FlatLand Flyer

In need of opinions since I can't decide which of my options is the better of the two evils.

In one week I will be driving from Charlotte, NC to Spokane, WA. There is no waiting till spring. To make it worse I am doing this in a Toyota Corolla and hauling a trailer. I won't be towing much, about 1200 lbs (including trailer weight).

I have lots of experience with winter driving. However, this seems to be the worst winter ever to do this trip. Lots of snow in the west. Mountains will be tricky and high plains could be dicey.

Every route planning to I use has me pretty much going Northwest from NC to Sioux City and catching I-90 there and heading straight west. That is also the shortest route. I have made that drive or have paralleled it a number of times. The Dakotas aren't to nice in January. Neither is Montana.

Another option is to take I-40 to Las Vegas or something then go pretty much straight north to Butte and then west, pretty much straight up the Rockies. This route is much longer, but keeps me south longer. Have never driven I-15 so I have no idea how treacherous this would be.

What do you guys think? Think of any other routes that would work better?

BadNick

Even if it adds a few hours or a day to the trip, I would head west along a southern route to stay out of the worst weather as long as possible.


edit: now that I've looked at a map for alternate routes, I'm not so sure my advice above is good, since it sends you west and then you end up driving north along the mountains. I'm not sure how the weather is this time of year on the western side more along the coast.

snowy

We drove on I-15 shortly after a freak late spring snowstorm hit Utah pretty hard 10 or so years ago, from just north of St. George to where it turns into I-84. The winds were really high on a few sections of the freeway around Ogden, and a couple of tractor trailers were blown over, but otherwise it was fine.

At the end of I-15, you have two routes to choose from. The I-84 route may be less messy than going up to Butte, just because that way you're skirting around the mountains for the most part. The one place to watch on that route is a place called Cabbage Hill, near Pendleton, but generally they keep it pretty clear.

Here are some websites to help you out:
WSDOT weather and traffic info: WSDOT - Statewide Traveler Information
ODOT weather and traffic info: TripCheck - Road Cams, Road & Weather Conditions in Oregon - ODOT
Idaho Transportation Department weather and traffic info: Idaho Transportation Department - Division of Highways

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bobby

My folk live in Spokane ...they have 60" of snow!!!...stay away if you can till it melt...OMG..I have the morning news on in the kitchen and they said it just snowed 7" more in Spokane last nite !!!....good luck!!!

this was there house when ther was 30" of snow !!!



xoxoxoo

Attached Images

spokane snow (Small).JPG (67.3 KB, 19 views)

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FlatLand Flyer

I know what it is like there. Wish I didn't have to go now, but I have no choice.

I think I am going to bite the bullet and take the shortest route. No matter what route I take it seems that there will be snow. I figure it is easier to drive a Corolla in the cold than it is the possibly deep snow.