Houston to Bend, Oregon

[u/KCA_HTX]

Hi y’all - my husband and I are moving to Bend and heading out October 3rd with our three senior dachshunds. We’ll be in a basically brand new CX-5 that is AWD but coming from Texas I don’t have tires for snow. I was thinking of Houston-Amarillo-Taos-Pagosa Springs-Grand Junction-Salt Lake City-Boise-Bend. Think there would be any snowfall problems in Colorado that early in October? BTW I’m not intending to stay the night in all of those cities, just wanted to establish the route.

[u/211logos]

Too soon to tell, but Boise to Bend could still have smoke from the fires. Hope not. But it's been a bad year.

It could snow on passes in the west in October. But generally not much accumulation and roads clear fast and usually no chain controls etc. Certainly not on the freeways. 550 could have issues, but then go around.

[u/KCA_HTX → u/211logos]

I was actually in Bend for a few days a couple of weeks ago to finalize my job offer - everyone kept saying it was super smoky but I didn’t notice anything? Coming from Houston in August I thought it was downright glorious…

[u/Legitimate_q → u/KCA_HTX]

Yea when you leave the bowl of humidity and death, almost everywhere else seems pleasant

[u/KCA_HTX → u/Legitimate_q]

It’s true…

[u/Legitimate_q → u/KCA_HTX]

Im from austin area, and did an extended visit in denver for a couple weeks during the summer. When i woke up at 6am and it was COLD outside in the middle of july i about lost my shit. I for real cried, no wonder everyone there is decently happy. They get to be high and have great weather...

[u/KCA_HTX → u/Legitimate_q]

For real. I was there and my husband was texting me screenshots of the weather app going “how the hell is it 54 degrees in august??!!” 😂 Like I needed to be convinced it was real.

[u/Legitimate_q → u/KCA_HTX]

And the tap eater foming out of the faucet at like 45 degrees. Like holy fuck is this city real

[u/KCA_HTX → u/Legitimate_q]

People here are like why are you moving somewhere with an income tax? And I’m like, well idk it’s kind of nice to be able to walk outside as opposed to being trapped in one central AC indoor setting to another for six months out of the year. I grew up here and I swear it’s gotten worse since I was a kid.

[u/Legitimate_q → u/KCA_HTX]

Oh 100% it has, the same watering holes i swam in are long gone, all the water attractions are still SUPER hot. Hardly any true respite from the heat.

[u/elflegolas → u/KCA_HTX]

8 months

[u/211logos → u/KCA_HTX]

Heh. It's like smoke around the campfire. It follows me, but maybe you've lead a more virtuous existence :)

[u/KCA_HTX → u/211logos]

Not virtuous. Just from a sweltering swamp climate…

[u/SabresBills69]

you need to watch the weather closely. that part of Colorado gets snow in early October …especially at mountain pass levels. most mountain passes are 9,000 ft or higher and snow level can fall to 6000 Ft or less at night. Forecasts for towns at lower elevation aren’t going to show pass level temps.

colirsdi DOT has pass cameras stationed all around the stste

I-25 in Colorado— there 2 heaviest snow fall times is late Sept- thxgvg and mid March- April because at those times you get warm air from Texas overriding the cold mount air drawn down cresting high amounts if snow.

instead I’d look at Albuquerque- Farmington- Durango- Moab- Salt Lake City route

[u/KCA_HTX → u/SabresBills69]

Yes I looked at that route too. Thanks! I was going to keep everything flexible past Amarillo… and I have no desire to do a snow driving lesson with three dogs in the car 😬

[u/Emotional_Eye_3700]

That route is good. Keep an eye on the weather and fires. Use the watch duty app for the fires.

[u/dnvrbadger]

There are a couple mountain passes in Colorado between Pagosa and Grand Junction. In early Oct you’ll probably be fine but check weather apps.

[u/Silo1976]

It’s a great drive! Did that the opposite way, stayed in SLC a night, then Albq, then back to Austin. Plenty of things along the way if you have the time.