Hey all,

I'm finally hitting a lull at the office, and am planning to take a couple of weeks off before Thanksgiving. I'm planning on visiting friends and family in LA, driving from Chicago. It would be really cool to drive out to San Francisco and take Hwy 1 down.

My question is, what is the weather usually like, mid-November, through the mountain I-80 corridor? Does the road ever get snowed out that early? I can change my plans pretty much on the fly before I leave, and switch to the southern route and skip SF, but I'd like to know what my chances are of making it. I figure I need about a 2-day window, how quickly does the weather change (i.e., are the forecasts pretty accurate?). Once I commit to a route, I'd rather not add hundreds of miles to switch mid-trip.

Do you think chains would be necessary?

Thanks in advance,
Jeremy

 

I can't help you with the I-80 corridor info, but will talk about the Highway 1 Route down from SF. If you've never done it, it's a must. Great drive, lots of twisties. Right along the coast. Big Sur is beautiful and Hearst Castle is in San Simeon. However, you've got to check to make sure the road is open. It is sometimes closed due to repairs. Often from Carmel you'll be able to go an hour south and then that's it. Then you have to go back north to cut over to the inner interstate (I-5?) to continue south toward LA. Anyway, if it is open and you have the chance it is worth it.

Hope your trip goes well. Happy motoring!

 

but as with all Interstates, the plan is to have them open 24/7. You will notice that there are crossing gates at all entrances to the Interstate in Wyoming, for the purpose of not letting you go out there and get lost.

With any luck, you will have clear weather to enjoy the scenery with. My opinion is that I-80 is much more scenic than I-70 thru Colorado anyway.

Do it. If the weather changes, then change your route.

JPS

 

Well, my company's HQ is in Salt Lake, but we also have a branch in Denver. Plus my wife's family is from Denver, so I've taken 3 different ways to go to and from Denver. I-80 is the fastest way through Denver to Salt Lake, but I-70 is more scenic IMO. Southern WY doesn't have too much to look at. The only problem with Nov is that it is VERY unpredictable. It doesn't take much snow to be a white-out due to severe high winds. I've been in lock down in Lariame twice and was forced to spend the night, as they closed the I-80 gates. One of which was in Nov.

Most likely you will have no problems what so ever because the high majority, it's smooth sailing. However, make sure that you check the weather very closely before you hit CO or WY. Usually, if I-80 is bad, then I-70 is managable, and vice-versa.