Xmas week Los Angeles to Baltimore, I-40 and I-81?

[Gill]

GLC
Yep~ just did what you suggested.
Already committed to Flagstaff, in case quickie visit to Grand Canyon can be squeezed in :)
Dec 25th - Day # 2 weather permitting will reach Amarillo about 600 miles.
Dec 26th - Day # 3 hopefully reach Little Rock AK, just under 600 miles.
Dec 27th - Day # 4 reach Knoxville TN about 530 miles.
Dec 28th - Day # 5 home stretch just over 500 miles to Baltimore MD

Probably best to play it by ear, and stop when I think I have had enough driving for the day, factoring in the winter weather, get the gas tank full and find a motel close to the Interstate exit. My Garmin GPS is pretty good at locating motels using the points of interest feature.

[glc]

If you want to go to the Grand Canyon, why not add an extra day to your trip and head up there on Christmas day? Then you can spend that night in Flagstaff or farther down the road (Winslow, Holbrook, Gallup) and adjust everything else accordingly.

[Gill]

If you want to go to the Grand Canyon, why not add an extra day to your trip and head up there on Christmas day? Then you can spend that night in Flagstaff or farther down the road (Winslow, Holbrook, Gallup) and adjust everything else accordingly.

Exactly what I was thinking! However if the weather does not cooperate, will forgo Grand Cyn, and keep chugging along. In fact in case the delays and risks seem too bad, I might switch to the I-10 thru Phoenix and on and eventually go north, seems longer though.
First choice is still I-40.
Lets see what happens weather wise in the days before I start.

[glc]

If you find that you need to take I-10, you can do one of 2 things:

1. At Deming NM, take NM-26 to Hatch and pick up I-25 to ABQ.

2. Take I-10 into TX, then I-20 to DFW, I-30 to Little Rock. That's last resort.

[Gill]

If you find that you need to take I-10, you can do one of 2 things:

1. At Deming NM, take NM-26 to Hatch and pick up I-25 to ABQ.

2. Take I-10 into TX, then I-20 to DFW, I-30 to Little Rock. That's last resort.

Thank you for the suggestions, those are totally unknown names / areas, even Albuquerque and Little Rock are only names on a map for me ! There is a first time for everything.
Have not yet given much thought to I-10 option, and hopefully this circuitous route will not be needed.
In the event the weather conditions are somewhat unfavorable, I was speculating I could simply go slow and do only 350 -400 miles during the day, that way I would at least be making headway along I-40. Extra nights along the way are not a significant issue. In all likelihood, weather will be motorable most of the route (I hope! )
Will map out "last resort" option via I-10 through NM or TX , and monitor the forecasts right up to start time.
Since this is a move of residence not just a trip, there are all the other winding up matters to deal with along with the actual drive, I will be relieved to relax at the destination!
This website and all you generous guys are an incredibly valuable resource.

[Gill]

REROUTE : I-10~ I-20 ~ I-30 ~ I-40 ~ I-81

Hello again folks
We are trying to decide whether it may be safer even speedier, to take the Southern route I-10-20-30 with its desirably uneventful weather past Phoenix - Tucson all the way through Dallas TX then Little Rock AK, then I-40 to Memphis-Nashville-Knoxville and take I-81 thru Roanoke VA to Baltimore.
What can we reasonably expect on the trip (departing at dawn Dec 24), in terms of terrain, weather, possible sights close to highway, good places to break for the night, and food-wise?
In Dallas we will stay with family for the night all other stops should be inexpensive places with free internet and food within walking distance.
Suggestions and advice greatly appreciated :)

[Midwest Michael]

We are trying to decide whether it may be safer even speedier, to take the Southern route I-10-20-30 with its desirably uneventful weather past Phoenix - Tucson all the way through Dallas TX

If that route had "uneventful weather past Tucson" you might be onto something, but the idea that you'll certainly see uneventful weather is simply not true.

I-10 regularly sees snow across Eastern Arizona and New Mexico, as it goes up to about 4,000 feet in elevation. Continuing into Texas, I-10 and I-20 both can see ice storms, and when those areas do get bad weather, you don't want to be on those roads! I'll take a Nebraska snowstorm over a Texas Ice Storm any day of the week. My last trip to Dallas was a couple years ago, in early December. The city basically shut down because it saw a little bit of ice.

Again, not to say that is what you'll see over your specific time of travel, but unless you're traveling through Mexico, you simply can't go far enough south to avoid the risk of snow and ice.

In this case, going that route "only" adds 100 miles, so if you want to go that way, it won't dramatically change your travel time and it certainly is a route you can use - just don't make the assumption that you'll automatically see good weather.

I will note that if you are planning to stop in Dallas, that means you are locked into a 6 day (minimum/assuming good conditions) trip. Dallas is at nearly the halfway point, but its too far from LA or Baltimore to drive to either city in 2 days. This route is at the upper edge of what you could do in 5 days, but you'd need to get farther than Dallas on day 3 to make it work.

[Gill]

Michael
thanks for your words.
I am trying to make this trip as easy as possible for us. Considering that my only former experiences have been speedy car jaunts from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento etc all of which were just a few hours from L A.
Added factors are an unfamiliar 16 foot moving truck loaded with small furniture and boxed stuff, and winter driving conditions.
Night 3 at Dallas will be fine by our relaxed target of about 500 or so miles per day. Arriving at Destination by day 6 or even day 7.

[Southwest Dave]

We are trying to decide whether it may be safer even speedier, to take the Southern route I-10-20-30 with its desirably uneventful weather past Phoenix - Tucson all the way

My advice would be simply to wait and see and then make an informed decision with up to date weather forecasts and road conditions just prior to leaving. You can find useful links in this thread.

[glc]

If you take I-10/I-20, plan your overnights carefully. Your first overnight should be in the Tucson area - if you go farther, there's not much selection between there and New Mexico. In Texas, I-10/I-20 is known for being very desolate with very few places to stop. I show the 2nd night should be between Van Horn and Pecos - where there is absolutely nothing.