Driving from the Midwest to DLR over Christmas?

[Pixieflip]

We are experienced travelers over the holidays. We drive from our home in Omaha to Orlando nearly every winter with only two trips messed with by the weather and both were storms at home, not on the road. Sometimes we encounter tornadoes south of Tennessee...one particularly scary time on the phone with my dad at home who was trying to catch Atlanta's weather online while I was frantically trying to decipher the counties with tornadoes on the ground!

However, in planning a potential holiday trip to DLR for Christmas 2011, I neglected to consider weather for the drive. Mapquest says it's only 22 hours to DLR (an hour less than to WDW!) but that takes us right through Colorado and Utah!!! I'm pretty sure that's not great timing for driving through the Rockies, is it??!!

My question is...how bad would that be? Feasible at all? Or should we plan to drive south and go through NM and AZ?

I know flying, renting a van is more direct but with 6 of us, we need to stick to driving.

 

[aurorae]

Definitely check the weather forecasts before you go. And be prepared to take the south route you mentioned.

You really don't want to run into a major snowstorm on your route, it can really slow you down (icy roads) or a mountain pass can even be closed for awhile.

 

[Pixieflip]

Of course, we always watch the forecasts carefully. Anyone with experience driving I-40 through NM and AZ in the winter? How would that be? Mapquest only adds about 2 hours to the trip for this route, not a big deal to me if it can be a good drive.

 

[aurorae]

Of course, we always watch the forecasts carefully. Anyone with experience driving I-40 through NM and AZ in the winter? How would that be? Mapquest only adds about 2 hours to the trip for this route, not a big deal to me if it can be a good drive.

I've done it at different times of year. Once you are south of Raton, it usually is pretty good. You can hit snow on that route, too, but usually it isn't bad.

 

[gethane]

We live in California now but all our family lives in Nebraska and we drove out and back this last Christmas. However, we did have to leave a few days earlier than we planned to beat a blizzard on our way out. And we barely beat one as we came back. But during our actual driving the interstates were only less than optimal in a few spots.

 

[HydroGuy]

As others have said you can hit bad weather thru I-70 in Colorado/Utah or thru NM and AZ on I-40. We have driven I-70 in November and December to SoCal many times and usually there are no major problems with weather. It is a major interstate and they try to keep it open. But I would plan both routes just in case and have hotels setup which you can cancel at the last minute based on weather. And if you have a 4WD take that. We did the drive in years past in a mini-van and it always worked fine, but now feel more confident in our Expedition.

The drive on I-70 is a spectacular, scenic drive from Denver all the way until you hit Nevada. The drive on I-40 is much less so. Plus the I-40 route is longer distance-wise if you start from Denver - an extra 200 miles probably.

Have a great trip!

 

[Pixieflip]

We live in California now but all our family lives in Nebraska and we drove out and back this last Christmas. However, we did have to leave a few days earlier than we planned to beat a blizzard on our way out. And we barely beat one as we came back. But during our actual driving the interstates were only less than optimal in a few spots.

I remember BOTH of those blizzards well!

As others have said you can hit bad weather thru I-70 in Colorado/Utah or thru NM and AZ on I-40. We have driven I-70 in November and December to SoCal many times and usually there are no major problems with weather. It is a major interstate and they try to keep it open. But I would plan both routes just in case and have hotels setup which you can cancel at the last minute based on weather. And if you have a 4WD take that. We did the drive in years past in a mini-van and it always worked fine, but now feel more confident in our Expedition.

The drive on I-70 is a spectular, scenic drive from Denver all the way until you hit Nevada. The drive on I-40 is much less so. Plus the I-40 route is longer distance-wise if you start from Denver - an extra 200 miles probably.

Have a great trip!

Car question: we have a minivan...are you recommending the 4WD for the mountains or the potential bad weather? I know I-70 would be spectacular, that's why I'd love to do it if we could - safely of course.

I've done it at different times of year. Once you are south of Raton, it usually is pretty good. You can hit snow on that route, too, but usually it isn't bad.

Raton is where?

Thanks for your responses, I appreciate the planning help.

 

[HydroGuy]

Car question: we have a minivan...are you recommending the 4WD for the mountains or the potential bad weather? I know I-70 would be spectacular, that's why I'd love to do it if we could - safely of course.

For the weather mostly. But also when the weather is good there may be ice on the road like other places that have cold temps. Especially in the mornings. If there is no weather and no ice then a mini-van works great. If there is either then you just have to go more slowly like anywhere else.

Unless there is a storm you should be fine on I-70. Even on what seems like good weather days it is not unusual to experience some snow. You are driving right thru major ski areas and they are there for a reason - that is where it snows more. Usually this is just for 30-50 miles. Val Pass on I-70 is the high point at close to 11,000 feet (I think it is 10,600 or so).

Try to hit Denver early in the day. If the weather is good it only takes about 4 hours to get all the way across the mountains to Grand Junction. If you start early you can do it all in daylight which is of course best.

Try not to drive from Denver into the mountains on Saturday or Sunday morning or you may end up in a traffic jam of people going skiing. Weekdays are usually fine in the morning. And weekends after 10-11AM are better than early morn.

Again, it is a major interstate and a lot of effort goes into keeping it open. But when a storm hits like in other places there is only so much you can do.

Just to reassure you I would have no problem personally planning to drive I-70 at Christmas to DLR. I would plan for it but be cautious. If you have never done it I promise it will be a memorable drive. Just gorgeous.

 

[aurorae]

Raton is where?

It is a town in New Mexico, just over the border from Colorado. If you go straight south from Denver (don't know if that is the way you would go) you would drive over Raton Pass.

 

[HydroGuy]

To clarify the "southern route" there are three areas more likely to have bad, snowy weather,

o Raton Pass on I-25 near the NM border.

o Flagstaff area on I-40

o Cajon Pass on I-15 as you come into LA. Note that you hit this going either way I-40 or I-70 because in both cases you end up I-15 to DLR.

On the I-70 route the frequent problem areas are

o Rocky Mountains and Vail Pass in particular

o The mountains on I-70 in Utah within 60 miles of I-70 and I-15 junction (can't remember what they are called)

 

[Pixieflip]

Hydroguy, once again with all the helpful info! Thank you so much to everyone.