Winter driving advice from the midwest to Portland (hotel, to buy)

[moving_to_portland]

Hello,

I am moving to Portland in the beginning of January, and I am driving from Indianapolis. I've looked at routes on google maps, but I am worried about driving across country (mountains) in the middle the winter. I was just wondering if anyone out there has any advice the best way to get to Portland or at least what roads should be avoided.

Thank you!

[WolfBoy914]

Take 70 to Denver, then jog up to Wyoming on 25, then 80 to Salt Lake and then up 84 to Portland.

Over plan your trip. Give yourself 3-4 more days than you think you might need in case you run into a big snow storm. Also, throw a serious sleeping bag (0˚ rated) into the car with lots of food, water and warm clothing. It's a cliché but you really can never be too prepared.

Best of luck and safe travels.

[Nell Plotts]

You could put your car on one of those auto transporters and fly! You will miss a lot of magnificent scenery but you will delegate the white knuckle transportation.

Alternately swing south, way south, and drive I-5 from LA. Your only potentially troublesome section will be the Siskiyou pass which is avoidable if you drive Hgy 101 along the coast from San Francisco.

After taking a lengthy road trip this fall I can't recommend a Garmin highly enough, not so much for the directions (which were great) but for the find a hotel feature, complete with phone #s so you can check for room availability. During winter stay on the interstates or highways. DO NOT take short cuts.

The advise to take survival gear is serious. Stranded for days is rare but a real risk. There are sections of highway in Wyo with no cell service.

[moving_to_portland]

Thank you both for your advice. I've been so busy packing my car full of books, I've almost forgotten about packing my camping gear in my car (as opposed to shipping it). I'll look into the driving suggestions, thanks again.

[wanderbygrace]

Well, I moved from Cleveland to here in June, and took I-90/I-94 across. You do NOT want to do that route. Also, do NOT use I-70 west of Denver - if there's a snowstorm, you could be stuck for a lonnnnngggg time.

Anyhow, Wolfboy's recommendation is the best idea on a route over the Rockies (there's a reason the settlers used South Pass in Wyoming (I-80), albeit not usually in winter) without diving all the way down to I-40. And it includes even better wisdom. Definitely allow yourself extra days.

PS: It wouldn't hurt to buy a pair of snow chains for your car. If you buy them at a name brand store, you can return them if you don't use them & decide you don't want them after getting here (although if you ever go to Hood in winter, they might be worth keeping).

[mwruckman]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

You could put your car on one of those auto transporters and fly! You will miss a lot of magnificent scenery but you will delegate the white knuckle transportation.

Alternately swing south, way south, and drive I-5 from LA. Your only potentially troublesome section will be the Siskiyou pass which is avoidable if you drive Hgy 101 along the coast from San Francisco.

After taking a lengthy road trip this fall I can't recommend a Garmin highly enough, not so much for the directions (which were great) but for the find a hotel feature, complete with phone #s so you can check for room availability. During winter stay on the interstates or highways. DO NOT take short cuts.

The advise to take survival gear is serious. Stranded for days is rare but a real risk. There are sections of highway in Wyo with no cell service.

There was a good reason people traveling to the West Coast in the pre-Interstate days took the mother road US 66 particularly in the winter. In todays time take I 55 to I 44 then in OK City get on I 40 West. and ride it to the I 15 merge just west of LA . Then as mentioned I 5 North. The weather is quite nice in the desert SW in winter. I wouldn't recommend this route in summer.

[Leisesturm]

The o.p. is in Indianapolis and want to come to Oregon. Taking 70 south and west adds needless fuel expenses when one is driving a heavily loaded car. As Nell points out, the only sure way to avoid weather is to go clear to the coast and take 101 north. I have to think that the additional expense of all those miles will pay for a transporter. Drive direct: 80 to 84 and done! Or don't do it. Personally, I wouldn't do it. I take the odd risk now and then but not with mother nature.

H

[wanderbygrace]

Originally Posted by Leisesturm

The o.p. is in Indianapolis and want to come to Oregon. Taking 70 south and west adds needless fuel expenses when one is driving a heavily loaded car. As Nell points out, the only sure way to avoid weather is to go clear to the coast and take 101 north. I have to think that the additional expense of all those miles will pay for a transporter. Drive direct: 80 to 84 and done! Or don't do it. Personally, I wouldn't do it. I take the odd risk now and then but not with mother nature.

H

IDK, the difference is minimal (one hour and perhaps about 70 miles). If the forecast is good between Indy & Denver, then going north via I-74 to I-80 and across to (almost) SLC is a preferred route, but if it's questionable, I'd stay south to Denver then go up to I-80.

[Leisesturm]

Originally Posted by wanderbygrace

IDK, the difference is minimal (one hour and perhaps about 70 miles). If the forecast is good between Indy & Denver, then going north via I-74 to I-80 and across to (almost) SLC is a preferred route, but if it's questionable, I'd stay south to Denver then go up to I-80.

But what after that... back on 80 and back in the snowbelt. Not worth it unless you stay south all the way to California and make your way up 101.

H

[wanderbygrace]

Originally Posted by Leisesturm

But what after that... back on 80 and back in the snowbelt. Not worth it unless you stay south all the way to California and make your way up 101.

H

The far south route is extremely out of the way - at least I-70 to Denver isn't terribly far out of the way & takes a little risk out of it.

If the poster has to make the move in January, she/he's either going to take a big gamble, a moderate gamble, or litle gamble/very long route. Even an airplane might have issues w/winter weather in January.