What's the safest winter route from Utah to NC??? (Richfield: maintenance, living)

[bcarr2010]

We're leaving at the end of January, and are looking for the safest route from Salt Lake to NC. Any help would be great!!!

[eggalegga]

I've never driven that route but I'd avoid I-80 through Wyoming and I-70 through Colorado. I think your best best is to drive south on I-15 then pick up I-40 and head east. Don't know if this is the safest route, but I think weather/road conditions wise, it might be best.

Good luck.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

I-40 passes through Arkansas and TN, both of which get ice storms in winter. I'd head down to at least I-20. Even that can get an ice storm, but not as frequently.

[markg91359]

Take I-15 southbound until you reach Nephi. Than take SR 28 southeast to Gunnison. Proceed south on Highway 89. You'll drive through Richfield and Salina. Head south towards Panguitch. Keeping going south through Kanab. Continue southbound on Highway 89 through Page, Arizona and finally south all the way to Flagstaff. At Flagstaff pick up I-40 and drive east. The rest of the drive is long, but you pretty much stay on I-40 until you get back east.

This will be a scenic trip and will take you through alot of interesting country in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. Don't plan on going any further than either Page, Arizona or at the very furthest, Flagstaff on the first day. Its a long ways.

[dcisive]

I used to travel for a living, from Ohio to the West Coast. This was pretty much year around, and I did this by car for over 20 years. There aren't too many roads I haven't been on across the country, and that would include jaunts to Dallas and Houston Texas via your route 40, as well as all the way to Atlanta on a few occasions. Oklahoma, Tennessee and beyond. I'll say this, that by in large, the worst times to travel back East is January through early March. Other than that it's generally pretty decent with little to no issues. Twice (in the summer) I managed to catch tornado's in Nebraska and only ONCE did I see a genuine ice storm that literally shut I-80 down from North Platte NE. all the way to Des Moines IA. That was amazing and very rare indeed. I-80 remains one of the best maintained roads of all the interstates...especially when winter hits.

Sure you will see snow but my advice, provided you are either driving a 4 or all wheel drive vehicle with decent tires, or a front drive vehicle with good gripping tires, would be to take the following:

I-80 East, drop down on I-74 when you cross from Iowa into Illinois, that takes you through the outskirts bypassing Indianapolis proper if you take the I-465 bypass, on the South end of Indy drop South onto I-65. From there follow I-65 south to Louisville, than hop on I-64 East bound till you get to Lexington, KY, than take I-75 South to Knoxville, where you can hop onto I-40 Eastbound into North Carolina.

It may sound a bit convoluted, but these roads are some of the better maintained interstates, and are not torn up as bad as I-40 out of the West is. Oklahoma on I-40 is about as bad as it get's and if the weather isn't good, a nightmare. I have no love of I-40 so you won't see me on that road anymore thanks. Just take a look at the route I've mentioned above on a good map (try Google Maps) and it will make a lot more sense. You get to bypass the major cities but reap the benefits of good road maintenance. Enjoy......

[HildaROTB]

Hello,
Can you take the norther route from Florida to SLC in late November.....it is about 5 hours shorter then the. AAA gave me maps that go to Vegas and up??
Thanks, Hilda

[islandindigo]

I drove that route on Dec. 26, 2004. I took this route with absolutely no problems.

Your web browser and the Maps site are incompatible

I stopped and stayed nights in Kansas City and Nashville. Took 2 FULL days of driving, but the roads were all very well maintained. Good luck!

[HildaROTB]

Thanks..I think we will go the northern route..shorter is better!!

[davideinstein]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

I-40 passes through Arkansas and TN, both of which get ice storms in winter. I'd head down to at least I-20. Even that can get an ice storm, but not as frequently.

I've never run into problems on I-40 commuting from Tulsa, OK to Greensboro, NC 15-20 times over the course of my life in the winter. Taking I-20 through the deep South seems extreme to me.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Each to his own. I lived in Oxford, MS for 5 yrs and can't tell you how many times I could't get up to Memphis due to ice on the roads.