Driving from Seattle area to Kansas City this time of year: I-90 OK?
 

Hi,

Approximately when does it start getting dicey driving across the Rockies on I-90, snowy pass wise? For a solo woman driver, 10 year old car, next week, is there enough difference re: easier and gentler routes between 84/80 and 90?

The benefit of I-90 is going through northern Nebraska to stay over with relatives.

On I-90 the only significant pass you'll cross (after Snoqualmie) is Lookout Pass on the Idaho-Montana line, and I'd be surprised if snow would be a factor there any time before early-mid November. At night it might get below freezing, so a chance of black ice, but if you leave Seattle in the early-mid morning you can easily be over Lookout by late afternoon the first day (maybe make Missoula your first layover) after which there really isn't a lot of challenging terrain over the rest of Montana.

I'd keep on I-90 all the way to South Dakota, then cut down on US 385 at Deadwood (through some lovely Black Hills country) to the Nebraska line at Chadron, then follow US 20 across Nebraska as needed.

A few years ago I did a transcontinental trip from Philly to Seattle in the early spring, so roughly the same kind of season (i.e. changeable) and really didn't have any trouble once we were west of Omaha. If interested, here's a trip report on Flyertalk: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...back-ford.html

Thanks so much, gardyloo. Excellent trip report!

That looks like a great route, Gardyloo, the more I look at it. The Nebraska destination is Valentine, right on US 20.

US 20 is a beautiful drive...I think you'll be surprised at how scenic it is.

Thank you, Musicfan. That looks like the way to go.