Good or Bad idea - Drive from San Diego to Boise, Idaho at Thanksgiving?

[alanna_gibbs]

Not sure if this is the correct section although it is a late fall early winter drive... I am new to this site. So here goes:

My fiance is from Hagerman, Idaho... A little town just S/E of Boise. We want to do a road trip (which I love to do and have been many places, but not Idaho) and he has never done. We live in San Diego and want to spend Thanksgiving with hsi family and we both have a good 10 days off during this time. Is this is a good or a bad idea to drive there during the end of November? I have looked up the route and it appears to go through many mountain ranges and small highway changes abound. I have traveled through from Orane County to Salt Lake but I believe they were more direct larger Freeways. I have also driving form Colorado Springs to Phoenix... As well as many Tahoe and Reno trips from SoCal as well, so I am no stranger to mountain driving in the snow... But these have all been on somewhat major thoroughfares.

I am just wondering if anyone has done this drive and if anyone has any advice. Should we split it up into 2 days or just go at it early and do all in one day. I have drivin straight through for 26 hours to the Texas/Louisiana Border from SoCal so I am also not a stranger to straight through drives. The route goes through Vegas, so I am sure we may want to stop a lil longer through there, but it looks as if there isn't much else through Northern Nevada to stop at along the way... But I don't know. Also, I am wondering if there are any passes that may be inpassable at this late fall early winter time due to ice or snow. Any and all advice is welcome!!

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

Let me first ask that you never do anything like your 26 hour drive again. That sort of behavior is beyond reckless and is responsible for killing way too many people. There is no way to safely drive that kind of distance without rest and no reason that you can find that can justify that kind of driving. You got lucky that you didn't do any harm to yourself or others, please don't spin that roulette wheel again.

In this case, again, you're looking at a 1,000 mile drive and there is no way you should consider driving that distance in one day.

If you aren't comfortable with traveling on smaller roads, then I'd recommend sticking to the Interstates and traveling up I-15 and I-84. Its a little bit farther than the shortest route (up US-93) but I don't think the travel times would be dramatically different.

[alanna_gibbs]

I agree with you 100%. I did it with 2 other people and while one slept one drove. So, it was very safe. I do agree with you that you need very adequate sleep to drive long distances. Just so the record is set straight, I didn't drive the whole way alone, I should have given a touchmore detail to that, apologies for the misinformation. It was for work and we all took turns driving, no one ever went without sleep. All of my road trip's have been this way, with others, the longest I can goby myself is about 6 hours to and from Phoenix and SD safely. I am very knowledgable of alld riving rules and precautions. But thank you for the information.

I am comfortable with smaller roads, I was more concerned with seeing what the road conditions are like on the 93 through some of the passes during the fall/winter. As smaller roads are often not cleared as much as the larger ones. So I was wanting to see if anyone has done this trip during these months.

Also, my fiance is very comfortable with smaller roads as well, growing up in Idaho and Oregon and traveling in the mountains a lot, alhtough he has never done a multi state trip before as I have.

[glc]

I show that taking a combination of US-93, NV-318, US-6, and US-93 again can save you about 130 miles and will take 1 hour longer - if you choose to believe a mapping program. What you should do is keep an eye on weather and road conditions - here is Nevada's DOT road condition site. If it looks good, with no bad weather happening or forecasted, there's no reason not to go that way. That's some pretty desolate territory, I'd plan on overnighting in Ely even if you feel you can go farther, your next shot is Wells which is another 150 miles.

[SueZoo]

I'm from Boise. I moved here in 1984. I've been thinking about doing the trip too. I'm in Riverside, 13-14 hrs to Boise. You need to watch the weather. If it's raining here you will run into snow. Roads should be clear to Vegas, but from Vegas to Boise, about 10 hrs under best conditions, US 93 is only 2 lanes.
Sugesstions: snow chains or 4x4 a must. Don't drive at night from Vegas on, you could hit black ice, especially around Ely and Wells. Be very cautious from Jackpot, NV to Twin Falls, Lots of drunks and cops.

I will be checking the weather, if the sun is shining and no storms predicted, it should be smooth sailing (driving) You might think about stopping in Vegas and Ely. Goog Luck

[Southwest Dave]

I am not sure I am reading this correctly, Hi SueZoo, welcome to the RTA forums !

I'm from Boise. I moved here in 1984. I've been thinking about doing the trip too. I'm in Riverside, 13-14 hrs to Boise.

You are in Riverside CA ? To arrive in Boise in under 14 hours would require breaking the speed limit the entire way, from the time you switch the ignition on untill you turn it off at the destination, and that's without stopping for gas or bathroom breaks, never mind food or rest. I doubt you could do it with a police escort and the roads closed off, a helicopter perhaps Lol.

but from Vegas to Boise, about 10 hrs under best conditions, US 93 is only 2 lanes.

Once again, no way I am afraid !

From Boise to Las Vegas is 768 miles, so you are suggesting an average of 76 miles an hour on 2 lane roads with absolutely no stops. You would need an empty road and hit speeds in excess of 100 mph to get anywhere close.

Enjoy the forums !

[Midwest Michael]

Actually, Dave, Vegas to Boise via US-93 is only about 630 miles. Its 760 if you stick to the Interstates and go all the way over to Salt Lake City.

Never the less, you're still going to have to be spending a whole lot of time driving above 80 miles per hour on those 2 lanes road and keeping stops to the barest of bare minimums to make the trip in 10 hours. Even on Interstate Highways, you need to be driving at a crusing speed of about 85 mph to work out an average of 63 mph over a full day of travel, once you factor in stops for fuel and other occational slowdowns.

Considering the actual roads that we're talking about, 12-14 hours is a much more reasonable estimate, but even that requires driving at or slightly above the speed limit with few short stops.

[Southwest Dave]

Actually, Dave, Vegas to Boise via US-93 is only about 630 miles. Its 760 if you stick to the Interstates and go all the way over to Salt Lake City.

Yep, I got my wires crossed between Interstate and US 93 which put my maths out, but according to Google maps the US 93 takes longer [not sure on that though] and as you suggested, it will still take a lot longer than 10 hours driving safely around the speed limits.