raod trip from Seattle to Chicago (Vancouver: hotel, dangerous, bus)

[huzaifa.gain]

Hello Friends,
I am driving from Seattle to Chicago sometime in Feb. I drive a mid size sedan car.

Which route for be optimum for me as I wont avoid all treacherousness passes.

Please suggest ?

[lady fern]

I really don't think that you can get out of Washington without going over a pass. You might be able to check the map for a route once you hit Eastern Washington to see if you can dip further south into Idaho and avoid the passes in MT and western SD. We just did the trip in early December but stayed on I 90 until IA, then headed south a bit to avoid storms in Minnesota.

[sean98125]

I've had better luck on 84 & 80 than on 90. It's a longer drive, and it all depends on what the weather patterns are doing.

[poopskooper]

I also think that the I-84/I-80 routing may be a bit better. It's an easier route over the Rockies and the only other "treacherous" pass would be Cabbage Hill on I-84 over the Blues. Many consider Cabbage Hill a treacherous pass in the winter as can be attested by the recent fatal tour bus crash. I've gone over Cabbage Hill when the fog was so thick that I literally could not see past the hood of my truck ...but once you're in it, you have got to keep going as stopping would even be more dangerous.

[marionberry]

Good luck! A little over a week ago I just drove from Seattle to Madison, WI
(I took i-90 and then switched to i-94 later on, so unfortunately I don't think I can be of much help)

[pw72]

Having done this trip many times over, I would suggest the following:

1. Keep your plans flexible. Check the weather a day or two before departure, and act accordingly.

2. Don't lock into no-refund hotel rates. Sometimes they will give you a weather break, sometimes they won't.

3. Be patient. Even with the worst weather, a slowdown won't be the end of the world. Chains are rarely required in the west outside of California.

4. If you need a better route out of Seattle, it sometimes is better to drive the 2.5 hours to Vancouver, then through the Columbia Gorge on I-84, but even in bad weather, this route can also be dicey, mostly due to ice.

5. Back to #1. Follow the weather. The resources are so good these days, via the Weather Channel and State internet road sites. Access them and use them.