California 395 now?

[littlemo]

Leaving Las Vegas to head to my Aunts house in Fair Oaks, California. (Sacramento).

I know I can go up through Nevada but it looks like 395 is more scenic but I know nothing about 395.

We are 26ft class "C" pulling a toad. Is this doable at this time of year with our setup or should we just boogie on up through Nevada? (Mountain driving is not a problem with my DH)

Thanks!

[littlemo]

Well we did get away from Las Vegas and being the adventurous (crazy) souls that we are.....we went through death valley. It was okay going down but coming up was !**##!!!!. Let's put it this way....our sphincter muscles are well developed after this little jaunt! Sorry. Hope this doesn't offend anyone. LOL. I'm a nurse so I use anatomical descriptions often! But we made it up out of the pit and are much more knowledgeable about the West.

As for 395...Thanks so much to those that encouraged us to take this route. It was beautiful! Lots of snow but roads were great. No chains required! We stopped and slept in one of the rest areas along the way (shared with other RVs and Trucks). That worked out good.
I wish I could post pictures but I still haven't figured that one out. They are always too big.

We are currently in Carson City to dump tanks, do laundry and get a good shower then will probably head on to Fair Oaks.......unless someone has other suggestions.LOL

Y'all are great and every one of you gave us ideas and warnings and they were correct so I just need to say "Thanks" one more time!

[profdant139]

395 right now is even better than it was a week ago -- fresh snow. More on the way this Sunday night and Monday -- very cold storm with low snow levels.

[PUCampin]

littlemo wrote:

Best Coast Camper wrote:
Im a longhaul trucker. Keep me in mind for routing. How were you planning to get to 395 from Vegas? Not really the best time of year to be going to 395 from Vegas. Those skinny curvy roads can be a nightmare this time of year.

Where are these skinny, curvy roads?

I think this is in reference to going from Vegas to 395 via 190 or similar. 190 is not the best of roads.

If the OP has a few days, the best way is to go 15 south to 58 west to 395N. Straight good roads, half a days drive. Not terribly scenic until you reach Inyokern on 395, then as the Sierras begin to rise on the West and White Mountains in the East, WOW!! My work computer won't let me post a picture, I'll try later. We spent the first week of October in the Eastern Sierras, just beautiful!

[Lauren]

LOVE the 395; never an issue in several times driving it both ways.

[hope2retire]

There aren't any skinny curvy roads on 395. I have driven 395 at least 100 times with and without the 5th wheel. If time is on your side, there are a lot of things to see and places to stay. on 95 there are some long stretches with nothing, and the scenery is the same, start to finish. The forecast looks good until Monday, then a small storm. If it does snow just wait a day or two, they clear the roads really fast. 95 can get snow also. Take 395 you will be happy you did.

[coolbreeze01]

Real time 395 http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist9/cctv/

Looks like people are chaining up.

19 degrees currently at Mammoth.

[littlemo]

Best Coast Camper wrote:
Im a longhaul trucker. Keep me in mind for routing. How were you planning to get to 395 from Vegas? Not really the best time of year to be going to 395 from Vegas. Those skinny curvy roads can be a nightmare this time of year.

Where are these skinny, curvy roads?

[time2roll]

Looks clear, no restrictions.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi

Beautiful time to take 395.

Only spot I really know to stop:
http://mammothrv.com/

[Travelr]

Weather will be good next several days. At least until next Monday. Should be good travel all through the desert. 395 is a good road. One big haul going north of bishop but again, not expected to be a problem. Would suggest going to Reno and go over I-80 rather than 50. You could come to Carson city, take 50 to Lake Tahoe, take 28 thru Incline village (where I live and just brought my 40 footer up) then go to Truckee, catch 80 there and on over Donner to Fair Oks and Sacramento. We do it often and will never put chains on. Just sit for a day or two and roads will clear.

[Billinwoodland]

If it were me and wanted the most efficient route, I would go 15 to 58. The pass at 58 is about as low as you can get. Weather will be much less of an issue going that way. If you want scenery, then 395 to Centerville, then 88 west to 89 north, then 50 west at Meyers.

[littlemo]

Thanks for all of your input.
Facts: *Have never been on 395.
* Don't want to drive in anything requiring chains.
* Don't have chains.
* We will not be leaving LV for a day or two due to Walmart
coding wrong on one of my husbands medications and has
insurance messed up.

We are not in a great hurry. We can take several days to get there. Yes, I was looking at going over to Pahrump then through DV but I'm open to other suggestions.

I was thinking we would take HWY 50 out of Tahoe. We've only gone from Lake Tahoe over HWY 50 once years ago to get back to Fair Oaks and that was in a car. We just went over the mountains to see The Big Trees and came out in Tahoe and took 50 back to Fair Oaks.

We usually travel out there in the summer and approach from the south so this will be a whole new experience.
Maybe I should just skip the "scenic":( and go up through Nevada.

Thanks for your input and keep it coming!

Bear: Thanks for that info. My husband IS a WWII history buff and I love to eat so thank you!

[AZRick]

Came down 395 Reno->Lone Pine Sunday. Very strong winds- were diverted from 580 to old 395 for about 15 miles (very picturesque). Lovely scenery on 395.

Watch the weather though! Yesterday, chains were required in 4 locations north and south of Mammoth.

[Best_Coast_Camp]

Im a longhaul trucker. Keep me in mind for routing. How were you planning to get to 395 from Vegas? Not really the best time of year to be going to 395 from Vegas. Those skinny curvy roads can be a nightmare this time of year.

[the_bear_II]

In Bishop there are two great places to stop and buy bakery goods and jerky.
www.erickschatsbakery.com
www.smokedmeats.com/

Manzanar Internment Camp is interesting stop for history/WWII buffs.