Moving from Colorado to Nevada

Question

Hi all,

I am moving to Las Vegas at the end of this month from Greeley, CO and am wondering the best route to take to try and avoid snow chain mandates since we will have a U-Haul. My sister who lives in the South is coming to help by driving the U-Haul so I can drive my car. I don't really want her to drive in heavy snow areas, and I again don't really know what to do about snow chains on a U-Haul especially when she hasn't driven in the snow before. I am going to be using cotrips.org to monitor the roads and hope we can take the best route of i70 to i15, but I also have seen a route taking 285 to 50 and then on to i70 for Utah.

Any tips are helpful,

Thanks!

Answer

Moving from Colorado to Nevada, especially with a U-Haul and a driver unfamiliar with snowy conditions, requires careful route planning to minimize exposure to areas where snow chains might be required. Your concern about I-70 and other mountain routes is valid, as winter and early spring weather can bring snow and ice, particularly over high passes.

Route Considerations:

I-70 West to I-15 South: This is the most direct route to Las Vegas from Greeley. However, I-70 traverses the Rocky Mountains, including the Eisenhower Tunnel area near Denver, and passes through Vail and Glenwood Canyon. Snow, ice, and chain laws are common in winter and early spring. If weather conditions are poor, this could be challenging for a U-Haul, especially with a driver inexperienced in snow.
US-285 South to US-50 West, then I-70/I-15: This is a lower-elevation alternative. US-285 passes through the mountains but at lower elevations than I-70. US-50 West through Monarch Pass can also have snow, but typically less traffic and slightly lower elevations compared to Vail on I-70. This route avoids some of the high-elevation passes but is slightly longer in mileage.
Alternative I-25 South to US-50/I-15: You could consider driving south on I-25 from Denver to Pueblo and then west on US-50 through Gunnison and Montrose, eventually connecting to I-15 in Utah. This route tends to avoid the heaviest snow areas but adds more driving time.

Tips for a Safe Move:

Check cotrips.org and CDOT mountain pass webcams regularly for real-time road conditions, closures, and chain law advisories before and during your trip.
If your sister is not experienced driving in snow, strongly consider leaving the U-Haul for yourself and driving your personal car if conditions are bad, or delaying travel until the forecast is clear.
U-Hauls do not require snow chains in all states, but in Colorado they may be required for commercial vehicles over certain weight limits during chain laws. Contact your U-Haul location to verify chain requirements for your truck size.
Consider traveling during daylight hours only and avoid early morning or late evening mountain passes where black ice is more likely.
Pack warm clothes, emergency supplies, and ensure the U-Haul tires are in good condition with adequate tread.

Summary Recommendation:

For minimizing snow exposure, the southern route via US-285 to US-50 west, connecting to I-15, is likely safer for an inexperienced snow driver. It avoids some high-elevation I-70 passes while still providing a reasonable route to Las Vegas. However, always monitor road conditions in real time, as weather in March can change rapidly. If forecasts show heavy snow along any route, delaying travel or splitting the drive into safer segments is preferable.

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