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Solo-Driving from Florida to New York During the Winter

In the past, I have asked a question on this exchange regarding driving a well-maintained car across the East Coast of the U.S. In that particular question, I wanted to know if it were safe for a car to drive those distances in such a short period (turns out it is actually optimal).

Now, I wonder whether or not it will be safe for me, not only my vehicle.

I have virtually no experience driving in wintry conditions. I've lived in snow when I was younger. I know how to prepare myself for it, but I do not know how to prepare or maintain a car in it, nor how to travel potentially long distances through it. The trip from FL to NY is about ~1.3k miles (~2k km), where, by mid-December, I think it would be reasonable to expect icy conditions on more or less half the length of the route.

I have twice the experience driving the distance, not any for the conditions. As a virgin to driving long distances in such conditions, as a vehicle owner and operator, what are the more important notes one should regard when doing this thing?

There are potentially endless notes one could make on such a topic, so for "more important," I mean things which most who have experience with these matters would agree upon, things of common knowledge/conventional wisdom/norms.

For an answer:

perhaps some qualities of the conditions not inherently obvious to a newbie; perhaps some of the potential actions of other drivers on the road which may not inherently make sense to a newbie; perhaps some recount of a quote or of personal experience driving through such conditions; and/or perhaps a list of items which may be desirable to have or prepare to have for the trip,

would be sufficient.

2 Answers
2

The routes you mention are major freeways, and they will be plowed and salted if need be for snow. Snow is not a common occurrence on most of your intended route, and ice will be an issue only if you are quite unlucky and travel during a storm or shortly after. A few days every year, and sometimes zero. I have been on the New Jersey Turnpike during moderate snowfall. Traffic was still moving at 30 mph. You might have an issue on city streets as you approach your destination.

Having said that, at the time of this writing, the drive you intend is impossible today because of flooding.

Winter travel is much less predictable. It's not possible to give a blanket statement.

In general, travel on an interstate highway is just as easy in the winter as at other times, except that severe weather may be a bit more common, and the effects may last a bit longer. Icy driving is possible, but not to be expected even in winter. Icy conditions are very uncommon on the southern part of your route, even in the middle of winter.

I would want to have an idea ahead of time of what to do in case of severe winter weather. Say that you find just before you begin that New York is forecast to have a severe blizzard prior about the time of your planned arrival. Would you be able to stay in Florida a few extra days and arrive later after it clears? Would you be able to drive part way and stay in a hotel for a few days until the weather clears? Could you leave early if it would mean arriving ahead of the weather?

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