I-5 Driving Advice

D

Doryman

New member
I am scheduled to leave Anacortes for San Diego on Feb 3rd. I need to be there by Feb 10th at the latest to meet up with my Mexico RV caravan. The weather reports for I-5 in Oregon right now talk about snow-packed passes, which gives me the heebie-jeebies about driving with my trailer. So -- some questions for those familiar with this route:

1. Weather.com doesn't give me much useful info about snow on the roads. I did find info on the OR DOT site, but was wondering if there was a site that covered the whole route? The temps given were probably averages for a section but what I need to know is whether the road is frozen anywhere along the highway.

2. Would I do better on 101 or 1 to avoid snow? Or another strategy?

I've allowed a week for this trip so I can sit out bad roads but now I am beginning to wonder if I have allowed enough time!

Thanks for any advice.
 
Highway 101 is really slow, and depending on where you cross to 101 it will add hours to your trip. From Crescent City to Seaside Or, it takes around 4 additional hours plus additional time for your tow. From Crescent City to San Fran it is 7 hours.

We had snow last Sun and Monday but the roads were open.

If I were into scenic then I would take 101.

The weather forecast is for more weather.

Jeff
 
ODOT Tripcheck should give you up to date info for the whole I-5 route, together with cameras. I would hope most of the really cold stuff would have blown over by the time you leave. There is just one small patch in southern oregon right now that is a problem. The part in northern california through the siskyous is always difficult in the winter. Sounds like you left yourself plenty of time for layovers if you needed. On bare pavement that is a intense three day trip.
 
There are two places where it will snow: coming up out of Oregon and down by Mt. Lassen, and Gorman, which is up out of Bakersfield and down into LA. I can't predict the weather, but Sea Wolf lives up by there and can describe that. Gorman only gets snowed in once or twice a year.

Here is web site which gives the condition of California STATE routes (I-5 is included,): Calif Roads.

101 may take longer, but then that's only rrelative. Gorman was closed for 2 days last week. However towing down 101 is a bear, it's 2 lanes in N. Calif and very busy in So. Cal, since it's not freeway all the way. I've seen snow on 101 between SF and Arcatia (Humbolt State.)

Good luck, and it doesn't snow in San Diego by the ocean. Well it did in '49, but that's a different story.

Boris
 
Triple A ought to have a site with that info as well but I don't know how up to date it is. This time of year a few hours makes a big difference in a couple short runs on I-5.
 
1TUBERIDER":1tk92aki said:
Highway 101 is really slow, and depending on where you cross to 101 it will add hours to your trip. From Crescent City to Seaside Or, it takes around 4 additional hours plus additional time for your tow. From Crescent City to San Fran it is 7 hours.

We had snow last Sun and Monday but the roads were open.

If I were into scenic then I would take 101.

The weather forecast is for more weather.

Jeff
Click to expand...

I understand the drawbacks of 101 but my major concern is avoiding snow, particularly packed snow on a downgrade. Am I correct in assuming that 101 has little or no snow when I-5 does?

Thanks,
Warren
 
Warren-

Here's the Chain Control Designations for Northern California

The Siskyous are a handful from Ashland to Yreka, and it can snow all the way down to Redding at times. But 101 will eat up a lot of time, gas, and tire you out on it's twisty course. It's a nice vacation drive in itself, but not a good way to get somewhere quick! I'd wait up to a day for I-5 to clear rather than go 101.

If it's snowing in Gorman on the Grapevine, you can go 101 instead, as it's a scenic drive and a good mostly 4 lane highway all the way to L.A., though a couple of hours longer. Get off I-5 just south of Dunnigan (20 miles south of Williams) on 505. Go to 80W then south on 680S to San Jose and get on 101S to L.A. Don't go through the Bay Area at commute hours!

Good Luck!

Joe. :thup :teeth
 
Hi Warren

I am not into road forecasts, but the marine forecast for Sunday is west wind becoming nw, slight chance of showers. To me this is a clearing period. We probably won't have snow, but then I-5 should be ok. I would stay on 5.

If you do decide to hit 101 find another way besides 199 out of Grants Pass. 199 has a couple of narrows to go thru which is scary with a big rig.

Have a nice safe trip.

Jeff
 
Warran , My brother lives in coo's bay and they had snow last week with a lot of ice on the road. 101 south of coos bay gets a lot of ice in the winter even when it is not snowing. I have a lot of drive time in snow and ice and I will take snow on a highway over Ice on a windy excuse for a highway any day. If you slip off the road on 101 the ocean will stop you ever time. :wink:
 
Well, 101 is worse off than I-5:

For 101, [IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA]
CHAINS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT 4-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES WITH SNOW
TIRES ON ALL 4 WHEELS FROM THE JCT OF SR 20 TO 6 MI NORTH OF THE JCT OF SR 20
(MENDOCINO CO)

I 5. THE OREGON STATE POLICE REPORT THE FOLLOWING UPDATE OF CONDITIONS ON I 5:
CHAINS ARE REQUIRED ON SINGLE AXLE DRIVE VEHICLES TOWING TRAILERS OVER
THE SISKIYOU'S (wherever the syskious are.)

Both statements from California Road Conditions. I would think that one would check the actual conditions when you set out.

Boris
 
I've made that trip several times- from Everett to Bakersfield to visit my folks when I lived up in the north country.
As has been noted in other posts--- the Siskyous get a lot of snow this time of year and require chains or some type of traction device.
The Grapevine tends to get snowed out, for a day or two, a couple times a year.
I used to tow a trailer over Snoqualmie in the snow- electric brakes are the trick. Whenever I felt the truck start to slip, I'd just tap the electric brakes--- not the brake peddle--- and the truck would straighten up. Just go slow and use low gears- you'll be ok.
Stay on I-5 would be my suggestion.
Have fun on your caravan trip.
 
Hi Warren, I think you would do better waiting for a weather window on I-5. I used to shuttle sets of grocery trailers over I-90 and it doesn't take the road crews long to get them back in shape once it has quit snowing. Alot of nights I would be required to chain up on the way over Snoqualamie and then 6-8 hours later on the return the roads were bare and dry. Best of luck.

Karl on C-Daisy
 
OK, thanks one and all. I thought about bypassing the Siskiyou mountains on 101 from Roseburg to Redding but it looks like there is no weather advantage, so we will take the I-5 weather window approach.
 
Snow Driving War Stories, Pts 2 and 3:


Back when we were avid skiers, we had some great adventures in the snow. Considered it a challenge. Once spent 13 hrs getting from Sacramento to North Lake Tahoe because we kept getting held up for a few hours here and there by the California Highway Patrol for road clearing. Drive slow, zzzzzz, drive slow, zzzzzz, drive slow, zzzzzz, etc.

Trailering boats in the snow can be interesting! You MUST have trailer brakes going downhill or the boat will try to pass you! Found out the hard way when going down a pass on Hwy 36 in Lassen County. CD-22 trailer had brake failure, and wanted to go faster than the van. Stepped on van brakes and the front wheels locked up (skidding) immediately, and lost not only traction there, but steering as well! Trailer shoved van into snowbank, ='s soft landing. Did this three times, then decided the next time there might not be a guard rail under the snowbank to keep us from going down into the canyon. Called tow truck to take the boat the rest of the way down the mountain. Talk abut learning the hard way.........

If you want to find out if your tow vehicle is big enough to do the job (common topic here), try towing in the snow on a tight, twisty, steep, switch-back, mountain road. Downhill is the worst, and nighttime makes it interesting. I-5 would be an easy piece of cake by comparison.

Joe. :thup :teeth
 
Hey Warren,

Stay on the Interstate. 101 is twisty and will not be pleasant towing your trailer. We've towed all over the country, yes, even in the winter. Unless it's a MAJOR snow storm, those Interstates will be passable. They need those roads to keep the truckers moving and do a good job of keeping them drivable.

You've allowed yourself some pad, so don't use it unless you have to, and you won't feel any pressure at the end of the drive.

You're not going to want to be all "twisted up" before heading into Baja. :wink: Take your time, have fun, and be sure to stop and smell the margaritas! :cocktail

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Go I-5 all of the way. Allow for plenty of room for stopping distance. Keep gas tank above 1/2 full and be ready to move when passes open. Keep snacks, beef jerky & water in the rig for feeding as necessary. The pass in Northern California is the worst (near Mt. Shasta). good luck. C.W.
 
Warren

You have received a lot of good advice especially Wild Blue Jim. Have been up and down both 101 and I-5, winter and summer, towing and not towing. Stick with I-5 hold up and wait if needed. Lived about 12 miles off 101 in Northern Calif Until I was 33 years old and drove a lot miles going up and down that highway.

Jay
 
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