Winter Travel means icy roads, reduced visibility, and cold toes!
To close out 2012, we traveled to Ohio to visit grandma. We had planned to leave early the day after Christmas, but the forecast for snow and ice in West Virginia and Ohio left us doubting the plan. Weather improved, so we headed to Grandma’s just in time to see all of this (well, not the snowman… we added him the next day!).
Winter Travel Forecast Information
Traveling in winter weather is somewhat tricky, even for those who live in such blustery places. We relied on the information at the Weather Channel Interstate Forecast webpage to determine when we could safely travel. Simply enter your route and the site provides road condition information all the way to your destination. It works on smart phones too.
Winter Travel Safe Driving Tips
Beyond checking road conditions, we also practiced safe driving techniques (as did most everyone else which was nice).
- Maintain a greater distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you,
- Accelerate slowly, especially in heavy rain and on snowy/icy roads,
- Do not accelerate or brake on bridges,
- Use your headlights during rain and snow storms,
- Stay in your lane. Hazardous road conditions make passing dangerous,
- Pack an emergency kit in case you get stranded. Include: flashlight, batteries, blanket, snacks, water, gloves, boots, first-aid kit, ice scraper/snowbrush, jumper cables, road flares.
One of my kids didn’t know that snow angels are made while lying on your back… just like some drivers don’t know road safety rules! (She’s so cute!)
Winter Travel Packing Tips
Winter travel means coats, boots, mittens, and hats. All that winter gear takes up a lot of space. To make packing easier, use a plastic tote for your gear. Our family of five was able to pack winter coats, hats, mittens, heavy socks and boots in a 20 gallon rubbermaid tote. Squish that fluffy gear in and snap the lid on top. Voila!
As an added bonus, wet snow clothes and boots can travel home safely contained in the bucket. Nothing else gets wet or dirty!
The kids in their winter travel gear made “Snow Caroline” and “Snow Doggie”
Wherever your winter travel takes you, be safe. Plan ahead by checking the winter travel interstate forecast. Pack smart — including a winter travel emergency kit in case you do get stranded. Remember to include all your winter gear — simply packed in a rubber tote. Smart planning makes winter travel easy!
Share your winter travel smart tip with the rest of us! What did I forget?
Sharon says
January 6, 2014 at 12:12 pmYa know, those are great tips…however, since I live in Phoenix our only issues are heating up the truck at least two minutes before we go anywhere in the mornings so we don’t freeze in 40 degree weather 😉
Karen Dawkins says
January 6, 2014 at 2:06 pmYeah…. but if you ever venture into real winter territory, you’ll be glad these tips are tucked away in the recesses of your mind! 🙂
Rachee says
January 5, 2014 at 10:51 pmWe just had our first major storm of the year and I was afraid to even think about travel! These are some good tips but I am going to wuss out and watch the snow from my home until I absolutely have to go in it!
Your family is so cute!
Karen Dawkins says
January 6, 2014 at 8:36 amThat’s pure wisdom, Rachee. If more people “wuss out” and watch the snow from home, we’d all be better off. Most winter deaths result from traffic accidents, which can’t happen when you’re at home!
Lexie Lane says
January 5, 2014 at 9:24 pmLove all the pics! Still can’t believe snow can cover a car like that! Amazing!
Karen Dawkins says
January 6, 2014 at 8:35 amLexie, We need to meet in Minnesota next winter! Time for you to experience real snow!
Christina says
January 11, 2013 at 10:22 amLove the tips! I used the weather channel’s interstate thing myself when we were traveling to and from North Carolina! I was worried mostly about our trip through WV 😉 We traveled from IL to NC … which is basically I77 to I64, so we may have traveled the same roads lol!
Love, love, love the snow angel! Thanks for linking up with the GtKY hop!
Karen says
January 11, 2013 at 5:08 pmI-77 through the Virginias is tricky in the winter. My mom-in-law had a weather related accident a few years ago. I was surprised that the heavy rain in NC caused more driving issues than the mountain weather did.
Thanks for hosting the hop! I sure hope I am featured sometime soon!
Terri says
January 8, 2013 at 1:35 amWe’re planning on snowshoeing soon … up in the Sierra (California). Thanks for the tips!
Karen says
January 8, 2013 at 10:57 amSounds like a wonderful trip, Terri. We’ve only visited the California mountains in the summertime, but our kids were thrilled to find snow still tucked under the trees in July. What fun to throw snowballs at each other while the sun warmed the air to 80 degrees. 🙂
Rosey says
January 7, 2013 at 2:12 pmHahaha, I thought she was planking in the snow!! These are all great tips. Winter travel can be a bear, I hate it!
Karen says
January 8, 2013 at 11:03 pmYou had a tough winter travel trip — but not due to weather. Hope you are all recovered!
Leigh @oneandoneequalstwinfun.com says
January 6, 2013 at 4:37 pmI absolutely love the snow angel picture!!! Why hasn’t it gone viral yet??? LOL! And the snow dog is adorable!
Great tips! I actually got caught out in the snow the other day and hadn’t packed my snow scraper into the car yet – so just getting ready for the winter season is also important! As I write this I still haven’t put it in the car!
Leigh
Karen says
January 6, 2013 at 4:43 pmA credit card works when you forget your scraper :)… since we live in the sunny, mostly snow-free south, scrapers aren’t essential tools, and we’ve resorted more than once to the credit card trick.
In Ohio last month, my dear friend Lisa (a native snowbird), scraped all our windows after a fun evening of sledding and hot cocoa.
Claire 'Word by Word' says
January 6, 2013 at 12:53 pmMy Big Tip: Stay at home and get cosy with a great book, a big mug of hot chocolate and ‘Cinema Paradiso’ on DVD! 🙂
Love that snow angel, what love in the name of art!
Karen says
January 6, 2013 at 2:04 pmClaire, I’m with you. I bundled up long enough to capture pics of the kids and then headed inside to a cup of hot coffee and college football under a warm blanket!