Hi, I am planning a trip at X-mas time. I am flying to Seattle, WA to pick up my kids, and then driving to Redondo Beach, CA. I am getting nervous I looked it up and most things said weather shouldn't be bad, and it would be OK... So I bought my plane ticket, and reserved a car. Now I am worried because now I am hearing 4 wd and chains. Suggestions please! Thanks!

Nah, just stick to the coast and forget about the chains. (Rental companies won't let you use them, anyway.)

I-5 to Oregon 38 (south of Eugene) to the coast at Reedsport, south on US 101 the rest of the way. Done it in December umpteen times.

You can even bypass Portland and head out to the coast from Olympia; adds around 3 hours to the drive time to the California state line compared to the SR 38 option.

Completely unpredictable-- but there are times when roads are closed and chains required especially on I-5 by Ashland.

Sometimes when I-5 is bad, people will drive the coast highway instead- not the steep mountain passes.

It's not the norm to have icy snowy roads- but it does happen.

One way to avoid the weather and road closure issues is to take Amtrak's Coast Starlight from Seattle, then rent a car once you're at or near your final destination.

When I'm concerned about I-5, at Grants Pass I take Highway 199 to Highway 101 and connect back up to I-5 when I get to the Bay Area. This is a scenic route, it gives me another chance to see the redwoods, and it adds only an hour or so to drive time between Seattle and Redondo Beach.

HTtY

Thanks guys!!!

How many days do you have for the total drive?

If I had to plan trip down I-5 in the winter -- I'd just watch the weather and if there are storms, head down the coast instead. It is a much nicer/more scenic drive.

Really -- unless I had a minimum of 7 days to drive down the coast, I wouldn't drive at all. I'd fly to LA or Long Beach.

I have free time... no real hurry.

OK -- then take a week-10 days (or even longer if you can) and drive down the coast. A lovely drive. And there is no need to pre book accommodations in winter (except in San Francisco) so you can play it by ear and if there are winter storms (this would be rain - not snow) you can hunker down for a day or two til it blows through.