Plymouth,Ca. to Reno, Nevada

If you have ever taken Tioga Pass over to 395, then 88 is about the same type of road as far as the curves go, but the grades on 88 are not as bad as Tioga. I have driven over every Sierra Mountain pass in all types of vehicles. I even took a Class C rental motorhome over Sonora Pass. I'll never do that again, but I made it. Ebbets Pass (4) and Sonora Pass (108) are the only ones I tell people don't do in a motorhome. But 108 has been improved since I did it, and I have seen stories on here of people taking Class A's over it. I wouldn't do it because the road is too narrow in the curves. You can make it, but the potential for conflict with other traffic is high.

Obviously the easiest pass is I-80 just as far as the road is concerned. It's also the most crowded and the trucks take it. Second easiest is probably 50, but only because it's four-lanes much of the way up. 88 is two lanes all the way but it's the third easiest pass. 120 is also two lanes all the way and it's the fourth easiest. Then 108 in sixth place and 4 in last place.

I went to Reno over this last weekend for a family event. I'm down in the Valley so once I discovered out easy 88 was, I never go up to 50 or 80 anymore. We got over to Reno and back with zero traffic backups. My family members who took I-80 over reported being stuck in traffic backups for hours! Much of it because of construction but some of it because of truck accidents.

Dumptrucker wrote:
Thanks mssmith,is this route big rig friendly, any grades I should be aware of? It sure looks more direct than looping around east of Sac.

There are grades and curves, but it is no worse than 50 for a motorhome. You'll go up to over 9000 feet, but you'll do that on 50 and 80 too. The nice thing about 88 is there is very little traffic. And if there is there are plenty of turnouts and passing lanes.

Whenever we go to the Jackson Plymouth area we use 395 to 88.

Great roads to get over the hill...and nice scenery too.

Safe travels.

Thanks mssmith,is this route big rig friendly, any grades I should be aware of? It sure looks more direct than looping around east of Sac.

I'm guessing you are at 49er RV Camp? My wife likes that place, but I'm not that fond of it. Too many kids. The Indian Casino up in Jackson off 88 has a really nice RV park. Lots more room between the sites.

Take 49 South to 88 and then 88 to 395 and then up to Reno. 88 is just as good of a road as 50 with about 2% of the traffic volume. I just took that route on Sunday, it's fine. I-80 has lots of construction and has been a mess.