Wisconsin to Chilliwack in mid-March

[Henk]

Need some navigational assistance/insights. We have an Escape 21 waiting for us in BC for pickup in mid-March. Our plan is to travel from Wisconsin (Door County) to Chilliwack/Washington to pick up the trailer, head to Arizona, and then back to Wisconsin. Not concerned about Pacific Coast travels south. Am a bit concerned about the east/west travels across the country in March. Heading from Arizona to Wisconsin in mid-April should be pretty OK but insights there welcome as well.
Any thoughts about routes that would be best/safest as concerns weather and conditions for the Wisconsin to BC jaunt? Your help is much appreciated. Henk

[HABBERDABBER]

I haven't done the drive, but weather will obviously be your most important aspect for route selection. Monitor it closely, very closely.



Be safe.

[Seneca]

well, since you live in a Great Lakes state, you're obviously familiar with winter driving, and already know that most of March is technically winter and the rest of March isn't any better.

That said, in my experience, having lived both in the eastern and western parts of the United States, the biggest difference in terms of winter driving is that out west we will drop the gate, and shut down the interstates in a way that simply doesn't happen back east. I think it's a matter of distances and population densities. It makes sense to shut down I-5 on the Oregon California border, or I 84 between Salt Lake City and Idaho Falls. If and when that happens, hunker down. You're going to be wherever you are for a while.

Oh, and it's probably not the best time of year to dawdle and meander through the Northern Rockies, unless you are into skiing or snow shoeing or something. The main arteries will be clear in a day or two, but there are all sorts of seasonal closures of secondary roads.

[Mike Lewis]

I picked up my trailer on April 7, 2014, three weeks later in the year than your scheduled pickup. I can tell you about the last leg of your trip. I went through Seattle, then north on I-5 to Bellingham, then east and north on state road 9 to the crossing at Sumas. Chilliwack is a short distance from there. I think this part of the route should be okay in mid-March. Good luck.

[GimliGuy]

You will need winter tyres or chains. This is mandatory and there are inspectation stations. Must be real winter tyres not all season. As in previous post there are gates at all passes that will be closed if bad weather.

[GimliGuy]

You may want to come up thru Winnipeg and then West thru Calgary. Good double lane all the way, cheaper gas and hotels with your US dollar and several options available for routes thru mountains

[fudge_brownie]

It would appear that taking I94 would make the most sense from Door County.

However, if you are on I90, I would consider taking Wyoming/Montana Highway 212 from Spearfish SD to Crow Wing MT. I say consider because this is a lengthy stretch of road with no services. Some folks will not take it in perfect weather.

We used US2 between Spokane and Everett, a nice scenic route in the summer but a potential nightmare in the winter. Again, conditions may warrant taking it. You eliminate traveling Seattle.

For lodging we sought out inexpensive but well reviewed motels. Many were built in the 60's and were usually $75/night. In some areas that is all there were. Stops were Wall, SD, Deer Lodge MT. The night before delivery we stayed at Hampton Inn (no dog) a couple of blocks from the factory. I thought the Best Western looked a bit weary and after two nights of budget stops I wanted a nicer place.

I thought food was problematic. We were on our second Escape so knew the luxury of eating our own meals, not what the waitress put in front of us. Finding healthy food is hard when travelling. I would recommend taking as much along with you as possible, then you can eat what you want, not what you find en-route.

Stay safe and do not over do your travel day. Be flexible, we did not book any lodging except the night in Chilliwack. We did however, plan it.

[Iowa Dave]

Not to be critical but I think Paul might have left out a “not” in recommending romance with Highway 212. I drove it last summer and many other times. Its condition continues to deteriorate as it runs through the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. So Do Not take 212 in the winter would be my recommendation. If you do get crazy and take it, gas up in Belle Fouche and again in Broadus MT. From there you’ll easily make it to Hardin. There’s a good pizza
Hut at the second Hardin exit going west on I-90 there too. If you’ve taken 212 and made it easily, hit the casino behind the Pizza Hut because it’s your lucky day. Take along a winter kit with a shovel, sleeping bags, food and water etc. The Montana and Idaho DOTs are very good at what they do. But they will close the interstates with gates if conditions become too dangerous. You can do it but it takes some discretion and no valor. If the weather looks iffy ahead I stop in truck stops and talk to a couple truck drivers who have come from where I am headed. DOT websites are good too. I first rode snowy road in Montana in 1969 with a Honda motorcycle. And that was the first week in June and before the Interstate was built. As my Dad said many years ago “Easy does it”.
Iowa Dave

[mtnest]

Knowing how fickle March weather can be I'd seriously consider postponing your pickup for a month or so to give things a chance to settle down a bit. ETI stored our camper for us until we were ready to get it. -Tom

[cpaharley2008]

Better yet, sore it until May and pick up and then attend the rally in Osoyoos. Anything wrong can be fixed there....

[Barb]

Hello fellow Wisconsinite,

Traveling without a trailer from Wisconsin to Chilliwack is a bit less complicated question than with. When we have travelled the Mountain West in late fall, winter and early spring we check the road condition forecasts 24-48 hour in advance to plan our routes. Each morning and during the day we then check google maps traffic conditions and adjust accordingly. If possible don't be in a race with the clock so you can pile up for a day somewhere if bad weather shuts the roads down. On occasion these delays can last a couple days in which Escape will just have to wait for you. If you get to Chilliwack a few days early there is an endless amount of things to do in the area (might take an outing to San Juan Island or something). What ever you chose be respectful of the weather, take your time, adapt to issues and enjoy. Typically the interstates get more road service in bad weather. Sometime state roads are more enjoyable to drive in favorable road conditions.

[ritacasita]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Better yet, sore it until May and pick up and then attend the rally in Osoyoos. Anything wrong can be fixed there....

👍. Our new camper will be done 1st week of March and they are storing until 1st week of May then we’re heading to rally.

Can’t help with a route but can say we’ve been through Montana, Idaho Washington in March and the weather can be really ugly. Be careful!

[Mark B1]

Originally Posted by Henk

Need some navigational assistance/insights. We have an Escape 21 waiting for us in BC for pickup in mid-March. Our plan is to travel from Wisconsin (Door County) to Chilliwack/Washington to pick up the trailer, head to Arizona, and then back to Wisconsin. Not concerned about Pacific Coast travels south. Am a bit concerned about the east/west travels across the country in March. Heading from Arizona to Wisconsin in mid-April should be pretty OK but insights there welcome as well.
Any thoughts about routes that would be best/safest as concerns weather and conditions for the Wisconsin to BC jaunt? Your help is much appreciated. Henk

We are on the same schedule. We will be picking up the trailer in mid March only coming from Calgary and and heading back to Calgary with the trailer. We have driven this road a number of times in the summer and most of it in winter.

We are not really concerned about the weather. You just need to use your head and be prepared to stop if the roads get bad. In the summer without a trailer it is about a 10 hour drive from Calgary to Chilliwack. There are lots of towns to get a room if you need to. It is a beautiful drive.

We will also be taking this route home, so in the winter with a trailer it will take more than 10 hours. We are going to throw in sleeping bags and a jug of water just in case we need to pull over and sit it out. It is a beautiful drive. I believe Jim Bennett did this in January when he picked up his 5.0.

[Viajante]

Originally Posted by Barb

Hello fellow Wisconsinite,

Traveling without a trailer from Wisconsin to Chilliwack is a bit less complicated question than with. When we have travelled the Mountain West in late fall, winter and early spring we check the road condition forecasts 24-48 hour in advance to plan our routes. Each morning and during the day we then check google maps traffic conditions and adjust accordingly. If possible don't be in a race with the clock so you can pile up for a day somewhere if bad weather shuts the roads down. On occasion these delays can last a couple days in which Escape will just have to wait for you. If you get to Chilliwack a few days early there is an endless amount of things to do in the area (might take an outing to San Juan Island or something). What ever you chose be respectful of the weather, take your time, adapt to issues and enjoy. Typically the interstates get more road service in bad weather. Sometime state roads are more enjoyable to drive in favorable road conditions.

Good advice. You might get delayed on the way out for a day, but your overall plan of going to Arizona shouldn't be a problem.

[lostskier]

Originally Posted by Barb

Hello fellow Wisconsinite,

Traveling without a trailer from Wisconsin to Chilliwack is a bit less complicated question than with. When we have travelled the Mountain West in late fall, winter and early spring we check the road condition forecasts 24-48 hour in advance to plan our routes. Each morning and during the day we then check google maps traffic conditions and adjust accordingly. If possible don't be in a race with the clock so you can pile up for a day somewhere if bad weather shuts the roads down. On occasion these delays can last a couple days in which Escape will just have to wait for you. If you get to Chilliwack a few days early there is an endless amount of things to do in the area (might take an outing to San Juan Island or something). What ever you chose be respectful of the weather, take your time, adapt to issues and enjoy. Typically the interstates get more road service in bad weather. Sometime state roads are more enjoyable to drive in favorable road conditions.

This is great advice. I traveled from Wisconsin in early June last year to pick up my 19-foot. I crossed the Canadian border in North Dakota at Portal and went across the great plains. Probably the longest, less interesting part of the trip but I wanted to stay in Calgary and go through the Canadian Rockies. The third day, I headed from Calgary to Chillewack and that stretch of highway is mostly mountains and would be a stressful drive if there is any type of weather. As you go through Minot, you can check the weather and stay south on Hwy 2 if it looks bad in the rockies. If I had to do it again, I would stay on Hwy 2 as the great plains does get a little lacking of scenery. This is a long drive. Expect 10-12 hour days. And gas is more expensive in Canada by 20-30%. You could stay at a better hotel if you stay south of the border all the way to Seattle.

[pittendrigh]

We got our 21 last March, from Montana. I90 to Spokane. To Osoyus BC to Chilliwack. You will want to head straight South thru Seattle once trailering. Try to avoid rush hour. Id cross Cascades at Snowqualmie. Head South to Arizona thru Nev or Utah

[pittendrigh]

....or head South from Chilliwack all the way to Medford Oregon. Nice easy Cascades crossing there. South southern way down low Oregon is special. Checkout the Antelope Reserve and Malheur. If snowing east of Medford cross the Cascades an hour further South, in extreme Northern California. That road is almost always open. High desert sailing from there on to points East and South.

[bjsmitty]

We made that exact trip last year, last 2 weeks of March through first week of April. Left from Menomonie, WI to Chilliwack and back. We took 94/90 across ND, MT, WA through to Seattle and then up to Chilliwack. On the return we did the back roads and hit a few National parks. Stayed in Glacier the first day it was open, and drove across the Cascades. We only hit snow once in North Dakota. That was last year, when we had 5 feet of snow in Feb. So, take your chances but also take your time. It is a great time to travel, and easy to find camping sites.
Have fun, we may see you on the road. We will be heading for Mt. Hood with our 21' in mid March.

[debcost]

I agree!

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by bjsmitty

We made that exact trip last year, last 2 weeks of March through first week of April. Left from Menomonie, WI to Chilliwack and back. We took 94/90 across ND, MT, WA through to Seattle and then up to Chilliwack. On the return we did the back roads and hit a few National parks. Stayed in Glacier the first day it was open, and drove across the Cascades. We only hit snow once in North Dakota. That was last year, when we had 5 feet of snow in Feb. So, take your chances but also take your time. It is a great time to travel, and easy to find camping sites.
Have fun, we may see you on the road. We will be heading for Mt. Hood with our 21' in mid March.

We stayed at Yellowstone on the way to the Escape rally mid May 2017 - no water no electric as everything was frozen. You never know.