Forum Discussion

caberto's avatar
caberto
Explorer
Jun 06, 2014

395 from 14 to South Lake Tahoe

Hi all,

Were heading up to South Lake Tahoe from the Acton/Agua Dulce area in August and I understand that the best way to go would be skip 89 and 207 (too many tight curves combined with steep hills), and instead continue north on 395 into Carson City then take the 50 back down, but then I read that there is a low tunnel on Hwy 50. We are close to 13.5 feet tall at our highest point with the A/C. Has anyone gone that route with a tall unit?

Any other input on the route itself would be very helpful. We're towing a 36' fiver (in our sig).

Thanks!
Roads and Routes
  • sdianel_-acct_c's avatar
    sdianel_-acct_c
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2014
    http://www.aaroads.com/west/us-050wa_nv.html
    click on the photo and it shows the heights. This tunnel is one way so you can move to the center if the traffic is light.
  • caberto's avatar
    caberto
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2014
    Ahhh... that's helpful - thank you for that! Do you know if it's the same 18'6" coming back the other way? Riding the center lane is definitely the way to go... I hope there's enough time to see it coming up in order to get positioned. I would imagine there are signs also.

    Thanks again!
  • nevadanick's avatar
    nevadanick
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2014
    The tunnel is at Cave Rock and is no big deal. There is warning ahead of time.
  • Community Alumni's avatar
    Community Alumni
    Jun 07, 2014
    I drove to South Lake Tahoe last week and stayed on the 395 until I reached Gardnerville and then connected to the 207. The 207 may be a little steep but it's a very nice road without tight curves. Once you reach the summit in town, the highway is somewhat steep as you descend into the basin.

    While in Tahoe, I went to Carson City sightseeing and 50 is a very nice highway and not as steep as the 207.

    I have a 21' TT and pull it with an SUV.

    Enjoy your trip! We loved our stay there.
  • Ltrip's avatar
    Ltrip
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2014
    Correct, Cave Rock tunnel is tall enough.
    50 would be a good road to take.
    I suggest avoiding 207 with a 36' fiver.
    An alternative is Hwy 88 to 89, then 89 into south Lake Tahoe. That has some curves, but not like 207.
    Cheers,
  • caberto's avatar
    caberto
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2014
    Thanks everyone for the great feedback! Sounds like 50 it is!

    The 207 sounds like it may be fun on a motorcycle... I think another separate trip is in order...
  • nevadanick's avatar
    nevadanick
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2014
    What part of Tahoe are you headed to ? There are other routes as well.
  • Redsky's avatar
    Redsky
    Explorer
    Jun 08, 2014
    All the states highway departments (like the misnamed Caltrans.gov for California which really only does highways) have websites with pages listing any low clearance or narrow areas where a truck and trailer rig might have a problem. Most of the time in the west the problem is a bridge or underpass where the width of the trailer is a possible problem and not the height. In those ares there may be room if one uses both lanes and not the far right lane (like with the tunnel into Zion NP).

    The state governments keep these up to date as the last thing they want is for a roadway to be shut down for hours or days as the result of a trailer getting stuck underneath a low clearance structure.

    Of the states' listings I have looked at none had a maximum height of less than 14 feet and generally speaking the DOT regs for vehicle height of 13'6" has been tied to this. Go over 13'6" and you will need to be more careful as to where you go.

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