Best route to Pasadena?

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

I'd not go I-80 through Wyoming. The interstate stretch from Laramie to Rock Springs closes more than any other segment of interstate highway. Even if it hasn't snowed for a few days the blowing snow ices the road and causes white outs.

The mountain pass between Cheyenne and Laramie is pretty intense. Drove through there back in March when they got like 3 inches of snow and it was windy. It was pretty intense even with that amount. With that said, it cleared up after Laramie and was one of the best drives I've ever been. I also loved Evanston, WY to Salt Lake. Then after Salt Lake on I-15 you can go 80mph pretty much the whole way, so it's kind of a quick drive through Utah. I-15 goes through Arizona for like 25-30 miles and it's on a gorge, so it's different as well.

 

[LagunaHawk]

The mountain pass between Cheyenne and Laramie is pretty intense. Drove through there back in March when they got like 3 inches of snow and it was windy. It was pretty intense even with that amount. With that said, it cleared up after Laramie and was one of the best drives I've ever been. I also loved Evanston, WY to Salt Lake. Then after Salt Lake on I-15 you can go 80mph pretty much the whole way, so it's kind of a quick drive through Utah. I-15 goes through Arizona for like 25-30 miles and it's on a gorge, so it's different as well.

Although it doesn't happen all that often, there have even been snow/weather/driving issues between Vegas and SoCal on I-15. I believe the elevation tops out about 4,000' on that final leg.

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

Although it doesn't happen all that often, there have even been snow/weather/driving issues between Vegas and SoCal on I-15. I believe the elevation tops out about 4,000' on that final leg.

Vegas is what? Like 2,200?

 

[ANYCHawk]

By playing an easy schedule and avoiding MSU, Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State.

 

[LagunaHawk]

Vegas is what? Like 2,200?

Yep - think the airport is about that.

 

[BEAN DOG]

Im planning on taking I80 through Wyoming and heading south at Salt Lake City (weather permitting). Anybody ever try that route?

I have gone this way and probably would do this route this time of year. I 70 is very high elevation and even good weather can be bad at 8000 feet,continue monitoring of weather is a must. Once you get South a little ways from Salt Lake it's clear sailing.
Take I 80 to I 25 south to I 40 west but it always seems to snow at Flagstaff as well , sooooo
It's a El Nino year and who the hell knows.
I live in Iowa and Mesa Az.

 

[the24fan]

Doodle nailed it....
take 54 down thru Kansas, little sliver of NW Texas and NM to Tucumcari...Then I-40 to FLG.
S on I25 to PHX, then 10 to LAX.
Route with the least weather concerns. However as stated in El Nino years the storm track is south so some of those plains blizzards can be a b!tch.

 

[ICWestfan]

If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to pack enough snacks for the entire trip.

If there were 4 of you going, wouldn't that be enough snacks?

Also, Doodle is pretty much spot on. We left Winter Park in a nice powdery snow, but by the time we got to Bearthed Pass is was chains only (being Iowans we didn't have any but were in a front wheel drive) and it was a miserable white knuckle drive in a literal blizzard. Coming off of US 40 (or whatever it is) onto I-70 it was a light rain, and by the time we got to Denver it was sunny and pleasant. This was in a March time frame but still applies.

 

[markfromj]

If you are doing I 80 to I 40, take I 76 from 80 to 25. Good diagonal.

 

[C/Seahawk]

I live in the Rocky Mountains and as others have said, it can be very dangerous driving through if a storm hits. In fact, the state has passed new tire laws for all vehicles, during winter storms you either have to have snow rated tires(not all weather) or 4WD/AWD. If you get in or cause an accident during a storm, the police will check your tire tread, type of tires and verify whether you have 4WD if you don't have snow rated tires and write a costly ticket if you are non-compliant.

If you do the drive, check cotrip.org often as they will update weather/road conditions and have live traffic cams, speed averages, highway closures, etc. its a great website and resource.

If you do drive via I-70, I would suggest avoiding peak travel times between Denver and Vail...the traffic is so incredibly bad. Do not try to drive from Denver to Vail on a Friday afternoon/early evening or Saturday morning. As for driving east from Vail to Denver, I would avoid the stretch on Saturday and Sunday afternoon/evenings, delays are in the hours...just an awful stretch of highway that is heavily congested with ski/tourist traffic. Also, there is a new toll system that was activated this week between Empire and Idaho Springs eastbound only, basically a 13mile stretch. There is a toll lane that cost up to $30 during peak travel periods along with two non-toll lanes...with this change there is no shoulder so all it will take is one minor accident or car break-down to cripple that stretch of interstate. Its bad already and I fear it will only be worse now.

We just got 16 inches of snow in the past 24hrs in Grand County(Winter Park area), and more storms are projected next week, so I would anticipate winter driving conditions if doing the drive through the Rocky Mountains.

Personally, I'd take the route through Colorado but i have 4WD and good tires and drive through these conditions all the time, but it probably would make the most sense to take the southern route from Iowa even though its a bit longer route, just better odds of good road conditions. I absolutely wouldn't do the I-70 route without AWD/4WD and good tires. If you have front or rear wheel drive only, please don't take I-70 through the Rocky Mtns

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

If it were me....I'd take I-80 to I-15. Yes you can run into some hairy weather in Wyoming and the Salt Lake area, but it's a beautiful drive. Wyoming and Utah have 80mph speed limits for the majority (not all of the state).

 

[hawkeyeharv]

If it were me....I'd take I-80 to I-15. Yes you can run into some hairy weather in Wyoming and the Salt Lake area, but it's a beautiful drive. Wyoming and Utah have 80mph speed limits for the majority (not all of the state).

Not worth it this time of year. South Western Wyoming on I-80 gets shut down very frequently and can leave you stranded in Evanston waiting out a storm. Hint.... It snows everyday in the mountains. I lived in SLC for the past 3 years and it's nothing to be taken lightly. Agree on the scenery.... Just do that in the summer time or early fall. Not worth the risk.

 

[johnbeerpong]

I just wanted to say I have no intention of going to the Rose Bowl. I plan on watching it in the comfort of my living room. I have really enjoyed reading this thread tho as a person who hasnt driven out West much past Omaha, it gives me a lot of vacation ideas and scenic routes to take.

 

[CuttyDoesIt]

Also something for you guys to keep in mind guys, depending on the day of the week, that drive from Vegas to LA can be brutal.

 

[DaveSnedeker]

Vegas resident here. A couple of issues on I-15 around the Vegas area. First, fairly substantial construction occurring near Mesquite (home of Hayden Fry). Can cause delays.

Also, like Cutty mentioned, the drive from Vegas to SoCal on a Sunday is absolutely brutal. If you don't get out before 8:00 that morning, you are looking at a high number of delays.

 

[ANYCHawk]

Vegas resident here. A couple of issues on I-15 around the Vegas area. First, fairly substantial construction occurring near Mesquite (home of Hayden Fry). Can cause delays.

So send Hayden out with some Lemonade.

 

[bigwhiffer123]

Wanted to bump this to the top now that Midwest winter weather has set in, and is also affecting a large portion of the southern route discussed in this thread. Five of us are taking off from Des Moines early Wednesday morning - thoughts?