Ca route 80 or 395 HELP?

SHARPER · Post by **SHARPER** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 3:36 pm

I will be driving a 22 ft 1974 Dodge motorhome and I am concerned about the ascent of the roads. I figure rt 80 is the flatest, but 395 is more direct. I'm coming from the Palm Springs area. Does anyone have any experience with these routes or know where I can get drving information?
Thanks in advance!
Susie

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 5:18 pm

I drive a seriously overloaded 68 aircooled volkswagen bus to Burning Man and have for the last 7 years. I've tried every route and my personal opinion is that although the 395 route may require more frequent rest stops for my bus and the head winds in the desert portion of the drive can be hell (i.e. going 30mph with your foot pegged to the floor and feeling like someone is pointing a hairdryer on "High" directly at your face). It is still the best route, if nothing else the scenery is much better.

Even with the 5 to the 80 you are still going to pull hills, including the Grapevine, so no way around that. I haven't found that there is much difference in the amount of time it takes me to get there either way.

2 years ago my brother moved to Carson City and I have to say that stopping and sleeping at his house and then driving the rest of the way to the playa has really made the difference for my quality of life those first few days back at Burning Man (and decompressing at his house makes the drive home so much more bareable too!) So if you have the time, I really suggest stopping and getting a good night's rest before you make the final drive to BRC.

joel the ornery · Post by **joel the ornery** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 6:37 am

After 20 years of convoys and a guess-timate of about 1 million miles driven... two pieces of advice;

1. When weary, stop and rest... it is best to get there late than not at all.

2. Always drive with a co-driver... someone that stays awake along with the driver... no sleeping co-drivers.... refer to #1 above.

Fatigue should be one of your concerns and rest one of your top priorities.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 11:06 am

I'd take 395 up to the Kern River Canyon and head down to Bakersfield and then on to I-80. Not quite as tortuous as 395 North nor is it quite as bad dealing with the Grapevine (either way).

III · Post by **III** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 9:06 am

i've done the trip from so cal a number of different ways, sometimes hauling some serious loads.

the most heavy load friendly route is to take 395 into bishop, and then cut over into nevada on the s6, and take the 95/alt95 up into fernley/wadsworth. the most mountainous sections are right after ridgecrest, and crossing the state line, neither of which is nearly as strenuous as either crossing by mammoth, or going through donner pass.

(besides which, it's also my favorite scenic/traffic/mentalspace wise)

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 2:04 am

OTOH, plenty of nice rest stops N of Bishop, eg Convict Lake.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:23 am

Convict Lake.

Oooh. Convict Lake. VERY nice place. The view from the lake (lloking west) affords a view of probably THE best example of roof pendants on the planet.

http://instruct.westvalley.edu/lopez/tr ... endant.jpg

Crankful · Post by **Crankful** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 10:46 am

I took my 1969 Dodge Ventura class A up 395 via Bishop and then down the spooky highway route without any trouble....this year I am going to go to Primm in Nevada and head north skirting the mountains...

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 12:21 pm

the most heavy load friendly route is to take 395 into bishop, and then cut over into nevada on the s6, and take the 95/alt95 up into fernley/wadsworth.

Agreed, I just got back from Lake Tahoe and the CHP was stopping traffic just outside of Bishop and so we turned around and took the S6 route, very flat and didn't take that much longer than taking 395 all the way.

Joel's advice is also worth repeating- Don't drive tired! If you are pounding redbulls and driving with the stereo cranked up full volume and sticking your head out the window to stay awake, just pull over and get some sleep. Co-drivers need to stay awake too! I find that not driving at night is a lot safer too.

naga brain · Post by **naga brain** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 3:07 pm

My sister and Brother in Law own a motel, campground and restaurant just south of Bridgeport on 395. THey've got cheap places to camp and a good fishing stream. And that basin has some incredible hot springs. And I know Chai knows those springs (ala Tribes)...Anyone interested post and I will give you PM info on the localle.

Is that north of where most of the SOCal folks head north instead of Northwest?

SHARPER · Post by **SHARPER** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 11:17 pm

thanks to all! Seems like the 395 has the most votes (here as well as other resources for pulling a motorhome) Would like the info re place to stop and fish! Please PM me the info, thank you.
After a weekend at Joshua Tree with some new friends, it looks like I will have a co-pilot in the form of my husband Bill. Added advantage is that he is a mechanic and knows our motorhome inside-out! Can't beat bringing your mechanic along for the ride! Don't you agree Chai?

Susie

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 4:02 pm

Can't beat bringing your mechanic along for the ride! Don't you agree Chai?

That, or a spare 1600cc Single port engine.

Did someone mention fishing?

http://convictlake.com/the_lake.html

http://www.easternsierrafishing.com

http://www.rockcreeklake.com

http://www.crowleylakefishcamp.com/

http://www.395.com/index.shtml?/fishrep ... togo.shtml

You catch em' I'll cook em!

naga brain · Post by **naga brain** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:45 pm

>Did someone mention fishing?

Yeah I did. I dig that whole Owens River drainage for fishing. It is just amazing. On Crowley I caught some beautiful wild rainbows. Then the Walker Creek area's bitchen too. My sister's place is right on Virginia Creek and those little trout are just so damn sneaky... It's a challenge...

>You catch em' I'll cook em!

You are on! But, I dig cooking them too tho...

But perhaps we ought to start a different thread for this...or Tribes?

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:25 am

There's another plus, using Trey's suggestion, of 395 to S6 to 95N to Fernley: As you approach Schurz, NV, just one mile befor the 95/Alt 95 split, is the Four Seasons tabacco shop in the Wind River Indian Reservation. They have an excellent selection of pyrotechnics, from morters to Roman candles. Now since fireworks are expressly prohibited from Black Rock City, you will need to set them off before you arrive ;D.

The Doc

water-bearer · Post by **water-bearer** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 11:50 am

395 is a nice drive. 5/80 is just as fast though Donner Pass is pretty steep and long.

Just a heads up for Mono county on the 395 https://www.facebook.com/groups/SanDiegoBurners/?re

"Anyone traveling 395 currently, stop ASAP and check all your lights (or when you do make the trip, stop in the towns before sunset and walk around the entire vehicle). Just got pulled over by Mono County. They pulled the driver out, to show him the light, then once he figures out we are on our way to the burn, he started pulling us out one by one for questioning of which "do you have any medical marijuana in the vehicle" followed by "do you have anything the dog will find."
We are fine now, he left us as we are replacing the out bulb, but not before we got the speech about "trying to keep people safe," and "don't believe the media hype."

ranger magnum · Post by **ranger magnum** » Mon Feb 08, 2016 5:36 pm

For the last 6 years, I have taken (from socal) I5 north to the 138 E to the 14 N. The 14 eventually turns into 395. In bridgeport, just before you enter town (and across the street from NAPA auto parts), I split off 395 and take 182. In about 10 miles you hit state line, and the road becomes Nevada 338. Take that to 208, then to 339. This will take you along the Walker River to Yerrington, then on to Silver Springs. When there is good snowfall during the winter, the Walker River is flowing nicely, and there are places to take a cool refreshing dip.

There are 3 major grades to deal with when you take tnis route. The first is right out of Castaic, about 30 miles south of the 5/138 interchange. The next one is north of bishop, and the last one is just past Mono Lake. I believe that's Conway Summit, and hits an elevation of about 8300 feet. I think the worst is the grade outside of bishop. It's long, and puts the biggest strain on a vehicle. I try and hit this at night. Conway Summit, while steeper, is much shorter.

Things to see and do along this route:

Alabama Hills Cafe in Lone Pine: Best. Fucking. Pies. Ever. Anywhere.

Manzanar relocation center: This is where Japanese- American citizens were taken to during WW II. I don't remember being told this in my history classes in high school. It's eery, and worth a visit. Star Trek actor, and all around good guy George Takei spent several years here as a young boy. NPR interviewed him about his time there. If you can find it on the interwebs, it's worth hearing.

Petite Pantry in Bishop. Great restaurant. The chef often comes out and visits with patrons.

Schats bakery in bishop. Amazing home made baked goods. Stock up here for bread and stuff on Playa. Nothing like Danish baked goods on an early Playa morning.

Mahogany smoked meats in Bishop. Short of my home made beef jerky, the best for hundreds of miles around.

Laws train museum in bishop. Just a few miles down HWY 6, you could spend two days here.

June lake loop off 395. It's a 20 mile loop that takes you through some of the most amazing scenery. I usually take this on the way home, and stay at one of the many RV parks.

Bodie ghost town just south of Bridgeport. One of the best preserved ghost gowns anywhere.

Napa auto parts in Bridgeport. The owners helped me out in 2010 when my RV broke down. They let me leave it there until new parts arrived, and I worked on it in their lot. Plus they have a lot of stuff you may need for the Playa as far as RV supplies are concerned. Great, friendly people.

Nicelys restaurant in Lee Vinning. Fabulous food.

Broken Arrow auto repair in Silver Springs. The most honest repair guys on the planet. If your shit breaks down, have it towed there. Im a mechanic, and this place is top shelf. Doug, the owner is a great guy, and I always stop by on my way to the Playa with a bottle of Jamesons whiskey.

Wig Wam restaurant in Fernley. Great chicken fried steak. It's usually my first and last "default world" meal before and after the event.

That's about all I can think of. There are some little places all along 395 that I have seen but never visited. If you have been to places not listed that you liked, let me know. The drive to and from burningman is almost as much fun as the event itself. I take 2 days each way, and may even stretch it to 3 this year.

Eddaytona · Post by **Eddaytona** » Mon Feb 08, 2016 9:24 pm

Old Thread but...
We RV it up and down 395 from LALA. Seriously beautiful scenery. On the way back to the default world we always spend our first night in the Carson Valley Inn in Mindan, about 20 miles south of Carson City. Just long enough that you're not pushing it while tired and dusty especially if you get caught in Exodus. They have a hotel, motel and RV park. 24 hour hot food, showers, casino, dumpsters and an RV dump station you can use for free. Price is right too for the motel side. Get a good night's sleep and leave at about 9am. That will get you into LALA around 7-8pm.

ranger magnum · Post by **ranger magnum** » Mon Feb 08, 2016 9:53 pm

On the way home, I usually stay at the Dow-Villa Inn in Lone Pine. They have a great big pool, and there is a pretty good Chinese restaurant a couple doors down. Nothing feels better than a cold pool on a hot September day. Then, just before I hit the rack for the night, I crank up the AC to meat locker temperature, then take a hot shower. Pure heaven I tell you....

Ca route 80 or 395 HELP?

Ca route 80 or 395 HELP?

rest when tired and drive as a team

driving to the event

If tired

looks like we have a winner!

Fishing=me

Re: Ca route 80 or 395 HELP?

Re: Ca route 80 or 395 HELP?

Re: Ca route 80 or 395 HELP?

Re: Ca route 80 or 395 HELP?