driving from nashville to seattle w/22 foot penske towing a car...

[nishira]

Anytime you're on the road, different variables will pop up that will waylay the best laid plans. Add to that, you're traveling in the winter and you're towing.

I think your best plan is to check the weather each evening /morning, plan your route accordingly, stop when the urge/need strikes you, and stay at convenient hotels along the way. There are many and you really shouldn't have any problems finding a vacancy.

On a trip like this, it's a good idea to have benchmarks so you don't get too far behind schedule. But, in the winter, it doesn't hurt to have some flexibility so that you can weather out a storm.

thanks for the helpful advice Judy - it's much appreciated. I completely agree with what you wrote above about it being a good idea to have benchmarks (so at least there's some measure of structure to the trip) while at the same time being mentally prepared for the flexibility needed with weather concerns and all, knowing full well that my nicely prepared scheduled can be blown to smithereens in one simple fell swoop - oops - heheheh

to be honest, i know my limitations and driving in inclement weather is ~~far~~ from my strongsuit.

I've been monitoring the weather, with the storms that just blew through the plains and Northwest area, leaving the snow and very high winds. Amazingly enough - I80 looks to have been clear the whole time, no snow or anything (so it seems I90 was affected more, by this particular storm) - which means nothing, of course, being still two weeks removed from my departure date.

Being that i'm a stark proponent of "better late (and safe) then never" - if storms are blowing through that week, i'm actually considering taking I40 to Little Rock to I30 - to Dallas, then I20 to El Paso, I10 to Yuma, AZ and then I8 to San Diego, then up I5 straight to Seattle. As crazy as that sounds, it only adds about 200 miles compared to if i shot south and went west across I40 (which goes through Flagstaff, AZ, of very high elevation). The route i ment'd above, takes me below the mountain range.

I'll want to be extra careful going throug I5 in So. Cal due to the dangerous trucker's curve that made the news about a month ago. In addition, driving up through No. Cal and So. Oregon, i'll still be subject to some mountains (there's a treacherous mountain pass in Southern Ore - i forget the name of, but not Cabbage Hill...) but i'm thinking i might still get luckier there than with stormy weather across the plains.

which direction i take all depends on the weather forecasts when i leave.

[nishira]

actually, I80 - (wyoming and such) was/is getting pounded by high winds - joy! :D

[PNW Judy]

Even if it's just a way to alert me to how many miles I need to make up!

Since you've done so much research, you've probably already got a good idea what your benchmarks should be. But, please, if weather is bad, don't try to make up time. It's better to be late.

The pass in Southern OR rarely closes (Siskiyou Pass). If it does, it doesn't close for long. But, be advised, chains might be required.

You might also jot down the phone numbers of the DOT numbers in the various states you're traveling through. Many states use 511 but, unfortunately, not all. That can be a handy way to check on road conditions when on the road.

As a Washingtonian myself, welcome to your new home in the Pacific Northwest! When you get settled in and are ready to start road-tripping around your new home state, let us know so we can give you some helpful hints and suggestions.

[nishira]

Since you've done so much research, you've probably already got a good idea what your benchmarks should be. But, please, if weather is bad, don't try to make up time. It's better to be late.

hehehe, if only you knew what a nervous nelly i am when it comes to driving on ice/snow, etc. No worries, i have no desire to play catch up in bad weather, none at all.

The pass in Southern OR rarely closes (Siskiyou Pass). If it does, it doesn't close for long. But, be advised, chains might be required.

Ah yes, that's the name, thank you. I have chains for my car - i'll be danged if i know how to use them though. Not sure if there is such a thing as chains for the Penske truck - any idea?

You might also jot down the phone numbers of the DOT numbers in the various states you're traveling through. Many states use 511 but, unfortunately, not all. That can be a handy way to check on road conditions when on the road.

I didn't think of that - that's very helpful - thank you!

As a Washingtonian myself, welcome to your new home in the Pacific Northwest! When you get settled in and are ready to start road-tripping around your new home state, let us know so we can give you some helpful hints and suggestions.

thanks much - i'm really looking forward ...

[PNW Judy]

You need to do a practice with those chains so you're not trying to do it in the dark, when your fingers are freezing off. I would imagine they make chains for bigger tires, too. And, yeah, you should practice with those as well.

Safe journey...and let us know how it went when you arrive safely in Seattle.

[Foy]

nishira-

I'm with the others in saying I would look askance at adding additional distance to "avoid" weather. As has been correctly noted herein again and again, I-40 is prone to ice, whereas the northern routes are subject to snow + the best snow removal efforts on the planet. Plus, you take the Southern route and that "earns" you a chance to see Southern CA and ride I-5 through CA. The traffic congestion alone out there would drive me to alternate routes. Traffic is more dangerous than winter weather, in my opinion.

I'm very familiar with I-90 in MT. There are at least 4 fairly high passes, and that's where the weather will be the worst, and the snow removal the best. Most passes will require chains during the snow removal periods, and I'm assuming your Penske is a dually, so conventional chains are not going to work. Still, I-90 would be next to last on my list (I-40 being last).

I'd do the I-80 route in a New York minute. Don't sweat the winds. Just stop for a while if it blows too bad. Shoot, the 600+ miles you'd save earns you a full day to wait out some winds or snow, anyway. Plus, that 600 miles will cost you $260 in fuel at 8 mpg and 3.50/gal. I'm very familiar with I-80 from eastern NE all the way to Salt Lake City and into NV. That's the way I'd go. You've got a fairly low pass in WY at the Continental Divide, some fairly high desert plains from there to Evanston, then canyons to descend to the I-84 split, and you can avoid Parley's Summit between Park City and SLC by staying in I-84 to Ogden. I am unfamiliar with the balance of the route to SEA, but would imagine you'd have only low passes until you reach the Cascades immediately east of SEA.

Foy

[Midwest Michael]

Being that i'm a stark proponent of "better late (and safe) then never" - if storms are blowing through that week, i'm actually considering taking I40 to Little Rock to I30 - to Dallas, then I20 to El Paso, I10 to Yuma, AZ and then I8 to San Diego, then up I5 straight to Seattle.

Just so you aren't caught off guard, this route would hardly be a sure thing either. Dallas can see some wicked snow and ice storms. I was in Dallas during the first week of December 2 years ago, and the City was shut down by ice, and this isn't a particularly unusual occurance. You can also see bad storms throughout West Texas.

[nishira]

You need to do a practice with those chains so you're not trying to do it in the dark

i've been putting that off because i have to find someone to show me how to do this, but ideally - you're absolutely right - and better for me to fuss now then have to fuss while on road (as much) so .. thank you for the reminder.

Foy/MM - I really appreciated your continued advice on this. I'm so incredibly leary of driving in bad weather (i.e. "scared") that if i thought adding distance/time/money (for gas) was the answer - i'd be ok with that.

Instead of taking I40 (which i was originally thinking of as my "alt route") - i was thinking to drop even further south, as that would take me below the mountains (mostly) and add only a few hours over the I40 route. As MM pointed out, nothing is guaranteed though and even in Dallas, bad weather is possible at that time of year. Now i have to think my chances of finding good weather would be somewhat better - down south - while at the same time realizing that nothing is a "sure thing" .. so basically, going down further south would be essentially, a calculated risk.

I agree w/your assessment about the SoCal traffic - that's definitely not one of the selling features of that route - hehehe

OK - !!thank you!! for the info on I90 - that's just the kind of info i'm looking for, in regards to what to realistically expect and such. I've also seen what you're referring to. When the storm blew through there last week, i was keeping on eye on the montana webcams and the roads looked fine for the most part, except for the passes - they had snow (and or ice, had to tell from the webcam).

My same comment re: your helpful advice on I80 - again, that's exactly the type of information i was hoping to find. My research with I80 concurs with what you mentioned - that overall, it's much less hilly/mountainous (sp.?) than I90 - and to me, that's a godsend!!

There is one really steep pass on I84, Cabbage Hill, it's one that if i go that route - i'll definitely on the lookout for. If i go I80 to I84, if the weather is bad in the Cascades, i might consider adding some time by running I84 straight to Portland and then up I5 to Seattle. I'd still be subject to ice potentially, but i'd be able to avoid the mountains. But i'll save that decision until i'm closer and have a better idea.

But again, the info you're all providing is invaluable. I take this winter driving very seriously and want to make the wisest/safest choice possible - so thanks again!!

[PNW Judy]

Seriously, I'm impressed that you are being careful to assess conditions, evaluate your needs, and desire to be prepared. All good things. However, I also think that you're stressing overly much about this. The roads very rarely get so bad that you'll be in real danger. Just use common-sense, adjust your speed for the conditions, have gear ready to use in case you need it (and know how to use it), and then go for it.

Of course, common-sense means that you will pull over and rest if you get overly tired, that you will get out and stretch your legs every few hours, and that you will stop driving for the night if you feel the driving conditions aren't comfortable for you. During this time of year, this might mean driving more limited hours so you're driving in daylight. And, if the weather appears to be turning bad, check your radio for weather reports and/or call that state's DOT for an update. It's better to stop early for the night and wait out a storm than it is to press on ahead sometimes.

Anyway, be prepared but don't be overly stressed about this, OK? People travel these roads all winter without incident. There's no reason to assume that you'll have any more trouble than they do.

[nishira]

i stress easily - seriously but...actually, no worries. I'm very appreciative of your concern. My brain works differently than most people, i habitually think a lot more (not to say my thoughts are more productive per'se, ha ha, my brain just happens to be more racing). Ok, let me put this into perspective for you - do you know any Gemini's? If you do, think of them - and then you'll have a better idea of my brain process (i'm a Gemini). So, although to others - what may seem as "thinking overkill" - it's all just business as usual for me, that's just kinda how I roll - joy, eh? heheheh.

Admittedly, snowy/icy weather does get me very nervous. In Nashville about two years ago, they had a bad ice storm. I was pulling out of my apartment complex - which was at the bottom of a hill - not realizing just how bad the ice was. The hill wasn't that bad really, but in ice - it changes it's dimensions totally. So, i have a rear wheel drive (didn't think to shift to a lower gear - if that would have helped) and started up the hill, didn't have enough power to make it (not sure if more power would have helped or isntead, sent me into a spin). As i started to get up the hill, i was getting nervous and pressed on the brakes to stop the car. And there i was, for 45 minutes, at the top of the hill (but not over it). I put the car in park (don't remember if i used the emergency brake or not) and couldn't take my foot off the brake because i'd slide down the hill. I called AAA - conditions were too bad for them to come out. The police came - they gave me a boost (as my car lost power) but couldn't help my "position" aside from to tell me to let off the brake and coast down the hill (AS IF!!! hehehe). So i did what any self-respecting person would do (or not), i "grannied" it down the hill, let off the brake a teeny bit, went back a teeny bit, let off the brake a teeny bit, went down the hill a teeny bit, ad infinitum until i was safely down the hill (i'm guessing that procedure is ~not~ what the officers had in mind - oops - ha!). Other cars did make it up the hill, so i have to think that my lack of experience caused me to be in that predicament (sp.?). So, needless to say, i'm very apprehensive of icy/snow - i just don't (admittedly) do well in it.

All in all, i'm not as stressed as i seem, i'm looking at this humorously but ~very~ cautiously, but if i got caught in a bad spot, i'd be as stressed as could be - hmmm.

Anyhow, i don't desire to be a roadside statistic hehe, so i'll be doing my best
to get out there safe and sound. :D