Brawley, CA north to I-10 and Indio, CA

When going thru Westmoreland, obey the speed limits and the stop sign. They fund their annual Policeman's Ball thru the fines.

Both sides also have a Border Patrol checkpoint. From my experience, the one on 86 seems to be busier (more backup) than the one on 111.

FYI, 86 on the west side is all 4 lane divided highway north of Westmorland.

Thanks for the replies. I think I will take 86 on the west side.
I drove around the Salton sea about 10 years ago. Do not remember too much about the road conditions.

I go 86. No real difference on the two routes

They are the same for a Class A. Two lane road on the east. Stinky smells more often and for a longer distance on the east side too. Neither route is very exciting. Big yawn all together. The west side has a nice casino fueling station with diesel that's economical so I usually take that route and fill up there. A few miles after that heading north from that casino is a RV park that's pretty nice (there's also a RV park next door to the casino or you can park there at the casino). I like staying there at the RV park a bit further on from the casino for a few days before heading to Mexico.

FYI, the Salton Sea is being allowed to return to it's natural state, mostly dry. So it's drying up in that area and the towns, communities, and businesses around it are dying. The wind picks up nasties from the drying lake bed and makes it hell for anyone with respiratory problems.

west

I prefer the east side. Less truck traffic.

Make sure to stop in Holtville, carrot capital of the world.

I'd choose west. 111 is a bit rough and 'dippy' and can toss stuff around in your RV.