Driving from Portland

magnetichf · Post by **magnetichf** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 11:15 am

in august of this year i'll be moving from SF to portland, OR. which means my relatively easy drive to BM is now going to become just a bit more arduous. no worries, though, it will just make it that much more rewarding when my tires finally hit the playa!

my question is this: since i'll be coming from the north, i won't have the luxury of going through reno and taking advantage of all the familiar conveniences there; filling up my water containers, making last minute food/beverage purchases, etc. also, since my drive will be longer, i may want to drive most of the way there in one day and then find a motel to crash in that night, so that i can hit the playa nice and early the next morning, instead of arriving at night and trying to set up my tent in the dark. so, can anyone recommend a town somewhere close to the playa, but to the north, that would do the trick? thanks!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 11:26 am

I can't, but I've looked at the on-line maps and Reno may still be your best bet. There aren't a lot of highways over the mts. I would definately think it through--are you willing to risk a break down in the middle of nowhere. I suggest an atlas and choice of route and then you'll probably be able to see what's up with towns.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 12:20 pm

If you get to Alturas before 8PM, you can hit the Four Corners Market for your provisions. They are Burner-friendly and even let people tank up their water containers from the hose in the back.

There's a Chevron across the street from it where you can feed the vehicle, too. I'd recommend a tank-up there and then hit the Chevron in Cedarville to top yourself up for the last leg. Once you get to Cedarville you only have an hour to go. People say that the Cedarville Chevron people are surly and unfriendly but personally I've never had any trouble. I can get my smiles elsewhere.

Cabanasprings · Post by **Cabanasprings** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 12:57 pm

I've been to BM from Portland for the last three years. We always take a day to visit friends and relatives in Reno before the burn.

We go I-5 south to Shasta and take (I think it's Hwy 14) to Susanville and then into Reno. We ususally stay at the Nugget which is in Sparks and is cheap and accomodating. We stock up on supplies at the Burner friendly Albertsons on Pyramid Hwy which is on the road out to burningman. We found this route to be longer but faster than Alturus. I'm sure in depends on your mode of transportation.

It is approx, 120 miles from the Nugget to Gerlach.

We solved the travel problem by moving to Palamino Valley a few months ago. Palamino is very near Pyramid lake about 80 miles from Gerlach. Due to the fact we will be in the process of building a house we will be unable to accomodate travlers this year but next year we hope to host as many burners as possible.

vic · Post by **vic** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 9:30 am

The driving directions on the official site are quite detailed and, in my experience, accurate. They lay out three routes. My favorite goes by Mount Hood on 26, on to Bend, and across the center of the state on 31. Then down 395 to just a couple of miles north of Alturas. AT that point you go west to Cedarville, which as has been pointed out, is the last place to get gas before Gerlach.
If you use this route, and you decide to go into Alturas, you will have to go through a California agricultural inspection station. They will not let you take most fresh fruits and vegetables into California. The inspection station is just past the turn off for Cedarville.
All the routes are scenic, but highway 31 route is particularly beautiful IMO. I would recommend driving during the daylight.
The down side of this route is that there are not many towns along the way and not even much traffic - if you break down out there it could take all day to find help. On the other hand, the roads are pretty good. Be careful about livestock on the highway, particularly when in the hills where you can't see very far ahead.
We usually spend the night at Summer Lake Hot Springs, a burner friendly camp ground on highway 31. There is a Safeway in Lakeview for last minute shopping.

Sandwichman · Post by **Sandwichman** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:25 pm

vic wrote:The driving directions on the official site are quite detailed and, in my experience, accurate. They lay out three routes. My favorite goes by Mount Hood on 26, on to Bend, and across the center of the state on 31. Then down 395 to just a couple of miles north of Alturas. AT that point you go west to Cedarville, which as has been pointed out, is the last place to get gas before Gerlach.
If you use this route, and you decide to go into Alturas, you will have to go through a California agricultural inspection station. They will not let you take most fresh fruits and vegetables into California. The inspection station is just past the turn off for Cedarville.
All the routes are scenic, but highway 31 route is particularly beautiful IMO. I would recommend driving during the daylight.
The down side of this route is that there are not many towns along the way and not even much traffic - if you break down out there it could take all day to find help. On the other hand, the roads are pretty good. Be careful about livestock on the highway, particularly when in the hills where you can't see very far ahead.
We usually spend the night at Summer Lake Hot Springs, a burner friendly camp ground on highway 31. There is a Safeway in Lakeview for last minute shopping.

I loved the drive through Cedarville and all the other small towns. The hot springs in Paisley are wonderful and Lakeview in the morning is a great spot to stop for water food and such. Cedarville is very limited when it comes to supplies and the only gas station there closes a bit early. When leaving the playa if you will not have enough gas to get to lakeview you will either want to be on the road early or go into Gerlach to gas up.

When you get up to the area PM me if you want to head out for beverages.

Jason

lazyvegan · Post by **lazyvegan** » Wed May 04, 2005 2:16 am

i normally fill up around bend (24/7), then la pine(24/7), then altures(24/7)...cedarville shuts down early...you prolly get better mileage though...there's a little daytime station between lakeview and the the turn off to cedarville ..pricey, but they were very friendly and stoked about all the art cars, and then you don't hafta go into altures....

fill up/eat breakfast in gerlach on the way back and you should make it at least to lakeview on your return....i called the guy in lakeview a few years ago, and he gave me the number to call if i needed gas in the middle of the night, so that's no problem....

summer lake hot spring rocks on the way back when someone rents the house, and don't worry too much about burner traffic...there's a steady flow, and i for one have given oil, ect to those in need....the cops were even nice when i overheated...truely breaking down would of course be another problem....altures is your closest 'best bet' for a motel or yummy thai food on the way there or back....

i do it in about 12 hours fully packed...

i'm dreading the fuel prices on the way this year...go bio-diesel or get a better job..

and personally, i'd reccommend getting there in the middle of the night...just set up a work light, and avoid all the playa-heat during set up...of course your neighbor's will hate you, but oh well...gift them ear-plugs.....peace...

gnostikoi · Post by **gnostikoi** » Thu May 05, 2005 10:18 pm

I've slept in Klamath Falls, OR en route before (it was actually on the way back, from BRC to Portland). It seemed to be a reasonably large city so I'm sure you could find facilities.

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:56 am

gnostikoi wrote:I've slept in Klamath Falls, OR en route before (it was actually on the way back, from BRC to Portland). It seemed to be a reasonably large city so I'm sure you could find facilities.

We wish to offer Eagle's Nest RV Park in Tionesta, CA as a place to camp, shower, drinking water, outside storage, good loving interesting stimulating conversation. Slightly different route and I know the people who work at the Bug station (california ag stop on Hwy 139) and if you wish I can check to see if they will allow Burners, who will not be stopping in California to take the fruits and vegi's with them)

www.eaglesnestrvpark.com
[email protected]

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 1:12 pm

if you wish I can check to see if they will allow Burners, who will not be stopping in California to take the fruits and vegi's with them

Yes, please do! I had been planning on passing through the corner of California on my way down from Spokane. Are those ag stations even manned anymore? I have only passed through the one on I-80 recently, and don't think I've actually been stopped in years.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:54 pm

I take the Bend La pine Lakeview and Cadervill. Top off in Bend and Lakeview. I can run Lakeview to BM and back to Lakeview on a tank. Always carry ten gal with me. The line going in and out of BM may eat up your milage. Figure round trip 1000 mile even from Salem. 20 mile to the gal. is 50X$3.00 $150 in gas.

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 4:31 pm

I will check tomorrow on Monday,although as you point out they man these stations at odd hours and not all the time. more to come

quote="Dork"]

if you wish I can check to see if they will allow Burners, who will not be stopping in California to take the fruits and vegi's with them

Yes, please do! I had been planning on passing through the corner of California on my way down from Spokane. Are those ag stations even manned anymore? I have only passed through the one on I-80 recently, and don't think I've actually been stopped in years.[/quote]

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 4:55 pm

wedeliver wrote:I will check tomorrow on Monday,although as you point out they man these stations at odd hours and not all the time. more to come

quote="Dork"]
if you wish I can check to see if they will allow Burners, who will not be stopping in California to take the fruits and vegi's with them
Yes, please do! I had been planning on passing through the corner of California on my way down from Spokane. Are those ag stations even manned anymore? I have only passed through the one on I-80 recently, and don't think I've actually been stopped in years.

[/quote]

/
Yes you pass into Ca. for a short distance. But you turn east about 7 miles before Alturest. Which is before you get to the inspection station. WE came through K Falls one year. WE lied like hell to keep em out of our coolers.