what's the most dangerous time of year to drive across country?

Question

I'm thinking every season has it's difficulties, i'm just trying to pick which one i'd rather deal with.
Spring= floods and tornadoes
summer=floods and wildfires and it's bad for cars (tires and engine)
fall=possible snowing conditions
winter=extreme snow conditions

I've only done this once before and it was at the end of october through january. I was also younger and now that i'm older i realize i used to put myself in a lot of dangerous and stupid situations.

so what time of year would you guys leave?...and why?

Answer 1

i would say spring because true floods and tornadoes happen but they are not a guarentee nor do they happen every minute of the day; there is just a risk in certain areas. Also the weather is not too hot or cold so it would be better on the car and the scenery is just gorgeous. Also here where I live the gas seems to be the cheapest. go figure.

Answer 2

I've actually lost count of exactly how many cross country trips I've done.For me the perfect time would be mid to late September because of a lot of very stable weather across the entire US.
Even if I hit a little early season snow crossing the Rockies or the Sierra I know it's a local condition that will be gone in a 100 miles or so at the most.
The deserts have cooled off enough so that I can drive them in daylight [ old habits die hard]
The Plains are still warm enough that I can catch a nap in a rest area w/o needing much more than a blanket.
Hotel rates have dropped because space is now available and the National Parks are no longer crowded .All in all the perfect time to hit the road.

Answer 3

It probably depends on where you are. In the North, the summer would be better because you wouldn't have to worry about snow, particularly in the Rockies.

In the South, winter would be better -- overheating is a potential problem.

I wouldn't worry too much about flood, tornados,etc. Just keep the radio on once in a while to see if anything terrible is coming.

One other factor -- in July and August, the roads and attractions are more crowded because school is out. So, it might be better to avoid those times if that's an issue.

Answer 4

Well, any season isn't the best time. lol Your best bet would be Fall- POSSIBLE snowing conditions. That way, you won't get caught in a blizzard, tornado, or flash flooding. And it's only possible for snow during fall. You're less likely to get hurt in any way (minus nature)

Answer 5

i would leave in the summer or fall,summer only if the thing your traveling in has good reliable air conditioning.
fall because there could be snow,and probably will be snow,but summer is too hot and spring usually has too much rain and makes the roads slippery and its also dangerous to ride a plane in mucky weather.
have fun and be safe!

Answer 6

You are correct, the lesser of the evils. After having traveled 493,000 miles in 4 years, I pick October. Statistically has the least amount of adverse weather than any other month. The fall colors are in bloom and for mechanical purposes it is prime. It's cooler. Simply beautiful. The sunrises in New Mexico are breathtaking. The Southern road is sprinkled with so many colors that the hues literally have you counting the variation of the themes. October is Fall Festival month, so there's plenty of places to stop and enjoy a good meal. You can drive with the windows rolled down. No heat or air conditioning required. The overall cost of traveling is cheaper because you aren't traveling in peak season. It's just excellent for traveling the road. If you stop at amusement parks they are discounted. All sorts of benefits if you plan ahead. You can do something in each state on the cheap. Enjoy. ps AAA also has discount tickets for amusement parks.

Answer 7

Winter or early spring.

Answer 8

i think its winter because snow can block the raod and we can catch a cold and cant drive properly.

Answer 9

Hi, just wanted to mention, I loved this discussion. very inspiring answers