Hey all,I'm looking to make my first trip out to Mammoth to camp and drive our RZRs. I was wondering what the best, RV-friendly route from the Bay Area (CA) out to Mammoth is? Specifically this is where we're going: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Glass+Creek+Campground/@37.751749,-118.986611,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x80961380733bd051:0x2fecc20eaa8c0b8dOur rig is a 34' Fleetwood Southwind 34G and I tow a 20' (24' overall length) flatbed trailer with our 2 RZRs on it. I've taken the rig out to Washington, CA (https://www.google.com/maps/place/River+Rest+Resort/@39.356369,-120.801326,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x809b848062b6ad11:0xc7ed592e2409c7e2) so I've done plenty of grades and tight roads. Before this I had two very large 5th wheel Toy Haulers (37' and 45') and a few race car trailers, so I'm experience towing. That said, without going all the way to Reno up over 80 then coming down 395 most of the routes look pretty tight and steep for an RV. Has anybody made the drive before, and what do you recommend? -TJ

Highway 120 goes over a 9,600' elevation pass - that is the low section between the tall mountains! Tioga Pass road is pretty steep going down from Tioga Pass to Highway 395. But the scenic is well worth it, if you have no worries about towing down a 7% grade that is miles long! Keep it in second gear, and you will be fine. . I took my 1997 30' Bounder down the pass, and it did great. For the less adverntous, then I 80 to Reno, and 395 south to Mammoth is the way to go. It is 4 lanes most of the way (or 5 or 6 lanes when the mountain grade is steep). Be sure to top off with gas near Reno, as California prices are very high. Then top off again before leaving NV, in Carson City, or the Costco at the intersection of highway 395 and 50, just one block south, on the west side of 395. You will find prices in Bishop CA about $1 or $1.20 more per gallon than the Costco in NV. South of Lone Pine, the prices start to become more reasonable, where trucking it in from the Barsto fuel depot is not nearly as expensive. .. .I might also recommend highway 50 from Sacramento to Lake Tahoe, then highway 50 towards Carson City. It is mostly a great road, and many tour buses take that route. But it is nearly as long as the I80 route, so why not take the 4 lane road? I took highway 50 several times when my uncle lived in Lake Tahoe - with my 30' Bounder. It did great. I have also taken I80 to Lake Tahoe, as well as go to and from Oregon via 50 - 395, to Sparks, and on to highway 89, around the east side of Shasta Mountain, and connecting with I5. All the roads are pretty good, but highway 120 is long and steep! There are some sections of highway 89, labeled 'not for RV's or trucks over 50' due to the 16% grade! So stay off that highway. I did take the south exit from Lake Tahoe, towards Grover Hot Springs. I can't recall if I went that way in the RV, I think that I did. I know that I went from Grover Hot Springs to Stockton and on to San Francisco in 1986 in my 1983 Honda Civic, and did go up a 16% grade along the way. .. . Good luck!Fred.

IMHO, "RV-friendly" up and over the Sierra's is limited to I-80 or Hwy 50. The more southern routes may not be too "RV-friendly".

I agree with Fred. As long as you are OK with a long 7% grade going down from the Tioga Pass to Lee Vining, highway 120 ( from 108 ) would be my choice.

I think the Grapevine is 6% in places, and I have no issue with that. Highway 20 and Washington Rd. going in/out of the River Rest Resort are pretty steep too and I had no issues. That said, I just might go 80 because I don't want to get halfway into a trip and have to turn around. Plus, there are fun KOA/Casinos to stop at for a night around Boomtown/Reno. The only problem is that means 1 (or 2 if I stop on the way out too) extra nights that aren't in Mammoth. -TJ

I enjoy the beauty of all the routes over the Sierra's, but not driving a gas powered MH with two RZR's on a trailer. Maybe catching 395 at Minden would be less steep?You will have fun at Glass Creek, we go after Labor Day.

Best route from the Bay Area (CA) to Mammoth (CA)?

12 Replies

paulj
Explorer II
Jun 18, 2015
Take Monitor Pass, hwy 89. You have enough power on that trailer to pull you up the steepest part. :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monitor_Pass
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Jun 17, 2015
We've always taken Hwy 50 from Sacramento to 395. Have done it both directions.
Billinwoodland
Explorer
Jun 17, 2015
I used to drive that route from Sacramento often. Best way is 50 to Meyers, turn right on 89 to 88, make a left then down to minden. There is a short cut at centerville, check it out on google maps. Worse part is the short ride fron Echo summit to Meyers.
Bill
tjZ06
Explorer
Jun 16, 2015
So 88 isn't bad with a RV towing?

-TJ
Us_out_West
Explorer
Jun 16, 2015
Bill-R wrote:
I would go 88 over to 395 and then go south to mammoth

That would be my route also.

88 is a good road and we use when going from our home base in Reno to Jackson, CA and beyond.
Bill-R
Explorer
Jun 16, 2015
I would go 88 over to 395 and then go south to mammoth
tjZ06
Explorer
Jun 16, 2015
This is the rig:

-TJ
coolbreeze01
Explorer
Jun 15, 2015
I enjoy the beauty of all the routes over the Sierra's, but not driving a gas powered MH with two RZR's on a trailer.

Maybe catching 395 at Minden would be less steep?

You will have fun at Glass Creek, we go after Labor Day.
tjZ06
Explorer
Jun 15, 2015
I think the Grapevine is 6% in places, and I have no issue with that. Highway 20 and Washington Rd. going in/out of the River Rest Resort are pretty steep too and I had no issues. That said, I just might go 80 because I don't want to get halfway into a trip and have to turn around. Plus, there are fun KOA/Casinos to stop at for a night around Boomtown/Reno. The only problem is that means 1 (or 2 if I stop on the way out too) extra nights that aren't in Mammoth.

-TJ
Ed_Gee
Explorer II
Jun 15, 2015
I agree with Fred. As long as you are OK with a long 7% grade going down from the Tioga Pass to Lee Vining, highway 120 ( from 108 ) would be my choice.