Avoiding Sacramento

If you're staying at Beale Famcamp just head out South Beale rd to Hwy 65 and turn left. It's a great road and will join 80 at Rocklin, completely missing Sacramento.

We go to AZ for the Winter and have taken a couple of routes that some have already mentioned. What we do is watch the weather.

Our home base being Reno I-580/395 are only 1/2 mile from us so easy access. We have made the trip South many times and it is good road. Winter can be on this route also especially when going through the Mammoth Lake area snow is a very good possibility. This route will get you to see the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine and there is a nice CG there. Then continue down 395 to CA14 to Edwards.


Another way we go (picking a good weather day)is I-80 over the hill (once over you are warm the rest of the way) into CA then either 99 or I-5 South to Bakersfield then 58 to 14 over to Edwards AFB.

Safe travels.

Thank you all. I said dead of winter, because we are leaving WA State end of November and depending on the weather, taking a slow route down the Oregon Coast to Hwy 20 and over to Beale, but if the weather forecast is ugly, take I5 and stay at Valley of the Rogue State Park in Oregon until we get clear weather and make for the Siskiyou Pass. So, it may be December or January.
And I really want to see the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine. What about going via Yosemite?

So when do you plan on traveling?

korbe wrote:

weedrancher wrote:
From Beale AFB Hwy 20 is north of the base. Take Hwy 20 east to I-80 then to Reno. Connect to 395 south and of you go. Reno/Sparks traffic can be a headache sometimes but if you avoid the morning, noon and evening rush it's not too bad.

The dead of winter can be a bit nasty on the eastern side of the Sierras. I would get to the valley and stay there.

Yeah, that is exactly why I want an alternative. LOL

We go thru Sac many times a year on I-80, we just plan our trips on Saturday or Sunday. I always check Donner Pass I80 5 Day Forecast first. http://www.localconditions.com/weather-donner-pass-i80-california/96162/forecast.php

Lynne, in my post I said head south on CASR 71. Please note this was a typo in my post. The correct State Route designation is SR 70. Hope you weren't confused. Thanks, Dennis

So, to reiterate:

South on SR 70 then
South on US 99/ I-5 then
East on I-80 just NORTH of Sacramento.
You'll connect with US395 in Reno.

GNR wrote:

Executive wrote:
Lynne, you don't post your rig and I'm not going to go thru your blogs to try to find out what you have. That said, depending on the size of your rig will determine which route would be easier/shorter/more enjoyable. Hwy 20 is winding part of the way. Hwy 49 is a restricted road for certain size rigs. I would simply go 71 south to I-5/99 south to I-80 east to 395 south. There's no reason to go into Sacramento as you'll pick up I-80 north of the city by Arco Arena.....Dennis

Totally agree with this route thru Sacramento then follow I5 down to Hwy 58 to Bakersfield over to Edwards AFB. Done this exact route many times in the last 14 years never a challenge except the traffic around 7-9 am at Sacramento.

And with that route there's no "Dead o' Winter".
But we may have plenty of warm mud slides and desert flash floods this year

Us out West wrote:
When does the OP mean by the 'dead of winter'?

To us, it means any time the snows start piling up in the mountains. I suspected the OPer meant December or January.

When does the OP mean by the 'dead of winter'?