Interstate vs. Backroads

[salif08]

I'm not sure if any of you are familiar with the new book series, 299 Days, by Glen Tate.  If so, you'll know that in the first book, The Preparation, the beginnings of the Collapse start to occur.  For the people who see what's coming (preppers) there is a lot of forewarning: huge spending cuts, crime increases, growing cartel problems in border states, etc.  So, if you had about a month's notice before the REAL Collapse happened and you were seeing all these precursors, and you're bug out destination was in a different state (not ideal, I know, but bear with me), would you take interstates or backroads?  Which is safer.  Interstates will of course be more crowded, but backroads are out of the public eye and so maybe more prone to gangs setting up road traps... especially in rocky mountain states where backroads wind through the mountains where snipers etc can hide...  What do you guys think? 

Remember, most of the infrastructure is still intact as a lot of people are still denying what they're seeing.  After the all-out collapse it's best to stay put.  But, if you have the foresight to see it coming about a month out, what route would you choose to get closer to family and friends you have in a different state?

[cbdolphin]

Assuming all infrastructure is still in place, I'd take the interstate.

They first place to lose funding for police/firemen/etc will the the rural areas. So aslong as there is still somewhat of a police force and an infastructure, I'd take the interstate.

[Ravan]

Railroad tracks. 

[Mrs. Soldier]

Railroad tracks.

Where I live, there are no interstates between work and home.  Rail road tracks are a good idea.  Otherwise, walk parallell to the backroads.  Have a get home bag and enough food and water to do so.  You need to know where you are and where you are going all the time, otherwise you are just a refugee---and no one in a SHTF world likes a refugee.

[CamoDeafie]

blaze your own darn trails. land navigation is a great skill to learn and use and have...and you are more likely to avoid being detected if you travel the game trails and make your own trails instead of going onto the roads...any road and railroads are great bottlenecks for ambushes; be it in the form of gangs, corrupt townsfolk, military, police agencies, blue-hats(UN), or even groups of people who are opposed to YOU. This is why I am looking at figuring out a network of trails between roads that doesn't pass between houses or are in view of houses....since I do not want to be shot at by homeowners....  but you have to also consider that there are a great many people who would take the event, whatever it be...to "bug out" and go into the woods...so expect all passageways to have some human presence; but do not expect to be welcomed by the majority of the human presence....unless you can barter/have something to offer.

[USAFgsm]

Man, no offense CamoDeafie, but I feel like that's a little extreme for the collapse being a month out... I took the OP as meaning you and I might see it coming, but most people are oblivious.  If most of the population is going along as usual, I'd take the interstate.  In most cases its the fastest, most direct place (by land anyway) from point A to point B, so just blend in with the rest of the folks commuting to or from work.

[CamoDeafie]

plan for the worst is what  I was taught.... yeah sure maybe these routes will become quite bottlenecked when it happens and we're already out of there in our Bug Out Locations/Bug Out Homes/wherever..but....way I see it, the infrastructure in Oregon that is....it is not quite empty anywhere....so even if there's a few people on the interstate, I prefer taking the back roads...after all, I only have a bicycle at the moment, though my family have plans in place where if we can see it coming, we won't need to worry about me not being able to get to where we are going (a pre planned location)..... though they will still have the bicycles along with them and me, since bikes make great transportation around small areas and trials that vehicles have a hard time with, and they're rather silent compared to ATV motors. an ATV is also a great vehicle to have handy......
anyways, yeah...even with the interstate, the BOL my family picked out is rather well out of the sight from the Interstates....so it's mostly back roads anyways.

[salif08]

Yeah, I'm thinkin' if SHTF is a month out, the interstate will still be ok if most people simply have their fingers crossed hoping Big Bro will fix everything.  However, how will WE really know when it's a month out.  A lot of us might have thought the literal SHTF was about to happen during the fiscal cliff stuff a couple months ago.  Maybe it's like being in love, you're never sure until it's really happening to you... then, YOU KNOW.   

[scarymike23]

Given the circumstances described I'd go interstate but would have alternate routes mapped out for back/surface streets with notes on the points to transition off interstates. All of this would be on paper. If you're still a month out and the internet works it wouldn't hurt to research where gas stations & grocery stores are along the way. Not all of them will be open but it never hurts to know.

[Lafayettegregory]

The overpasses will be the first to go. Collapse two overpasses and you trap all merchandise and fuel inbetween. Interstates, Ya-you guys should take the interstates 

[scarymike23]

The overpasses will be the first to go. Collapse two overpasses and you trap all merchandise and fuel inbetween. Interstates, Ya-you guys should take the interstates 

Given the following:

So, if you had about a month's notice before the REAL Collapse happened and you were seeing all these precursors, and you're bug out destination was in a different state (not ideal, I know, but bear with me), would you take interstates or backroads?

Remember, most of the infrastructure is still intact as a lot of people are still denying what they're seeing. 

...it doesn't sound like the OP is positing things being at the "mohawks, dune buggies, and collapsed overpasses" phase of S hitting the F.

If people have started collapsing major pieces of infrastructure that would a more advanced stage of S and yes, it would be back roads time.

[ranger1968]

 The Interstates will be parking lots; impassible by anything other than foot or possibly bicycle traffic.....

 Tens of thousands of people, in a fenced, linear corral, panic driven, gridlocked, and essentially trapped.

 Not someplace you would want to be ......

 If you're going to go the Interstate route , you need to get out AHEAD (by weeks) of any upheaval; once a panic begins, the Intestate is no longer viable, and even the back roads will have their hazards....

[salif08]

Yep, during Rita it took my Dad 30 hours to drive from Houston, TX to Waco, TX (usually less than 3 hours).  However, driving from the midpoint to Waco took the usual 1.5 hours.  So, It took 28.5 hours to go 100 miles or so...  I was upset that he didn't leave earlier, being bullheaded.

[scarymike23]

The Interstates will be parking lots; impassible by anything other than foot or possibly bicycle traffic.....

 Tens of thousands of people, in a fenced, linear corral, panic driven, gridlocked, and essentially trapped.

 Not someplace you would want to be ......

 If you're going to go the Interstate route , you need to get out AHEAD (by weeks) of any upheaval; once a panic begins, the Intestate is no longer viable, and even the back roads will have their hazards....

Yup. That was my understanding of the OP's question - we'd be acting roughly one month ahead of some kind of tipping point. Given that I'd say interstates. If we're in a breakdown state - the general populace is aware, people are collapsing bridges, the hurricane is coming and everyone is fleeing -  that's not a month off, it's immediate. Given that, or anything close to it, back roads make the most sense.

[ranger1968]

 It's the reading the signs, and picking the time ahead, that would be the trick;

 Not un-doable, though, if you pay close attention to current events, both local and global.

 The other trick, and it's an easy (although labor intensive) one, is to have that "destination" location pre-prepared, pre-stocked, pre-secured, and ready for your arrival....