Driving in Winter from LAX to Reno
 

I'll be traveling with my family in January from LAX to Reno. I understand that during that month most of the roads in Reno are difficult to drive because of heavy snow. Is that truet? I don't have experience driving over ice roads.
I can take a flight, train, bus or drive but I don't know which is the best option.
Your advise is highly appreciated.
Thanks
Rocco

Do you really have to fly to LAX?
If you really have to, take the Amtrak bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Bakersfield and a San Joaquin train north through the Central Valley to Sacramento. Take the California Zephyr from Sacramento to Reno if the weather is bad. Otherwise, rent a car in Sacramento and drive I-80 over the Donner Pass. Donner Pass is the one place that might have icy driving conditions.
The another option would be to fly from LAX to either SFO or directly to Reno.

Fly to Reno.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TOU PRESENTED VERY GOOD OPTIONS

My husband and I drove from Long Beach to northern CA and actually passed through Reno-- in a Prius, in late December, with occasional snow coming back-- and I speak from experience:

Fly LAX-RNO. Simple as that.

It's a drive of roughly 8 hours, not including stops. It's just about all Interstate driving-- I-405 out of LAX, which merges onto I-5 into the Central Valley, then I-80 out of Sacramento straight into Reno. Despite some high mountain passes, it's not a particularly treacherous drive; I would characterize it as rather dull, other than the constant dodging around the 18-wheelers struggling up those mountain passes (and our shifting into engine + regenerative braking mode as we went down the steeper grades).

There's not that much to see through the Central Valley, so don't feel compelled to drive thinking that you'd miss something lovely. Save yourself the hassle and tedium: Fly.

I'd also investigate availability of flights out of the alternative airports in the LA metro area, if you can. Southwest flies Orange County (SNA) - RNO-- but with a stop in LAS; United adds a stop in SFO. Kind of annoying. But then again, so is LAX.

Just my 2¢.... :)

Driving is unnecessary - and silly unless you must have your car. Flying is faster (MUCH) easier (definitely)' and possibly even cheaper - especially if you are forced to stay over in the Central Valley because I80 or hwy 50 are closed.

Taking the train is idiotic - very long delays are possible. And taking the train part way and renting a car would be more expensive and the same delays are possible.

If your point is to get from point A to point B LAX to Reno, flying is the only option that makes sense at that time of year.

As much as I love trains, gotta agree with Janis - fly. But if you for any reason decide on trains - don't follow Tom Fuller's advice. Go to Amtrak website, key in your stations, and you will get a combo of trains and connecting buses. Still I strongly advise you to fly to Reno.

Renting a car, 2 issues: are you allowed to take the car out of state, CA to NV? Are you allowed to put chains that most likely will be mandatory in winter on icy mountain roads? Once again I strongly advise you to fly.

Unless you want to ride an Amtrak bus for 8 hours through the night from Santa Barbara to Emeryville, you should fly.
You would have to spend a night in Sacramento if you used the San Joaquin train (or rent a car in Sacramento).