Maine in winter

[Tomkidder]

My wife an I are leaving Maine in the middle of January this year heading back to Tennessee. We came up I81 then cut over to Albany NY and from there headed to I95 and up. My Question is this winter should I go a different way home?

[Ford truck guy]

From Maine... In January??? Wait till May.. Lately those NE Winters have been BAD , they are calling for a bad one again this year...

[Tomkidder]

Originally Posted by Ford truck guy

From Maine... In January??? Wait till May.. Lately those NE Winters have been BAD , they are calling for a bad one again this year...

Unfortunately I have little choice in the matter. I have to be in Tennessee for 10 days and then heading to Ketchikan with it.

[Tomkidder]

I told the DW that we have it all wrong. Everyone is heading south for the winter and we are heading north.

[Tomkidder]

What I am hunting for is..... Does anyone know how the best way to pass this area is in January. I really want to try and stay away from the cities and all the stupid drivers, but not to the point that I have to drag my RW through deep snow.

[Ford truck guy]

Originally Posted by Tomkidder

What I am hunting for is..... Does anyone know how the best way to pass this area is in January. I really want to try and stay away from the cities and all the stupid drivers, but not to the point that I have to drag my RW through deep snow.

In all seriousness ,

I would HUG the coast at that time of the year... You will have a better chance of having temps above freezing and better roads (less chance of ice).. I would not want to be on 81 in those mountains in the winter.... Stay on 95 , hit the cities , WATCH THE FORCAST BEFORE LEAVING.. ,and just suck it up and be safe... That's what I would do..

You can always reach out to me for the philly area weather report , and piper Guy for the Baltimore , DC weather ahead of time...

[Tomkidder]

Originally Posted by Ford truck guy

In all seriousness ,

I would HUG the coast at that time of the year... You will have a better chance of having temps above freezing and better roads (less chance of ice).. I would not want to be on 81 in those mountains in the winter.... Stay on 95 , hit the cities , WATCH THE FORCAST BEFORE LEAVING.. ,and just suck it up and be safe... That's what I would do..

You can always reach out to me for the philly area weather report , and piper Guy for the Baltimore , DC weather ahead of time...

That is pretty much what I was hunting. Sounds like 81 is not well maintained that time of year then. I have driven almost anything that moves in some of the worst conditions. The reality is that I hate to chain up but hate road closures more. With all that said traffic is right up there. Nothing worse then riding a 3250# clutch, in bumper to bumper traffic. For hours on end.

[mhs4771]

Our first Winter trip to Florida was in February. We took I390 out of the Rochester, NY area South to US 15 down to I81 just north of Harrisburg, PA. Took I81 down to I77, to I26, over to I95.
We stayed away from the I95 Coastal Route because that year all the storms were coming right up the coast.
We had dry roads on I81 and only saw a few Flurries in the Mountains.
Watch the forcast and flip a coin, no way of really knowing what you might run into with either route. We just didn't want to get anywhere near Baltimore/DC area.

[piper guy]

Tom - I'm sure you're aware, but also carry at least 3/4 or so fresh water as long as the truck is ok with the weight. The RL tows much better in sloppy weather with full fresh tank. Adds a good bit of weight to the pin.

I76, the PA Turnpike, is always cleared and maintained well in the winter.

And after that - you're going back up through the Northwest to Ketchikan in February ?? Better you than me ........

[spindrift]

I've travelled I81 during the winter and have found maintenance to be good. Storms along the coast are very unpredictable during the winter, with ice being the greatest concern. Really, I don't think there is one best route.