SC to Los Angeles area in mid December

[Charming]

December 2021 we are planning to head west. Our first stop is Birmongham, AL. From there I was considering heading up towards Memphi s then due west on I-40. We've only gone as far west as Amarillo on 40 and that was in October. Will we run into snow? Should we take I-10 or I-20? We took I-10 when we went to Indian Wells and we took I-20 on the return trip.

We'll be in our 30 ft gasser with a toad.

[rk911]

you’ll certainly be far more likely to encounter snow and bad driving weather on 40 where the elevation will certainly steadily increase until Flagstaff than you will on 10. can you still run into snow on 10? certainly we did in San Antonio and again in Las Cruces but the odds are far better in your favor.

[hamm2018]

Saturday morning we woke up in snow in Fort Stockton, Texas on I-10. We had to go 50 miles west toward Van Horne, Texas before we were out of it.

[Charming]

Now you folks are scaring me!

How was the interstate?

Was it like snow here in SC, we wake up to an inch max and it is gone by lunch or it is still there waiting for more?

Looks like I will need to build more fat into the front end of the trip.

[hamm2018]

Originally Posted by Charming

Now you folks are scaring me!

How was the interstate?

Was it like snow here in SC, we wake up to an inch max and it is gone by lunch or it is still there waiting for more?

Looks like I will need to build more fat into the front end of the trip.

It was slick on the bridges, just be careful when going over the bridges

[rk911]

last jan and feb we ran into a bit snow in san antonio and again in las cruces. both were very short lived events and in both cases we we were in no hurry so we stayed put for an extra day. no big deal. using i-10 will not reduce your chance of encountering snow to 0 but any any snow you do hit will be a lot less of a problem both in terms of amount on the ground and road comditions.

[Charming]

I'd forgotten, in March 2019 on our return east from Indian Wells we encountered snow in Deming, NM. Not much, we were over nighting there, just holy cow it's snowing!

I think our best option is to head all the way out on I-10 to the coast and spend a week in Malibu then on New Year's Eve drive to Pasedena and dry camp in a parking lot next to the parade route. From there it won't be that far to head over to the interstate to go north.

[rk911]

this is the snow we encountered in las cruces, nm last feb. no big deal. wx reports said it was bit heavier on I-10 west of us. park employees said NM has no real snow removal equipment so we waited an extra day before moving on.

[Charming]

Thanks for the great advice. I think we are going to take I-20 until it runs into I-10 then due west from there.

Today the decision is to go to Malibu first then over to Pasadena for 2 nights for the parade. From there we have until 2/27 to wander around. So far on our list are Pasa Robles and Monterey. While in that area we will probably be taking the car to visit some of our favorite sites: San Simeon, Big Sur, San Luis Obispo and Salinas.

I would like to go up I-5 to north of San Francisco but I'm worried about snow and ice.

Over the years in all of our travels to CA we've only ventured as far north as Fort Ross. I know DH would like to go to Bodega Bay again. Perhaps figure out a way to visit Death Valley.

[rk911]

wasn’t the Rose Parade canceled?

[Arch Hoagland]

Lived in Salinas 30 years...you must have relatives there because it sure isn't a tourist attraction....LOL

[robertkathy]

It not a bad winter here but i would take the i20 to the i10.the i10 will improve once you get to phx east of phx more like northeast rds pothole wise

[Charming]

Originally Posted by rk911

wasn’t the Rose Parade canceled?

Planning for next year.

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

Lived in Salinas 30 years...you must have relatives there because it sure isn't a tourist attraction....LOL

Salinas is to visit the Steinbeck museum.

[rk911]

Originally Posted by Charming

Planning for next year...

2022, ok.