Which are the better maintained interstate highways for travel ling on? Portland,OR to Missouri.?
We are leaving on a road trip in two days from Portland to Springfield MO. Our route includes Hwy 84, and then 80. Or if they are snowed out, going south on I-5 and taking Hwy 70. Also there is going north and taking 90. Either way, we are trying to use whichever highway will have the most well maintained roads if it were to snow, or ice. Has anyone traveled on these roads during winter months? What advice and tips can you give? Thanks.
Portland - 2 Answers
People's Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
In two days, the forecast conditions are for fairly typical conditions. I-5 or I-84 both have reasonable risk of snow covered roads at the mountain passes: I-5 at Siskiyou summit and I-84 through the Blue Mountains. Both passes are well maintained, though the Blue Mountains usually receive less snow and tend to be colder than the Siskiyous. Colder is better for winter driving. I would go the shorter route, I-84 to I-80, then I-70 at Kansas City. Avoid I-70 through Colorado since the height of the alpine summit frequently is congested and snowy.
Answer 2 :
Any route you take this time of the year you MUST be prepared for winter driving. Winter driving needs are a properly maintained car, winter tires or all weather tires, chains, extra clothes, warm boots, dry socks, hat gloves, extra food and water or hot liquids. Use the I-84, I-80, I-25, I-70, I-135, I-44 Routing. These roads are well maintained. It is 2127 miles one way. It will take you 3 days, 6 hours to make the drive if you drive from 8:00AM to 5:00PM (with a 20 minute rest break every 3 hours) each day and get a good nights rest each night. But winter snows can often make the driving hazardous and slow going at any time. Again you must be prepared for winter conditions. Once you have moved East of the Rockies the Northern winds can bring very cold arctic air flowing down as far as Dallas - Fort Worth, TX. These air masses can be cold enough to make the Metroplex experience temperatures as low as 10 degrees F. In December of 1989 when I left there to move back to Portland the temperature was 16 degrees F on the 18th of December. These winds often meet up with humid air coming off the down-slope side of the Rockies to create "inches" of snow on the ground. You may experience ground blizzards in Wyoming and on the plains of Colorado on over to Kansas down to Oklahoma and into Missouri. If you are really cautious and unprepared for winter driving you might take the Southern route. It is 2578 miles in length and takes 4 days and 3 hours of driving time. Take I-5 to LA, bear left to I-10, I-15 to I-40 to I-44. But you must know that there could be winter driving conditions on this route also from Flagstaff, AZ. to Springfield, MO. Use the I-84, I-80, I-25, I-70, I-135, I-44 Routing. These roads are well maintained. Any route you use this time of year you must be prepared for winter driving conditions. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. You may not see any snow but you could see inches to feet of snow and if you do it can be fatal to not be prepared.
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