Motoring from Dallas,TX to Sacramento, CA, and then, flying back to DFW from Oakland.

[zanejohnson]

The way things are looking, I'll be driving a friend to Sacramento next week, visiting with some friends of hers for a couple of days and then flying back on Saturday.

How much is this drive going to suck?

the farthest i've ever driven was 300 miles, the farthest i've ridden was around 20 hours from Dallas to Reno, NV, so i have a good idea of how the actual trip will fill, this time i'll be the only one driving, no switching off, our other friend who just made the drive said he made it in just under 18 hours non stop... i'm a little nervous

 

[PastTense]

Google Maps says 25 hours, 1723 miles. Split it into two days.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I've done that exact drive before, just the opposite direction. I did it in 3 days, we arrived in Dallas about halfway through the 3rd day.

The drive sucks. Not a lot to see and just endless freeway miles. Definitely bring some audio books.

Also, she better give good road head for you to be voluntarily driving her that far.

 

[olds]

Don't get killed in Oakland.

 

[zerocool84]

I've done that exact drive before, just the opposite direction. I did it in 3 days, we arrived in Dallas about halfway through the 3rd day.

The drive sucks. Not a lot to see and just endless freeway miles. Definitely bring some audio books.

Also, she better give good road head for you to be voluntarily driving her that far.

Yup, it's going to be a crappy ride especially since you're gonna have to do it all yourself. Pretty much nothing to even look at while you're driving. Good luck and like said above, hope she gives good road head because that'll be the only thing worth it.

 

[olds]

Pics of friend?

 

[SKORPI0]

Don't get killed in Oakland.

I've done a similar drive July 2002 from San Antonio, TX to Los Angeles, CA (via Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Las Vegas) and back (via Phoenix, AZ). Long stretches of highway.
Used a Compaq laptop with Earthmate GPS (Street Atlas USA-DeLorme) to help just in case we get lost.

Make you have enough gas in the tank and inflate your tires to sidewall.

 

[zanejohnson]

dang so it's going to be a 2 day trip for sure, i wonder where a good place to stop overnight would be? any suggestions?

she's cute, and we've been friends a long time, i'm sure she'll be enthusiastically grateful

 

[DCal430]

I suggest overnight in flagstaff.

 

[who?]

You should get an FM modulator to play your iPod (or other device) over the stereo in the long stretches that don't have radio stations. I reccomend the one by Monster. The one by belkin has auto shutoff that tends to activate during quiet passages to save battery. The Monster one doesn't do this because it's plug in power only.

 

[SKORPI0]

I suggest overnight in flagstaff.

For about 74 miles more (one way), drive up north to the Grand Canyon. ^_^

 

[smackababy]

I haven't taken I-40, but if it is anything like I-10 through New Mexico and Arizona, it is going to be awfully boring and terrible.

You should be okay with a single stop though. When I drove from Houston to SD, I stopped in El Paso and was fine.

 

[olds]

Where's the parody?: "Motorboating from Dallas,TX to Sacramento, CA, and then, flying back to DFW from Oakland"

 

[zanejohnson]

Where's the parody?: "Motorboating from Dallas,TX to Sacramento, CA, and then, flying back to DFW from Oakland"

i'm just as surprised as you

Thanks for the help everbody! Flagstaff looks like a good halfway point, thanks

 

[zanejohnson]

You should get an FM modulator to play your iPod (or other device) over the stereo in the long stretches that don't have radio stations. I reccomend the one by Monster. The one by belkin has auto shutoff that tends to activate during quiet passages to save battery. The Monster one doesn't do this because it's plug in power only.

ah yes, we'll be in a company car (her employers), i dont know if it will have a usb/aux port or not, better pick up an FM modulater/transceiver, good idea.

 

[Linux23]

I can't imagine driving in the desert for hundreds of miles without no signs of life. God forbid you have any car troubles

I'd probably stock up on some crack or if you can't find any get some 5 hour energy shots.

 

[IronWing]

Crossing the plateau in winter is no joke, particularly if you aren't an experienced winter driver. If you're doing the I-40 route bring cold weather clothes, blankets, food, and water. Don't let your tank get too low. It's lonely out there. The southern route (El Paso, Phoenix, LA) is uglier but offers much better weather.

WESTERN MOGOLLON RIM- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FLAGSTAFF...WILLIAMS...MUNDS PARK 330 AM MST SUN JAN 11 2015 .TODAY...PATCHY FOG IN THE MORNING. MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS IN THE MORNING...RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON. SNOW ACCUMULATION UP TO 1 INCH. SNOW LEVEL 7500 FEET. HIGHS 40 TO 46. LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 60 PERCENT. .TONIGHT...RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. SNOW ACCUMULATION 1 TO 3 INCHES. SNOW LEVEL 7000 FEET. LOWS AROUND 28. LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 70 PERCENT. .MONDAY...RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. SNOW ACCUMULATION UP TO 1 INCH. SNOW LEVEL 7000 FEET. HIGHS 40 TO 46. LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 60 PERCENT. .MONDAY NIGHT...RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. MODERATE SNOW ACCUMULATIONS. SNOW LEVEL 7000 FEET. LOWS 23 TO 29. LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 60 PERCENT. .TUESDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS. SNOW LEVEL 6000 FEET. HIGHS 39 TO 45. LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS. .TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS 21 TO 27. HIGHS 39 TO 49. .WEDNESDAY NIGHT...CLEAR. LOWS 20 TO 26. .THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. HIGHS 46 TO 52. LOWS 20 TO 28. .FRIDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 45 TO 53. .FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS 20 TO 28. HIGHS 45 TO 55.

vs:

TUCSON METRO AREA- INCLUDING...TUCSON...GREEN VALLEY...MARANA...VAIL 226 AM MST SUN JAN 11 2015 .TODAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 66 TO 71. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH. .TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE EVENING...THEN CHANCE OF SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS 46 TO 51. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH BECOMING SOUTH AFTER MIDNIGHT. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 30 PERCENT. .MONDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE MORNING...THEN SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS 64 TO 69. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH BECOMING WEST IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 30 PERCENT. .MONDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 43 TO 48. SOUTHWEST WIND AROUND 10 MPH. .TUESDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 63 TO 68. WEST WIND AROUND 10 MPH. .TUESDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 40 TO 45. .WEDNESDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 64 TO 69. .WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS 39 TO 44. HIGHS 64 TO 70. .FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 66 TO 73. LOWS 39 TO 45.

 

[zanejohnson]

Crossing the plateau in winter is no joke, particularly if you aren't an experienced winter driver. If you're doing the I-40 route bring cold weather clothes, blankets, food, and water. Don't let your tank get too low. It's lonely out there. The southern route (El Paso, Phoenix, LA) is uglier but offers much better weather.

vs:

i'm a Texan, so yeah..

thank you, we'll be taking the southern route for sure apparently..

 

[DCal430]

The southern rout is 100 miles longer, about 2 hours of more driving.

 

[zanejohnson]

The southern rout is 100 miles longer, about 2 hours of more driving.

MONDAY...RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. SNOW ACCUMULATION UP TO 1 INCH. SNOW LEVEL 7000 FEET. HIGHS 40 TO 46. LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 60 PERCENT. .MONDAY NIGHT...RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. MODERATE SNOW ACCUMULATIONS. SNOW LEVEL 7000 FEET. LOWS 23 TO 29. LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 60 PERCENT. .TUESDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS.

this part right here puts the fear of God in a Texan we're gonna leave out tomorrow at around noon probably, just in time to hit winter hell, i dont know how the roads work there, but if that was the forecast for where i live, that would mean it would be impossible to drive without 4 wheel/all wheel drive.

 

[IronWing]

Also, keep in mind that there are BP checkpoints along the southern route so it might be a good trip to leave your garden vegetables at home.

 

[zanejohnson]

Also, keep in mind that there are BP checkpoints along the southern route so it might be a good trip to leave your garden vegetables at home.

i figured so much, other worries like potential for the term "across state lnes," also crossed my mind.


i can be patient the friend that just made the drive before us (and is moving there), already has been sending us pics of his medical card he already got and some roughage he's picked up already

so it will be waiting for us when arrive

this has potential to be a sweet little unexpected vacation for me

and i was kinda bummed i didnt get to party like i wanted to for new years!

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

this part right here puts the fear of God in a Texan we're gonna leave out tomorrow at around noon probably, just in time to hit winter hell, i dont know how the roads work there, but if that was the forecast for where i live, that would mean it would be impossible to drive without 4 wheel/all wheel drive.

You can handle that fine even in a RWD as long as you have good snows.

 

[cabri]

You will have over 100 miles on I40 that is above 6500 elevation.

That is presently the snow line.

Are you intending on running up to Salt Lake and then over to CA or take I5 up through CA?

 

[jlee]

Yeah, be careful running up north right now. It could be nasty. I was in Flagstaff / Grand Canyon for Christmas 2012 and I was running 4wd on my truck, dealing with blinding snow and some slippery conditions.