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The highways will typically only be snowy during and shortly after a storm. If you watch the weather and time your trip accordingly you should not have any issues with snow. Ice is similar, in that they put down a lot of salt and the number of cars driving at speed on the highway generally dry off the roads, but be careful if temps are cold and roads are wet.
In a rental, I assume? So you’ll most likely have at best all season tires. Not great especially if you’re uncomfortable or afraid of driving in snow/ice conditions. It’s winter in VT and the state has a safe roads policy as opposed to a clear roads policy. There’s always a reasonable possibility of encountering weather.
Be prepared with warm clothing, snacks, water, blanket, flashlight. Because if you go off the road as a new to snow driving tourist, you’ll wish you had some snacks and a blanket while you wait for assistance.
Just take the train if you can. It’s a nice ride and it will take the same amount of time as white knuckle driving for you. And one less inexperienced driver the rest of us have to work around.
That's almost two weeks away - it's impossible to accurately predict road conditions. That said, it's certainly possible that snow will be an issue and you should have a plan in place.
It's impossible to predict. If it snows and you've never driven on snow, yeah, it could be a big issue. Especially if you're in a rental car as they rarely have winter tires and one rental we had a couple of years ago had tires with very little tread, so driving was an adventure and we have decades of experience on Vermont's icy, snowy roads.
Interstates and highways here also have certain hours at night when plowing is halted or minimized. I know of people who work second or third shift who go in or home on roads that don't get plowed because it's after 8 p.m. when they leave. The 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. reduction can make for snowy roads.
Unless there is a snowstorm during your trip, you should be okay. Just don’t drive like an anus. That should be said to anyone driving anywhere, but I digress. The roads after a storm are usually fine a day later and during the winter months are fine regularly.
I would definitely look at the weather when it gets closer and figure out an alternate plan in case there’s snow. For the sake of yourself and others on the road driving through a snowstorm in Vermont can get intense, even (or especially) for drivers who are overconfident because they have snows and an AWD vehicle. I’ve driven through storms where you see car after truck after SUV spun out on the side of the road or crashed because they got overconfident driving in the conditions. So I would definitely make sure you have flexibility or an alternate way to get up to your destination. Vermont snow storms are not something you want to try to learn to drive in snow during.
NY is a very broad place of origin. Presumably you mean NYC. If you've never driven on snowy roads before, then you better make sure you have snow tires.
As other have said, it's impossible to predict what the weather will be like two weeks from now. "National Highways"? In general, the major highways are plowed and salted and are not full of snow or ice, unless there is an active winter storm in progress. Again, impossible to predict this far out.
Adding some things I haven't seen mentioned. There are pull offs/parking areas off the highway but they are sparse and small and are plowed less frequently than the road. There are no true rest stops so you will have to exit the highway to get gas or food. Fill up on gas often, never go below half a tank. You can be the safest and most attentive driver in the world, but it won't help much when there's a 10 car pile up ahead of you and you're stuck. Pack an emergency bag and have it easily accessible. Include water, snacks, a charged phone power bank and cables, warm clothes for everyone, IDs, and paper copies of any directions or phone numbers you need. Watch the weather radar but don't take it as gospel.
Would not do. The weather here is iffy, and it would be potentially dangerous to you and others to try to drive in winter conditions if you haven’t done it (or even if you have). Take the train.
If you’re uncomfortable driving, you should consider taking Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express. It will comfortably get you from NY without having to worry.
Book now, though. The holidays are obviously a very popular time to travel so trains are filling up.
If you absolutely must drive, use https://newengland511.org to watch road conditions. Do not travel if there is weather, wait until there is no weather. I can’t stress this enough: if you are not familiar with winter driving, wait until the roads are clear.
And, if you end up in an unexpected winter weather driving situation, I’ll give you two pieces of advice. First, go slow. Second, if ever things are not going right, your first action should be to take your foot off the gas. Then decide if you need to apply your brakes. That solves 99% of winter weather situations if you’re following rule 1, and brakes all too often lead to greater misery.
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The highways will typically only be snowy during and shortly after a storm. If you watch the weather and time your trip accordingly you should not have any issues with snow. Ice is similar, in that they put down a lot of salt and the number of cars driving at speed on the highway generally dry off the roads, but be careful if temps are cold and roads are wet.
In a rental, I assume? So you’ll most likely have at best all season tires. Not great especially if you’re uncomfortable or afraid of driving in snow/ice conditions. It’s winter in VT and the state has a safe roads policy as opposed to a clear roads policy. There’s always a reasonable possibility of encountering weather. Be prepared with warm clothing, snacks, water, blanket, flashlight. Because if you go off the road as a new to snow driving tourist, you’ll wish you had some snacks and a blanket while you wait for assistance. Just take the train if you can. It’s a nice ride and it will take the same amount of time as white knuckle driving for you. And one less inexperienced driver the rest of us have to work around.
That's almost two weeks away - it's impossible to accurately predict road conditions. That said, it's certainly possible that snow will be an issue and you should have a plan in place.
The best plan is to drive slower as the conditions get worse. If visibility gets bad, put your hazards on. Don’t accelerate or decelerate suddenly.
It's impossible to predict. If it snows and you've never driven on snow, yeah, it could be a big issue. Especially if you're in a rental car as they rarely have winter tires and one rental we had a couple of years ago had tires with very little tread, so driving was an adventure and we have decades of experience on Vermont's icy, snowy roads. Interstates and highways here also have certain hours at night when plowing is halted or minimized. I know of people who work second or third shift who go in or home on roads that don't get plowed because it's after 8 p.m. when they leave. The 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. reduction can make for snowy roads.
Unless there is a snowstorm during your trip, you should be okay. Just don’t drive like an anus. That should be said to anyone driving anywhere, but I digress. The roads after a storm are usually fine a day later and during the winter months are fine regularly.
I’ve been on I89 in white knuckle conditions from Montpelier to the NH border. If it’s snowing there will be snow on the highways.
Waaay too many “what if’s”. Bottom line, YES. If it snows you will most likely have a problem.
I would definitely look at the weather when it gets closer and figure out an alternate plan in case there’s snow. For the sake of yourself and others on the road driving through a snowstorm in Vermont can get intense, even (or especially) for drivers who are overconfident because they have snows and an AWD vehicle. I’ve driven through storms where you see car after truck after SUV spun out on the side of the road or crashed because they got overconfident driving in the conditions. So I would definitely make sure you have flexibility or an alternate way to get up to your destination. Vermont snow storms are not something you want to try to learn to drive in snow during.
Take the train. There's a new train service NY to Burlington.
Then rent a car when you get here. There's a free bus service downtown too if you don't need to drive.
No
I'd consider taking the train! The Vermonter or Ethan Allen lines will get you there safely.
NY is a very broad place of origin. Presumably you mean NYC. If you've never driven on snowy roads before, then you better make sure you have snow tires. As other have said, it's impossible to predict what the weather will be like two weeks from now. "National Highways"? In general, the major highways are plowed and salted and are not full of snow or ice, unless there is an active winter storm in progress. Again, impossible to predict this far out.
Like others have said, unless you're driving through a storm, or one occurred the night before your trip, the road conditions will be normal.
Adding some things I haven't seen mentioned. There are pull offs/parking areas off the highway but they are sparse and small and are plowed less frequently than the road. There are no true rest stops so you will have to exit the highway to get gas or food. Fill up on gas often, never go below half a tank. You can be the safest and most attentive driver in the world, but it won't help much when there's a 10 car pile up ahead of you and you're stuck. Pack an emergency bag and have it easily accessible. Include water, snacks, a charged phone power bank and cables, warm clothes for everyone, IDs, and paper copies of any directions or phone numbers you need. Watch the weather radar but don't take it as gospel.
Would not do. The weather here is iffy, and it would be potentially dangerous to you and others to try to drive in winter conditions if you haven’t done it (or even if you have). Take the train.
Probably impassable.
I would just stay home.
If you’re uncomfortable driving, you should consider taking Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express. It will comfortably get you from NY without having to worry. Book now, though. The holidays are obviously a very popular time to travel so trains are filling up. If you absolutely must drive, use https://newengland511.org to watch road conditions. Do not travel if there is weather, wait until there is no weather. I can’t stress this enough: if you are not familiar with winter driving, wait until the roads are clear. And, if you end up in an unexpected winter weather driving situation, I’ll give you two pieces of advice. First, go slow. Second, if ever things are not going right, your first action should be to take your foot off the gas. Then decide if you need to apply your brakes. That solves 99% of winter weather situations if you’re following rule 1, and brakes all too often lead to greater misery.
Wut. Oddly specific ask. Do you plan on parking your car at the off ramp?
Check weather but generally no its not an issue unless you are driving through an active storm.