Resource Info for travellers arriving via I-80 from the East

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:18 am

While quite a few BM participants arrive from California, there's a sizeable contingent that comes in from the East. The main BM website has travelogues covering the West Coast and from inside Nevada...but for anyone making the trip from the East on I-80 there's not much to go on.

So here's my questions for everyone. If you arrive from the East:
1: Do you have any favorite places to stop for last minute supplies / water?
2: If you're ahead of schedule and don't want to wait for the gates to open are there any interesting sidetrips or points of interest you would recommend seeing?
3: Are there places you feel others should avoid for bad service, bad experiences, speed traps, etc?
4: For those who can't take advantage of the showers and food in Reno's casinos after the event, are there any places you love to stop for food / showers / etc. before heading back East?

The idea here is to build up some resources that could be submitted to the ORG for possible inclusion on Travel Info Page for next year:
http://www.burningman.com/preparation/t ... index.html
What's posted on there right now is a little skewed towards the West coast...I'd like to change that.

(Please try and keep the inevitable thread drift to a minimum)

Thanks!

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:49 am

Free coffee: any brothel along I-80. Listen for them on a cb, they're in quite a few of the small towns. Sometimes you can pick up free food or free showers, but they have the right to refuse service (heh) if too many folks swamp them all at once. Be polite and spend some bucks on a few mixed drinks or t-shirts or such. Just stopping by is a fairly interesting experience. Don't think brothels will make it into the survial guide though.

The Pilot and the Loves in Fernley have showers, I think they're up to $9 each, although you can take a couple in a shower together. They provide the towels and a small soap. These run 24 hrs. There's also a TA ($9) near Mill City which has showers, Flying Js ($6.50) in Winemucca or Battle Mountain, basically any large truckstop. I'm pretty sure they sell showers to anyone, not just professional drivers. The Pilot in Carlin has a nice little Subway sandwich place, but they get slow late at night.

For anyone doing any long distance driving, it might be worth it to buy a Truckstop guide which lists most of the truckstops, what size and what services are available. Best Buffet on the road: Flying J almost always. The Flying J at Lakepoint in Utah (just past Toole) has good food most of the time. Worst overall food/buffet: Travel Centers of America.

Wendover NV has some interesting history and art, all out at the old airstrip. That's where the Enola Gay was loaded. Talk about Fear! I'll look for the links.

Speeders beware in Pershing county (Reno into Fernley), Wells has a speed trap now and then, Elko where the 75 to 65 mph drops SLOW DOWN, they love to ticket especially if there's construction. And there is. Currently there's 55 mph in the construction zone near Nightengale to Fernley, about 13 miles of it. Most of the time when you pass a town in Nevada on I-80, the speed limit drops from 75 to 65, and that's where the traps will be. Although mylarry thinks anyone towing anything going over 65mph needs their head examined anyway.

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:29 am

The Flying J outside Tooele is one of my stopping points. Showers last year were $6 or so and were clean. You don't have to be a professional driver to use them either.

I also like to stop at the Bonneville Rest Area about 20 miles East of Wendover on I-80. You can walk a few yards past the bathrooms and actually step foot on the salt flats. Be careful though, sometimes the edge of the flats can be very muddy and they'll try and suck you in. Still if you've never been on the salt flats before it's an experience you won't forget. Also if it's daytime they have overlooks that you can walk up to get a better view of the flats...if you're heading back East there's a plaque that references the first transcontinental phone line that's kinda interesting.

If anyone buys gas at the Mirastar station in Winnemucca (by the Wal-Mart on the West end of town up on the hill) and you're filling up a large tank or for generators the pumps will limit you to $50 worth of gas at a time. (I learned this at 3 am the hard way)

There is a small Maverick gas station on the North side of I-80 in Elko that I've had trouble with a couple of times now. The attitude inside the store was bad and some of the product selection wasn't fresh. It may have improved since last year but I have my doubts.

If you have time for a small side trip the Ruby Mountains / Lamoille Canyon located about 20 minutes South of Elko is an interesting sidetrip. It's a National Scenic Byway so it's easy to get to and very well marked. The U shaped canyons and overall views IMHO made it worth the time to make the trip up there to check it out. Here's some more info on the Ruby Mountains:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Mountains

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:40 am

Battle Mountain has a large park with covered picnic area and a public pool. I want to say it's on the East side of town on the North side of I-80 but my memory is a bit foggy.

Elquist Memorial Park

Ahh, here's the address:

561 Altenburg Ave. Battle Mountain

PlayaPetal · Post by **PlayaPetal** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 6:18 pm

We usually stop at Boomtown - pretty safe area over by the truck stop where you can park and see your vehicle - go in - get a bite to eat - gamble for a bit - head out , stop at Gerlach, gas up and head to the playa... we always get there a little early and have to wait - but never for very long...

Dustdevil · Post by **Dustdevil** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 6:55 pm

Battle Mountain also has a fireworks store on the same exit as McDonalds and Super 8 Motel. It is run by Steve and Earl Casorla. Steve did the fireworks for the Man for several years. Earl will be camping with me in Illumination Village this year. Nice guys to chat with. Really interesting stories. NO don't bring fireworks to the Playa. Too much moop and BLM frowns on "unauthorized discharge". The store also has a small fireworks museum that is interesting. About coffee or food in the brothels, I had dinner with Steve last Thanksgiving in Battle Mountain in the brothel there. One of the best meals on the road I have had. Real home cooking.

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:12 pm

We've spent the night at the Battle Mountain brothel, although we were just parked in the rig outside. Nice folks came and gave us a knock on the door wake up call. The Flying J was just too crowded to park.