Winter Traveling from Western Prairies to US SouthWest

[Denisb]

Eh! you Canadians out there who have traveled from the Western Prairies to Las Vegas/Phoenix in Winter.

We are planning to travel late December (earliest date possible) with a 40 ft. DP & toad from the Western Prairies (Sask or Alberta,) connecting south onto Interstate #15 to Las Vegas and then cut across to Phoenix. I've heard all types of good & and a few bad road stories on winter mountain traveling - Google Map show a Denver route! Let me know your thoughts on winter travel and/or any alternative routes south. Do I need chains in some states?
Many Thanks

[TW]

Hi Denis, cut over to AB and go SOUTH via I 15. Do not use the Denver route. We driven it since 75 with cars and MH. The Raton Pass (I 25) is not an easy Pass in Winter. Driven and just made it up to NM.
You might encounter some snow in Montana and Utah, but we always had luck or it did not snow much...
Have a safe trip via I 15

TW

[jimkate]

Our favorite way of going down south in the winter is to travel west across the prairies to Cranbrook, BC, and then south from there for a few miles, then angle over to Oregon and straight south. Good roads, small grades in the mountains, a nice route.

You need to have chains in the basement to legally travel through some states, Oregon is one of them. My opinion: if the weather is so bad that you must use chains, pull off the road and wait it out.

[ottffss]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimkate ...You need to have chains in the basement to legally travel through some states,...

Yes, but I am pretty sure that this requirement ONLY applies to commercial vehicles in all affected states. At least this is so in Colorado.

BTW these are an interesting (and very RV friendly) alternative to chains and are Colorado DOT commercial trucker approved. Might be handy to have just in case.

Autosock

[colemole]

Hello
I go from Moose Jaw SK to the areas you are considering. I normally go west to Gull Lake then south through Climax to the border crossing which I believe is open to 7pm. The roads were all pretty good.We like the smaller border crossings as there is no line ups. Coutts can be long lines and we have waited 30/40 minutes at times. Then over to Havre on #2 then south on 87 to Great Falls. we normally over night at walmart there and then connect to I-15 and head south. Can be snow in the Monida pass so try to do this in daylight if possible. Second night we are usually at Brigham City and again over night at walmart. These are full days so you need a good start in the morning. We try to do Salt lake in the very early morning 4 or 5 am when traffic is not to bad. We are in Nevada third day and you can relax from Washington Utah on as there is it is not likely you will see snow. You are going later than we do so monitor the weather and pick your time if you can. We usually go down end of October or early November. We are considering trying south on#48 just east of Medicine Hat and then to Havre MT and then the usual for a change.

[sgtjoe]

The best day to travel I-15 through the Ogden/Salt Lake City/Provo area is on Sunday.

[Denisb]

Thank You to all who have responded. Your information was of great value. Now, if the weather can hold out till mid December.

[Jimmy F]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denisb Now, if the weather can hold out till mid December.

And then start getting better!


Jimmy

[Jdsengl]

Definitely take I-15 through to Las Vegas, lots of rest stops, lots of fuel, lots of wide open road. Have travelled it so many times, my RV knows the route itself. 4 lane divided all the way through, is the only way in winter months. Summer we explore bak roads, winter is best on freeways.