Houston TX to Portland OR

[Ing]

Hi all, I'm looking for inputs
I am planning to drive a 2015 Mazda 5 from Houston TX to Portland OR sometime around mid January, 2019.
I don't have a lot of road trip experience, except once from TX to CA back in Dec 2013 and with a lot of people back then, but most of the time I enjoy driving. I'd rather drive shortest and fastest route if possible, don't plan to make stops, probably just sleep in some rest area when tired.
But I heard that driving in Oregon highways in January can be tricky cos some highways are at high elevation and might have ice/snow, and having lived in TX obviously my car is not equipped with winter gear or something like that.
For those with experience, do you think it's something feasible to do? What's the odds that I get stranded in the middle of nowhere and buried in snow or something like that?
I'm trying to save money (considering to spend about $300-500 in gas) cos if I fly + ship the car (plan to put my stuff in the car too, about 1 trunk worth) that will cost >$1K.
I'd appreciate any suggestion. Thank you in advanced!!

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

Cutting to the chase, you're worried about all the wrong thing.

Of course it's feasible to drive from Houston to Portland, even in winter, but not with the approach you've laid out.

It's 2300 miles on the shortest route - doing that without stops and/or just taking a nap at rest area is in a word, homicidal. A trip of this distance requires a bare minimum of 4 full days on the road, and that's in good conditions. If you see snow or ice - something that's relatively likely on a trip of this size in January - then it's you'd need to factor even more time. "Winter gear" isn't nearly as important as experience when driving in winter conditions, and as you've stated, you don't have any experience, so that adds to the challenges and the need for extra time.

If you attempt to make this drive without proper rest, then the odds of you getting into a crash or going off the road and getting stranded in the middle of nowhere or in a snowbank are really quite high. Getting proper rest while sitting inside a car, that's essentially provides no insulation, when the temperatures are well below freezing is virtually impossible. In other words, doing this to "save money" is pennywise and pound foolish.

Driving yourself will probably be less expensive, and if you enjoy driving as you say, it could really be a worthwhile and enjoyable trip. But from the start, you need to have at least 5 days available (factoring at least 1 extra day for possible weather delays), and money in your budget to find actual places to sleep at night, so you can be rested enough to continue safely operating a 2 ton machine at 70+ mph. If you can't afford that, then the $1k to ship your car and fly there is really your only option.

[Southwest Dave]

Totally agree with the above. You would be putting yourself and everyone you share the road with in serious danger by trying to do this trip with just taking naps in rest areas. Either stay in cheap Motels and expect to for at least 3 nights or ship and fly, they are the 2 sensible options, your first is a non-starter. Whatever your reasons you really don't want to be 'playing' with the lives of others, including children. Think hard and stay safe.

[Ing]

Got it, thanks a lot for the input! Okay then I'll give up the idea of driving solo in winter. A friend suggest to fly back sometime in spring or summer to pick up the car and plan a proper road trip with some friends, an option we'll consider too. Thank y'all!

[glc]

Driving solo in the winter is no problem, you just have to get a hotel room each night and don't drive over 600 miles or 12 hours a day.

This applies to any road trip at any time of the year with any number of people!

[Southwest Dave]

A friend suggest to fly back sometime in spring or summer to pick up the car and plan a proper road trip with some friends, an option we'll consider too. Thank y'all!

Now that could be a lot of fun ! There are so many possibilities between the two locations, that with the right amount of time, you could make it an awesome trip to remember for all the right reasons ! Don't forget to drop by if you want some help with the planning.

[Midwest Michael]

As GLC stated, at no point did anyone say that driving solo in winter was the problem.

The problem was your idea that you could drive nearly 2400 miles, stopping only for a brief nap or two at rest areas, when the temperatures are subzero was the problem.

Adding friends doesn't change the need to still get proper rest to safely complete this trip.

[Ing]

Now that could be a lot of fun ! There are so many possibilities between the two locations, that with the right amount of time, you could make it an awesome trip to remember for all the right reasons ! Don't forget to drop by if you want some help with the planning.

That would be awesome, thanks! We can probably do between 5-7 days at most. And we've never been to any of those states in between TX and OR. Any suggestions?

[Ing]

Well I thought with more people at least we can exchange drivers so it won't be as tiring, and in spring or summer then there's no subzero problem, not sure about weather delays.
For this January trip I do have time constraints, hence gotta drop the idea of driving.
My neighbor did drive from Seattle to LA with rest area stops only, several times per year, not sure how he deals with the subzero problem, probably it was not in cold winter, and I know it's shorter distance too.

[Lifemagician]

Well I thought with more people at least we can exchange drivers so it won't be as tiring, and in spring or summer then there's no subzero problem, not sure about weather delays.
For this January trip I do have time constraints, hence gotta drop the idea of driving.
My neighbor did drive from Seattle to LA with rest area stops only, several times per year, not sure how he deals with the subzero problem, probably it was not in cold winter, and I know it's shorter distance too.

Maybe he should take a ticket in Lotto - what he did is extremely dangerous, and many have not fared as well as he did. There is no shortage of stories of those who were hurt or murdered at rest areas. Besides in the majority of States it is illegal. Rest areas are the most dangerous places to spend a night, unless they have active security onsite.

I would not risk it.

Lifey