79-77-95 route in winter

[Canadave]

Yes...yes...I know that this is not the best route in winter...but we've travelled the I75 every trip before and this time we're leaving mid February...thought I would keep an eye on the weather and as long as it wasn't iffy, we would venture this way...for a change of scenery and a new experience.
...now my questions...has anyone had experience going this way in February (or any winter month) and what tips can you give us? What's the best websites with up to date weather forecasts? Where are the mountainous regions on this route?

thanks all!

 

[Ham Ham]

Any route can be hazardous during bad weather. If weather conditions were good I would have no problem taking I-90,I-79, US-19, I-77, I-26, I-95, I-4.

I-75 traverses mountains further south that are higher in elevation. I-75 also goest through Ohio which is very flat, great conditions for a white out.

Which ever route you take check the conditions before you leave.

 

[AddictedtoFL]

I'm leaving on Feb. 13th, still unsure about which routes i will travel yet. and if i should drive with my winter tires, 2 wks of FL temp. might melt my winter tires . First time driving down to FL.

 

[misslissa]

Do you happen to have a CAA Membership?

Their Trip Tik would be really good to get for your trip. Order it about 2 weeks beforehand. When you order it, they will probably recommend that you DON'T take that route but tell them nicely that you have decided to go for it anyway. I know for sure that there are a few speed traps through that route (ie. tickets even when using cruise control) that'll be marked on the Trip Tik along with detour/construction info.

The main reason it isn't recommended is because on occasion, the sheriff's office in some regions will actually close the two lane hwys through the mountains and you can't go forward or backward in the event of a huge snowfall.

So, keep your eye on the weather, if its clear it should be fine, and have a safe trip!

 

[nokidz]

We go the i95 route everytime. We went last January, no problems, we went this past October, no problems and we are leaving next wed (midnight). we will check the weather conditions and amend our departure time accordingly, but we always give ourselves lots of time to drive down. You winter tires will be fine. It is currently not THAT hot down there. I would rather keep the snows on then traverse the mountains without them.

 

[Canadave]

I ordered my Trip Tik yesterday...and yes, they didn't recommend that route...I gave her my story and they are going to do the I77-I79 route for me anyway ...Any sign of inclement weather and I'm I75 all the way

we've had the snow tire discussion on another thread recently...I think the conclusion was that it was better to use snows for safety and check your air pressure when you're in Florida

 

[summermac]

Oookay, I am so NOT from Canada but we drive I-77 (I saw this post come up on the main thing and it sparked my interest) all the time for a lot of our trips as it's our major hwy going south. I actually go I-70 to I-77 S in Cambridge, Ohio.

Anyway, it's a GORGEOUS drive. However, given the current fantastic weather we're experiencing here I don't know that I'd do it in February. Maybe just keep any eye on the 10 day forecast for the WV part of the drive (that's where you spend a lot of time in the mountains) and decide based on that. Oh and I guess some of I-77 in Northern Ohio too so Cleveland, Akron, Canton.

I-77 is one of my favorite drives though. SOOO pretty!

 

[damo]

We just drove back a few days ago along that route. We had no problems whatsoever except right around Erie. There always is snow around there. Once we got around Pittsburgh, there was hardly any snow on the ground at all.