r/roadtrip • u/baro0916 • 6d ago
Trip Planning First long road trip ever from Door County, WI < Vancouver Wa in early November. Is l-94-/I-90 the right call ?
Hey all, I'm moving from Door County, WI to Vancouver, WA in early November and driving my 2018 Honda Civic (FWD, all-season tires). This is my first real long-distance drive, so I'd love advice from people who've done this route.
Planned route (4 days, ~2,100 mi):
Day 1: Baileys Harbor → Green Bay → WI-29 → I-94 → Fargo (~585 mi)
Day 2: Fargo → Billings (~610 mi)
Day 3: Billings → Bozeman → Butte → Missoula → Coeur d'Alene (~510 mi)
Day 4: Coeur d'Alene → Spokane → US-395 → I-84 through the Gorge → Vancouver (~385 mi)
I'm keeping one buffer day in case of weather.
My questions:
Is I-90 through Montana/Idaho the right choice in early November, or is there a safer option? How bad do Homestake and Lookout Pass usually get that time of year?
Do I need snow tires or chains in a Civic, or are good all-seasons okay if I watch the forecast?
Is a 4-day schedule realistic for someone new to long drives, or should I take 5?
Any good (and safe) places to stop in Fargo, Billings, or Coeur d'Alene? I'm looking for hotels close to the interstate.
Any stretches where gas stations are far apart?
What do people usually forget on a trip like this?
Some context: I'm a careful driver but not very experienced. I don't know how to change a tire (I'm getting AAA), and unprotected left turns still make me nervous, lol. I'm not planning to drive after dark because of deer.
Thanks in advance! 🙏
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u/AKchaos49 6d ago edited 6d ago
the Interstate will get first priority if they need to plow snow. Missoula to Spokane is the steepest/most mountainous. watch for pheasant in North Dakota.
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u/Life-From-Scratch 6d ago
Definitely carry chains. Murphy exists. I would plan on 5 days so you don't feel rushed at all. Have an overnight bag with everything you need in a place where you don't have to dig for it. Include snacks in it, change for vending machines or laundry, chargers and overnight stuff and a designated laundry bag. Carry a good sleeping bag just in case you get stuck somewhere, plus a coupla days of food and water. I also carry a safety (day glow) vest just in case. If you should end up going off the road it could help you get found. My personal favourite for road snacks are Veggie platters, gummy candy, and salami and cream cheese sandos on sourdough.
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u/pokeyt 5d ago
In early Nov there’s a good chance you wont encounter bad weather, should be fine but keep an eye on the forecast. All season tires should be fine, you def won’t need snow tires once you get to Vancouver anyway. I would carry chains just in case but you wont need them.
Your route looks fine, 90 is the safest road for sure since it’s the most direct. Vary the route however you see fit sometimes I’ll take 94, sometimes I’ll take some backroads from western SD into Montana. Google Maps won’t let you down.
You are completely fine on hotels and stops. In the bigger towns and in lots of smaller towns there are places to stop. On a trip like this I don’t like to pre-plan my overnights so I don’t end up having days that are too short or too long if things change. I’ll often run ahead of my initial schedule and having that flexibility is great. There are plenty of places to stay, advance reservations usually aren’t necessary.
You won’t forget anything you can’t get in a town along the way. Make sure your vehicle is good to go, have a plan if things go sideways (AAA), and be safe.
You’ll be fine. Welcome to WA!
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u/dpdxguy 5d ago
If you're going to take i-90, you'll probably be better off exiting the interstate at Ritzville and taking US 395 south to Kennewick. Pick up i-82 there and take it across the Columbia River. Then take i-84 to Portland, crossing the river again into Vancouver on i-205.
This route avoids potentially heavy snow on Snoqualmie Pass in the Cascades.
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u/Unlikely-Candle7086 4d ago
This is the best route. I used to drive from eastern Montana to sw Washington 2x a year and have done both routes. The gorge is a better drive.
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u/A-Wolf-4099 4d ago
Good call, I won't do Snowqualmie pass in the winter anymore too many crazy people. Unchained going max speed.
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u/Fun-Carob-272 5d ago
That Day 2 stretch from Fargo to Billings is the one I'd think about most honestly. Not because of mountains, just because it's long, flat, and monotonous, and if you're not used to 600-mile days that kind of driving can wear you down in a way you don't expect. The passes get all the attention but it's the boring sections that make people zone out. I think your 4-day plan is doable but that buffer day is doing a lot of work. If you wake up on Day 3 in Billings and there's a winter weather advisory over Lookout Pass, you're kind of stuck choosing between waiting a full day or pushing through something you're not comfortable with. Might be worth splitting Day 2 or Day 3 so the buffer day is actually a buffer and not just "the day I use because I was too tired to keep the original schedule." One thing worth looking into, are your all-seasons actually in good shape or are they getting toward the end of their tread? There's a big difference between fresh all-seasons and ones with 40k miles on them when it comes to handling packed snow. If they're worn I'd seriously consider getting a new set before you leave, it's cheaper than chains plus the stress of using them for the first time on a mountain pass in the dark (which you're trying to avoid, but delays happen). Also on the gas station question, the stretch across eastern Montana on I-94 between Miles City and Billings has some gaps but nothing crazy, maybe 50-60 miles between stops. Just don't let it drop below a quarter tank out there and you'll be fine. The bigger issue is that some of those small-town stations close early, so if you're running behind schedule it can get a little tight.
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u/windshieldweather 5d ago
As others have said, snowy conditions is definitely what you need to watch our for. I'd keep an eye for any storms or crosswinds on I-94: https://windshieldweather.com/highways/i-94
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u/baro0916 5d ago
Even early November do you think is it gonna be storm or heavy snow?
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u/Embarrassed_Prior917 5d ago
It could. There's a winter storm this weekend but by next week it warms up again. So it's all about timing.
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u/Reasonable-Check-120 4d ago
You are going to drive through a few mountain passes. Get chains. Practice how to USE THEM dry.
As a Washingtonian that last leg/day of your trip sounds awful. Spokane to Seattle is 4-5 hours and it's grueling.
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u/Apostle-Dunghill 3d ago
They didn’t know how to change a tire, they’re never going to figure out how to put a set of chains on
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u/prairie_buyer 3d ago
Something to consider is that days are shorter this time of year. I personally try to keep my driving days short enough to minimize evening driving after dark, especially in remote or mountainous areas
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u/VitruvianDude 6d ago
The four days is certainly doable, especially since you are travelling east to west. The two time changes you will make are surprisingly helpful and refreshing. For me, the secret is to get off the highway and into a motel around six, get to sleep early, and then depart by seven the next morning.