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Fastest and Safest (least snow) X-Country Route from Lake Tahoe to NC?

Fastest and Safest (least snow) X-Country Route from Lake Tahoe to NC?

Old Nov 20th, 2014, 08:36 AM
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Fastest and Safest (least snow) X-Country Route from Lake Tahoe to NC?

Greetings, intrepid travelers! If you've driven cross-country in winter and in a rush, can you share your wisdom?

I need to get to Raleigh NC ASAP and driving. We've not driven cross-country before and we need to book it fast and also take a route that is least likely to have snowstorms (we don't have four-wheel drive and also can't take time out for road closures).

Scenic trip-planning is, sadly, not a factor, as we just need to get there and are willing to almost drive around the clock (there are two of us -- I know that might not be the happiest drive, but if we take turns sleeping it seems doable).


Cannot leave til Friday 10 am Nevada time to reach Raleigh NC Tuesday evening.

We'd be grateful for all advice!
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Old Nov 20th, 2014, 10:44 AM
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Friday as in tomorrow? It is 43 hours drive time whether you go through Nebraska or Kansas.
My preference would be to get on the Amtrak California Zephyr at 4PM in Reno on Friday and get off in Omaha Nebraska about 5 AM (could be late) on Sunday. Mapquest says it is drivable from Omaha to Raleigh in 20 hours getting you there in a rental car about noon on Monday.
The highest point on I-80 is between Rawlins and Cheyenne WY and it easily could be closed for a few hours.
Carry plenty of food and don't let the gas tank get below half if you do decide to drive all the way.
Stay with the car if you do get stuck. Carry a shovel and 2 good flashlights.
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Old Nov 20th, 2014, 11:57 AM
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Do you already have a car? Assume you do so the train idea doesn't work. 80 is still you best bet. You don't have a lot of choices given the time factor. Weather is not going to be that big a factor since you know what the weather is now. It moves west to east so if it clear when you start it should stay that way unless a system is moving in.

When I have done these type of drives in the past we followed a strict rotation of 2 on, 2 off. It didn't make any difference where we were when the first two hours was up. Pulled it over, changed drivers. The second two hours was always a gas station, fill up, restroom, change drivers. Lose maybe ten minutes.
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Old Nov 20th, 2014, 01:31 PM
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Is the Millennium Falcon in the shop again?
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Old Nov 20th, 2014, 01:57 PM
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Clever, Brian

Thanks, all of y'all, for your responses. Train idea is not workable as we need to get this car to NC by Tuesday night.

I appreciate the W->E weather movement comment, suggestions for how to do the driver shifts, reminders about gas and food, et al.

Is I 80 really faster than,say, 93 to I 40? Would be grateful to hear specific route recommendations if folks have them.

Thanks much
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Old Nov 20th, 2014, 02:33 PM
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I think so. Plug it into one or two of the map apps and see what the recommendation is. The problem with 40 is that you have to get to it and that is not easy from Reno and somewhat out of your way. Second 80 is a good route through the mountains - relatively wide open when compared to 70. By Omaha you would have some easy options of swinging further south. To make you best time, staying with Interstates is critical.
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Old Nov 20th, 2014, 02:35 PM
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PS - use weatherbug - it provide radar tracks so you can see weather systems in detail.
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Old Nov 20th, 2014, 03:19 PM
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Figure on 24 hours to Salina Kansas through SLC Green River and Denver. East of Salina you'll go through KC, St. Louis and Nashville. Kansas will likely be better than Nebraska.
It will be at least 43.5 hours of drive time.
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Old Nov 20th, 2014, 03:20 PM
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Be sure you have some food and water int he car as well as a blanket. Make sure the wiper fluid has antifreeze in it and pay STRICT attention to the weather. Do NOT take any chances - you don;t want to be one of those bodies found at the side of the road in a white out.

And you definitely need shovels, windshield scraper and large brush to get snow off the car.
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Old Nov 21st, 2014, 04:55 AM
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"We've not driven cross-country before and we need to book it fast and can't take time out for road closures. "

This approach can get you killed. Inexperience+hurry is a fatal combo.

Did you read this story this morning about the five members of a Texas family who were killed on their dream trip to Disney World? The driver fell asleep at the wheel. He and one other child survived as orphans.
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Old Nov 21st, 2014, 01:08 PM
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Assume you are on the road. If not, post a response as I have some other info for you.
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Old Nov 21st, 2014, 09:35 PM
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Greetings -
Thanks to all for your thoughtful replies

We left Lake Tahoe at 9 this morning and drove all day to get to I-40, figuring it to be a safer route -- less likelihood of snow. Just checked into our hotel and it's 11:30 local time (went through a time zone shift). It's hard to have driven within a hair's breadth from Grand Canyon and not go there -- next time!

I'm expecting that this will have been our longest day of driving.

Many thanks again
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Old Nov 21st, 2014, 10:04 PM
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PS: Just want to say once more that we definitely took some of y'all's suggestions and are grateful. I've posted another question separately about I-40.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone
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