What roads should I take? I took I-40 East all the way to Memphis, but on the way I saw chain areas and what not.
I will be driving back in January, worried about the snow and ice.
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What roads should I take? I took I-40 East all the way to Memphis, but on the way I saw chain areas and what not.
I will be driving back in January, worried about the snow and ice.
Traveling in January, especially this year, you are going to see snow as you make your way eastward.
I-40 will have snow and ice and so will parts of 1-10. There are no roads in the USA that will avoid snow and ice.
I misread the original post. So you are going westbound.
I would avoid I-40 -- especially this year, because of the possibility of record snowfall. I would go north on I-49 and then west on I-79 to Omaha and then go westward on I-80
keep an eye on weather conditions. If the roads are too icy -- find a motel and hunker down. Best to start driving after 11 am on those icier days to give the sun a chance to warm the road.
You could get some ground blizzards in Western Wyoming, along I-80, but the highway department will keep the roads open to the extent they can.
Mark
Interesting, why north? I would imagine going South would be better?
It is simply too early to give you any precise information about which roads to take in January of next year if weather is a major, or even minor, concern. The fact is that weather forecasts even a few days out are nothing more than educated guesses (WAGs). Both the I-40 and the I-80 route are going to require a minimum of four days to drive so you will have no reliable information on the weather on the western part of your trip when you set out. The lack of knowledge is exacerbated by the fact that you will be traveling west with little knowledge of what is brewing out in the Pacific that will be heading towards you.
So in the end you've really only got one option and that is to keep your options open. As Mark noted in his response to your initial question you'll need to keep your eye on the weather and be ready, able and willing to simply shelter in place if the weather turns against you. I don't know exactly what Mark's reasoning was to suggest I-80, but I can guess. Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California expect severe winter weather every year along I-80, and are equipped to deal with it. Not so much Texas, New Mexico and Arizona which are responsible for I-10 and I-40.
Again, just to emphasize... You should not make decisions on routing now - you simply don't have enough information. Even on the day you depart you will not know with any surety what the weather will be once you get even into the Mountain Time Zone, let alone the Pacific. Make your best call, based on the most reliable forecast (National Weather Service) available to you. But then be ready to change those plans even en route as conditions change. Perhaps most importantly, plan on the drive taking five days rather than four. Be pleasantly surprised rather than having to press on regardless.
AZBuck
Whats a good way to figure out if I can be on the road? Do I need to be looking at something specifically?
As with the weather, I can't answer that. You're looking for hard and fast answers to very nebulous questions with way too many parameters. The best advice I can give you is to get off the road as soon as (if not before) you become uncomfortable with conditions. For some that might be a few flakes, for others a full white-out. If YOU think it's becoming unsafe to drive then it IS unsafe to drive. Pull up at the nearest available opportunity. Note that in the sparsely populated Rockies and/or desert Southwest, that might require a U-turn and returning to the last sizeable town you passed.
AZBuick
Mark, I-79 doesn't go anywhere near Omaha, you maybe mean I-29?
I would not take I-80 across Wyoming. I personally would plan on I-40 and have a few extra days available to get off the road if necessary.
Safetravelusa.com has links to each state's real time road conditions.
I-40 requires chains right?Quote:
Originally Posted by glc
Because going south will expose you to more snow and more ice, if the weather predictions are accurate this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by kgonzal
January along I-80 will actually have less snow than either I-10 or I-40.
Mark
It has long been a fallacy that going south will avoid ice and snow. Sad to say, our most southern east-west interstates, both I-10 and I-8, see some ice and snow. But the road crews in those areas are not fully equipped to deal with those conditions, so it takes longer to get the equipment in to do so. Favorite family story has to do with getting snowed in at Van Horn, TX, in April!
The best protection you have to make is TIME. It's a 4 day drive, so allow 6 days "just in case". That gives you the time you need to wait it out or "go around".
Donna
If it's that bad to require chains, you have no business being out on the road anyway.
Before you think that chains are going to solve all, or even any, of the problems with driving on snow or ice, I highly recommend that you read this previous thread and the articles it links to.
AZBuck
Great info as always guys. Donna makes a great point on how even I-10 can be a problem because if they ever have a snow/ice event it takes longer for them to address it.
I am heading to Los Angeles from Chicago on January 15th. I am giving myself 5 days with a two night stopover in Las Vegas. I did this trip in January 2023 and the weather was very good. Dry every day with only a high wind warning in the Texas panhandle/eastern New Mexico. Saw some snow on the ground in Flagstaff but otherwise I-40 was clear. I hit the rains coming into the Cajon Pass near San Bernadino and the road was very foggy. I was a little nervous but people were driving responsibly.
I will do whatever it takes to get there safely (I drive a sedan with all-season tires) and fortunately I can extend my drive if needed. I have to admit being a severe weather geek, I almost don't mind a little excitement - but of course it's a nightmare to drive in. Having watched way too many pileup videos I try to avoid all interstates or US highways when there is bad winter weather. I do not have chains and don't plan on getting any for this trip. I will have a brand new set of tires put on before I leave and I just got a set of Bosch wipers. Since two of my hobbies are road maps and weather I am pretty aware of my situations on my trips. Fortunately any detour for weather reasons would still appeal to my sense of exploration and that I still love to make it up as I go.
I will have at least 1-2 "warmup" trips in December when I drive to Detroit/Windsor.
As a fellow weather geek, I am sure you can read weather maps. Here is the background for why I am recommending avoiding I-40 in January! Succinctly put, in January most of Arizona and southern California will be in the heaviest part of El Nino. This means heavy snow along I-40.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ram4
Whereas I-80 through Wyoming and Utah will not have as much snow--based on the current models. Yes, there will be wind and blowing snow. It would still be my top choice on routes.
Oh, and that is a great post about chains -- see above!
Mark
I may have to take side roads! It'll be an adventure and as long as I live through it, I will have some great stories if things go south. Since I am not on a strict schedule I have all the flexibility I could want. That being said, it may be interesting. I arrived last year during the tail end of the atmospheric river storms in California they had in December and early January.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist
The thing to remember in Winter, is that priority for plows, salt and crews goes to the Interstate Highways -- smaller roads are often the last to be plowed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ram4
Personally, I prefer unplowed, smaller roads with no truck traffic --but I have years of experience with travel on snow. And, I always know, that if I slide off the road--no one is coming to assist. It will be a self-rescue.
Our tips article about cold winter travel is still valid.
And a few more tips
Mark
Thanks for the tips.
I went to school in Champaign, IL so I am familiar with what you are talking about. I remember riding in a bus back to Chicago during whiteout conditions in February 1991 on I-57. There were cars in the ditch all over the place and they closed the southbound lanes but somehow the northbound lanes were allowed to stay open. I agree that an unplowed snowy side road might be better (where I can go slow and steady) but if I hit the ditch I am on my own. I doubt I would take the locals roads. Hunkering down at a truck stop, restaurant or hotel/motel is even better.
I plan on taking all of I40W with a van, curious if there is anyting that I should be worried about? In regards to el nino.
I-40 has its own issues, as does every interstate highway. Having traveled across on 40 a number of times over the years (and my former truck-driver husband drove it a lot more!!)...
* No matter what season it is, I-40 will have construction along it. Be prepared for some delays and thrilled if you don't have any.
* There will be wind on 40 across Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. It may or may not cause you any issues.
* You will be climbing in elevation in eastern New Mexico. Amarillo is at 3600', Tucumcari is at 4000', ABQ is at 5300', and Flagstaff is at 6800'. As you probably know, you will be colder at the upper elevations. Watch the forecasts for ABQ and Flagstaff before you leave. After Williams, AZ, you will descend in elevation, as Kingman is at 3300', and within miles you'll be down on the desert floor. This can mean another climate change.
*I-40 ends at I-15. You can drop south to CA-58 and use it to cross the Tehachapi Mountains to head for I-5 (or CA-99) north.
Donna
Exactly when are you doing this drive?Quote:
Originally Posted by kgonzal
I start this trip Feb 9Quote:
Originally Posted by glc
Flagstaff is expecting snow starting tomorrow (6th) through Saturday (10th). If you can delay the trip for a couple days it wouldn't hurt.
If he's leaving Memphis on Friday, he shouldn't get to Flagstaff until at least Sunday. I've experienced I-40 and I-17 in the show -- the crews are on top of things on the interstates and main roads.
That's my take -
Donna
I plan on stopping at Winslow right before Flagstaff on Saturday, and leave Sunday morning to get through Flagstaff...Quote:
Originally Posted by DonnaR57
Looks like Saturday is a no go for Flagstaff...
What alternate routes could I take?
Do you think I should continue through I40W on Saturday or should I go I80W? Having decision paralysis completely unsure what to doQuote:
Originally Posted by DonnaR57
I think you should delay the trip by a couple days and take I-40. It should be cleared up by then.
EDIT: There is another option - take I-40 to I-30 to I-20 to I-10 to I-5. I don't think I-80 is a good option.
How's your trip going on so far?Quote:
Originally Posted by kgonzal