Thread: Do I need 4wd from Salt Lake to Jackson Hole?

Planning a trip right after Christmas hitting Park City for a few days then renting a car to drive to Jackson Hole. In the interest of saving money, can I get away with a 2wd car or should I be renting a 4x4? Don't know the roads or potential passes I'd have to go through. Thanks

Incomplete hypothetical. Is it snowing?

2wd is fine. Now post pics of your nekkid sister, then get the fuck out and never come back. Jong ass bitch.

If you live in:
Portland, OR: Yes.
Anywhere else: Maybe.

Seriously, though. You're either going up 15 to Idaho falls and then over Teton Pass, or you're going up 89 by Bear Lake. Both will suck (in different ways) in real snow or (worse) freezing rain. If it's snowing, 89's a pain in the ass, even with AWD/4WD and studded snow tires. 15's a bit more straightforward, and you can avoid the pass by going down to Alpine...so yeah, you can make it.

Just depends on how comfortable you are driving in snow.

Originally Posted by Finstah

For peace of mind, I'd spend the extra dough for the 4wd. You don't want to spend your ski vacation in Evanston.

Wouldn't be too bad. Just go up Mirror Lake Hwy, rent a sled, go to the yurt, and spend your vacation touring in the Uinta's.

I lived in SLC for 3 years and made the trip up to JH many times in my FWD Nissan in blizzard conditions. Its all about the tires really, just make sure you have good new tires on whatever car you are using. Make sure its a FWD, that way you have the weight of the engine over your driving wheels for added traction. Good luck out there.

Yeah if you go via Evanston it should be ok so long as it's not nuking. The drive is rolling but there are no serious passes to deal with. Probably worth springing for the 4wd though if you can, as that drive is pretty remote and breaking down/getting stuck would not be a pleasant ordeal.

Chances are it will be nuking at some point along the drive at that time of year and it's a loong 275 miles when the weather is bad. You can't choose the tires on a rental car so just go with the 4wd.

Freak that!!! Get Chains and Cinch em up Cowboy

FWD and chains if you are going the cheap route.

Originally Posted by baby bear

Chances are it will be nuking at some point along the drive at that time of year and it's a loong 275 miles when the weather is bad. You can't choose the tires on a rental car so just go with the 4wd.

Good point, most rental spots have the cheapest tires possible on their cars. I would say try and get an AWD vehicle if available. If you have never a driven a 4WD vehicle in bad weather it is imposing to a newbie. I love how I transferred from a 4WD truck to an AWD Outback, when the normal wheels start slipping, the other two wheels kick into action transferring to AWD, nut not wasting fuel when you don't need it.

I've rented "4WD" vehicles in SLC and they also have crappy tires on them. It's no fun in a short wheelbase RAV4 with cheap all-season's. If you don't have the cash to rent a real 4WD truck like a Tahoe, I would rent a FWD Ford Focus which I've found is a great car in snow, and get chains from Walmart for it. If you need them, you have them in the car. If you don't need them, you can return them on the way back and get all your money back.

It will be impossible. You should drive to Breckenridge instead.

No; but if you are driving at night, you will need top notch operating headlights and fog lights that can illuminate the shoulders and beyond. I made the drive in my rear wheel 2 wheel drive vehicle with some very aggressive snow tires on the drive wheels during a moderate snow fall with no problem. But I have lots of snow driving experience, having lived in up-state NY, commuting back and forth to snow sports resorts in Vermont before we ever heard of 4WD or AWD, and living part time at Alpine Meadows, CA. Just keep your speed down, stay well back of vehicles ahead of you and don't get impatient. When I entered Wyoming, I was pulled over by the Highway Patrol who alerted me that one of my headlights was out and I should really get a new one before I traveled farther. There are animals that frequent that stretch of highway, like Moose. Well, I did what he suggested, and guess what I encountered down the road thru moderately falling snow? One of the biggest Moose around with antlers as wide as my vehicle.

hell no! just stop every few miles n pick the antilopers outta ya grill!

No. Stop being a pussy.

Originally Posted by TwinTipTele

No. Stop being a pussy.

Exactly. I lived in Jackson 4 yrs with a front wheel drive saturn. If you're on a paved road, it's either going to be closed, or you should be able to drive it with FWD unless you're an idiot. As for the route, 189 through kemmerer is about the flattest, easiest drive in the winter IMO. If it's really Dumping, take I15, and if the pass is closed/shitty, just spend a night in drictor wydaho and hit gnargee while the pass clears up.

Originally Posted by dkamera

Planning a trip right after Christmas hitting Park City for a few days then renting a car to drive to Jackson Hole. In the interest of saving money, can I get away with a 2wd car or should I be renting a 4x4? Don't know the roads or potential passes I'd have to go through. Thanks

You seriously hate yourself if your idea of a vacation is spending 10+ guaranteed hours behind an automobile driving from SLC - Jackson and Jackson - SLC.

I thought about the trip and it just isn't worth it. The weather you hope to fuck brings you powder will also make the drive an impossible distance. Rentals fucking suck at SLC. I've been in rental Chevy Trailblazers sliding down LCC Road, and while everyone will say who cares, rental companies don't actually allow chains on their cars (enterprise/hertz at least stated it). If you want a change of pace from the SLC area resorts and a drive that is equal driving time but less insane is Sun Valley, ID. It is also 5 hours, but the lay of the land for the majority of the trip looks much more appealing then 89 North from Cokeville.

Just fly in to Jackson on another trip if you want to ski it.

^^^Pussy

"I thought about the trip and it just..."

I'm pretty sure the OP wants beta from people who are actually familiar with the route/roads. Not advice to can his trip all-together because the roads look small on Google maps and that is scary.

I regularly make that trip, starting from California, a couple times a season. In 10 years, I can only think of one time I had any trouble, whatsoever (read: watched M.A.S.H. on cheap cable in a Motel 6 and slept while the brunt of a storm ripped by). For many of those years I was driving a Camry. Yeah, it snows sometimes... big deal. Pre-dawn departures get you there quicker. By the time you fully wake up, you realize you are half way there.

Like others said above, make sure to grab some chains if you have FWD. Just in case.
Have fun and go slay Jackson. You will not regret any drive once you make it to to that mountain!

edit: needed a harsher tone. Haven't had coffee yet.

Originally Posted by FranklezZ

^^^pussy

I regularly make that trip, starting from California, a couple times a season. In 10 years, I can only think of one time I had any trouble, whatsoever. For many of those years I was driving a Camry. Yeah, it snows sometimes... big deal. Pre-dawn departures get you there quicker. By the time you fully wake up, you realize you are half way there.

Like others said above, make sure to grab some chains if you have FWD. Just in case.
Have fun and go slay Jackson. You will not regret any drive once you make it to to that mountain!

I hate myself at times for driving from SLC - Heber, yet alone thinking of driving SLC - Jackson. If I had my OWN personally maintained vehicle where I wouldn't put some suicide slicks on it and a forecast to work with I would side with the common man from California here who makes long distance trips across the Rocky Mountains. Essentially this idea a tourist has of driving from SLC to Jackson and back is either the best idea ever or the worst idea ever. There is no in between. Things will go well, or you will hit a wicked fucking snowstorm, or hit a moose, or get stuck and wait 79 minutes for a tow truck to come, but hey i've waited 79 minutes for a tow truck in the middle of a city too

89 possesses some "barren ass nothing but farm land" that looks straight out of Oklahoma minus the backdrop of mountains, but I still see the potential for it being the worst idea ever. To say for certain I would take a Camry from SLC Airport to Jackson is retarded, because if it is snowing that hard I sure as fuck won't be driving 5+ hours to Jackson. I know this is some hypothetical Google Maps shit, but seriously tell me that it looks FUN.

I make this exact drive about 10 a year, year round.

For the most part you should be fine. I drive a Sprinter, and have driven a 4 x 4 pickup, the Sprinter is way better when the roads are bad.

Take the Cokeville/Evanston route, especially from Park City, it is a lot shorter, and easier, even with weather. I hate the interstate when there are bad conditions, too many other people around to mess up.

If there is weather, it will most likely be in Star Valley and the Snake River Canyon, lots more snow there, the barren part of the drive from Evanston to Afton pretty flat except for the Salt River Pass, which is way mellower than Teton Pass.

If some big storm comes, stay in PC for another day and ski pow and then drive.

And Loinlover, you are a fucking panicky pussy, definitely don't ever try to drive from Ouray to Durango, if you think SLC to Jackson is tough, that one is 3 big passes with no guard rails and couple hundred foot drops most of the way.

i take the summer off and this thread goes beyond the third post... wtf.

Good snow tires on a FWD preferred, but not mandatory.

But frankly it's a pretty mellow drive, imo. If it's not snowing 1231232341324 inches an hour you have nothing to worry about. If you do 15 to teton pass your may poop your pants a little if you are not familiar with pass driving.....but I'd your only real concern is closed roads. Not sure about 89 (but I'd imagine it would be the same over there), but on the west side drifting snow can close roads quickly in a big storm.

Get to SLC.
Look at the weather and any road closures on your route
If closed, just ski Utah. What's the issue?

Originally Posted by SuperGaper

"Take the Cokeville/Evanston route, especially from Park City, it is a lot shorter, and easier, even with weather. I hate the interstate when there are bad conditions, too many other people around to mess up.

If there is weather, it will most likely be in Star Valley and the Snake River Canyon, lots more snow there, the barren part of the drive from Evanston to Afton pretty flat except for the Salt River Pass, which is way mellower than Teton Pass.

If some big storm comes, stay in PC for another day and ski pow and then drive.

This the truth. Stay away from Bear Lake. It looks more direct, but the Speed limit drops to 20mph every 10 feet. Evanston/Cokeville route is mellow and keeps the trip momentum flowing.

Originally Posted by SuperGaper

And Loinlover, you are a fucking panicky pussy, definitely don't ever try to drive from Ouray to Durango, if you think SLC to Jackson is tough, that one is 3 big passes with no guard rails and couple hundred foot drops most of the way.

Did that drive a couple years ago. Couldn't believe how fast dudes in full size pickups were driving.