Driving from Texas to Seattle in a moving truck (Auburn: construction, live in)

[analogkid84]

Originally Posted by flyingsaucermom

Oh, very helpful thanks. I'm sure there's a youtube video on learning to do it. Would you know how it compares to Snoqualmie or Lookout Passes?

Since we would be driving, I could probably wait a day or two on either end of the trip... I'm assuming they get the roads cleared out pretty quickly.. at least they always did when I lived in the upper mid-west.

Any chains that you buy new should come with instructions. Practice multiple times, and at night with a headlamp or flashlight. In darkness and with cold hands can be a lot of fun if you've never done it before.

[analogkid84]

Originally Posted by shaxs

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I have made the Southern California to Texas route and vice versa many times. I was hoping to be able to do a different route to see new parts of the country. Oh well, safety first and I can always visit my family in California on the way up the 5.

I think with all that you have going on with that trip, that the I-10/I-5 route is a good suggestion for that time of year. I love the mountains as much as anything, and especially more so now that I live in the Houston area. I drove here with my son in February of 2012 taking a similar route, but cutting through Wyoming. I found the Idaho and Wyoming portions to be pretty boring really. We drove down in a Hyundai Accent and the roads were in great shape in most areas. Coming through Colorado into Kansas we were about 36 hours behind a pretty major blizzard though. Fortunately, road crews had things in decent shape.

When I drove down with the rest of my family that summer, we took almost your identical route coming down into SLC, but then dove south as we wanted a day at the Grand Canyon. We then headed east and came through Roswell, NM, then on into Amarillo and beyond.

The high plains all kind of look the same after a while and most interstate routes don't give you a real good view of going through high mountains, for obvious reasons. Eastern WA and the Cascades/Snoqualmie Pass going towards Seattle can cause issues, as can the Siskiyous, as people have mentioned. With larger vehicles and towing, the south approach makes more sense. Good luck; I'm envious and hope I can make the return journey someday.

[kaonevar]

Originally Posted by kbt1766

I'm moving back south I don't like the cold weather up north. Unless you like cold weather stay in a place that has mild winters.

Seattle *does* get mild winters.

[shaxs]

Originally Posted by analogkid84

I think with all that you have going on with that trip, that the I-10/I-5 route is a good suggestion for that time of year. I love the mountains as much as anything, and especially more so now that I live in the Houston area. I drove here with my son in February of 2012 taking a similar route, but cutting through Wyoming. I found the Idaho and Wyoming portions to be pretty boring really. We drove down in a Hyundai Accent and the roads were in great shape in most areas. Coming through Colorado into Kansas we were about 36 hours behind a pretty major blizzard though. Fortunately, road crews had things in decent shape.

When I drove down with the rest of my family that summer, we took almost your identical route coming down into SLC, but then dove south as we wanted a day at the Grand Canyon. We then headed east and came through Roswell, NM, then on into Amarillo and beyond.

The high plains all kind of look the same after a while and most interstate routes don't give you a real good view of going through high mountains, for obvious reasons. Eastern WA and the Cascades/Snoqualmie Pass going towards Seattle can cause issues, as can the Siskiyous, as people have mentioned. With larger vehicles and towing, the south approach makes more sense. Good luck; I'm envious and hope I can make the return journey someday.

Thank you for the feedback. We live in the "hill country" here and I too miss the mountains something fierce. As I grew up in Central Cali and would spend weeks up in the high sierras. I am looking forward to the change in topography for sure!

I am worried about the "Seattle Freeze" in terms of meeting new people and making friends however. The southern hospitality of Texas has been quite amazing and we made life long friends here.

[analogkid84]

Originally Posted by shaxs

Thank you for the feedback. We live in the "hill country" here and I too miss the mountains something fierce. As I grew up in Central Cali and would spend weeks up in the high sierras. I am looking forward to the change in topography for sure!

I am worried about the "Seattle Freeze" in terms of meeting new people and making friends however. The southern hospitality of Texas has been quite amazing and we made life long friends here.

So far, I've found this area to be no more friendly than what I experienced living in the Pac NW. In fact, I've had more than a fair share of folks take great offense when they heard I was here from the Seattle area. They quickly shut up when I would ask them about where to find the reported Texas/southern hospitality.

I've yet to spend any quality time in the hill country, and I hope to get out there this fall/winter to explore some hiking opportunities. The flatness and the Piney woods just doesn't do it for me.

[flyingsaucermom]

Originally Posted by shaxs

Thank you for the feedback. We live in the "hill country" here and I too miss the mountains something fierce. As I grew up in Central Cali and would spend weeks up in the high sierras. I am looking forward to the change in topography for sure!

I am worried about the "Seattle Freeze" in terms of meeting new people and making friends however. The southern hospitality of Texas has been quite amazing and we made life long friends here.

You are leaving probably one of the best places in Texas (extended family outside of New Braunfels), but even so evergreens on the mountains are unbeatable. Just FYI I think there is less of the Freeze on the Eastside.

[IHitTheHighNotes]

If you're from Texas, please don't bring your driving habits with you

[shaxs]

Originally Posted by IHitTheHighNotes

If you're from Texas, please don't bring your driving habits with you

I learned to drive in California...is that any better?

[analogkid84]

Originally Posted by shaxs

I learned to drive in California...is that any better?

It has to be. This is one of the most dangerous places (Houston area that is) I've ever experienced driving, outside of a foreign country. Another part of the reason my son did not get his license until he was almost 18, and had more time behind the wheel with a parent with him. I drive here assuming that every driver in the lane next to me will cut me off with no signal, every person approaching a roadway from a side street or business entrance is going to pull out without stopping, and that every car behind me has a driver that is on a cell phone and will not see me when I stop or slow down. It's just that bad.

[shaxs]

Originally Posted by analogkid84

It has to be. This is one of the most dangerous places (Houston area that is) I've ever experienced driving, outside of a foreign country. Another part of the reason my son did not get his license until he was almost 18, and had more time behind the wheel with a parent with him. I drive here assuming that every driver in the lane next to me will cut me off with no signal, every person approaching a roadway from a side street or business entrance is going to pull out without stopping, and that every car behind me has a driver that is on a cell phone and will not see me when I stop or slow down. It's just that bad.

Yeah the driving here is fairly bad. I will give you that. Austin is better since we have so many transplants.