A trip to Bernieland

March 7, 2018 7:33 PM

I am driving from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Burlington, Vermont at 9AM on Friday morning. Is this a horrible idea?

Given the Nor'easter that just dumped loads of snow on the northeast, I am wondering if this is a horrible decision to make. This is the route I am taking. I feel like by 9AM on Friday the major highways will be free and clear of snow, and it's really just a straight shot all the way up. I am driving a 2011 toyota prius if that makes any difference.

posted by marvelousmellitus to Travel & Transportation around Burlington, VT (6 answers total)

Everything in the VT part of things should be fine. There's a possibility of the higher elevations getting light snow Friday afternoon but not likely on the side of the mountains you will be on. This slightly bad website should give you up to date info on weather conditions but really unless there are trees down or something it should be a non issue up here.
posted by jessamyn at 7:37 PM on March 7, 2018

You should be totally fine. They’re predicting some low-level ongoing snow tomorrow, but the bulk is already done as of now. Even if you were driving up tomorrow (Thursday), you’d be fine on the major roads. By Friday, everything should be clear.
posted by Betelgeuse at 7:40 PM on March 7, 2018

It’s interstate most of the way. You should be fine.
posted by Automocar at 7:40 PM on March 7, 2018

I have done this exact drive literally hundreds of times over the past 15-something years. You should be totally fine. My preferred route is 95-N to 31-N to 202-N to 287-N to 87-N. Avoids the nastier major highways and there's only one or two tolls.

Edit: Google Maps link to the route I take.
posted by Diskeater at 7:59 PM on March 7, 2018

Interstates are plowed during storms and cleared well after storms. Residential roads may be a bit sloppy, main roads will be fine. The weather is expected to get into the high 30s with lows in the mid 20s, so there will be slush during the day and ice at night on lesser roads, requiring caution.
posted by theora55 at 6:37 AM on March 8, 2018

It should be a beautiful, uneventful drive. Have fun.

Also, the last two times I've stopped at Northbound VT rest areas there were some (liberal) church people selling pies. They also have donate-what-you-want coffee and free WiFi. VT rest areas are the shit, is what I'm saying.
posted by bondcliff at 7:04 AM on March 8, 2018 [1 favorite]