Long Drive Canada - US

rockstar210 · Feb 12, 2022

Thank you all for some great tips Sorry, I missed mentioning my destination, it is Fremont, CA (near San Jose). Also, I'm only planning to drive 6-8hr during the day and stay overnight at hotels. As I have no deadline as long as I reach my destination safely is the important bit

I am planning to use the Detroit border but now thinking about using the below route to avoid bad weather:
Toronto (401) > Detroit (I-75/I-69) > Indianapolis (I-70) > St. Louis (I-44) > Oklahoma City (I-40) > Amarillo (I-40) > Albuquerque (I-40) > Bakersfield (I-5) > Fremont.

upnorthwpg said: ↑

Can get really nasty this time of year in Montana and west. Lots of snow. Should be fine use your head, download a good weather app and the state highway condition map app for the states your travelling through. Most also have traffic cams that you can also check in real time.
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Thank you upnorthwpg, I am now thinking to use I40 and sure will use a good weather app.

MacLean said: ↑

Cross the boarder there rather then Crossing through SSM & Thunder Bay. You’ll get much better highways. You’d probably avoid a lot of bad weather that way.
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Thank you MacLean, looking to go through Detroit ad then take I 40.

uncleal13 said: ↑

North or south California?
If Los Angeles I’d cut down to St Louis then I-44 to I-40.
On average, better weather that way.
If San Francisco, I-80 is about it. Can be severe weather though, being you’re from Canada it’s nothing you haven’t seen before.
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Thank you uncleal13, it will be Fremont, CA. And yeah you are absolutely right about using I-44 to I-40, I'm not a big fan of severe weather.

B77 said: ↑

Just do it! And don’t overload the Hyundai!
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Thank you B77, be about 60 Kgs mostly in the boot with a case in the back seat that I can take with me so not planning to leave anything visible.

ZVar said: ↑

From Toronto, cross at Salina/Port Huron and drop down south immediately, all the way to I10 if you are going that far south in California. Basically the further south you get before heading west the better. Also give yourself plenty of time. Don't plan on hotel stays, because you might get tired before you get there and driving tired is very dangerous. Don't be afraid to stop at a rest area and walk around for a few minutes to get blood flow. If it starts getting dark and you get tired, don't keep up pushing yourself. Get a hotel and a good night sleep.
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Thank you ZVar, I am planning to use Windsor-Detroit. As my destination is near San Jose thinking about using the above new route (I-40), any advice on this route compared to I-10. You actually read my mind there, I am planning to stop every 2-3 hours to stretch and I absolutely agree on driving tired not planning to drive longer hours (above 7-8hrs) to be honest. Good tips!

JC1971 said: ↑

Keep on eye out for tornado weather in the South this time of year.
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Thank you JC1971, will this still be the case if I will be using the above new route, please?

AModelCat said: ↑

Driving gets boring so when your mind is losing focus, just find a rest area, get out and walk around for 5 or 10 minutes. Keep the mind fresh and the blood moving. In summer I take a jump rope with me and do that for a couple minutes when I stop.
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Thank you AModelCat, you are right it can be boring especially when continuously staring at plain fields. I am planning to stretch every 2-3 hours.

Oxbow said: ↑

March storms usually don't last long, but can be the most dramatic in my experience.

I would suggest allowing an extra day or two so that you can sit tight if it gets real crappy. It probably won't last long.
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Thank you Oxbow, now planning to use the above new route, could this still be the case do you reckon?

bavarian said: ↑

I personally don't go to Cali. But what I hear from other drivers that run from Cali to GTA they take I40 over I70. Nasty weather can occur there.
Don't go south on I75 till you hit I10. That's waaaay too much of a detour.
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Thank you bavarian, I'm now planning on using I-44/I-40.

New questions:

Say one day through the endless journey I feel very tired and decided to stay in a hotel along some part of the interstate, how far apart, in general, are these rest stops or hotels? I mean are they usually about every 50 miles or 100 miles or 200 miles or longer?

How safe are Motels along the interstate in general?

Are there any safe rest stops or major cities/towns between Albuquerque, NM and Bakersfield, CA for an emergency stay as this appears a long stretch?

In general, how is the phone reception? I have an AT&T sim.

What are some of the safe Hotel/Gas station chains that you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

BennysPennys · Feb 12, 2022

Taking I40 across the Texas Panhandle in a car in March look for when you get out of Oklahoma the temperature will drop by at least 30 degrees and will be windy as #### with a cross wind. Truck trailers will be swinging side to side so give them the space and just treat it as it is what it is and it will be ok.

ZVar · Feb 13, 2022

rockstar210 said: ↑

New questions:

Say one day through the endless journey I feel very tired and decided to stay in a hotel along some part of the interstate, how far apart, in general, are these rest stops or hotels? I mean are they usually about every 50 miles or 100 miles or 200 miles or longer?

How safe are Motels along the interstate in general?

Are there any safe rest stops or major cities/towns between Albuquerque, NM and Bakersfield, CA for an emergency stay as this appears a long stretch?

In general, how is the phone reception? I have an AT&T sim.

What are some of the safe Hotel/Gas station chains that you recommend?

Click to expand...

1. For the most part every exit has a hotel unless you are in the middle of no where, then it's every other exit... You'd be hard pressed to find any stretch of interstate without a hotel 30 miles away. For US highways (Non-interstate highways) it might be a bit longer, but not too much.
2. As safe as anyplace I guess. If the hotel is run down and advertises by the hour rates and no outside lights it would be best to avoid it. If it's a brightly lit parking area, with a well maintained building and grounds tends to be a safer location.
3. It may sound counterintuitive, but getting away from the city tends to be safer. More crime happens in truck stops and rest areas around metropolitan areas.
4. On the interstate, no problem. Get yo US highways you tend to still have good reception, but it can get spotty if you are out in the middle of nowhere.
5. They are all franchised. The name on the hotel doesn't matter.

JC1971 · Feb 13, 2022

rockstar210 said: ↑

Thank you JC1971, will this still be the case if I will be using the above new route, please?
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Not common this time of year but not impossible. More common closer to the Gulf. You're more likely to hit freezing rain in Missouri and Oklahoma.

Edit: just saw you're leaving in March. That's the beginning of tornado season in Oklahoma.

Russell The Trucker · Feb 13, 2022

Make sure your car wears winter tires and avoid driving at night if it snows. Good luck!

rockstar210 · Feb 21, 2022

BennysPennys said: ↑

Taking I40 across the Texas Panhandle in a car in March look for when you get out of Oklahoma the temperature will drop by at least 30 degrees and will be windy as #### with a cross wind. Truck trailers will be swinging side to side so give them the space and just treat it as it is what it is and it will be ok.
Click to expand...

Thank you BennysPennys, points noted.

ZVar said: ↑

1. For the most part every exit has a hotel unless you are in the middle of no where, then it's every other exit... You'd be hard pressed to find any stretch of interstate without a hotel 30 miles away. For US highways (Non-interstate highways) it might be a bit longer, but not too much.
2. As safe as anyplace I guess. If the hotel is run down and advertises by the hour rates and no outside lights it would be best to avoid it. If it's a brightly lit parking area, with a well maintained building and grounds tends to be a safer location.
3. It may sound counterintuitive, but getting away from the city tends to be safer. More crime happens in truck stops and rest areas around metropolitan areas.
4. On the interstate, no problem. Get yo US highways you tend to still have good reception, but it can get spotty if you are out in the middle of nowhere.
5. They are all franchised. The name on the hotel doesn't matter.
Click to expand...

Thank you ZVar, great tips noted.

Russell The Trucker said: ↑

Make sure your car wears winter tires and avoid driving at night if it snows. Good luck!
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Thank you Russell The Trucker, sure.

shredder152 · Mar 4, 2022

Your route avoids the worst place on I-80 - the Donner Pass. Good call, as CalTrans will often make ALL vehicles (not just trucks) chain up to go over the summit in March - weather dependent of course.
You will want to have good winter tires - NOT all season tires - as you will run into all kinds of weather conditions. You might also want to pick up a set of small chains (look on Amazon, they're fairly inexpensive) for your Hyundai. You'll need to know your tire size, and if you can, get some advice and help installing them. Install them a couple times before you leave on your trip so you've got some practice doing it.
Good luck finding affordable housing in that area - it makes Toronto look cheap!!

rockstar210 · Mar 5, 2022

Hey all,

I had deep thinking and all consideration of weather conditions. I got the final car check and found it needed new winter tires all around and CV axles on both sides front were leaking and needs changing. Worked out all costs and risks and I shamelessly chickened out of the idea.

However, I had a plan B. I have a friend in Canton, Detroit so I crossed the border and dropped my vehicle at his place and got a carrier company to collect it and transport it to the destination. I am now in Fremont and the car has been picked up

I really appreciate your time and advice as a new immigrant this info is something I will refer to in future.

Thank you Shredder152, you are rightly housing is very expensive....

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