Driving to las vegas, nv from sacramento, ca

jake2250 wrote:
I have made that run quite a few times,, One way I go is 99 south past 58,then East on 223 thru Arvin, drops you onto the 58 just before Tehachapi. Don't like to deal with Bakersfield traffic.

I understand you may like scenic routes, but I have driven on 58 from 99 dozens and dozens of times and never once do I recall ever hitting any traffic that slowed anything down when going east bound from 99. Even coming west bound you may slow for traffic when getting onto 99, but I never even remember it being bad at all.

I have made that run quite a few times,, One way I go is 99 south past 58,then East on 223 thru Arvin, drops you onto the 58 just before Tehachapi. Don't like to deal with Bakersfield traffic.

We have traveled the four logical routes from the Sacramento area.

Our rig combined weight is 36,000 lbs and the engine is a 300 HP Cummins C8.3L.

There are hills whichever way you go. Some slow us to 35mph, but we always get to the top.

Downhill with a DP and exhaust brake, start in 4th or lower gear and slow. Once you have a feel for the grade, you can add speed. I tend to start down at about 40mph unless I have been on the grade before.

Downhill is the greater concern for major grades to my way of thinking.

Myself, cannot stand I-80. The best way in my opinion
is 99 to the 58 then to the 15


Stop for gas in Barstow
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Loves
Pilot
T/A Barstow

jb

I believe, He's talking about the Baker grade.
Hwy 80 is a good size climb, but very doable with his unit.
Terry

yeah, I thought about that, but it's a long ways from being "coming out of Barstow".

Ron

Headed east on I-15 there is a grade just pass Baker, CA. It can be tough on some vehicles, especially in the summer when outside temps are often past 100 degrees. The good thing, there is a truck lane so you can stay to the right and go up at a comfortable speed if you have trouble staying at 55MPH or above in the regular lanes.

Luckily it is relatively short climb on a 5-7% grade.

lanerd wrote:

fristtimer5354 wrote:
I would like to know what is the best route to use when driving from Sacramento, ca. to Las Vegas, nv. I know there is a big hill coming out of Barstow, ca. interstate 15, how bad is it. I drive a mountain aire with a 350 Cummings.

Sorry, I'm not familiar with any "big hill" coming out of Barstow unless you're talking about Cajon Pass going down to San Bernardino...but that's not on the way to LV. I think you're thinking of some other route.

As mentioned, you can do the two previously mentioned routes.

Ron

I believe, He's talking about the Baker grade.
Hwy 80 is a good size climb, but very doable with his unit.
Terry


I BELIEVE, H

fristtimer5354 wrote:
I would like to know what is the best route to use when driving from Sacramento, ca. to Las Vegas, nv. I know there is a big hill coming out of Barstow, ca. interstate 15, how bad is it. I drive a mountain aire with a 350 Cummings.

Sorry, I'm not familiar with any "big hill" coming out of Barstow unless you're talking about Cajon Pass going down to San Bernardino...but that's not on the way to LV. I think you're thinking of some other route.

As mentioned, you can do the two previously mentioned routes.

Ron

fristtimer5354 wrote:
I would like to know what is the best route to use when driving from Sacramento, ca. to Las Vegas, nv. I know there is a big hill coming out of Barstow, ca. interstate 15, how bad is it. I drive a mountain aire with a 350 Cummings.

If you take 99 down to 58 and go that way, the highest elevation is I think around 4500 feet over Tehachapi. By California standards, that's hardly a big hill. If you take 80 like others have suggested, you have to go over Donner Pass. That is a big hill, but it's doable. You can encounter snow going over Donner and probably won't over Tehachapi since we haven't got much snow at all down at that level this year. And it depends on if you're talking about doing this drive now, or in a few months.

I have done both ways many times. I too prefer the US95 route down through Nevada but it might take a little take longer. As for the "big hills" you will encounter many of them in the west and you shouldn't have any problems with them as long as your rig is properly maintained.