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Hi there! I am currently planning to move from Seattle to Boston with my partner and our doggo in mid to late December. We were planning on driving there, possibly even with a moving trailer attached. This is our first time driving across the country and our first winter road trip. We are starting to get freaked out about the winter/weather conditions and are unsure of what the safest route would be or if there is one.
Here's a few questions if you have any answers and/or experience:
-What would be the best route to avoid crazy winter weather?
-How many days should we plan on for the trip?
-Is it a bad idea to bring a trailer with us?
Hi there! I am currently planning to move from Seattle to Boston with my partner and our doggo in mid to late December. We were planning on driving there, possibly even with a moving trailer attached. This is our first time driving across the country and our first winter road trip. We are starting to get freaked out about the winter/weather conditions and are unsure of what the safest route would be or if there is one.
Here's a few questions if you have any answers and/or experience:
-What would be the best route to avoid crazy winter weather?
-How many days should we plan on for the trip?
-Is it a bad idea to bring a trailer with us?
1. Unless you want to go by way of Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, & DC (4500 miles), there isn't one
2. Driving over 3000 miles, 8-10 days if no delays
3. Yes, they can get squirrely on icy roads
Suggestion:
Ship stuff by one of the container outfits ie U-Pack or PODS or U-Box.
Then sell car and fly to Boston, buy new car there.
Ship dog by one of the pet relocation services.
That is a big dilemma. Go across the Northern/direct route and you have high risk of ice/snow problems. Go across the South and you've just lengthened your route quite a lot.
I think you should either give up the road trip or postpone until Spring.
...planning to move from Seattle to Boston with my partner and our doggo in mid to late December.
-What would be the best route to avoid crazy winter weather?
That's TWO questions.
The best route is the shorter northern one.
Avoiding weather is about watching the news... be ahead or behind any storm front.
Quote:
-How many days should we plan on for the trip?
More than what google maps says to allow; add 3 or 4.
Quote:
-Is it a bad idea to bring a trailer with us?
That's almost all about the quality of the tow vehicle and your driving skill.
Quality of the goods counts too. Don't drag IKEA crap cross country.
I've done this a couple of times with pets. I would not want to be towing anything especially as you are not experienced doing it. If you think you must tow a trailer, make sure you know what the tow capacity of your car is and be conservative. The conditions won't be favorable. If you have so much stuff you need a sizeable trailer to haul it that's going to be troublesome and a risk. If you don't have enough stuff to justify much of a trailer, don't bother. Ship it or sell it.
Agree that the route may not matter all that much. You can hit bad conditions anywhere. At least, if you are on a more northern route there may be less traffic and other winter-savvy drivers may outnumber the clueless ones that cause accidents that involve you. The fewer days on the road the better. However, you need to be ready to flex and sit out bad conditions.
Watch the weather forecasts especially what may be coming up behind you...you'll be travelling WITH it, so you either want to jump so you get ahead of an approaching storm front and stay there, or be willing to wait until it gets ahead of you and the roads are cleared.
You may hit some extreme cold even if the weather itself is drivable. Make sure you don't have liquids in the car that will burst if they freeze. Realize you may need to unload more into a motel if you stop, so pack accordingly.
Be prepared with a list of motels that are pet friendly in case you need one on short notice and be prepared to stay over an extra day if the weather does get bad. Carry emergency gear...you'll need to leave space in the car for it.
Last edited by Parnassia; 11-24-2020 at 07:29 AM..
I think for sure we aren't going to do the trailer and we'll go with the POD route instead.
I had a roommate move last month to Orlando and got a POD for about $1900 shipped to the door... It was something like 6ft x 7ft x 8ft and wasn't a bad price all things considered. They hold a lot more than you think and when I decide to move back east (hopefully soon, 9 years of the left coast is enough) I'll most likely do the same POD type deal... moving only my essential items.
Black ice. If you’ve never experienced it read up on it.
Your dog will be fine while you drive but it might be hard to find good places to walk him if it is snowy or icy. Maybe bring a snow shovel so you can clear a path if needed. And depending on his fur maybe get a dog coat for cold outside the car.
It's 2020. Roads are generally kept open except when it is coming down like a blizzard.
Just watch the weather reports and adjust as needed.
Figure six hours or so of driving each day. Add two hours for dog and people stops. That makes for about a ten day trip with the trailer, which i know you said was maybe not the way you were going to day. Cut it in half and double the driving hours if you go without the trailer. 2 people driving? Or do you want to take your time and see the sights?
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