To my way of thinking this is one of those day of decisonsI would get in touch with Caltrans http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi and see if I-80coming over Donner Pass was clear and drivable or if it was in a chains required state If it was good to go then I would route it US95S I-80W I-5SThe I-84 E I-15S route from Boise ID to Spanish Fork UT is also subject to getting hit w/some serious snowfalls So check w/ UDOT [?} firstIf the weather is good in the Sierra then a third option would be taking US 395 south from Reno to San Bernardino I m a single guy so I honestly have no idea what that precise parameters for a family traveling safely in winter are .I m sure that there are routes that I wouldn t think twice about driving that families would think twice about and then say Uh No Good luck
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The winter is just around the corner and it means that any routes you take,there is a possibility of snowy roads encounter.I enjoy roadtrips and hitting the highways because it gives me the freedom of going anywhere I want in the country,but I don t go on a long roadtrip in the winter season.
I agree that s it a last minute decision based on the weather.Another option is also going over the mountains and taking the I-5 down. It will take longer but the only snow you would encounter would be between Boise the coast.
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