Best Path Through The Rockies

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Hi folks,

I'm wondering: has anyone driven Eastbound through the Rockies in Winter? If I wind up getting an interview between December and February, I'll be driving from Vancouver all the way to Washington D.C. I have a 2007 V6 Malibu, which should be an adequate car to make the trip... I've been looking at a few options, either going through Wyoming, or otherwise going through Colorado, definitely on an Interstate...but I'm really not sure which will be the best route.

Any advice would be appreciated!

[Scott and Mhay 57]

I would personally go through montana....I-90...I dont think the pass there should be that bad. You will probably have problems going I-70 in colorado and the pass in wyoming on I-80 could be a mess. Of course it is hit or miss. I know the passes in canada arent that bad though. I drove up to alaska in october coming up through montana and using the ALCAN up from dawson creek.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

I would personally go through montana....I-90...I dont think the pass there should be that bad. You will probably have problems going I-70 in colorado and the pass in wyoming on I-80 could be a mess. Of course it is hit or miss. I know the passes in canada arent that bad though. I drove up to alaska in october coming up through montana and using the ALCAN up from dawson creek.

Thanks!

Incidentally, Google Maps shows the I-90 as being the fastest route as well. I'm not concerned so much with "fast" as with manageable.

I'm somewhat experienced in driving through steep mountain passes during winter, but obviously I want to take the least challenging route on such a long and important trek.

[justashooter 430]

avoid the donner pass in wintertime.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Which Interstate has the Donner Pass?

avoid the donner pass in wintertime.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

Donner pass according to wikipedia is in california. I dont think your trip will take you there. I guess it all depends on how quick you hit the US. I-90 is pretty decent...mostly flat. I have driven it through montana all the way to wisconsin where i had to hit I-80 to continue on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donner_Pass

Edited November 13, 2009 by Scott and Mhay

[Jasman0717 9]

When I was going to college in Greeley I used to always take the Monarch pass route going to and coming from the western slope. If you are worried about the weather you could always go a bit further south and take I-40.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Excellent feedback. Thanks all!

[Malrothien 6]

I90 is going to be a b1tch during winter time given that you'll be driving through eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, etc, all which get a ton of snow storms.

We are planning on going I5 south to LA and cutting across there to I10.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

I90 is going to be a b1tch during winter time given that you'll be driving through eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, etc, all which get a ton of snow storms.

We are planning on going I5 south to LA and cutting across there to I10.

I thought about doing that too, but I'm not sure I want to sacrifice close to a day of driving (meaning another two or three tanks of gas, another night in a motel, and another day of road-based monotony) for the sake of avoiding snow. I can handle snow...it's just the mountain passes I'm concerned about.

The I-90 seems the best bet to me, possibly cutting down to the I-70 when I hit Sioux Falls to avoid the Chicago region.

Or I could just follow any sign that says "East", but I don't think that would be wise.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

The roads will be clear since they are major highways. The only time u have to worry is when you go through the rockies. Yeah, bypassing chicago isnt a bad idea...unless you hit at the right time, there will be delays. Going east through chicago isnt too bad..coming back west is trickier.

[justashooter 430]

Which Interstate has the Donner Pass?

avoid the donner pass in wintertime.

i was making a bit of black humour for you. google it.

[Tahoma 2,292]

I90 is going to be a b1tch during winter time given that you'll be driving through eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, etc, all which get a ton of snow storms.

We are planning on going I5 south to LA and cutting across there to I10.

I thought about doing that too, but I'm not sure I want to sacrifice close to a day of driving (meaning another two or three tanks of gas, another night in a motel, and another day of road-based monotony) for the sake of avoiding snow. I can handle snow...it's just the mountain passes I'm concerned about.

The I-90 seems the best bet to me, possibly cutting down to the I-70 when I hit Sioux Falls to avoid the Chicago region.

Or I could just follow any sign that says "East", but I don't think that would be wise.

Malrothien has a point. I-90 through the Cascade Mountains (Snoqualmie Pass), eastern Washington, Idaho, and Montana (especially Lookout Pass) can get a lot of snow during the winter. A snowstorm could easily cause you to spend an extra day (or more) on the road since you will either be driving much slower due to bad road conditions, or one of the passes could temporarily be closed. I-5 to LA, and I-10 East would make sense if you wanted to play it safe, avoid snow delays, and enjoy a relaxing drive.

Snoqualmie Pass and Lookout Pass are generally well-maintained and passable during the winter. However, they do experience occasional temporary closures due to snowstorms. Also, there are many days during the winter where tire chains are required in order to legally (and safely) drive over these passes. Make sure you bring along a good set of chains, and that you know how to install them.

I have no problem driving on snow and ice. I have driven all over the Pacific Northwest (and beyond) during the winter. While I dislike white-knuckle driving on snow and ice, the real safety issue for me is driving in fog, or driving in a whiteout during a snowstorm. I generally avoid driving in these conditions even if it means getting a room until road conditions improve. You are likely to see these conditions on I-90 during the winter.

[Malrothien 6]

Snoqualmie also closes for avalanche control quite frequently. I would worry through Wyoming and the Dakotas due to the possibility of whiteout conditions.

[Tahoma 2,292]

Snoqualmie also closes for avalanche control quite frequently. I would worry through Wyoming and the Dakotas due to the possibility of whiteout conditions.

I forgot about the delays due to avalanche control...

And don't forget the central / eastern Washington fog...scary stuff.

I'd take 1000 easy miles of droning down I-5 over 100 miles of I-90 fog / whiteout conditions any day, even though I've experienced some white-knuckle driving through fog going over Grant's Pass on I-5 in southern Oregon.

Conclusion: I-5 / I-10 could potentially be faster (and less expensive) than I-90.

~ Tahoma