Posted on 12/28/2018 12:49:58 PM PST by devane617
Small addenda.
To miss the LA traffic, can peel off at 138, I believe near Gorman, and take it east, it comes in on I ten near san bernardino.
This shaves a few hours off, and circumvents the LA freeways and associated zoo traffic.
Conway Summit between Bridgeport and Lee Vining is over 8,000' in elevation, and it's not the only high pass.
Take Rte. 395 all the way down to Kramer's Corners in San Bernardino County.
To left on Rte. 58 toward Barstow.
At Barstow, go south on Rte. 247, all the way to Rte. 62.
When you get to Rte. 62, you can proceed to I-10 by turning right and going through Yucca Valley or turning left, through 29 Palms to Rte. 117, which will take you to I-10, which will take you to Florida.
If you want to be on the freeway all the way to Florida after traversing Rte. 395, you can take 395 to I-15, head south through Cajon Pass and pick up I-10 at San Bernardino.
South of Kramer's Corners, 395 gets nasty--two lanes with no passing followed by a red light district--lots of stoplights. When I hit Adelanto, I usually turn left on Air Expressway, proceed through the old George Air Force Base to old Rte. 66, then turn right, and it's a short drive to I-15.
If I have to drive over Donner pass then I may as well drive over a pass headed east. I’ve driven Donner a couple time years ago, once in winter and had to have chains.
Yeah, but 395 is in the “rain shadow” of the Sierra (little snow)...only snowy area is around Mammoth Mtn...we had major precipitation over the last 2 weeks and 395 is “no chains- green” already. The “395 to north of Topaz lake to 208 east to 95.” route is “scenic” but not too fast and is subject to snow at times too (the whole area is “high desert”).
And I hope they are not contemplating I-15 S. out of Vegas to I-10! (L.A. area) The whole 100 mile stretch can be a parking lot on Sunday afternoons!!
Correct. A couple 8k plus summits to navigate and Caltrans has their "R-1" directives issued which allows light-duty trucks and cars equipped with snow tire to travel without chains, but you must have chains. My daughter has chains, but as I mentioned in my initial post, I don't know how the moving truck is equipped. If the weather is clear the day I'm traveling I may gamble on not getting noticed and take 395 -> 190 through Death Valley.
Stagecoach Country Market ... good for a quick bite to eat.
Silver Springs NV
No I-15...I’m finding 93 south to Surprise Phoenix.
OK...AZ-93 is decent road...gets a little dicey for traffic when you hit 303 near Phoenix, but not bad.
See my post 22. I just drove from Carson City down 395 a few days ago. US 395 is icy right now, with snow along side the highway and if it snows, there are often areas where chains are required and then a couple miles down the road chain controls are lifted, then a couple miles further on more chain controls. Of on, off on. Not fun.
I can’t offer advice on exactly what you’re asking, but I have two bits of general advice:
“U pack” by ABF freight is cheaper than u-haul. And you can pack the trailer as you see fit - they drop it off and they pick it up. You pack everything in the back, and then create a plywood bulkhead. They take the trailer and fill the rest of the trailer up with their own logistical hauls. They deliver and drop the trailer off at the new site.
Secondly, when travelling during potential weather events, the FIRST MOMENT you see a storm, get a hotel room. Like, call the nearest one and book over the phone. They fill up really, really fast. I “pushed a little further” once through Kansas and wound up having to sleep in my truck in a hotel parking lot. In a blizzard. I just pushed it a bit further. Never again.
And I consider your reply to be the winner. I've had several mentions of 395 -> 50 -> 95 route and it seems to be the safest. Since you live on 395 in CA you have first-hand experience and that is important to me. I greatly appreciate your reply and suggestion.
Yes. 395 would be ok in a different season.
He’s planning on Vegas to Phoenix via Kingman is my impression.
“1. 395 from Gardnerville south to Lone Pine, Ca. East on 136 to 190 to 95”
I have done the “208 Topaz Lake to Walker lake” route before...mostly 2 lane not too fast and also subject to snow (Smith Valley at 4800’) and plowed less than 395.
Here is the CalTrans “map version” instead of text: http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov
Good luck and drive safe!
So taking 80 East to Salt Lake city wouldn’t be a good choice? 80 over Donner has been R2 about fifteen times in the last 10 days.
“To miss the LA traffic, can peel off at 138, I believe near Gorman, and take it east, it comes in on I ten near san bernardino.
This shaves a few hours off, and circumvents the LA freeways and associated zoo traffic.”
That’d be ok. It doesn’t hit the 10, but the 15. Then take it down to the ten.
But I’d stay on the road straight at the 18 and hit 395 to miss the mountain road area prior to hitting the 15.
What’s R2?
My nephew took it yesterday from the Bay Area to get to Mammoth.
It was snowing but he had no problem.
They do it all the time and we go to Reno all the time from the Bay Area.
You need to worry most about how to get from Gardnerville to SLT.
You have to climb to over 7,000 ft to do that.
Then get back down the hill.
Stay as far east as you can, then move south to Las Vegas and Phoenix.
No new snow expected, so chains are probably not required anywhere. Buckle up and have good ride. Coming into Tahoe from Gardnerville will stun you with natural beauty.
It’ll make you want to stop the truck and give praise to God on the roadside.
I know the area well.
The way I see it is he’s driving a rental truck in the winter in some of the highest mountain areas in the country.
One wants to avoid snow storms and mountains roads.
Interstates are best and safest.
I’ve never thought going over the 80 between Reno and Sacramento is a problem except it could be closed due to weather or one must put on chains. It doesn’t stay closed long. Highway Patrol and CalTrans keep it moving and safe.
But if the weather is bad, any of the alternate smaller routes could be worse.
To my mind going 80 to 5 then 10 may (may) add 5-10 hours total to the overall trip, but it’s not going to present any problems.
Want to get away from high elevation as soon as possible.
Maybe the 95 in Nevada is ok, but I am not familiar with it.
Normally, he’s on the 395 so I’d drive down it through Lee Vining to Bishop and down to the ten, but in winter in an unfamiliar big truck, not a car, going through the high mountains when you don’t know if a storm will start, I wouldn’t.
That is the SAFE route.
There is no new snow anywhere right now and none expected for at least a week.
But at lot of ice on the back roads.
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