Driving from Vancouver BC to Missoula MT in february (rental car, rental)

[bataller]

Hello! I found this forum while searching for information on a road trip i'm planning for Feb next year.. On the 7th we're looking at driving to Missoula for a concert; I have a 2008 Honda fit sport with stock tires. Will my car be fine? What kind of weather would we expect in that area in early february? We'll be sticking to I-5, I-405, and I-90 on the way down.

It'll be a real stretch for me to afford winter tires and a rental car is out of the question.. will I be able to make the trip or is it too risky?


Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/washi...#ixzz0UqHEVZQ0

[mattman3seven]

Crystal Ball says.......

[Gman2007]

Here's a couple recent threads on the driving conditions in the route you'll be going on with some good info. But yes, a crystal ball or better yet a magic 8 ball would work well!

http://www.city-data.com/forum/monta...la-winter.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/monta...s-lookout.html

[cedar_bluff_tree_farm]

I can tell you that Snoqualmie Pass outside of Seattle won't be fun!

(You don't describe your route, but I assume you'll take I-5 south to Seattle and then I-90 east to Missoula.)

[mtlogger]

The route is fine, the weather is "iffy". You'll have take an extra day or two, if the weather turns rotten.

[bataller]

thanks for the replies, i'm trying to track down a larger car for the trip with AWD. I am going to take I-5 to I-90 if we go.

[organick]

if you have to set certain dates right now I would say no go. The passes (esp snoqualmie and lookout ) can be awful or just closed. But even the regular parts of the road can be bad. There will at the very least be sections of ice/snow pack in idaho/ mt. Def. carry chains and emergency supplies if you do it. Best bet would be to have a general plan that you can alter based on the weather. I sat in bodunck Idaho for 2 days before because there was no way I was going over lookout and that was with awd, studded tires and chains in the trunk

[Montana Griz]

Originally Posted by bataller

Hello! I found this forum while searching for information on a road trip i'm planning for Feb next year.. On the 7th we're looking at driving to Missoula for a concert; I have a 2008 Honda fit sport with stock tires. Will my car be fine? What kind of weather would we expect in that area in early february? We'll be sticking to I-5, I-405, and I-90 on the way down.

It'll be a real stretch for me to afford winter tires and a rental car is out of the question.. will I be able to make the trip or is it too risky?


Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/washi...#ixzz0UqHEVZQ0

...bataller......

I have read all current entries in this thread, and find some to be slightly misleading as to the potential for problems associated with traveling I-90 from Seattle to Missoula in February.

Yes, I would not attempt to use your Honda as you have described it.

IF you can be driving a 4 wd or Awd vehicle with good studded snows (and chains in the trunk for back-up) and have proper weight distribution in the vehicle,......I would have no reservations about making that trip....! And I'm closing in on 78 years old.

I have made that round trip approx 350 times since 1966 (approx once every month or so), in every month, in ALL kinds of weather, in 2 door sedans, in 4 door sedans, in station wagons: (these were all 2 wd/rear wheel drive), also in Pick-ups, and SUV's that were 4wd. In all my trips, I never "got stranded" or slide off the road. I did have to "chain up twice" (back in the late 1960's), and had to follow behind a snow plow a few times while they got rid of some of the fresh snow that may have fallen in the last few hours.) In the winter, I'll admit it's not like driving on I-10 across the southern US......but it also is not like driving the the Alaska Hwy, or the Cassier Hwy in B.C., or the "Haul Road" in AK up to Cold Foot in the winter either.

BUT, bear in mind....from Oct through April, I ALWAYS made sure I had aggressive Snow tires (and chains for back-up), and at least a total pay load of 700 pounds in the vehicle, (including a couple of bags of sand, a shovel, a tow strap, couple of pairs of gloves, two flash lites, roll of bailing wire, a tool kit, a sleeping bag, some candy bars, 1/2 gallon of water and some R.R. Flares.

If you keep your speed realitive to the road conditions, pay attention and don't use the damn cell phone while driving....you should have no problems.

Just my .02 cents.