Driving from Boise to Portland,OR

Hey guy! First of all, let me thank you in advance for helping me in here. I%26#39;m from Singapore, and this will be my 2nd time visiting the US. However, this will be my 1st time visiting the US during Winter.

I will be spending 17 days in the states (LA - Palm Springs - Arizona - Vegas - Salt Lake - Boise - Portland - Red Bluff - San Francisco) (Mainly a golfing holiday)

I will post respective questions regarding different states in the respective forums.

Over here, I%26#39;d like to gather some info for my drive from Boise to Portland, OR. Please try to bear with me as some of the questions I ask may seem stupid to you....but coming from Singapore where we have no winter %26amp; no snow.....:(

1) On google, it says the drive from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City is 7hrs. Is that accurate? What are the driving conditions like during Jan from Salt Lake to Boise? Is it congested? Weather? Is it rainy? Will it be snowing?

2) I have some friends who told me that it will be snowing big time in Jan. Is that true? If so, will the roads be covered with snow hence causing some delay in my trip? Is it safe to drive? I have checked with Hertz and they said their cars are installed with All Weather Tires. What time does it get dark? Will it be more dangerous if we drive in the dark? (Difficult to see road conditions, blindspots etc...)

Thanks so much for your precious time in helping me plan my trip easier. Appreciate it lots!

Driving from Boise to Portland,OR

Hi all....a typo error on top....let me correct myself:

1) On google, it says the drive from Boise to Portlandis 7hrs. Is that accurate? What are the driving conditions like during Jan from Salt Lake to Boise? Is it congested? Weather? Is it rainy? Will it be snowing?

Driving from Boise to Portland,OR

I have driven between Boise and Portland during the summer, so I%26#39;m not exactly sure what to expect in winter. Rain is highly possible in winter. Snow at the higher elevations is possible. I think seven hours is too optimistic. In theory that would be an average of 57 MPH with absolutely no breaks.

You will be on Interstate 84, and I would expect they probably keep it pretty clear during winter, but there are some hilly, curvy sections. There is a lot of truck traffic, and that can slow you down, especially on the uphills.

Traffic gets pretty dense at times in Portland.

In the summer, 7 hours is reasonable if you%26#39;re alone. I%26#39;ve even done (not perfected, nor will it ever be perfected) a one-stop 6 hour trip.

The winter is unpredictable, and more time should be factored in. The good news is that whatever snow falls usually doesn%26#39;t last a week on the road. The bad news- you never know when it%26#39;s going to snow or sleet, and the weather forecasts are often hit and miss in key points of the region.

The worst sections of I-84 in winter are probably the summit above Ladd Canyon, Baker City, and Cabbage Hill. Ladd Canyon (south of La Grande) tends to ice over more than snow. The flat parts from Baker to 10 miles north are a problem because dumb drivers are tempted to speed up. Even if snow is not a problem, Cabbage Hill (the big hill east of Pendleton) often has a serious fog problem. You are highly recommended to carry tire chains on any January trip through there.

I know, virtually every year, I plan a trip in either January or February that I end up cancelling because of the weather. However, the odds are that 50% of the weekends I drive, the freeway is dry. I strongly suggest building in an extra day or two, just in case of bad weather.

Hi

there will be few if any golf course%26#39;s open during Jan between Salt Lake and Portland. During the summer there are lots of fantastic course%26#39;s opened

this is ski country some of the best skiing in the world.

Snow is not the problem we have what is called Black Ice on the roads sometimes.

that is where we get a little rain or light snowfall and it freeze%26#39;s and turns to ice and you can%26#39;t see it on the roads until it is too late then all you can do is slide and spin and hope you don%26#39;t hit anything.

we just had some black ice this morning on the morning commute

here in Boise

they had a major wreck and had to shut down freeway for awhile.

make sure your rental care is equiped for winter if you pick up car in LA . ';all wheel drive or 4 wheel drive all season%26#39;s tire%26#39;s and carry snow chains. for mountain pass%26#39;s

it gets dark here at about 5:30 the only problem of driving at night is if there is a little moisture on the road during the day it will freeze at night and make the roads a little slick plus in some areas you may have deer crossing roads at night.

remember this is cold snow country.

this is my Thai wifes first winter here. she keeps saying not the same as thailand. but she is adapting fast and loves the views of the snow covered mountians

have a great trip and enjoy the cold