Drving Dallas to Seattle,need help inDirection (best, trips, route)

[smobin]

I am driving Dallas to seattle on feb 20th 2011 can some one help me with best direction.
I am driving Honda Pilot NOt 4X4 is that be ok?

[Hemlock140]

I suppose Denver/Salt Lake/Boise/Pendleton is the most Direct route, but you could hit a lot of snow on that route. Figure 32 hours if you have clear roads.

Carry chains for sure, but you might be better off going Highway 10 west to LA then up I5. That route you could run into some snow in California near the Oregon border but that's about it. That's going to take 40 hours on the road.
If you haven't been to CA you might enjoy the drive if you do it during the light hours.

[smobin]

Thanks joe, is it really bad thru Colorado, I have been to California a few times, but I really want to see the Colorado and Wyoming route, if this is really bad then I think I need to change my plan.

Does February have bad snow?

[azoria]

Yes.

Kindly remember that spring does not commence until March 21. February is winter. Winter has snow.

[MAtheBanker]

Utah and surrounding have been getting ridiculous snow this year, so 4WD is a must.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by bisjoe

I suppose Denver/Salt Lake/Boise/Pendleton is the most Direct route, but you could hit a lot of snow on that route. Figure 32 hours if you have clear roads.

Carry chains for sure, but you might be better off going Highway 10 west to LA then up I5. That route you could run into some snow in California near the Oregon border but that's about it. That's going to take 40 hours on the road.
If you haven't been to CA you might enjoy the drive if you do it during the light hours.

Weather does not look great at that time, CA route may be preferred.
Climate Prediction Center - 8 to 14 Day Outlook

Originally Posted by smobin

I really want to see the Colorado and Wyoming route, if this is really bad then I think I need to change my plan.

Does February have bad snow?

What do you want to see in WY and CO? That totally dictates your route.
I have often found I-90 through Montana to be better than I-80 through WY, and certainly more scenic (very windy and BARE prairie). I-25 can also be a challenge between Cheyenne and Casper (wind).

For the most mtn scenery I would take I-70 to I-15 to I-90. Mtns can = snow, and maybe a few road closures (hopefully not, I have never had one in 30+ yrs of mtn driving, tho they are much more aggressive to shut down now-days.). I have taken many DRY winter trips over this route as well. I-80 is far more treacherous on a bad day. but I-70 carries A LOT of CO ski traffic, avoid peak times (westbound early on weekends). The route is very pretty, WY is very desolate.

[Hemlock140]

The forecast for this week in the Rockies is lows -1 to 5F, but mostly clear. I'd just check again a day or two before leaving. You could get lucky or could get stuck in a blizzard. We have seen snow even in this area 20 miles east of Seattle as late as April. I was once in Wyoming near the Grand Tetons in a snowstorm in June.

[smobin]

Thanks very much every one I think I Dont wory for scenery now and take a rout thru 10 west to california and then 5 or 405 but is I-10 w is better then I 40 ?

[smobin]

If I drive to Seattle from Dallas is it better taking I-10 west or I-40 west

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by smobin

If I drive to Seattle from Dallas is it better taking I-10 west or I-40 west

I-10, due to I-40 elevations in AZ and NM (snow likely).