Has anyone driven from the PNW to Maine at the end of February/beginning of March? Can it be done safely? One of us will most likely be pulling a UHaul as well ( with a sm AWD)

Moved to US board

Wouldn't be something I'd try myself. The most direct routes travel through the most frigid potentially blizzard-y states in the country, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and so on. If the period happens to fall during some relatively benign weather it wouldn't be impossible. But with weather mostly moving from west to east, you could hit one continuous snow event from coast to coast.

But do you have any other options? Can you fly and ship the car/'stuff?. That would be easier and likely not much if any more expensive when you factor in gas, 7 to 10 nights of hotels, meals, etc etc.

Our son and dil moved from AK to NH pulling a trailer but waited until early May. Both are excellent drivers and experienced with towing so they switched off driving to make the best time. They also were preoared to sleep in their car, a Suburban, if necessary which they did one night waiting for a gas station to open.

the interstates in New England are kept in good condition but I would still not drive if it was snowing or if roads had snow on them. Wait it out. Remember with a trailer it's going to take you longer to stop plus if the trailer starts swaying it can cause the car to overturn. Be especially carefull on off ramps. Carry emergency supplies like blankets, food, first aid kit, etc. in case. If you have to stay in a motel to wait out a storm, make sure you can afford to do so.

If you are flexible enough to avoid winter storms during the trip or just hunker down if one passes you could make the trip as you would the rest of the year. The areas that get snow regularly do a pretty good job of clearing it from the interstates in a day or two. There is often a period of a week or more without snow or ice storms in early March.

Anything east of the Rockies I'd have no concerns myself, as long as you sat out an active snow storm. Interstates are cleared within hours of the end of active snowfall - it doesn't take a day or two.

Of course it can be done IF they are flexible time-wise. But with the missing info in the OP who knows what the actual plan is. How many days they have total would make a huge difference. It sounds like there are two vehicles - if both have a solo driver that makes it tougher since they can't trade off driving. If kdledrew comes back and fills in some of the blanks we can give better advice.

Thanks to all who replied. To add information: we'll be flexible on the travel time but not too much on the date we leave as it's a lease situation here in WA. We might b able to leave the first week of March rather than the tail end of February and we can take our time doing the actual driving. Yes there will be 2 vehicles with solo drivers andy husband will be pulling a UHaul trailer. Plus we're travelling with our 4 cats so that's another consideration. The other option was to try to get everything together and move at the end of September but truthfully, I don't know if we can afford to do a cross country move that quickly. The quotes we're getting from long distance moving companies are just astronomical!! Even just renting a UHaul truck was $7000!! When I.moved out I didn't have any furniture and flew with 3 cats but that's not really an option this time around. We MAY be able to forgo pulling a trailer though and just sleeping on an air mattress until all our stuff arrives with whatever movers we finally bite the bullet and retain.

So 2 cars, solo drivers, transporting pets in each vehicle, maybe pulling a trailer with one, may be able to leave.WA the first week in March rather than the end of February and plenty of drive time. Thanks for all the advice!!
est

We have gone from British Columbia to east coast in winter. An ice storm in Chicago was the worse part and we stopped for the night when tractor trailers were sliding down the exit ramps sideways.

If you have plenty of time, I'd dip down south then cross over - to avoid winter storms. Then work your way up NE again.

LaQuintas are pet friendly without additional pet fees.

If you decided to make the trip I hope it went safely. And welcome to Maine!