Winter Driving

For this page I will discuss all aspects of driving long distance to a downhill resort in winter. Before I launch into details, I need to let you know that I grew up in the deep south of the US. We were nowhere near mountains or snow. For this reason, winter weather in the mountains is thrilling and terrifying for me. Learning to drive in winter in the mountains has been a true accomplishment for me. But, I am no expert. I always get nervous about it. That’s why I started making notes. I always need to jog my memory on how to navigate winter roads. The list below is a modification of something I made to help prepare myself before each trip.

Another thing you may find helpful to know about me: I drive a 2019 Chevy Suburban which as I type has 160,000 miles. I love my car (that said, I strongly discourage anyone from buying these cars as they have a lot of problems, and the repairs involve exorbitant mark ups, fyi). I have had to learn how to use its features in the mountains in winter. So my check list for driving may not suit your specific needs based on what kind of car you drive.

Last, I need to remind readers that these notes primarily apply to driving long distance to mountains in the US southeast. It may not be fully relevant to road trips in other parts of the country (or world).

Really last, I make these notes because I am a hot mess. So please don’t read this and think you have to do all the things like a check list. Use the list to jog your memory on the important things that are not on your radar.

If you are completely unfamiliar with the drive, research your route ahead of time. This is overkill, but it’s not a bad idea to print or write the route down on paper or save it to your phone. You may lose gps signal or miss a turn and the get rerouted through back roads that have less priority for snow plowing. Which reminds me:
Keep your device iOS updated so your gps will work properly.
Look at the weather forecast for your travel dates.
Think about how you will keep up with the weather en route. It’s more a matter of building it into your mental space to check the weather app often. When traveling with kids, especially when doing it solo, there are a lot of details to juggle. So if checking the weather usually falls through the cracks, ask your kids to do it if they have a device or ask your in-laws or a weather-nerd friend to text you if they see weather events forming.
Keep spare change or small bills in case of toll booths en route.
Consider the possibility that you may not have reliable cell service for the entire length of the route.
Pack cell phone, charger, spare cell battery if you have one.
Learn or review how to use manual gears so that you don’t burn up your brakes going downhill.
Learn or review how to use 4×4 drive for when you come into snowy and/or icey roads (especially the going downhill).
Buy and put a snow brush and ice scraper in your car.
Optional: Buy or borrow chains and research how to use them in case you find yourself in freakishly dangerous conditions. Remember to have gloves handy bc putting those mothers on in a blizzard at night with bare hands will be almost impossible.
Consider the possibility of winter conditions at night in the mountains (especially when unexpected). Its best to plan for your drive to be during day light hours which means you have to stick to the scheduled departure time.
Always drive carefully because: pot holes and deer can wreck your car and your trip.
Car sickness is likely to happen. I use chewable motion sickness tablets for my kids, especially those in the farthest back seat.
Parking – research your parking choices before leaving your home. In really harsh conditions when you arrive at night, you may need yak tracks bc parking lots can be slippery.
Cargo box – I love my cargo box. We bought it after we realized we’d made downhill a lifestyle and now we use it for all kinds of trips. Make sure and close it properly to keep rain and snow out of it. If you use a cargo box, just know that you may have to load or unload it in the rain or snow. Its part of the deal with cargo boxes.
Unloading your car when you arrive: More times than you’d think, families leave a car door or rear hatch open after bringing the last bag in and wake up to a car full of snow.
No drowsy driving! Stop for a power nap in a safe parking lot off the road or check into a hotel if you have to.
Drive the speed limit. Chill out and you’ll get there safely and it’s better on your car’s engine as well.
Wear seatbelts properly. Your kids will want to slouch and lay all over the place, but during really dangerous winter driving, everyone needs a lap belt and chest strap.
Get gas as often as reasonably cautious. Sometimes during peak season, remote gas stations run out of gas due to vacationers. It’s just a good idea to not risk running out of gas.
I usually pull together activities for our youngest daughter like sketch book and markers, graphic novels and several movies and her device and head phones. I don’t let her use my phone so that the battery doesn’t die.
I always pack a large tote of snacks and drinks but we usually also stop for a meal and potty breaks along the way.
We load in pillows and blankets napping in the car and also the remote possibly of getting stuck in extremely cold weather for a long period of time. This can happen due to wrecks that choke traffic or due to weather events that cause rapid formation of ice.
Over the years, I have sort of paid attention to various car dealerships and mechanics along the routes we drive in case of car trouble. I have gone as far as asking for the phone numbers of local tow truck operators in the remotest stretches of our drive. It’s overkill, but not a bad idea. You can also check to see if your credit card has driver assistance or get Triple A.
Leading into the winter season, I get any repairs to my car that are needed and keep my tires updated and oil changed.
Give 18-wheeler trucks a lot of space. Don’t tail gate them. Don’t get in front of them on a long downhill and then slow down. They have a lot of weight and need much more space to decrease speed.
After a trip, insist that kids help unload the car and throw away trash and wrappers from the trip.