Moving to Santa Rosa CA from Minnesota (Sacramento: trailer, money)

[daiker002]

I was planning on moving to California at the end of December from MN. I am going with two other people and they have pushed back the date four months because they say we will not be able to get through the mountains in winter. I have heard a few different things like getting chains and what not, but is it possible to drive there without paying extra money for things like that, especially since it will be a one time trip??

[Kingsnkali]

Sure you can get through the mountains! It does require timing though. Coming from Minnesota would put you in harms way just about everywhere on your route (I-35 to I-80 etc.) for snow etc. You're probably looking at 4 or 5 days of travel to get here unless you can rotate drivers and drive at night as well. I've done the trip in 32 hours of driving (Mpls to Sac) in a 48 hour period several times. That is fast though and without a trailer and few fluff stops. You're probably looking at closer to 40 hours of actual driving time to get here.

Just get prepared and watch the weather closely. Check the forecasts for Omaha, Cheyenne, Salt Lake City, Reno and Sacramento. You can do a Goggle for NWS Sacramento or NWS Salt Lake City. Click the mountains and passes to get a forecast for the most challenging parts of the trip! Find that 3 to 5 day period that offers the window you need. Plan on wind in Wyoming! It always seems windy there for some reason. The Sierra Nevada range between Reno and Sacramento might be the biggest obstacle on the route (the Salt Lake City downhill grade in the Wasatch is no picnic either). Make sure you look over your rig closely in Reno before going over the pass. The I-80 pass can be a mess for days on end if you hit a storm pattern. This part of the trip is critical! Make sure you don't arrive in Reno with big storms pounding the Sierra. You could be stuck for days. Even with chains, I wouldn't want to tow a trailer up and over the Sierra with snow flying. You might do fine climbing up to the pass but the downhill side of the roller coaster drop to Sacramento will give you white knuckles! Do it in nice/dry weather and you should be fine. Road conditions for I-80 over the Sierra Nevada - 1-800-427-ROAD. You just tell the robot "80" and you hear the road conditions. Good luck!

[calif]

Wow you are going to love the weather in Santa Rosa once you get there! It only snows every couple years or so...or every 7! ha