. I will be video taping our trip and share it in case anyone wants to see it. Thanks again.

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Originally Posted by CalOldBlue

One other app I use from time to time is Opentable to make restaurant reservations, primarily to make sure I have a place to eat when I get to a stopping place.

Selection is limited and tends toward high-end places, but not always. As a test, I just checked dinner in Fargo, ND at 7pm today; it came up with a few openings, including 5 or 6 in Fargo and some more in the surrounding area.

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Originally Posted by Hceballos

Thank you. That is a great suggestion, with covid and reduced limited seating it will be a shame to be turned away due to no reservations. Thanks

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You may find that there are other places not showing up on these type of services, as some places stopped doing reservations with the more limited capacities available, as that way they weren't holding a spot for someone who didn't show up while turning away people who were there due to what looked like lack of space.