tomad Loc: North Carolina

This is a wide open question and I hope I get lots of great suggestions from you experienced hoggers.

I'm in the early stages of planning a photography road trip that would take place sometime in late January to early February. I'm looking for suggestions for the best area(s). I'm mostly interested in landscape and wildlife photography. I don't have much experience with snow driving and I don't have a 4 wheel drive vehicle so I'm thinking maybe some area of the southwest. Florida would be another option, like the Everglades, etc., but I lived in Boca for a few years and have done Florida to death (it's still not out of the question, lacking better options). I also lived in California for fifteen years so have covered the parks and coastlines in that state pretty thoroughly. My starting point is Charlotte, NC but that doesn't really matter as I love to drive and I just did a 5 week 9000+ mile road trip in May and June.

My budget is fairly limited so eating out of the car and staying in cheaper motels is my plan. Given all these guidelines and a month or so to hit the open road, what would you do?

art pear Loc: North Dakota

Drive the East coast of Texas all the way down to South Padre. Lots of beautiful places along the way and it is still off season there so prices are cheaper.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

Just a suggestion:
Assuming your start point is NC & without a map in front of me --- Find & get on Rt40 (Rt. we used driving home to Ca from Va -- Used Rt80 going east -- Not a good idea in Feb.) -- Your eventually going to wind-up in New Mexico & Arizona --Both States loaded with State & National Parks both more/less warm enough in Feb.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I-85 goes to Atlanta; from there on, I-20 should be a good choice.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

Thanks, I'll check that out.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

Yes, that's the area I am most drawn to, maybe even Utah. I know there are mountains there that get snow; I wonder if they keep most of the roads open? Also, I've seen photos of the Grand Canyon with snow. Would that area be drivable in February?

tomad Loc: North Carolina

Yes, thank you. I think I-20 or even I-40 would be safe bets for traveling east to west that time of year. Since I have a lot of time, I'm not really concerned about a little snow slowing me down or holding me up for a day or two; just wouldn't want to drive long distances or dangerous mountain roads in it. I had about my limit of that in May and June in South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana where there were some very late winter storms this year.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

New Mexico and AZ are excellent.
Personal experience from decades of being there.

Silverrails

Well, as I am a 68 year old Senior Citizen Digital Photographer, my goal for the Winter months is warmth, so I will pick Florida, and it helps having 2 children with families living there, 1 one east coast, 1 on West coast, and friends in Fort Myers. January, February, March, is my goal, although December and April can be still be chilly in Michigan. Especially for Photography.🤔☺️😄

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

...horses on the beach in winter...right in your neighborhood...Currituck National Wildlife Refuge, Corolla NC for the Corolla Wild horses...

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

What I found out is if you have "all weather tires" your pretty much home free as regards to park admittance --
With those tires we pretty (think November) much had Yellow Stone all to ourselves -- Of course all bets are off if a heavy storm is taking place and or one just took place & snow plowing has not yet happened -- All of this of course can be figured via your PC long before your trip

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

The one thing I can affirm is to avoid I-80. I drove through Utah on it in March one year and watched a large car get caught in wind, do a 90-degree turn then fly over the guard rail. The people were unhurt, but obviously shaken.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Having been in Alaska several times Jan/Feb, it's worth not dismissing it out of hand. The aurora can be really breathtaking if you choose the right spot.

Pros:
Auroral displays
Not crowded
Educational

Cons:
Temperature is negative, both C and F
Lots of places close for the winter and go to Hawaii

Try it for a few days sometime. A couple weeks is probably not recommended. Might be good for a stop on the way to somewhere else.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

From NC to NM and AZ its an easy route to memorize. Routes 40-30-20-10 will take you through Tenn, Arkansas(Little Rock), Then Dallas TX to El Paso TX.
Or as RHess said I85 to I20 in GA. Then to I10 in Dallas and El Paso. When I was a whole lot younger and a whole lot dumber I made to Las Cruces NM from NC in 2 days. But, unless you're in shape for it, take 3 or even 4 days. Once you're in "The Land of Enchantment" there are so many options between New Mexico and Arizona you should get a thread started for that.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

PS: I should have added this on my earlier post.
I drove from Southwest Virginia to AZ using I40 one February. Getting to western Tenn. took the better part of a day because of ice and freezing rain through the mountains. If you're making the trip in Feb. Go west (by going south first) young man