Driving to Chicago - Around Christmas

[pranjals]

Hi all,

This is such a good forum, thanks n advance to helping me out.

I have done road trips before from Atlanta to Detroit before but never from the west to Chicago.

I am moving to Chicago from Honolulu. If I ship my car to Chicago it costs 3800, if I ship to LA it costs me 1100. Is it worth driving from Seattle or Long Beach, I have 7 days to do this if I have to. Do you think it will cost more than 2700 for this drive?

I have minimal experience driving in snow, would you recommend Driving from California for someone without much experience driving? (I dont think Seattle would be a good idea because of this reason.)

Can you recommend websites or travel agencies who can help me with this, road conditions, weather conditions, routes?

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

I know I would take the driving option if I were in your shoes. I certainly think you should be able to do the trip for less money than $2700.

The trip from either LA or Seattle is about the same distance, 2000 miles, which can easily be done in just 4 days of driving. Even if you see some snow, you'll have plenty of opportunity to stop and wait out a storm because of your extra time.

There are 3 main routes for the trip from LA: I-15 to I-80 through Utah and Wyoming, I-15 to I-70 to I-76 to I-80 which goes through Denver, or I-40 to I-44 to I-55, which follows the path of old route 66. I like I-70 because of the scenic nature as it goes through the Rockies, but I'd pick I-80 for the most straightforward route, and I-40 as a nice mix.

Here are some good road condition links, and here's more tips for driving in winter conditions.

Since you've got some extra time to work with, personally, I'd take the opportunity to do see some things that you wouldn't otherwise get to see. The Grand Canyon is one of many possible short detours that you could easily fit into your trip.

Cost wise, You'll look at a couple hundred for gas, $75 a night for a mid-level motel, and $20-30 a day for meals. I'd say $1000 would be a very rough estimate of costs, and you could quite likely do it for less.

[ojkevil]

I drove from Chicago to LA last december and I-70 through the Rockies was.....Scary, to say the least.

My question is:

Is it easier driving East through the Rockies than driving West in the winter?

[Mark Sedenquist]

My question is:
Is it easier driving East through the Rockies than driving West in the winter?

Not really, I don't think it makes much difference -- ice and snow looks the same on the ground in either direction. (Maybe I don't understand your question?)

mark

[ojkevil]

Sorry - I should have explained better.

I-70 west from (about) Frisco, CO seems to be an almost constant decline and the degree of decline made for some hairy moments. I assume that heading into the Rockies (going east) 70 would be an incline to about Frisco.

My question is: Is the descent into Denver as steep as the descent on the other side?

[Mark Sedenquist]

I-70 west from (about) Frisco, CO seems to be an almost constant decline and the degree of decline made for some hairy moments.

I agree that the final descent into Denver down the long hill can be more fun than one might expect when driving in winter driving conditions, which is why there is a mandatory low speed limit in the winter months. But rate of descent is not the primary consideration for difficulty of driving in winter weather conditions -- it's rather the liklihood of ice on the roadway. The apex of the ascent from Denver is not Frisco -- it is the Eisenhour Tunnel which is just west of Georgetown. After the tunnel the road goes up and down, (but mostly flat) as it winds it's way through the Colorado Rockies.

For me the most exciting part of the I-70 in winter driving conditions is the section of along Glenwood Canyon -- which even with the best efforts of the Colorado Highway Department is often icy.

There's not much of a descent between Rifle and Grand Junction -- some, but it is very gradual.

I assume that heading into the Rockies (going east) 70 would be an incline to about Frisco.

Not really, see above.

And then when you reach Utah -- you enter my favorite section of the Interstate highway system in America -- The San Rafael Swell...

Mark

[lillian390]

I am moving to Chicago from Honolulu. ?

Are you seriously moving Honolulu to Chicago! My friend is living in Honolulu and he says there is nothing better than Honolulu.
Why do you want to live in Chicago?

[johnny99]

If you really want a white knuckle ride, bypass the Eisenhower tunnel and use rt 6 across the Loveland Pass when it's snowing.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Going up the pass from the east wasn't so bad, but the descent shaved a decade off of my life expectancy.... Yeah, that is a fun ride...

Mark