Director of Game Development
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I posted this question on Facebook, but figured posting it here would be good too. A lot of the Off Topic crew have been really helpful in a bunch of off-topic things, so why not?
I'll be driving a big U-Haul that'll be towing my car. While Austin has hills and I'm a Texas boy, I've never driven many big trucks and rarely towed things.
This one is the most direct, but has lots of mountains and a chance of snow. People have warned me about the Idaho/Utah border.
Option #1
This one's a little longer but looks like an easier trip. (I know I could take I-10 straight to I-5 and have fewer mountains, but I'd also gain half a dozen border checkpoints and I have an ethical opposition to checkpoints in my own country.)
Option #2
The AAA site suggests this one, but I don't know. It seems like a lot of mountains and it still brings me through that Idaho/Utah thing:
Option #3
I'll be checking the weather and road conditions before I leave and if I choose 1 and the weather's looking bad, I can switch to 2 with no difficulties.
I looked at them; however, I have no experience with these routes, so my opinion is useless.
I'd go for low/flat though if I was driving a big ass truck and towing a car. Mountains and big trucks can be a pain in the ass.
I would suggest the first one or just taking I-10 to I-5. The route that goes through Reno is going to hit a lot of mountainous stuff on narrow roads.
+1 to this -- my brother-in-law lived in the Tahoe region for several years, and those are some roads you do not want to take with a trailer.
Have a good n' safe trip Daigle!
Hey, as a traveler in those areas, and a Western Washington Native, here are my thoughts on the matter.
First thing, U-Haul trucks intentionally have their engine power throttled down to make sure people don't wear out the engine by pushing it too hard. As such acceleration, especially on inclines, will be very difficult.
I-10 to I-5 is your best bet, hands down. There won't be any mountainous roads the truck/trailer can't handle, and you'll have ample access to services.
If that absolutely isn't an option, let's consider your proposed routes.
Option 1: Albuquerque, NM to Twin Falls, Idaho is going to occasionally be a nightmare. The Four Corners area is mountainous/hilly and dry. Southern Utah is rocky/mountainous and so is southern Idaho. North Eastern Oregon and the area around Kennewick, WA isn't a walk in the park either, though not that serious. Then you have to get over the Cascades. That's not too difficult, mind you, especially at Snoqualmie Pass. I wouldn't take this one.
Option 2: You'll have to climb to get into Albuquerque, NM and Flagstaff, AZ, but that should be fine. I've never driven between Flagstaff and Vegas that way, but it shouldn't be too hairy. The highways that run along western Nevada aren't actually that bad, it's crossing the border to CA that makes things rather difficult, even in a small car. The direction out of Reno through NE California will be narrow roads that go through hilly/mountainous areas, I remember it being moderately frustrating in a small truck. The OR/CA border is surprisingly mountainous and even on I-5 can be a difficult drive in bad weather or even a moonless night. The rest of the proposed route through southern Oregon won't be the easiest thing, and could be avoided. Once you hit I-5 you're good. I might take this one.
Option 3: This really isn't that bad for most of it. I haven't been through southern Wyoming, but the northern half was mostly rolling hills and occasional gentle mountains. You can usually rely on an interstate to not be too difficult. Usually. The Utah/Idaho border will be difficult, but probably not too bad. After that the same problems with Option 1. I could see this being challenging but doable.
I'd take Option 2, but instead of heading NW out of Reno, head SW towards Sacramento and then take I-5 the rest of the way. The border at Reno is somewhat mountainous but should be doable. Otherwise you'll avoid everything but the OR/CA border. I mean you'll have to cross the mountains sometime to get into the PNW.
Whatever you decide, Travelers' Blessings to you friend.
If you're interested...
I-70 from Denver through Utah is probably the most beautiful stretch of freeway in America. It'll probably challenge the truck, but I'm serious about it being gorgeous. The mountains in Colorado are awesome, then you go through a small canyon along the Colorado river, following it along into Utah where you go past some extremely cool geology, the San Rafael Reef.
This wouldn't be the more convenient route, but it's one of the coolest roads in the country.
From what I know of the ten traffic on it is horrible. Actually there is a new part of highway 58 that does not go through mojave anymore so you don't get into that much traffic that is if you do not want to stop. From the little I travel on the 5 it gets backed up aroudn CA route 14 often.
Drive west. If something gets in your way, turn.
Shouldn't that be "Drive west really fast. If something gets in your way, turn"?
Also, we should determine the street value of those mountains. ;-)
I would strongly suggest #2 (or the I-10 to I-5 route suggested above - if you want something a bit slower but more scenic, the Pacific Highway is a gorgeous drive). Anything that takes you through the mountains of Utah is a bad idea.
I took the drive from Albuquerque to Seattle about two months later than you, and I was only in a loaded station wagon, not a UHaul, and I found those mountains intimidating.
So, yeah, strike across to California as directly and flatly as you can, then drive north. That's my suggestion.
And if you go through New Mexico, I'll buy green chile off you (no joke, I'll pay you cash monies for it).
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OK, I can actually speak with some experience on 2 and 3. 3 is the route I took up here from Oklahoma. It's not bad. A really easy going route. The wyoming stretch was really really boring. Less so on my way back about a year ago around this time when parts of that road where completely covered with snow and ice, so be sure to check out how that road is and if there is snow on the way. Especially where wyoming meets colorado there. That is not a fun white knuckle experience.
The second route is very nice. At least as far as vegas as that's where I diverged to los angeles. First of all, you get to go through vegas. Which is fun to view even if just passing through. Really good food can be had here and after your first day or two of driving you may want that as a break. Also a couple of awesome national parks including the Painted Desert and the Mojave Desert and a National forest just west of flagstaff. The view is miles ahead of anything that the northern passage had that I could tell. Though it get significantly prettier once you hit utah. Still, I'd rather ride along the south on I-40 and hit the i-5 corridor any day. Good stops for the second route outside of the grand canyon are the painted desert which will take you on about an hour to two hour diversion and the pueblo cultural center in Albuquerque(Especially if Harvest Cafe is open. The Mojave is interesting though we didn't see a lot of it. And vegas goes without saying. You might even be able to score some cheap accommodations. Also, fuel up in Flagstaff before heading to vegas. There are national and state forests from there until you descend into the desert and you won't find a gas station for a couple of hours. We very nearly ran out of gas on that strip. Also, I 40 is filled with interesting nature stuff. Mountains, deserts, forests, weird rock formations, and kitschy little road stands that you won't find a lot of in going on northern route. I-5 is beautiful to drive through and I totally recommend coming into seattle at night from that direction. It is gorgeous.
Though I will say this, northern route will be faster and less traffic(which is a problem around vegas going into california during the weekend especially) as long as there isn't significant snow fall still on the ground in the mountain passes and the high elevations.
Also, load up on your favorite foods right now. If you haven't before, get your favorite recipes in order for anything considered quintessentially texan like Fried Okra, Chicken Fried Steak and cheap mexican food. You won't find it up here. You will find some other great foods like pho and mission burritos though so all is not lost. It's just different. =)
Also, load up on your favorite foods right now. If you haven't before, get your favorite recipes in order for anything considered quintessentially texan like Fried Okra, Chicken Fried Steak and cheap mexican food. You won't find it up here. You will find some other great foods like pho and mission burritos though so all is not lost. It's just different. =)
The key food in Seattle is the teriyaki. It's not as famous, but teriyaki is to Seattle what...
cheesesteak is to Philly
pizza is to Chicago
barbecue is to Memphis
etc
It's available everywhere in Seattle and some restaurants are dedicated solely to it. Not only is teriyaki better in Seattle, but it's different from how it's made everywhere else in the world. I only lived there for 4 years and I moved away almost 10 years ago, but ever since I've been trying to recreate it in my kitchen desperately.
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3 avoids most of the mountains but is basically boring as hell. Laramie is one of the the most depressing towns I've ever driven through. There is a good 'shortcut' (forget the highway number) between there and Ft Collins, Co that cuts about 100 miles off the trip that is straight and kinda interesting and avoids Cheyenne.It's actually sheltered somewhat from the high winds that can make the Colorado/Wyoming border unpleasant in cold weather as Lisa described.
I highly suggest 1 at least from Albqurque to Boise and if I were to take a road trip that's actually cool for gamers, I'd go that way (and If you're going back to Austin at some point by car take that way back, especially if you have kids). You go through Moab and Canyonlands, stop at Chaco Canyon (though not in a U-haul) and Mesa Verde. The landscape and architecture is actually inspiring for game design and awe inspiring as heck (you just don't draw map landscapes the same way).
And the only bad part is the Utah/Idaho border is not that bad and not bad at all in non winter. So I'd take that one.
Can't say about 2.
#3
Crossing the Rockies or the Cascades will be easiest on a freeway. #1 puts you on a state highway going north along the rockies. Beautiful country and worth the drive on its own, but not a Uhaul trip.
Dead mans stretch (I84 through southern ID) is only bad in bad weather, which you are passed now. It is long and flat, but I am guessing that is not an issue for you since you are starting in TX. :) and the Blues (ID/OR) are a gentle sort of mountains to cross.
Both 1 & 3 routes take you through kennewick which I would recommend against, unless you are going all the way to I90 and Snoqualmie pass. Whites (Stevens?) pass may only be a couple hundred miles, but the road is single lane switchbacks and my pup got to play in his first snow storm there... in JULY! Either go all the way up to Snoqualmie or stay on 84 to Portland. It is only 3-4 hours north from there.
When are you actually leaving?
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Director of Game Development
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When are you actually leaving?
This past Friday. Now I'm sitting in my apartment at my newly set up desk on my newly set up network enjoying a cold beer before my first day of work.
I ended up going from Texas to Albuquerque, then switched over to I-40 to cross New Mexico and Arizona, then bounced through the Mojave to Bakersfield where I got on the I-5 and headed north for a couple days. It went pretty well, all in all, but I hope to never have to do something like this again.
hehe,
Welcome to... rain!