California experts- urgent driving advice needed
 

I have to drive two cats from Colorado to Palo Alto in the next few days. I do not have 4 wheel drive and the forecast for I 80 and Donner Pass looks awful the next few days. SO, I am looking at going I 40 to Barstow. Here are my questions:

From Barstow, should I go 58 to Bakersfield, then over to 5 and up? Is there a better way? I am completely unfamiliar with all of these cities and highways so am I missing something in terms of horrible traffic, horrible roads?

I so don't want to add another day of driving from Colorado and another night in a hotel with the fur fiends but I don't think I can make it on I 80 by Monday night with the weather and road conditions.

Any advice or words of comfort would be much appreciated.

Are you planning on coming down I 25 trhough NM to I 40 west?

IF so, Raton Pass is likely to close by tonight, for how long, who knows.

Northern NM is expecting a pretty good dump of snow starting tonight.

I am coming down I 25 but thought I would wait until Saturday. The weather channel indicated good weather there on Saturday, what does your local forecast indicate for then?

Saturday seems to be ok as of now. Sunny and low 40's in ABQ during the day.

kob.com for local weather.

For road conditions:

http://m.nmroads.com/site.html?ViewMap

There are a series of storms lined up out in the Pacific -- there is likely to be snow for the next couple of weeks.

And chance at all you can fly them out???

I personally would not drive out right now.

>>From Barstow, should I go 58 to Bakersfield, then over to 5 and up? Is there a better way?<<

That would be the most direct but it is a nasty/butt ugly drive. Heading over to the coast probably wouldn't be better since there is supposed to be rain rain rain.

I am not thrilled about driving either but I have our car, the cats and a full packed load that needs to get to our new place. In looking at the weather, it seems like days and days before the northern route looks good. Seems like Saturday-Monday was the best weather coming across New Mexico and Arizon and up California.

So is the nasty/butt ugly drive just in terms of appearance or is there something dangerous or awful I don't know? I have driven I 40 across from Abq to Flagstaff so I know what that is like but know nothing from that point west.

I will have my 18 year old daughter with me so not sure if that will make the drive more or less pleasant! They are her cats that we are now stuck with while she is in college.

Any other route suggestions or weather links that I can check obsessively?

>>So is the nasty/butt ugly drive just in terms of appearance or is there something dangerous or awful I don't know?<<

I-5 is the main N-S highway and is the safest. The are masses of big rigs and cars travel waaaaay too fast but the road is good. One thing to watch out for is fog. Keep a close watch -- and actually listening to the local AM news/talk stations is the best way to get on the spot reports. If they are talking about fog -- head to the nearest roadside chain hotel and wait it out.

zero visibility + big rigs + too fast cars -- results in several massive multi-car (like 20 to 100+ cars) /multi-fatility pile ups every winter.

If there's no fog the drive is OK (butt ugly but OK :) )

Thanks Janis, good tips on the fog, we will check before we leave that morning!

When will you hit California?


I would go to the NWS site and not depend on the radio.You can look at the hourly forecasts there and decide in advance if you want to hold a motel room somewhere and wait it out.


In addition to the fog, with the forecast "Pineapple Express" you can get torrential rain.

I should get to Bakersfield Sunday night, I think

The reason I suggested radio -- is the central valley fog is very <B>VERY</B> localized. It can cover hundreds of miles or just scattered spots. The National Weather service will say if there is fog or not but the local news radio station in say Fresno or Merced will spell out exactly where the fog is. "Zero visibility for 6 miles from West Shaw Ave to yadda yadda yadda"

<<That would be the most direct but it is a nasty/butt ugly drive. >>. This is where I disagree with Janis. I love I-5 and think it I'd beautiful. Especially this time of year: the hills will be green! KMJ 580 radio in Fresno has great weather and info.

"Seems like Saturday-Monday was the best weather coming across New Mexico and Arizon and up California."

The Pineapple Express is rolling in, expected to bring the worst rains in 10 years to California. You may have to hunker down in Bakersfield on Monday, well into the afternoon.

Theres a very good La Quinta Inn on Spectrum Parkway that's pet-friendly. NORTH Bakersfield, much better than the south Bakersfield La Quinta.

I don't claim to be a California expert but I have driven over both Tehatchipi Pass (58) and Donner Pass (I-80) in adverse weather conditions. I would take my chances with I-80 with a stop at the Les Schwab in Winnemucca to buy a set of tire chains. https://www.lesschwab.com/store/nv/winnemucca/955
If you leave Reno about noon and put on chains if necessary you will get to Roseville before 4PM.
CalTrans takes good care of I-80 at least during the daylight hours. Limit the speed to 40mph and leave plenty of distance when using chains.
If you don't use the tire chains, you can return them to any Les Schwab for a full refund (keep receipt).

Thanks so much everyone for the advice, weather links, hotels recs and ideas. I am planning on leaving Colorado Saturday am and going south. Will keep my fingers crossed but am prepared for some waiting it out stays along the way.

I think they just closed I-80...

Driving 58 to Bakersfield will take you over Tehachapi Pass and if there's a cold system, that's where you'll have difficulty, ice & snow. However, this is a warm system and the forecast for Tehachapi shows a break all day on Sunday. Good luck!

MichelleY . . . I was talking about farther south being 'butt ugly' ;)

By the time one is up into say Fresno county it gets better.

Tom: chains don't help when the road is closed due to snow or multiple spin outs.

Janis - yes, south of Kettleman City.:D

Well, for better or worse, we are leaving Colorado tomorrow and hope to spend Saturday night in Holbrook, Arizona. Sunday then is a 12 hour drive to Palo Alto if the weather cooperates. We will see how things look when we get to Bakersfield and wait there if we need to late day Sunday. Thanks so much everyone for your help, I will let you know when we get safely to our place in Palo Alto.