Winter Road Trip Planning & Destinations

Planning a winter road trip will have you dreaming about a winter wonderland with snow-covered surroundings and clear roads for miles. That dream can quickly take a turn if you aren't properly prepared. A winter road trip is always a fun adventure, but you have to prepare differently than you would for a summer trip. 

Prepare Your Car for Winter Weather

You should get a few things taken care of in your car first. 

• Get the car checked before you go, keeping in mind that you might approach winter weather.
• Top of all liquids and add windshield wiper fluid designed for winter driving.
• Pack snow chains if you'll be driving through mountainous snow areas.
• Before you put on studded tires, check the laws in the states you'll be traveling through.
• Keep your gas tank as full as possible during the trip as gas won't freeze, but any water that gets in will.

Pack the car with:  

• Blankets
• A bright-colored cloth, preferably red, in case you need to signal for help
• A heat source, like Sterno® cans, and a lighter
• Water/non-perishable food
• Hand/feet warmers
• Extra windshield wiper fluid

Be Weather Aware

You’ll want to download your favorite weather app and have notifications set for the various cities, so weather won't surprise you.

There are certain terms you need to know when traveling in winter weather. 

• Winter Storm Watch - A winter storm is possible or approaching.
• Winter Storm Warning - A winter storm is imminent.
• Snow Advisory - 1–5 inches of snow are expected.
• Blowing and Drifting Snow Advisory - Visibility can be at or below a quarter-mile.
• Wind Chill Advisory - Wind chills of -30 to -35 are expected.
• Freezing Rain/Sleet Advisory - An accumulation of freezing rain or sleet could make exposed surfaces dangerous/slippery or cause damage.
• No Unnecessary Travel - The road is open but travel is not recommended due to hazardous driving conditions. 
• Black Ice - A thin coating or glaze of ice on the road that is particularly dangerous as it may appear to be a film of water or may not be visible at all.
• Blowing Snow - Snow propelled by the wind across or along the road surface at least 1 foot above the ground.
• Reduced Visibility – Visibility is reduced to less than 400 feet for any reason.

The Best Winter Road Trips in the United States

Now that we've got the safety steps out of the way, let's talk planning a road trip!

California Winter Road Trips

The great thing about California is you can start the day in shorts at the beach and end the evening surrounded by snow-capped mountains. The snowy parts of California are used to winter weather, so these areas know how to clear a road quickly and are experts if roads get shut down. 

Some of the best winter road trip destinations in the Golden State are: 

• Big Bear
• Yosemite National Park
• Lake Tahoe
• Death Valley
• Pacific Coast Highway in central California
• Joshua Tree National Park

It's quite possible a winter road trip in California could leave you not seeing snow at all, but the options are endless in this state that has several ecological climates to explore. Don't be fooled by the desert: temperatures can dip below freezing at night, even when daytime temperatures are well above average.

Utah Winter Road Trips

How can you resist a winter road trip to a destination that touts itself as having the “Greatest Snow on Earth?” Salt Lake City offers 10 ski resort options that are just an hour away. Head a couple of hours down I-15, where southern Utah will make your jaw drop whether it's snow-covered or sun-drenched. 

Utah is another state used to managing snowfall, so the roads don't close down unless it's a really bad storm. With I-15 being a major north/south route in the state, you’re less likely to get stranded if the weather gets bad. 

Starting from the southern tip of the state, here's a great route to plan for your Utah winter road trip:

• St. George
• Zion National Park
• Brian Head Ski Resort
• Goblin Valley State Park
• Moab/Arches National Park
• Burr Trail Road
• Salt Lake City (and surrounding area ski resorts)

It’s impossible to find a place in Utah that isn’t breathtaking. Just west of Salt Lake City provides a straight shot to Nevada with unique views of the Great Salt Flats.

Seattle Winter Road Trips

Seattle's rainy reputation still holds true in the winter, so don't expect too much snowfall at the Space Needle. However, a winter wonderland is just a short drive away from the city. Several ski resorts are available just a few hours' drive on both sides of the Cascade Mountains.

Here are the must-see winter road trips from Seattle:

• Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
• Pacific Coast Highway (generally not prone to road closures in winter)
• Vancouver (bring a passport)
• Spokane (always check conditions on Snoqualmie Pass, as that road can get treacherous and leave passengers stranded for hours at a time)
• Portland, Oregon
• Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
• More than 170 islands between Seattle and Vancouver Island, BC (take a ferry when available)

Once you hop on the Pacific Coast Highway, you might be tempted to keep going, and you can. It runs down to the San Diego area in California. 

More Winter Road Trip Destinations

There are so many great places for a U.S. road trip in the winter. Here are some more recommendations to add to your road trip wish list:

• Colorado: Be sure to pass through the Eisenhower Tunnel, the highest point on the entire United States Interstate System.
• Wyoming: While much of Yellowstone is closed in the winter, driving across this winter wonderland in a low population state will leave you feeling like you’re a pioneer. Keep going if you want to visit the unique landscape of the Dakotas. 
• Great Smoky Mountains: Start in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and drive through the Smokies. The snowfall is minimal at the base but you'll see more as the elevation gets higher. 
• Appalachian Trail: This famous trail runs more than 2,100 miles from Georgia to Maine, and it's not just for hikers. Follow the road as far as you wish to go. 
• Key West: This may be the best winter road trip as it isn't about winter at all. You can drive through the Florida Keys in less than three hours and won't see a flake of snow. 

Plan for the Unexpected

You can plan to drive across the country in the winter unless the weather becomes snowy or slippery—and there's plenty of technology to alert you to upcoming hazards. When a major storm is coming, the roads can get dangerous, even for the most experienced winter drivers.

Book Now

Whether it's a planned stop on your U.S. winter road trip or a weather-related detour, there's a warm room waiting for you at one of the many Wyndham Hotels & Resorts locations nationwide. Book your room now through the website or app.