Drive to Leavenworth in December (Seattle, Wenatchee: rental car, rental, law)

[Caligirl8]

I understand the drive from Seattle to Leavenworth can be sketchy. I’ve read quite a few threads on it. We planned a trip flying into Seattle and driving to Leavenworth next month in Mid December. We were just notified our flights just got changed by southwest to arrive an hour later than originally planned. Now we land in Seattle at 230pm as opposed to 1:20pm and we were planning on making the drive directly to Leavenworth. Now that our flight gets in at 2:30pm and sunset will be around 4:18pm half the drive to Leavenworth will be after sunset. How well lit is this road? Specifically Highway 2 Steven’s Pass. I know weather conditions will determine a lot of the drive but I’m wondering if this is even doable or if I should cancel our flight and book another airline getting in earlier. Any advice is appreciated. Also to note yes we have driven in snow before.

[Diana Holbrook]

Easiest solution would be to stay someplace close to the airport, have a nice dinner and rest up after your trip and leave first thing in the morning.

Even an hour earlier would not have made that much difference if you consider very typical delays that might happen… you’re gonna be doing a lot of the drive in the dark.

Whether the weather is good or bad, it’s one of our most beautiful mountain passes, it’s worth seeing in the daytime. :-).

[Caligirl8]

Originally Posted by Diana Holbrook

Easiest solution would be to stay someplace close to the airport, have a nice dinner and rest up after your trip and leave first thing in the morning.

Even an hour earlier would not have made that much difference if you consider very typical delays that might happen… you’re gonna be doing a lot of the drive in the dark.

Whether the weather is good or bad, it’s one of our most beautiful mountain passes, it’s worth seeing in the daytime. :-).

Thank you for your reply! I was hoping not to stay the night in Seattle only because we already have accommodations in Leavenworth for that night. Perhaps I will also book something in Seattle. I think it’s just hard for me to gage because I have not driven this route. I’m used to winter night drives in the mountains when we go to big bear and lake arrowhead but those mountain roads I’m pretty familiar with.

[grega94]

Another option would be to take the Amtrak, Leavenworth does have a train station, I personally never done that before but that option exists.

[jabogitlu]

I would drive it in the daytime. Spend the night in Seattle, have a nice breakfast in the city somewhere, and plan to hit the pass around 11 am or 12 pm, after the daylight has had a couple hours to warm everything up. It is not the most dangerous mountain road I've ever driven by far, but it can be challenging, and weather conditions in Blewett can change quickly and drastically.

Edit: I just re-read your message and looks like you're taking Stevens Pass, not Blewett. In that case I would definitely encourage you to overnight in Seattle. A flight into the city and then immediately driving from SeaTac to Monroe, and then east, sounds like a really hectic trip, and you're going to be using basically all of your daylight hours just getting up into eastern Snohomish County and out of the metro area.

[Gardyloo]

Originally Posted by Caligirl8

I know weather conditions will determine a lot of the drive but I’m wondering if this is even doable or if I should cancel our flight and book another airline getting in earlier. Any advice is appreciated. Also to note yes we have driven in snow before.

It's a bit more complicated than that. When conditions warrant (which it often with US 2) the authorities can require that snow chains be used. Rental car companies don't allow this, so you might be faced with an additional barrier.

Frankly what I'd do is cancel the tickets and rebook on Alaska Airlines flying into Wenatchee (EAT) which is around a 40 min. drive from Leavenworth, in an area less likely to be impacted by snow, albeit not immune. You'd change planes in Seattle but you might also save money on a rental car by renting at EAT rather than SEA.

[Diana Holbrook]

Originally Posted by Caligirl8

Thank you for your reply! I was hoping not to stay the night in Seattle only because we already have accommodations in Leavenworth for that night. Perhaps I will also book something in Seattle. I think it’s just hard for me to gage because I have not driven this route. I’m used to winter night drives in the mountains when we go to big bear and lake arrowhead but those mountain roads I’m pretty familiar with.

I think trying to get to Leavenworth at night is only bringing stress to the trip. Do this by day, and I agree with the other advice on the thread to have a nice breakfast and make it a leisurely mid-to-late-morning trip up there, regardless of the weather. If it's been snowing overnight, give them time to clear it... if it's been cold, give it time to thaw. And enjoy the journey and the views, without the pressure of having to get there at night in possibly bad weather. It's way too early to predict now what that might be.

[Caligirl8]

Thank you everyone for all of your replies!!! I ended up booking an early morning flight so that will get us in by 11am and gives us plenty of time . Thank you all again!!!!

[Bluefox]

Glad to hear. The chain issue that Gardyloo brought up still remains however, so just make sure you are playing close attention to the weather. Hopefully you rented an AWD vehicle as well.

[Caligirl8]

We did rent AWD and we have a back up Turo car rented as well with snow tires. I know we are not allowed to put chains on the rental however I will have them in the trunk because I believe that’s the law