I’m relocating to Laramie in January from Virginia, and am reading horror stories of driving on I80 in the winter, and it’s freaking me out.
Luckily I will be living and working in Laramie, I just need to get there. I‘m allowing a full week to make the drive there in case of unexpected weather.
I guess I’m just wondering is that drive always bad on I80, even in clear conditions? I just have no idea what to expect. Any guidance would be awesome.
EDIT: its just me in my compact suv, no trailer or anything
EDIT 2: you all have been incredibly helpful, thank you very much. I feel better about it now.
If it gets late pull off in Cheyanne, don’t drive that last stretch if the weather is bad.
Yeah, with clear weather the drives totally fine (honestly the best tip I can give is to check the forecast and just go when it’s supposed to be clear for a couple days)
But I’ve had quite a few scary situations on I-80 between Laramie and Cheyenne in the winter
OP this is the answer. Pay attention.
Ok thanks for the tip!
It's honestly fine in a car most days. If you are using a moving truck or haul trailer things might be different, heh.
Ok that’s good to know, thank you
As others have said, please use WyDOT (there’s an app you can get for both IOS and android.)
Make sure you be contentious of the winds and any potential closures as you start to arrive.
Safe travels!
The app is "Wyoming 511"
Yes, I definitely will, thank you!
https://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/travel/511-travel-and-information.html
I wouldn't worry too much just yet. Its been a very mild winter here so far. Obviously that could change, but keep an eye on Wyoroad.info for road conditions in Wyoming, and most other states have a version of it too so you can see real time conditions as you travel. Hope you enjoy Laramie!
Ok I‘ll check that site out before I leave, thank you!
The worst of i80 is west of Laramie.
Its normal interstate driving when the weather is fine, dont stress yourself out.
Check WyDOT daily for road conditions on I-80.
I definitely will, thank you!
Get good snow tires or all season tires. Stay on the interstate. Drive during the day. Slow down and take your time. You will ever fine.
Try and keep lots of distance from trucks. And carry some emergency supplies like food and a sleeping bag.
Ok thank you. Just got new crossclimate2 tires last week, so i think that should be good
Short of straight sheet ice, those are very robust tires out in the Rockies. They should handle ice patches and slush/snow just fine if you don't do anything irrational.
Just be wary of blowing snow. The wind never really stops blowing, I’m not joking, and where the snow blows across the highway creates patches of black ice. It also blows over tractor trailers and trains. I-80 is often closed around Kearney, Nebraska during winter storms.
Ok thanks for the guidance
No worries. I’m going from Denver to Des Moines after Christmas for a wedding. Although we need the moisture, I really hope the weather holds off until we’re through Nebraska
It is likely there will be no problem. Don't worry about it until a few days before the day you expect to be there.
Ok I’ll just check WyDOT as others have mentioned. Thanks!
You’re going to be so happy after leaving Virginia.
What makes Wyoming better, in your opinion?
The people and the landscape. The endless natural recreation opportunities. The people are way nicer than the east coast, it's not even close. No traffic. No state income tax.
True outdoors. The Appalachians have their charm, but they're a lot of swampy forested ridges.
Out here it's more open Mongolian style steppes, wind blasted sage, visibility for 20-50+ miles on a clear day, and massive mountain ranges. The breeze keeps things nice and fresh rather than stagnant. Especially with lower humidity.
Everything on the East side of the Midwest Meridian is far denser populated because it was all to some degree settled for agriculture in the 19th century. There's a town every 10-15 minutes out East. In the mountain West, there are many stretches of 100-150+ miles with nothing. No towns, no fuel stations, no stops, just Big Empty.
The Western history is more pronounced. Because it was settled more recently with a fraction of the population, there's still a lot from the "original" settlements. Traces of the Oregon Trail and Lincoln Highway, old stage coach stops and railroad depots, legacy ranches of famous pioneers and scouts. Much of that out East has gradually been buried under the weight of history. It's still there, especially in Virginia, but it's more needle-in-a-hay stack. Here it's common to stop in a tiny town saloon/hotel and they'll have photos and signatures of the Doc Holliday, Billy the Kid, and so on just hanging on the wall.
My mother is from Rust Belt Southern VA and while I haven't been back in 20 years, it was such a ghetto dump the last few times I visited.
That's awesome, I'm excited to be able to go there and check it out! Even if it is winter haha
Gz, I used to live in VA, Wyoming is so much better
What do you like better about it? I like Virginia a lot, but am looking forward to what Wyoming has to offer
This is gonna sound harsh, and part of the reason I hate Virginia is cause my mother in law lives there, but: - Virginia is hot and humid as shit, I really hate stepping outside at 8 AM on a summer day and getting slapped in the face by humidity, winters are cold, not much actually nice weather at least for me - Most cuck state I have been to when it comes to roads, cops and speeding. Can’t go to sheetz without passing by 3 cops, go on 95 to DC and see the “speed limit enforced by aircraft” sign, suck my **** VA - imo east coast is just too populated, and I hate places that are too populated
Wyoming (I’m in Laramie) is the shit. Super nice weather at least like 6 months of the year, lots of sun, it gets cold and windy in winter but really not as cold as I expected. Not over populated at all, if you want to go hiking it’s super quick and convenient, no speeder cops on the way and no humidity when you get there. Life is cheap and good! No income taxes is super nice, most of the groceries/things I buy in Laramie are local from WY or CO and have a normal price. People are really nice here, and more normal in general.
Also state pride!! Never saw folks flying the VA flag but you best believe the bucking horse and WY flag are all over the place here
It just varies year to year. One year I was living in Laramie and I80 was closed 14/28 days in February. Another year I had to delay a trip two days and and take the long way through Colorado to get out of Laramie. Other years it was fine. There’s just no knowing until the weather does whatever it’s going to do. Laramie is a great little city. I hope you like it!
It’s not always bad. Try and get from Cheyenne to Laramie the morning though if you’re going 80. You can take 287 from Fort Collins to Laramie, usually less treacherous (by wind anyway)
Download Wyoming 511 app from WYDOT. You can view traffic cams and road conditions. Join the "Wyoming Road and Weather Conditions Reports Updates" facebook group.
As others have said, the west side of the Laramie Mountain Pass on I80 has a steep grade and is very dangerous in icy conditions.
Check road conditions for all states you'll be traveling down I-80.
Is your vehicle ready for Wyoming winters?
Right now? Only thing you have to be worried about is the wind. No snow here.
Besides, between Laramie and Cheyenne can be dangerous… however, if you can hangout in Cheyenne for a couple of hours, usually it clears up throughout the day. The wind is mixed though - either the worst in afternoon or just doesn’t stop all day.
From Laramie west is frequently closed. Here is the secret to winter driving. Leave early so you can DRIVE SLOW!!
It's fine about 95% of the time in the winter. You just have to be really careful when that 5% hits.
Giving yourself extra time is smart and if it looks bad just camp out in Cheyenne until it clears up and then make that final stretch in.
Just check WYDOT regularly. You'll be fine.
Just be aware of the weather and drive accordingly. It could be worse, you could be driving west across Wyoming.
You should be more concerned with driving 287 south.
Stay away from semis in the wind.
Download the apps Wyoming 511 and WY 511 for updates on road closures, cameras etc, if you have fb there is an amazing group on Wyoming weather that is more accurate and faster than any news / weather outlet. If anything, plan an overnight in Cheyenne and get to Laramie the next day. If it is closed it's never for long, and Happy Jack Road is a great alternative.
I drove from Denver to Jackson, WY around Thanksgiving one year. I was driving up I-25 towards Cheyenne. On both sides of I-25, semi-trucks were lying on their sides. Never saw anything like it before. Turned on I-80 heading west and my car wouldn't go more than 65 MPH. That's when I learned about the wind in Wyoming. I moved to Jackson and traveled throughout Wyoming. Winter conditions on I-80 can be treacherous. Snow blizzards where WHP will close the road and other state highways. Thankingfully, you now have accurate weather apps to alert you to bad weather. I'm afraid you're in for a cultural shock moving from Virginia.
Hey! If you have a FB, there’s a group calling Wyoming Road and Weather Reports. It’s “live, boots on the ground” reports from people driving the roads daily. It’s sometimes more reliable than the WyoRoad apps. Feel free to join!
Always check forecast/conditions, because they can vary drastically outside of town. You're spot on about budgeting a week so you can take your time, not drive at night, and take a night off if the highways are closed due to weather.
Living & working in Laramie will be fine, I've never seen it truly impassible in town. If you had to commute outside of it regularly, then the weather issues and road closures would be quite significant.
The stretch from Cheyenne to Laramie on I-80 can get really hairy really quickly.
The last thing the Donner party heard before they headed west was………You’ll be fine!!!! lol
If the Donner party went this year they would have been fine... lol
Its been 65 and 50mph sustained gusts all december. Im highly skeptical we get much snow or deep cold with the current weather trend. The wind will be the threat, it can throw suvs around too. If its a bit slick that wind will force you into a slide. Listen to wydot.
Just don't move to Wyoming.