Driving to Las Vegas in the winter....am I making a mistake?

[GerryS]

I have an opportunity to get to Las Vegas this December. I've been to the city a couple times, but always stayed there and flew in. This time, I want to drive and camp....

Questions:

From Indiana mapping software says it's a 27 hour drive. I want to drive it in about 3 days with a stop about every 8 hours along the way allowing time for dinner and a drink before bed before nightfall....I hate short days.

I'm thinking this route:

Indy to Kansas City,
To Denver,
Fish lake UT,
Las Vegas.

The way back will likely be the opposite trip....

Any suggestions? What's the climate like in mid December.....I'm expecting snow in the Rockies. Basically Denver to fish lake...but how bad? Am I going to be better taking a more southerly route? This is one of the few opportunities I will have in the next couple years to see this part of the country be car....the timing just isn't the best.

Vegas looks like lows in the 30s....highs in the 40-50s. How does the extreme dry air affect that?

What about camping locations, I would imagine most of the parks (I like state parks in general...not federal...are walk up, or outright closed...

I'm guessing a generator and portable ceramic heater will be required...I plan in sticking to routes listed by google maps, not getting off to tiny roads like I would in the summer. I don't necessarily want to test my winter survival skills, at lest involuntarily.

Thanks in advance...

[48Rob]

Gerry,

Mistake?

Only if you don't really want to go...

Vegas may be a little cool, but always a welcome change from the Midwest.
It is quite a long drive, but if you have the time, why not.
There is a lot of beautiful scenery, and other than high passes, the snow isn't an issue unless they get a blizzard. Folks in the Rockies get a lot more snow than we do, and deal with it well.

You might consider a more Southern route home, so that you can tour the Grand Canyon, and come back up through the mountains in Colorado on roads other than the Interstate.

Rob

[eggsalad]

I live in Las Vegas. I've made the drive to and from the Midwest. Chances are pretty good that you don't want to go through Denver in winter. Really, you DO NOT.

Especially if you're pulling a trailer. Even if you believe you can do it, the State Troopers may not, and roads may be closed.

It's only about 100 miles longer, and way smarter, to take I-57 south to I-44, to I-40.

Please, please, please trust me on this.

[Rhino Ray]

I lived in those areas in the past and got around fine. I can be difficult at times so keep an eye on the weather reports and don't be afraid to change your route if needed. Check with the Grand Canyon to see if they are open. I went by one year in December and it was closed with no one at the gate. We drove in and looked over the edge and left. It was just too darn cold. I even had issues with snow on the southern route. Good luck.

[MtnDon]

I live in the northern mountains of NM. The entire Rockies chain from here north to Canada can have winter storms that can and do stop traffic for hours to days. The weather can be a crap shoot. That said we do not stay home all winter. We do travel but have had to make travel plan changed at the last minute at times. This is more of a hassle if one has a clearly defined travel time window such as specific time off from work. Keep that in mind and have flexible plans.

I-40 to the south gets closed in winter a lot too. There is no guarantee. Some roads in this area are covered by "chain laws", that prohibit travel w/o tire chains available for the vehicle. Check that out; we have chains so I don't think much about where those roads are anymore.

There are winter storms but there are also many beautiful sunny days with clear skies.

[TENNJIM]

We have traveled in Dec many times, but it requires watching the weather closely and being ready to change plans on that Denver through Utah stretch. Also, staying in remote locations with the possibility of a weather change is risky. A southern route into Vegas would be better in my opinion. Fish Lake in Utah is remote and high enough to be very cold and often snowy in Dec. In fact, a lot of campgrounds close by the end of September in Utah because of winter coming on. Good luck on your trip.

Jim B / Utah

[jandmz]

My brother got snowed in at Denver a couple years ago in October...
I would recommend I-70 Indy to St Louis. Pick up I-44 to Oklahoma City, then I-40 to Kingman AZ. At Kingman, take US93 to Vegas. Most of this route is the old Route 66, and probably safer this time of year.

[Rhino Ray]

Don't miss Oatman AZ. Feed the donkeys carrots.

[Glenn Butcher]

Hi from Colorado Springs. I-70 west of Denver can be challenging in the winter, or just fine, depends on your timing. I-25 south from Denver can get ice over Palmer Divide, just north of the Springs. CDOT works really hard to clear snow fallage and ice freezage on these main roads, so planning your route over them is preferable. I'd have alternate routes picked to avoid un-forecast weather, get a good weather app for the smartphone (if so inclined), and I'd get a set of chains in case you find yourself committed to a route that suddenly gets socked.

Dry air makes the cold much more comfortable than humid air. Sunlight can make a 30-degree day seem spring-like. I walk to work, and I usually wear short pants down to 40. Wind changes all that, however...

Make sure you're drinking plenty of water, you're losing moisture even though you're not sweating.

[GerryS]

I've been there in the summer...I know how bad the dehydration can get...11% humidity, at 110 degrees plus a hellacious wind just about turned me info a piece of jerky.....bad situation!

It sounds like the greatest threat will be making it through the mountains....which is what I expected.

[nevadatear]

We were in vegas last christmas and new years. Highs were in the 60s. It was very comfortable shirt sleeves weather. Many nice state parks. Nevada tearjerkers do a new years gathering at lake mead. Check with Kathleen over on the tearjerkers site for camping ideas.

[Corwin C]

GerryS,

I live 45 minutes from Fish Lake Utah and this is very doable if the weather cooperates. If the weather is bad, there are alternative routes that keep the elevations a little lower and should have better driving conditions. Just keep the plan flexible and start watching those forecasts a few weeks before departure (you'll be aware of trends that way.)

There is a traffic/weather camera at Fish Lake (SR25 mp3.97) that will show you what the road looks like right now ... there were snowstorms there yesterday and last night, there seems to be a skiff of snowpack on the road right now (might be windblown), but I bet that's gone by noon tomorrow. SR24 (about 8 miles away) is dry.

Current images as well as road conditions and forecasts for all UDOT routes are available on http://commuterlink.utah.gov/. Anyone traveling in/through Utah would be well advised to take advantage of this site.

[Miriam C.]

Heat source and a down comforter or lots of wool. We had guests from OR. in Feb and it was freezing here. He made it fine. Might just be luck because my sister drove a truck through all the time she was stuck waiting out snow a lot. Got bad enough her husband had to hike to the store. She could not make it because she was too short!

Oh yeah! Keep in touch and I will bet someone will give you real time weather updates. You can always cut South at KC and still get I-44....

[Wolffarmer]

I would watch the weather and if a "normal" storm happens the roads are usually clear in a couple of days and you will not notice much trouble. A very heavy storm will make a mess for a few days longer. What I am saying is watch the weather. If there is a storm then take a more southern route. Southern Utah area is high desert which falls off really fast just as you are getting to Saint George UT. I have wandered around northern AZ and NM a few times in the middle of winter in my VW Camper Van and did not have problems and this was long before the information one can get on the internet. Be aware and you will be fine.

Randy

[GerryS]

The outbound trip will be over 3 days...and on a bit of a schedule, as I absolutely must be here by Friday. I'd be leaving Indiana at the sq time my wife does....except she'll be on a 757 without a return ticket. I'd like to spend 3 days on the road, getting there late Wednesday or early Thursday...spend a couple days there, then return with my wife.

The microclimate of the Rockies sounds like my biggest threat. I can watch system snow, but micro climates sound like my biggest threat. Blowing and drifting.


I'm a pilot, so when doing planning for a trip watching the weather for days in advance is common practice, I understand the big picture...it's the microclimates that don get weather reports (mountain passes and the leeward versus windward side of the mountain) ..... I just do not have mountain experience....we really don't have those on this side of the Mississippi. I do know that the smokies have had me worried at elevations before, It's odd when leaving overcast and dry, climb a thousand feet and hit blizzard and ice....drop a thousand and be back in overcast.....

Looking at my time frame, it almost looks like my plan B of grabbing a pack and getting lost in the Hoosier national forrest might be a better burn of vacation time...:/. Darn it! I really wanted another couple knights. We haven't been out since the Hoosier fall gathering....

Camping in the rain is more of a pain than it's worth. It's the setup and tear down that causes the grief. The dogs make side tents and all the that jazz work....if it were just me, there's none of that.