Driving west from Newark on I-80 - How far will I get in about 4 hrs?
Replies: 17 - Last Post: Nov 20, 2012 12:16 PM Last Post By: willysnoutredux
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Driving west from Newark on I-80 - How far will I get in about 4 hrs?
Hi everyone,I'm new to the forums. In December I'm going to be driving from Newark westbound on I-80 through Pennsylvania on my way to Portland, OR. I've never driven this route and am not familiar with traffic in the region so I thought I'd ask anyone who is approximately how far I'd get in say 4 hours assuming normal road conditions and also if I left around noon?
I want to book accommodations in advance but not sure where that timeline would land me. :-) I'll be on the road with a dog so any suggestions for an area with a good selection of restaurants, etc. but also close to an area for dog walks would be gratefully received. Given the time of year I'd like to stick as much as possible to main roads.
Many thanks! :-)
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Hmm I regularly start from Long Island and drive past Newark to central PA (State College).It’s about 2 hours from here to Newark (depends a LOT on traffic) and my trip takes 6 hours total in good weather (9 hours in a nightmare). Overall it’s pretty safe and easy but once you get west of Danville, if the weather is not cooperating, it can be a little rough. Likewise west of Danville the coffee and burger stops are often kinda far from the interstate
Traffic’s not bad at all. There are plenty of nicely-marked rest stops along the way. Some are kinda old school, but I actually like that.
There are a couple of nice stops to make near the NJ-PA border but if you’re coming (only) from Newark that’s a little early for stopping.
The weather issues in the western states are more severe. There are people here who can advise you better about that.
You’re actual question was “Driving west from Newark on I-80 - How far will I get in about 4 hrs?”
The answer is
“Between State College and Dubois, to Clarion if you are making record time.”
Edited by: LongIslandBob
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Although we are expecting snowfall tonight in the Rockies of Northern New Mexico and in Southern Colorado, the meteorologist is forecasting continuation of drought conditions here for this winter. Interstate-80 is just north of Colorado through Wyoming's Rocky Mountains plus the Sierra Nevada of California. You should carry chains for your rear tires if your car does not have studded tires for icy conditions. I have learned that Motel 6 and Quality Inns do allow dogs overnight -- they reserve a percentage of their rooms for people with pets. Be sure to carry extra blankets and one or two sleepingbags for you and your pet in case of emergency break-downs in the cold weather. Carry a thermos of hot coffee or liquid plus some snacks for emergencies. The Midwest has been having lots of weather extremes this year.3
" ASSUMING NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS"Your having a laugh .....I SAID !!!!!! in December
Do yourself a favour.... 1,.NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING
2, EXPECT THE UN-EXPECTED
Using a certain well known search engine
i found a web-site called .....ROADNOW.COM / I 80
Also for winter driving tips see....CARTALK.COM / CAR INFO under DRIVING.
Enjoy your trip, stay safe.
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Thanks, LongIslandBob. Your info is very helpful. I think State College or Dubois might be good places to stop for the night. It sounds like 4 hours will get me further than I anticipated. As I'm unfamiliar with the area, I wasn't sure how congested the roads get. Where I live, 10 miles on a map usually equates to a minimum drive time of 25 minutes. LOL When I look at the map, it appears both are near forests so good for nature walks.Thanks, Trekker. After reading advice on other forums, I think I'm going to take I-90 rather than I-80 because it sounds like the elevation doesn't get as high and also mountain passes aren't so bad. Would you agree with that? (I'm afraid of heights so am not looking forward to crossing the Rockies!) Thanks for the forewarning about the weather.
Willysnoutredux, I expect to be leaving Newark around noon on a Saturday.
Yofletch, thanks for those links!
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Oh, in the local vernacular "Dubois" is pronounced "Dew Boys." Just saying.
How else would you pronounce "Dew Boys?" Where do you think you are? France?
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I-80 is a pretty easy road except in Wyoming. Rock Springs to Salt Lake City was the only rough patch when I drove from Virginia to Oregon last year. We did have snow between Laramie and Rock Springs, but it wasn't bad and the roads were still clear.You said you have your dog, so I'll say what I always do: Let La Quinta Inns dictate your stopping points. They are always dog-friendly and allow your dog at no extra charge. Staff are trained to deal with dogs. I don't work for them or have any stake in where you spend the night, but the chain really was a lifesaver with two dogs on a cross-country trip in Nov/Dec.
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I drove this route Newark to Portland last year. Took a couple of weeks with tourist detours and days spent sightseeing. I worked on the basis of one hour = 50/60 miles an hour.I never pre booked hotels. No trouble finding places to stay. I highly recommend a book called something like Next Exit - it's a directory of hotels, motels, restaurants and shops at every interstate exit. It helped me decide where to break my journey.
The only bit I found tough was Wyoming. I had s little Mazda 2 and it struggled a bit on some of the hills. The rest was a delight from start to finish.
