Southern Pacific / Route 80 - General Advice and Recommendations

[Mark Sedenquist]

Climate Change makes responding in a responsible way a bit of a puzzle these days. The southern states have been ravaged by unusually cold weather this winter. Odds are it will only be worse next winter. It's really impossible at this stage to know how much, if any, ice storms will impact the area you're considering driving through in late November, early December 2015.

That being said, any day spent on a road trip trumps one spent at home!

Some of the attractions might be closed or less active during the time frame you're now considering, but the thing to remember is that the weather is USUALLY a lot nicer for roadtripping in the fall and winter months than in summer in the southern states.

For that reason, I'd say you should consider taking the trip when you can. But you have to know that climate change is affecting just about everything these days.

Mark

[Lifemagician]

Clay, I'd second the above. You might need to take a trip to Melbourne, and stock up on some winter woollies and / or thermals. Even in Florida this year, my daughter wore warmer clothes than usual.

Off season travel has many advantages which outweigh the disadvantages. The accommodation will be cheaper and as a rule won't need to be booked in advance. The exception would be if you are there over the Thanksgiving weekend. There won't be the summer crowds. Chances are you could see some autumn leafs, and, something which will be even more foreign to you than it was to me - trees without leafs. Not a sight I liked. [In OH and MD at the weekend I struck snow on the ground. Even though the roads were clear, getting into the truck stop and into Macca's carpark was through muddy slush. And it was COLD!]

Chances of running into a winter storm might be equivalent to running into a hurricane when visiting FL, etc., or getting hit by a tornado almost anywhere.

Go for it!

Lifey

[ClayBolck]

Thanks for your advice! I agree Mark - I'd rather be road tripping than sitting at home!

I've noticed that the changes in weather seem to be getting a little bit more unpredictable recently, though I can see winter seems to be starting later. Again this might be the year it decides to start early though!!!

Thanks Lifey - I might need to do so! I'm going to Melbourne in September anyway so it'll be a good opportunity to get all the post-winter sales! I lived in New York for a year a few years ago so I can deal with the cold, but have never had to drive on slushy/icy/snowy roads which is what I'm most concerned about.

You're also right about the cost factor - flights are ridiculously cheaper the time I'm looking at (around $1100 down from $2700!!!) and hopefully accommodation will be the same. Is Thanksgiving Weekend a 4-day long weekend there?

I think I'll proceed with the road trip route and just move it to November/December. I'll just have to come back for another Summer!

Thanks for your help!

[glc]

Yes, Thanksgiving is a 4 day Thursday through Sunday weekend.

Accommodations should be reasonable except in winter resort (skiing) areas.

The only portion of your trip that has a good chance of being snowy is around the Grand Canyon and (to a lesser extent) from there to Albuquerque. It's all due to elevation, you will be going over 8000 feet. The road crews in those areas are very experienced and competent.