I am leaving by evening from san jose. so were do I stop and what do i take with me as a precaution?
2007-12-14 06:15:56 · 7 answers · asked by iyer ganesh 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Seattle
sorry its the other way.. i am driving from san jose to seattle :)..
2007-12-14 08:26:00 · update #1
When I do that drive I go straight through. It's about 13 hours from San Jose to Tacoma, so almost 14 to Seattle.
Bring tire chains because there's a scam that goes on at Siskyou Summit pass on the CA/OR border. If there is ANY snow on the ground at all (even less than 1/2 inch), the Oregon State troopers are out there not letting anyone into OR. They force you to buy chains for 3 times the normal price from some rip off shack at I think the last exit in CA (heading north). Then they have another guy from that store at the bottom of the hill charging you another rip off price to take them off. I seriously think the OR State Troopers who do this must get a kickback because this happened to me in less than 1/2 inch of snow on that pass one winter and it was horrible. I've lived in Alaska and driven in snow up to my BUMPER. Forcing people to put on chains with a trace of snow on the ground is ridiculous, but they are anal about it and wouldn't let me or anyone else through and dozens of us had to sleep in our freezing cars all night until their rip off store opened (I think at the Hornbrook exit) and we could buy their chains for a fortune.
Moral of the story: Carry your own chains!!! Don't put more $$$ into that ripoff shack in Hornbrook.
That's the only pass you could have a snow problem with on I-5.
2007-12-14 07:13:41 · answer #1 · answered by Wintergirl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In addition to the recommendation above, winter driving aids such as tire chains. If it snows on the passes, you might need them.
San Jose to Redding. Sleep the balance of the night there and then into Seattle the next day.
2007-12-14 14:40:39 · answer #2 · answered by zudmelrose 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess you're going to drive all night. If I were leaving in the morning, I would stop for sleep someplace north of Grants Pass in Oregon. I would make it on in to Seattle the next day. Take rain gear and some warm clothing. Be sure to pack an extra pair of shoes. It might snow, but probably not. It will most likely rain and be way cooler than here in SJ. Enjoy.
2007-12-14 14:26:07 · answer #3 · answered by jack of all trades 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On I-5 I might stop at Redding or Medford.
Have a regular car kit (jumper cables, tire repair in a can, etc.).
A cell phone (though be aware there are spots in Oregon with no service).
The best thing I carry is a AAA card in case of emergencies.
2007-12-14 14:33:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Leave very early. You can stop in Redding, Grants Pass, Roseburg, Wilsonville, and Chehalis.
Traffic will be bad, there will be mountain snow, and I think I-5 up near Chehalis is still pretty messed up.
You may have to spend the night somewhere due to that.
2007-12-16 13:59:49 · answer #5 · answered by sobuhutch 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's the worst time of year to be making that trip because of the weather concerns previously voiced.
Bring chains and know how to put them on yourself.
If you plan to make it a two day trip, plan on stopping in Medford, weather permitting.
2007-12-16 01:37:53 · answer #6 · answered by Unrepentant Fenian Bastard 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take chains...it'll be snowing through the Siskyous. That's probably the only place you'll hit snow.
If you drive through Oregon at night it can get REALLY foggy.
2007-12-14 18:17:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋