We're traveling from Idaho down to California for some Disney and etc time with the family here in a couple of weeks. I think I'm going to take 95/395 most of the way as it's a bit shorter and it looks like it has some better options for an overnight stay in each direction than the route through Wells down to Vegas. It's about 850 miles each way, and the plan is a very early departure on day 1 so we can knock out the bulk of the drive and then a shorter section on day 2 to allow some time for setup and to relax a bit (hopefully). On the way down I'm thinking about pulling off and spending the night in the Alabama Hills BLM rec area near Lone Pine, and on the way back I'm thinking about the BLM Water Canyon rec area near Winnemucca. Any feedback on either of these? The Alabama Hills area looks pretty nice but the Water Canyon deal may be a little more sketchy, although it doesn't look too bad. There are also some decent RV parks in both of these areas if that would be better, but I prefer free and I also prefer a little more elbow room than you get in an RV Park (I'm already getting cold sweats about the density of trailers in the park we're staying at in Anaheim). Any feedback would be great. We'll have our three kids and fifth wheel in tow, along with plenty of DVDs and snacks. And beer for dad at the end of each day to maintain sanity.

I travel the 395 route between my trips from Phx AZ to Roseburg Oregon and back pulling a 40' 5th wheel because I HATE the I-5 system. Rough road, traffic and ugly scenery......395 has some very nice scenery along the way, and very little traffic to deal with. Many small towns to go thru, and need to slow down to a crawl thru them. But soooo worth it to me.I have found a small lake called Diaz Lake, just south of Lone Pine that is very nice.Has dry camping on far side of the lake, far enough away from the road, that you cant hear what traffic there is.Last year they were converting over to an kiosk to pay for your night, and it is only $14. Very few other campers, and I had no-one around me for the weekend overnight stay this time of year.Here is their website:http://www.inyocountycamping.com/diaz_lake_campground.htmlI'm heading out this week, and plan on using it again.Don't need any hook ups, and it is worth it to me for no crowds.Hope this helps.Gery

The Bishop BLM field office has several campgrounds along 395. In my experience, Goodale is usually the quietest.http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bishop/camping/index.html$5 a night, half price with senior pass. Vault toilets. Sometimes potable water.

All through the Lone Pine/ Bishop area there are campgrounds alongside creeks and streams coming down from the eastern Sierras. These are listed on the website gery L posted above.Very nice and usually few people. Dry camping but with some amenities and good scenery.

We like to overnight at Tuttle Creek near Alabama Hills. It's dry camping but there is a dump and fresh water. Some sites are pull-tru. Last time we stayed there the cost was $5. Nice panoramic views, too.

Check the weather; it might be 110 degrees near Lone Pine.If it's too hot, camp near Bishop instead. More altitude, more latitude..

California and Nevada Stopovers | Good Sam Community

IdaD
Explorer
Jul 31, 2016
It was 105 when we pulled into Lone Pine so we opted for the RV Park instead. It worked okay and we needed the AC but I definitely wouldn't ever want to camp in a site that dense for more than an overnight unless you're doing Disney or something in a city (as we did the following several nights). We turned off in Hawthorn and came over the pass and down into Mono Lake, not really realizing the types of elevations we'd get into. That upper end of Owens Valley is some beautiful country so I'm not sorry we did it.

On the way back I woke everybody up at 2:00 am to make it a one day trip, and we went back via I15 and 93. Much better road with higher speeds but I'm not sure it was a whole lot faster. It was definitely less scenic. With stops it took over 16 hours but it was nice to get home versus spend the night along the way, and the wife and girls were able to sleep for a solid four or five hours in the morning before we stopped for breakfast, which made it a shorter trip for them. Plus no traffic pulling out of the city that time of day.
profdant139
Explorer II
Jul 18, 2016
We are serious boondockers/dry campers, but in the summer in the Owens Valley, give me hookups and air conditioning. We often stay at Boulder Creek -- they have a nice pool and jacuzzi. After a long day of driving, that would be my vote, for sure. (And I think they have beer in the store in the office -- call ahead and make sure!)

The view from Boulder Creek is pretty good -- this was taken from our campsite, exactly four years ago today -- that's Mt. Whitney among those jagged peaks in the middle of the shot:
ParkCountry
Explorer
Jul 17, 2016
Ida, I don't know about Water Canyon but I have spent time in the Alabama Hills and I would have no problem setting down there. Have the kids be careful when scrambling over all those boulder formations. Falls there are NOT an option! You can drive up to the trailhead for Mt. Whitney but do NOT try it with the trailer in tow.
tdsxt51
Explorer
Jul 17, 2016
Alabama Hills is a fantastic place to camp. Every time we've been there, we've been by ourselves. They sell a book in town (Lone Pine) that tells all about the movies made there- from the early thirties to today. As has been already said many times- anywhere along 395 from Topaz Lake to Lone Pine has many, many places to stop, camp, and explore. But it is hot hot hot in the summer, unless you get into the higher elevations. Once you get south of Lone Pine, you want to get out of that desert as fast as you can.
time2roll
Nomad
Jul 09, 2016
When we drive from So Cal to Twin/Boise we go Vegas/Ely/Wells
We stop in Ely to split the drive in half.
I think it is Valley View where we stop with the RV.
http://www.goodsamclub.com/travel/campgroundsandrvparks/generalinfo.aspx?cgid=870002084

395 is a bit more scenic but I think the time will be longer.
IdaD
Explorer
Jul 09, 2016
Thanks for all the feedback. This site is really a great resource. Good tip about the heat in Lone Pine. I've got a generator to run the ac and we'll likely get in towards the evening but if it's too hot still I'll just go for one of the hookup sites I guess. It's in my best interest to keep three daughters and my wife comfortable!
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Jul 09, 2016
tpi wrote:
Tuttle Creek and Alabama Hills are great spots. Days will definitely be hot, nights may cool off. I stayed at Tuttle in summer several times and was comfortable at night-it can be windy. YMMV. Bishop itself is also hot, but has access to many areas at 7000 ft. or above where it is cooler.

If you're in Lone Pine area and forecast is for hot with possible hot nights, you can always stay at decent Boulder Creek RV park with full hookups.

Good recommendations. Since your first day will be a long one you'll probably get to Lone Pine toward evening so it will be cooler.
Murphsmom
Explorer
Jul 09, 2016
We've stayed at Rye Patch Reservoir between Winnemucca and Lovelock a couple of times. The lower section is in the trees and the upper section is by the water. Nothing special about the campground, but it was in the right place for our stop and the price was right. They do have a dump station located on the road to the campgrounds.
mikim
Explorer
Jul 09, 2016
In Lee Vining just off 395 on CA 120 there is a mobil gas station. In it is the Whoa Nellie Deli....incredibal5 5 star food. Right above the station is an view area with a nice turn around for RV's. In Bishop, CA do not miss Eric Schat's bakery. RV Parking is available across the street and behind the Carl's Jr. for RV's.

In Lone Pine, CA there is the Western Movie Museum and during the summers they show old movies that were filmed in and around the Alabama Hills.
tpi
Explorer
Jul 09, 2016
Tuttle Creek and Alabama Hills are great spots. Days will definitely be hot, nights may cool off. I stayed at Tuttle in summer several times and was comfortable at night-it can be windy. YMMV. Bishop itself is also hot, but has access to many areas at 7000 ft. or above where it is cooler.

If you're in Lone Pine area and forecast is for hot with possible hot nights, you can always stay at decent Boulder Creek RV park with full hookups.