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hickorydickory
09-06-2006, 01:24 PM
I will be driving from Vancouver Canada to DL in mid November (I HATE flying). I have done the trip in the summer and it took 20 hrs which included a stop for a swim at a beach and bathroom and food stops. But.... that was a group of young adults, this time it is my DH, 3 year old DD, and myself.

Does anyone know what type of driving conditions we are probably going to encounter at this time of year? I understand there is a mountain pass in Oregon or Washington that can be difficult at times, but is it likely at that time of year?

We will probably do the drive in 2 days and may do alot of night driving while DD sleeps in her carseat that way she wont be expected to stay still for hours.

Any tips would be appreciated especially interesting stops along the way that we may other wise miss

annieb727
09-06-2006, 01:33 PM
we drove down a few years ago it was late November, and we were moving to Alabama (decided to go the southern route to avoid places like Wyoming and Nebraska with a big moving truck in the winter time).

We got down to southern oregon and the pass was CLOSED. We turned around and found a motel. Upon getting a room, we found that I-5 had been closed to any vehicles with trailers because of winds (we had a big moving truck with our car on a trailer behind us)...

so we back tracked a bit to Grants Pass and took US 199 down to Crescent City and then took Hwy 101 all the way down. Hwy 199 was a bit curvy, but there was no weather problems at all. It took longer, but not really considering we had no idea how long it would have been before the pass opened again.

hickorydickory
09-06-2006, 01:41 PM
we drove down a few years ago it was late November, and we were moving to Alabama (decided to go the southern route to avoid places like Wyoming and Nebraska with a big moving truck in the winter time).

We got down to southern oregon and the pass was CLOSED. We turned around and found a motel. Upon getting a room, we found that I-5 had been closed to any vehicles with trailers because of winds (we had a big moving truck with our car on a trailer behind us)...

so we back tracked a bit to Grants Pass and took US 199 down to Crescent City and then took Hwy 101 all the way down. Hwy 199 was a bit curvy, but there was no weather problems at all. It took longer, but not really considering we had no idea how long it would have been before the pass opened again.

What is the name of the pass that was closed... was it Grants pass that was closed or is there more than one pass?

Mommy2NicknMax
09-06-2006, 01:45 PM
We used this (http://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/RCmap.asp?curRegion=0&mainNav=RoadConditions) site when we were moving from WA to CA in early April. If you click on the different areas it gives you webcams and weather reports.

Osky
09-06-2006, 02:00 PM
In November, you have a good chance of I-5 closing due to inclement weather around Mt. Shasta. I-5 usually closes from Southern Oregon (near the border) to Weed, CA.

Also, it is not uncommon for the grapevine to close from time to time due to weather conditions.

annieb727
09-06-2006, 02:51 PM
it was around Siskiyou Mountain area - very southern part of Oregon right around the border to CA. We were near Ashland when we found out.

sleepyjeff
09-06-2006, 10:16 PM
Chances are you will not encounter too much snow in the Siskiyous durring the mid part of November.....however it isn't completely out of the question so carry chains(often they close the pass to those without traction devices but let those with continue). By late November the chances for a closure of the pass go up quite a bit.

I've white knuckled my way thru a snow storm thru this very portion of I-5(I had chains so they let me thru) and best bet is to put your vehicle in 2nd and just follow a big truck(not too close) until the pavement clears.

btw....the fog in Nisqually, Washington is a bigger concern for your drive than this particular Mt. pass.

ps: Of course you should stop in Portland, catch a Winterhawk game(maybe they will be playing the Giants) and maybe even ride the Sky Tram(unlike Disneyland, we will have one;))

Malcon10t
09-07-2006, 06:16 AM
The chances of any of the passes being closed in November are slim. When they do close, they generally are open in the mid day.

As far as I-5 being closed from they usually have it open during the warmer daytime hours. BUT AGAIN, its RARELY closed as it is a major highway.

For I-5 being closed at the Grapevine, it does happen again on rare occasion. We go to LA 1-2 times a month over the Grapevine. In 30 years, we have encountered the pass being closed 3 times. One of those, it wasn't fully closed, teh CHP was escorting traffic thru. The other (2 years ago) you just went around to Palmdale.

Keep in mind, it CAN happen, and if you are prepared for it, it usually wont happen.

SeansMom
09-08-2006, 07:34 PM
Although I've never seen it closed, I-5 from Bellingham to Mt. Vernon can be quite icy and I've had big delays for accidents in that area.

BTW, it's not too late for plane tickets and to ask you doctor for some valium or zanax for flying ;).

tink360
09-08-2006, 10:42 PM
I've driven from the seattle area to anaheim on I-5. As others have said, be prepared for snow. Even in april, on the drive back there were a few snowflakes falling up around Ashland.

hickorydickory
09-09-2006, 07:11 AM
Although I've never seen it closed, I-5 from Bellingham to Mt. Vernon can be quite icy and I've had big delays for accidents in that area.

BTW, it's not too late for plane tickets and to ask you doctor for some valium or zanax for flying ;).

I actually don't mind driving in the snow, I actually find it quite peacefull. We have left 3 days on either side to deal with the drive but are hoping to do it as an over nighter and a day.

Bolivar
09-09-2006, 07:29 AM
The train station is only a couple blocks from Disneyland, though they are Anaheim blocks which are massive.

I just checked Amtrak's web site and it would be a bus from Vancouver to Seattle, then the Coast Starlight (how's that for a romantic name) to LA, then a different train to Anaheim. A bit of a pain, but a bit of an adventure too. I plugged in two adults and one child and the fair the three people was $485 roundtrip Vancouver to Anaheim. I am assuming that is $485 USD.

Rune 74
09-09-2006, 08:09 AM
hey there,

I also thought about taking the train but I have read many places that amtrack misses thier connections alot and you only get 30 minutes in seattle to switch trains not sure if that is enough time...

Rune

tink360
09-09-2006, 08:33 AM
I actually don't mind driving in the snow, I actually find it quite peacefull. We have left 3 days on either side to deal with the drive but are hoping to do it as an over nighter and a day.

I know what you mean, I also like driving in snow & I got used to it living in spokane for 2 years. But we're talking mountain passes with cliffs on the other side of the barricade. :eek:

charpaul
09-09-2006, 09:57 AM
I have only done the drive up the I-5 in the summer - but I know that the BIG snow areas start around Ashland OR and continue until just before Redding CA.
If you plan your drive times so you are driving that stretch in the daytime you will probably avoid most snow problems and should be fine. Chains are a good thing to have also!!! Hopefully you will not have many problems during the daytime in that area - even in Nov. It IS a major Interstate. They try to keep it open and passable if they can.

I would recommend that you take at LEAST two days to do the drive. It will make for a much more enjoyable trip. Trust me on this... ;)

A drive like that with family can create all kinds of stress if you go non-stop.

hickorydickory
09-10-2006, 08:05 AM
Thanks for all your help. I will look into the train idea. The thought never even occured to me.

Osky
09-10-2006, 09:41 AM
Thanks for all your help. I will look into the train idea. The thought never even occured to me.

You would probably spend three full days on the train... Amtrak from Seattle to Sacramento takes 24 hours each way. :mad:

DianeM
09-10-2006, 10:06 AM
Vancouver is just a short distance from Seattle. If it takes 24 hours from Seattle, it won't take that much longer from Vancouver. Amtrack offers a train from Vancouver to Seattle - it takes about 4 hours. I would recommend that you consider taking the Coast Starlight instead of the regular Amtrack. They are much nice (American trains are not as nice as Canadian trains, but the Coast Starlight is nicer than average. I think a train would be a terrific idea. It turns the trip itself into an adventure, and it's a lot easier to entertain a 3 yo on a train than in a car seat. You would end up spending a lot of time on the train, but if it's a 20 hour drive, then it might be preferable to spend 28 hours on a train. It really depends how much you like driving during the winter. Late November isn't known for really bad weather this far south, but you never can tell. Sometimes bad storms hit that early.


You would probably spend three full days on the train... Amtrak from Seattle to Sacramento takes 24 hours each way. :mad:

Osky
09-10-2006, 10:59 AM
You would end up spending a lot of time on the train, but if it's a 20 hour drive, then it might be preferable to spend 28 hours on a train.

28 to sacramento. it's another 14 from here to Anaheim by coast, or another 8 with two different routes if you take a connecting bus. So, you are talking about 20 hours in the car both ways or roughly 36 by train and bus both ways if you happen to be lucky enough to get all of your connectors.

Osky
09-10-2006, 11:04 AM
According to Amtrak website:

Seattle to LA: 35:15
LA to Anaheim: 0:41
Layover: 1:10

Total: 37:06

So, from Vancouver, plan at least 42 hours by train both ways

DianeM
09-10-2006, 11:19 AM
Sorry, I misread your post. I was thinking you were posting the time from Seattle to LA, not Seattle to Sacramento. The Coast Starlight leaves Seattle at 10 in the morning, and arrives at LA at 9:00 the following evening. They have a Vancouver connection that leaves at 5:30 in the morning. I'd find it quite worthwhile, if I didn't want to fly, since the time is spent sitting on a train, reading and watching the scenery, instead of driving. I've taken trains before, and always found them very pleasant.

Here is a link. I've been thinking of taking a trip up to Seattle next year on the Coast Starlight.

http://www.amtrak.com/timetable/apr06/P11.pdf


According to Amtrak website:

Seattle to LA: 35:15
LA to Anaheim: 0:41
Layover: 1:10

Total: 37:06

So, from Vancouver, plan at least 42 hours by train both ways

sleepyjeff
09-10-2006, 11:50 AM
Another little hint for the I-5 drive. If you are coming thru Portland anytime durring the day avoid traffic delays by taking I-205 around the city. It adds an extra 10 miles to your trip but it is more than worth it for both the sake of safety(The Marquam bridge and the Terwilliger curves scare me and I live drive them freqently) and time. After 8pm and before 7am you would be ok coming straight thru Portland.

May want to ask citizens of Seatle and Sacremento if there is any by-pass freeways to get around traffic too.

DianeM
09-10-2006, 11:59 AM
There are a lot of bypasses for Sacramento, but I wouldn't recommend them to anybody who doesn't know the area really well. Sacto is like a maze, and it's very easy to get lost. But I-5 isn't usually bad unless you hit right at rush hour, and even then you won't run into LA type traffic (many hours of stop and go) on I-5 itself. Avoid 80 between Davis and Roseville at rush hour, though. It's ugly.



May want to ask citizens of Seatle and Sacremento if there is any by-pass freeways to get around traffic too.

rentayenta
09-10-2006, 12:15 PM
We are coming from Utah not Canada but all this talk of driving in the snow and cliffs is making my anxiety level go through the roof. *praying for minimal snow this year*

Bolivar
09-10-2006, 12:36 PM
When I checked the cost of Amtrak from Vancouver to Anaheim, I entered each of those cities into Amtrak's system. What it spit out was a bus from Vancouver to Seattle, then the Coast Starlight from Seattle to LA, then another train from LA to Anaheim. I don't remember the length of each leg, but I do remember that the bus was 3 hours and the total time was 33 hours and that included the layovers to switch trains.

It is a personal thing, but I can't drive for 20 hours, so I would have to stop and send the night along the way, so that 20 hour drive would be 30 hours anyway and I would have to be driving for 20 of those 30 hours which is hard work. The up side is that I wouldn't be on anyone's timetable, I'm in control of the car and can stop and start whenever I want plus I have the car at the other end to go places.

On the train I can walk around, go to the dinning car, go to the bathroom, stretch whenever I want to. It is easier to entertain the kids and trains go through more interesting terrain than highways do. But, you are at the mercy of the train schedule. If your bus is late to Seattle, you miss your train and have to wait for the next one.

I think I would take the train over driving, but it really just delpends on your priorities.