I 5 travel Redding to Seattle in late Feb
Jan 27th, 2014, 09:35 PM
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I 5 travel Redding to Seattle in late Feb
Hello!
We are relocating from San Antonio to Seattle at the end of February. We are planning to take I 10 to Cali (with a stop at Disneyland) and then up I 5. I planned to stop in Redding on the last night because I can see from maps that just after there is a mountain range and I would rather go through there in daylight.
My question is, bing from south Texas, I have never driven through snow, ice, or mountains and I am terrified. My husband will be driving a u haul and I will be in a chevy malibu (2WD) with my 3 young daughters (6,3,2) and our dog. I am absolutely terrified of heights and ledges and add in the possibility of being up high in a snow storm and I might have an anxiety attack and die on the spot.
Can someone please tell me what the roads are actually like through that area? Will we be up high with views of giant drops? I also see it looks like there is a large bridge over water to cross…. how long is that? How long am I in the mountains for?? I am sure to many of you I sound ridiculous but you have no idea the fear I have and I would rather not be surprised with little ones in the car!
Thanks so much!
We are relocating from San Antonio to Seattle at the end of February. We are planning to take I 10 to Cali (with a stop at Disneyland) and then up I 5. I planned to stop in Redding on the last night because I can see from maps that just after there is a mountain range and I would rather go through there in daylight.
My question is, bing from south Texas, I have never driven through snow, ice, or mountains and I am terrified. My husband will be driving a u haul and I will be in a chevy malibu (2WD) with my 3 young daughters (6,3,2) and our dog. I am absolutely terrified of heights and ledges and add in the possibility of being up high in a snow storm and I might have an anxiety attack and die on the spot.
Can someone please tell me what the roads are actually like through that area? Will we be up high with views of giant drops? I also see it looks like there is a large bridge over water to cross…. how long is that? How long am I in the mountains for?? I am sure to many of you I sound ridiculous but you have no idea the fear I have and I would rather not be surprised with little ones in the car!
Thanks so much!
Jan 27th, 2014, 10:43 PM
#2
There are no heights or ledges on that route. No canyons or cliffs or anything scary like that.
BUT parts it can be very icy, and it should not be driven in a winter storm unless one is really used to winter travel. So far this winter has been EXTREMELY dry w/ almost no snow at all. If you were doing the drive today -- easy peasy. Still is cold enough to be icy overnight and in the AM. But during the day - no prob.
Unfortunately there is no telling what the weather will be a month from now. Hopefully there will be several storms between now and then -- we really REALLY need the precipitation.
But for you - no way to know until a few days before your trip.
BUT parts it can be very icy, and it should not be driven in a winter storm unless one is really used to winter travel. So far this winter has been EXTREMELY dry w/ almost no snow at all. If you were doing the drive today -- easy peasy. Still is cold enough to be icy overnight and in the AM. But during the day - no prob.
Unfortunately there is no telling what the weather will be a month from now. Hopefully there will be several storms between now and then -- we really REALLY need the precipitation.
But for you - no way to know until a few days before your trip.
Jan 27th, 2014, 11:06 PM
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Close to Ashland Or there is a pass that can be treacherous if there is a storm- sometimes road will be totally closed or chains will be required.
I always carry chains when I go over the pass - but have never had to use them.
Although the pass is a high one, you don't have a sense of height with ledges and things- its a beautiful drive really. Your kids will love seeing Mt Shasta as you go by.
There is an ODOT weather cam website where you can actually see the road conditions on line if you want to check the night before.
IF you would have to buy chains- look for Les Schwab tire store- they will take the chains back at the end of the winter and refund money if chains are not used.
Hope all goes well for you
I always carry chains when I go over the pass - but have never had to use them.
Although the pass is a high one, you don't have a sense of height with ledges and things- its a beautiful drive really. Your kids will love seeing Mt Shasta as you go by.
There is an ODOT weather cam website where you can actually see the road conditions on line if you want to check the night before.
IF you would have to buy chains- look for Les Schwab tire store- they will take the chains back at the end of the winter and refund money if chains are not used.
Hope all goes well for you
Jan 28th, 2014, 05:50 AM
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It's a freeway all the way - and they usually keep it in pretty good shape - but if a big snowstorm hits - it can slow you down, once in a while shut down the road for a few hours or longer.
If it looks like a storm might be blowing in - rent or buy some tire chains to take with you, and ask them how to install them.
If it looks like a storm might be blowing in - rent or buy some tire chains to take with you, and ask them how to install them.
Jan 28th, 2014, 05:53 AM
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BTW - as you approach Red Bluff - if you look straight ahead and it's clear - you can start to see Mt. Shasta, a 14,000+ foot cinder cone mountain - biggest one in the South Cascades.
And about 40 miles north of Redding - on the left - is Castle Cragg (sp) - a very pretty rock formation.
And about 40 miles north of Redding - on the left - is Castle Cragg (sp) - a very pretty rock formation.
Jan 28th, 2014, 05:57 AM
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And yes, there is a bridge over beautiful Lake Shasta - but the speed is reduced - and it's still two lanes in each direction - so just look straight ahead and hold 'er steady.
You could overnight in the Redding area - but if it's clear - you might consider pressing on a couple more hours to Ashland - just across the Oregon border - which is a very cute little college town and you will have then made it over the high pass if a storm should be about to blow in.
From Ashland to Seattle should be fairly clear "sailing".
You could overnight in the Redding area - but if it's clear - you might consider pressing on a couple more hours to Ashland - just across the Oregon border - which is a very cute little college town and you will have then made it over the high pass if a storm should be about to blow in.
From Ashland to Seattle should be fairly clear "sailing".
Jan 28th, 2014, 09:22 AM
#7
Despite what has been posted . . . Please - if you are not familiar with driving on chains and don't like driving on ice . . Don't do it if chains are required. It isn't a piece of cake. It is a long haul and won't be easy in the wrong conditions. This isn't a time/place to learn how to drive in the snow.
If the road is clear and dry, it is a wonderful drive. If it is snowy or icy, it is a long, slow, semi- scary drive.
You could drive as far as Redding and check what the weather forecast for the next 18 hours is. If no snow and temps above freezing go for it. If not, you can hunker down in Redding for a day or two til things settle down. As far as Castella/ Dunsmuir is usually OK, but from there on you start to gain elevation and the snow can pile up.
If it was me, I'd go as far as Dunsmuir before stopping, but I know the area and have relatives I could stay with. Redding has many more motels/hotels/shopping centers/restaurants so you could stay comfortably for a few days if necessary.
If the road is clear and dry, it is a wonderful drive. If it is snowy or icy, it is a long, slow, semi- scary drive.
You could drive as far as Redding and check what the weather forecast for the next 18 hours is. If no snow and temps above freezing go for it. If not, you can hunker down in Redding for a day or two til things settle down. As far as Castella/ Dunsmuir is usually OK, but from there on you start to gain elevation and the snow can pile up.
If it was me, I'd go as far as Dunsmuir before stopping, but I know the area and have relatives I could stay with. Redding has many more motels/hotels/shopping centers/restaurants so you could stay comfortably for a few days if necessary.
Jan 28th, 2014, 09:33 AM
#8
Agree with Tomsd - If the weather is good head for Ashland.
If it is late in the day think about going over the bridge and then stopping in the little town of Mt. Shasta or even Weed.
The exit just south of Weed has a Pilot gas station. I like filling up before going over the pass into Oregon. If you get delayed, you won't want to run out of gas waiting for the road to clear.
When you get your first gas in Oregon, you will have it pumped for you. NO self-serve in Oregon.
If it is late in the day think about going over the bridge and then stopping in the little town of Mt. Shasta or even Weed.
The exit just south of Weed has a Pilot gas station. I like filling up before going over the pass into Oregon. If you get delayed, you won't want to run out of gas waiting for the road to clear.
When you get your first gas in Oregon, you will have it pumped for you. NO self-serve in Oregon.
Jan 28th, 2014, 09:38 AM
#9
If chains are required or there is an ice/snow storm on I-5 you should postpone your trip until it clears up.
Most of the trip is just driving along a straight north/south multiple lane freeway. No big deal, no steel overlooks, etc.
There's one LONG bridge at Portland Oregon that is a bit scary to me (and probably would be to you). You can avoid having to use it by taking the 205 pass that heads out to the Portland airport then circles back on and joins I5 north of the city.
Most of the trip is just driving along a straight north/south multiple lane freeway. No big deal, no steel overlooks, etc.
There's one LONG bridge at Portland Oregon that is a bit scary to me (and probably would be to you). You can avoid having to use it by taking the 205 pass that heads out to the Portland airport then circles back on and joins I5 north of the city.
Jan 28th, 2014, 09:49 AM
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I would not want to have to drive with chains - but I have an all wheel drive so in most cases would not have to - however, sometimes the road signs say you should be carrying chains even if they are not in use- so I would take that seriously as you could get a ticket if you were stopped
http://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/chain-laws.asp
http://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/chain-laws.asp
Jan 28th, 2014, 09:54 AM
#11
The two Tom's aren't mothers w/ three young children and a dog in the car. Easy for them to say 'just sit on the side of the road to wait it out'.
You really REALLY don't want to be learning about chains and snow and ice w/ 3 little ones in car seats.if you are lucky, the weather will be like we've had the last 6 weeks and it will be a walk in the park. But if a typical winter storm is forecast - wait it out in Redding.
(And fill up in Redding - to go into Weed just to get gas? Daft! )
You really REALLY don't want to be learning about chains and snow and ice w/ 3 little ones in car seats.if you are lucky, the weather will be like we've had the last 6 weeks and it will be a walk in the park. But if a typical winter storm is forecast - wait it out in Redding.
(And fill up in Redding - to go into Weed just to get gas? Daft! )
Jan 28th, 2014, 10:25 AM
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What sunbum said about the chains~better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.
Even better, IF there is a snow storm, wait it out in Redding. You're wigged out enough just thinking about it, you'll be REALLY wigged out (to the point you may be unsafe) when faced with the reality of driving in snow. Add three small kids and a dog for distraction, and it sounds like a disaster.
In the meantime, try not to dwell on it. Focus instead on taking the little ones to Disneyland, and look forward to Seattle. It's a beautiful area.
Even better, IF there is a snow storm, wait it out in Redding. You're wigged out enough just thinking about it, you'll be REALLY wigged out (to the point you may be unsafe) when faced with the reality of driving in snow. Add three small kids and a dog for distraction, and it sounds like a disaster.
In the meantime, try not to dwell on it. Focus instead on taking the little ones to Disneyland, and look forward to Seattle. It's a beautiful area.
Jan 28th, 2014, 12:06 PM
#15
You might consider using US 101 instead of I-5. From LA to Seattle via San Francisco it's about 6-7 hours more driving time, but you avoid mountain passes, the scenery is way better, and the driving is quite easy.
In February (and as stated this isn't an ordinary winter so far) there are actually several places where I-5 can see snow, the closest of which is just north of the LA area as I-5 descends Tejon Pass (the "Grapevine") into the San Joaquin Valley.
In the winter you can also encounter "Thule fog" - a low ground fog - in the valley, then the next hills you encounter are the Siskiyous, between Redding CA and Ashland OR. However, once past Medford OR I-5 climbs and falls over several lower passes, but those are the ones that actually can be more alarming than Siskiyou Pass and that area, because they're often prone to "black ice" - invisible - that comes up unexpectedly.
Now, nine times out of ten none of these will present problems, but if you're really freaked out, taking the coast is an easy out. Even though US 101 goes through downtown San Francisco, you avoid that by taking I-280 from San Jose into San Francisco, where it becomes California Hwy 1 and transits 19th Avenue, a busy but very easy city street, before you get to the Golden Gate Bridge (which, yes, crosses water, but it's a big road.)
Then follow US 101 through the Redwoods (spectacular, worth every minute spent) and then along the glorious Oregon coast. My preferred route is to cut back to I-5 at the town of Reedsport, Oregon (Oregon Hwy 38) and then use I-5 the rest of the way.
As I said, this adds 6-7 hours overall, so not without its time penalty (maybe an overnight.) The good news is that it's a spectacular ride and virtually guaranteed to be snow-free in February.
In February (and as stated this isn't an ordinary winter so far) there are actually several places where I-5 can see snow, the closest of which is just north of the LA area as I-5 descends Tejon Pass (the "Grapevine") into the San Joaquin Valley.
In the winter you can also encounter "Thule fog" - a low ground fog - in the valley, then the next hills you encounter are the Siskiyous, between Redding CA and Ashland OR. However, once past Medford OR I-5 climbs and falls over several lower passes, but those are the ones that actually can be more alarming than Siskiyou Pass and that area, because they're often prone to "black ice" - invisible - that comes up unexpectedly.
Now, nine times out of ten none of these will present problems, but if you're really freaked out, taking the coast is an easy out. Even though US 101 goes through downtown San Francisco, you avoid that by taking I-280 from San Jose into San Francisco, where it becomes California Hwy 1 and transits 19th Avenue, a busy but very easy city street, before you get to the Golden Gate Bridge (which, yes, crosses water, but it's a big road.)
Then follow US 101 through the Redwoods (spectacular, worth every minute spent) and then along the glorious Oregon coast. My preferred route is to cut back to I-5 at the town of Reedsport, Oregon (Oregon Hwy 38) and then use I-5 the rest of the way.
As I said, this adds 6-7 hours overall, so not without its time penalty (maybe an overnight.) The good news is that it's a spectacular ride and virtually guaranteed to be snow-free in February.
Jan 28th, 2014, 03:10 PM
#16
Gardyloo makes a terrific suggestion. Since there really is no way to know what the snow situation will be - just plan on taking the coast route. This avoids the potentially NASTY fog in the Central Valley (that scares me more than driving in chains - sometimes you can't see tail lights 10 feet in front of you) and it won't matter at all if there is snow on I-5. AND you won't stuck staying in Redding 
