"Once you are on I-10, which route do you take into Seattle?"
I hope you have a GPS app on your phone or in your car. I like WAZE a lot for directions.

You don't need to go as far west as San Diego. You can cut north through the desert on US 95 and/or I-40 and bypass all the southern California (San Diego, LA) traffic, saving a lot of time, as in this case from Phoenix. https://goo.gl/maps/5CUMvbRop181AwKJA

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From San Diego or southern CA to Seattle is by itself 1200 miles/21 hours!!. I recognize the recommendation for a southern route but this is a LOT south and adding a lot of driving IMO.

MY vibe on this is that you cover lots of ground in the early couple of days of your trip (you're 'south', the weather is '... better (?????) ', and your major weather obstacles lie well ahead).

Once you need to commit toward the north, IF you need to drive most of the night, you can DO it, with time "saved" based on how much territory you covered each day in the early going.

I too admit that they are really good at keeping the I-70 pass open west of Denver... BUT WHEN IT SNOWS there, even the bravest likely pull off the road and get a room.

IF you have 12-ish hours to spare at such a point, you pull off and get a room, and get recharged (in every way)... and then you press on.

BUT you are far more comfortable in such a scenario IF you made tracks when darting out of the Carolinas.

If you heed the couple of hotel chains mentioned here that allow dogs... maybe VISIT one and get their little "Motel 6" catalog with info/data for all Motel 6's in all states... that can be handy on the road as you're improvising on the fly.

You have SO many advantages with two drivers, and if you really go at it between, say, Raleigh and Denver, then you can create a margin for error.

I am NOT endorsing a break-neck pace that endangers your lives... only that you optimize what you have.



The "L-shaped route" (using Los Angeles, for rough guesstimates)... adds another 12 hours of driving (to 45 already)


... and even an "L-shaped route" using Fillmore, Utah adds 6 hours... WHICH WOULD BE a fine sacrifice IF guarantEED to be major-weather-free. (of course you can't know)


The critical goal (from the moment you leave your house) should be how best to get through the Rockies.

Second to that goal is how best to avoid areas with major cities and their traffic jams.

(if you've built-up a time cushion, for having been 'efficient' with your two drivers driving all day early... AND IF weather concerns don't appear to be dire up ahead... you might ONCE afford to arrive into some city at about 3pm and just get a room THEN... taking the time to re-charge and get a good meal while avoiding their rush hour traffic and getting a solid night of sleep for a change)

You can probably drive for a long while from Raleigh before you need to make critical CHOICES about the path up ahead.


I hope the weather gods are kind to you, but don't worry about it.

And I don't expect that new employers on this end will be very harsh in a case where they know why you are so lethargic upon arrival. It isn't like you were out drinking until 3:45 am.

NWMale says I too admit that they are really good at keeping the I-70 pass open west of Denver... BUT WHEN IT SNOWS there, even the bravest likely pull off the road and get a room

Having skiied in Colorado for many years coming from Carolina, we have had to drive in snow a number of times. Colorado will tell you when to get off the interstate by saying "Chain law". When we have had to get to the airport to leave, we just kept going albeit at whatever low speed the traffic was going. But the time cushion NWmale suggests is right on.
Watch the weather ahead of you and plan accordingly.

I would not make the drive without reservations with a dog.
Others would but there's no way I would. It may be 2 or 3 hours along some stretches before you'll get to a place large enough for hotels and/or have one that allows pets. If that's 2 or 3 hours past 6pm, then pet-friendly rooms may have been booked. This happened to me in south GA last week. I THOUGHT I made a reservation at a hotel ($35 non-refundable pet fee) but when the day rolled around I realized I had not. On the verge of panic I called my vet and they had an opening for boarding. Even so, there was no decent hotel with availability for that night within three hours of my destination. If you are in an area with lots of hotels, you'll be okay. Less okay traveling with a dog. But if you've pushed to drive more, you run the risk of 1) finding a hotel for the humans and 2) maybe having the dog sleep in the car.

Others say they do it without any problems. If you decide to do it without reservations, I hope you have similar luck. That has not been my personal experience.

Make a reservation that can be cancelled by 6pm and if you are stif feeling good at 5pm, try to find a hotel 2 or 3 hours ahead and THEN cancel the hotel room. I've found that making reservations in advance helps me self-regulate and not push past the point of safe driving. If it were summer, you could pull over into a KOA and sleep in the car. I did that a lot when I was younger. I had a safe place to sleep when I was tired, and I had a car with huge sofa sized seats.

Do what works for you, but if a storm hits you won't be the person looking for a room. You'll already have a reservation. I've driven back and forth across this country,staying at LQs = no pet fees, friendly staff, free (although carb heavy) breakfasts.

Edited to add - years ago I lived a few miles off 20 in Texad and Georgia. In December, an ice storm hit both cities several days apart. I was afraid that I would not be able to get "home" for the holidays and then it looked like I may not be able to get back for work in Texas. Ice storms hit southern states too. I'll look at the route and you could dip down to 20 in GA and go across, but they are redoing the bridges in Birmingham right now. The Amariillo LQ is a good option along the TX route.

Since there are two of you, can you just try to get to Las Vegas by the 16th? and you fly up and the other finish driving?

It isn't a route that I'd contemplate in winter in a hurry. I would go as far south as possible if you MUST drive I would go approximately like this...

Raleigh to approx Dallas area in two days depending on weather. If the weather is decent maybe you'll get farther. Then one day to approx Lordsburg NM (only because I know a great Motel 6 there). Then one day to Barstow or Bakersfield (when you reach Phoenix you can decide to split up to 40). From Bakersfield to Seattle is still a two day drive (17 hours).

BTW snow isn't the only bad weather that you may run into. In California winter is "tule fog" season which can be a dangerous time to drive via the Central Valley.

With a cellphone and backup paper maps. Motel 6 allows cancellations up to 6pm on the arrival day (be sure to take into account time zone changes). I like to have them booked as a backup on road trips especially if there is touchy weather. Keep a couple of sleeping bags in the car.

For my 2 cents- Hire a third driver. Have him/her drive at least 6 hours out of 24. If the weather is iffy in northern California, I would take a southern route with I-40 all the way to Barstow (not LA or San Diego).
From Barstow it is up over the Tehachappi Pass on CA 58 to Bakersfield to tie in with CA 99 and I-5. I'm hoping you have winter tires (not all season) with plenty of tread.
Pay the airfare for your third driver home from Portland or Seattle.
I do not recommend the "cannonball run". Last month, two drivers drove from a garage in Manhattan to a famous hotel in Los Angeles in 27 hours 25 minutes at an average speed of 103 MPH with a top speed if 165 MPH. (No speeding tickets).
Pay close attention to the west coast weather forecasts as you go west and adjust your route accordingly. Have a safe trip.

Raleigh to Amarillo is 22 hours and 19 minutes. I would make a reervation at that LQ for night 2 and something 11 miles in for night 1.
Las Vegas is just under 13 hours past Amarillo. I'd make a reservation 2 hours before that. Kingsman is 11 hours past Amaraillo.
It's 17.5 hours from Las Vegas to Seattle. That's too far for one day's drive and splitting it in half = 2 short days.
Kingsman to Seattle is 19.5 or 21.75 hours depending on which route you take. I'd take the risk of not making a reservation on that north/south route. I would not on the east to west route.
That would give you -
Raleigt to Amarillo = 22 hours.
Amarillo to Kingsman = 11 hours
Kingsman to Seattle = about 20 hours
I'd definitely make a reservation in the desert.
I'd make it for night 1 too. I'd pick something near Memphis.
I simply don't see a reason NOT to make a reservation at 11 hour drive intervals. IMO it's smart for many reasons. The problem, is...you may THINK you are ready to drive 2 more hours, but what if there's no room at the inn for you and your pup. Cancel before 6 if you want. We all have different levels of risk tolerance but for me it's nonsensical to think 11 hours of driving for 5 days won't impact you physically.. It's your health and safety at stake. Well, and that of your dog.

If you do get off I-40 at Kingman AZ (no s) you might want to go for an extra hour to the Hoover Dam Lodge. They do have pet friendly rooms. The lodge is soon after you go over the high bridge that is above Hoover Dam on the Nevada side. Top off the tank in Kingman. I would be leery of driving north on US 95 from Las Vegas to I-80 east of Reno. It is farther to go through Barstow but safer to drive across the Mojave Desert instead of over the Donner Pass (I-80).
The midway point between Kingman and Seattle is near Corning CA along I-5.

Thanks, everyone. I appreciate all of the great input.

Get your playlists up to date and maybe a couple of books on tape. You have NO idea how long these roads are!! My first drive to Denver is when I stopped and bought an audio tape half way across Kansas.

I drive a LOT for work. I love audio books on Audible. If you need to buy something, stop at a Cracker Barrel, just off the interstates. Clean bathrooms. Good food. If you won't want to stop for a "sit down" meal, call ahead and place an order to go.

I always look for McDonalds and Starbucks for bathrooms and wifi (and coffee).

Fill up before you leave Arizona..gas is a lot cheaper than in California! Kingman is as good a place for a pitstop or overnight as any, if the timing works out. The is a choice of La Quinta or two Motel 6's.

For me, I try to get farther (Barstow etc, if I'm not too tired). One problem is that driving toward California you will find the sun in your eyes on those stretches of highway in the late afternoon before you're ready to stop. So it might be just as well to stop early and get up early the next day.

I love everyone's continued suggestions.

I decided to book one way tickets to Seattle, Delta cargo for my dog (nonstop flight, of course) and ship the car. The time constraints and the weather were stressing. We will do the cross country trip on our return back to Raleigh in a few months (end of April). Better planning, more time (10 days), and better weather.

We will be heading back to the West Coast (Silicon Valley area) afterwards - so we will have to fly and ship the car again. (This permanent job has much better relocation benefits than the temp job in Seattle, so we will move our household stuff then).



Can anyone recommend a reliable automobile shipper? Personal experience would be helpful. I am getting lots of quotes ranging from $1100 to $1500. - small SUV. Reviews are all over the place for most of the companies.

That is SUCH a good decision.

I'll see if I can find the company our fleet uses. If so, I'll send via PM.

For 3 months could you rent a car, use public transportation, etc. Fly back and drive to silicon Valley?

Flying is a good option for you. Hopefully there won't be temperature restrictions for your dog though. We do get cold here in Seattle, so that could very well be an issue so make sure you plan ahead for that just in case.

Gretchen, I was going to drive back and then fly to Silicon Valley.

Mms, The temperature for the dog travel is 20 degrees. Delta said it should not be a problem on this route.

Starr, thank you! I would appreciate that.