Cross Country Road Trip

[Frontier719]

I-70 west of denver has mandatory chain laws in effect--the fine is pretty hefty this year and they're enforcing it like crazy so make sure you have a set of chains in the truck if you decide to go that route.

Also, it'd be wise to plan the trip so you're not going over I-70 on a weekend--ski traffic is literally the worst thing I've ever experienced in my life--like sitting in stop and go traffic for 4 hours to go 20 miles. Everyone that lives on the front range comes back across I-70 from the resorts.

But during the week, I-70 is fine.

otherwise looks like an awesome trip

 

[MountainClimber78]

101

I'm not sure what your time table is but the 101, while a beautiful road, is slow going. Much of the road winds along the coast and goes through a bunch of small towns. I've done it a few times and had a great time, just be careful of your time (you won't be averaging 55, more like 35-45). Also it's wet. With El Niño this year the west coast is in store for some epic rain volume so plan and pack accordingly.

Route looks good only other add one I have are the Sierras will be hit and miss with the passes up the 395. You should be good but there will be a possibility of closures depending on your route. Take a look at a paper map, some of them will list the seasonal passes in the area. Also take a look at stopping at Lassen National Park in N. Cali on the way to redwoods. Have a great trip, I love this area of the country!

 

[MStudt]

I'd opt for the second route in Spring, Summer or Fall. Given this is a winter vacation I'd choose the first route unless you don't mind possibly driving in a blizzard, which I hate doing.

Do yo mean you'd opt for the first route in Spring, Summer or Fall? That would be heading through Colorad, Utah, and the Sierra's. The second route would take us through Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona. We've done this route twice in the winter already. The first time was fine, but the second time we were caught in an ice storm around Texarkana.

I-70 west of denver has mandatory chain laws in effect--the fine is pretty hefty this year and they're enforcing it like crazy so make sure you have a set of chains in the truck if you decide to go that route.

Also, it'd be wise to plan the trip so you're not going over I-70 on a weekend--ski traffic is literally the worst thing I've ever experienced in my life--like sitting in stop and go traffic for 4 hours to go 20 miles. Everyone that lives on the front range comes back across I-70 from the resorts.

But during the week, I-70 is fine.

otherwise looks like an awesome trip

We usually carry chains on most winter trips. We're almost always heading towards snow that time of the year so it's better safe than sorry.

I'm not sure what your time table is but the 101, while a beautiful road, is slow going. Much of the road winds along the coast and goes through a bunch of small towns. I've done it a few times and had a great time, just be careful of your time (you won't be averaging 55, more like 35-45). Also it's wet. With El Niño this year the west coast is in store for some epic rain volume so plan and pack accordingly.

Route looks good only other add one I have are the Sierras will be hit and miss with the passes up the 395. You should be good but there will be a possibility of closures depending on your route. Take a look at a paper map, some of them will list the seasonal passes in the area. Also take a look at stopping at Lassen National Park in N. Cali on the way to redwoods. Have a great trip, I love this area of the country!

We'll have a total of about 11 days to do this. We've done some of 101, and I do remember that it was pretty slow going. We'll make sure to have a couple different options for the trip.

Isn't Lassen a volcanic park? I think my wife was already talking about that place.

 

[MountainClimber78]

Lassen is a volcanic park, but none are active if that's what you're thinking. The geology is the main draw there and it's definitely worth the stop if you have the time. I'd recommend Lassen to redwoods and up to Oregon via the 5 to save time.

 

[Unner]

I didn't know you had a separate thread on this trip. It looks like a blast. That second route through south Dakota was about how I want to drive up there and then come down PCH and then across Nevada, Utah, Colorado etc.

 

[MyHigh]

Lassen is some beautiful country, my aunt and uncle used to run the KOA in Shingletown just west of Mt. Lassen on 44. They no longer run the camp so I am unable to offer my opinion on the upkeep and pricing of the place. My Labrador "Lassen" was born at the base of the Mt. Her mom was "Shasta" was born at the base of, yup!! Shasta..... It's a very cool place, there is actually a little ghost town so to speak in the area. It gets a large group of hunting dog enthusiast yearly and pretty much stays empty the rest of the year, kinda cool place to check out if you got time. And some nice dirt roads that seem to go forever can be found north of 44 and west of 89

 

[jlstick2]

Go a little further North! Washington is awesome!

 

[Bijan]

When you drive thru Denver...there will be weed stuck in your wheel wells and tires.