Hi, I am wondering if anyone can tell me what hwy 395 is like from the junction of hwy 58 all the way up to Reno. How steep and long are the mountain passes? We have a 38 ft dp pulling a toad. We want to take a different route back to BC from Az and have never been to Reno. From there we would take 395 to Susanville and then 36 over to Red Bluff. Our plan is to eventually go north down the Oregon coast. We would be doing this trip at the end of March.Is it doable or is there a better way.Thanks in advance.

US 395 is a very good road but it does get up to 8000 feet elevation between Bishop and Reno. Just watch the weather and you will be fine. There are a couple of climbs, the longest just north of Bishop; the second just north of Lee Vining. Many RV's travel the road annually.

The route up to Lee Vining does have any steep grades that I recall. It's been years since I drove the section north of that but looking at the altitudes of Lone Pine and Reno I see there is only a few hundred feet difference. So maybe it is moderate as well.Whoops I just checked Lee Vining and it is at 6700 ft so the must be a climb of 3000 ft between Lone Pine and that point. And almost as much drop to Reno.

Thanks for the replies. I take it that these grades are not that steep but maybe long?

What length of climb gives you problems? BC5 to Merritt?Did you take I5 south bound? From Oregon to California?

Have gone up 395 several times all the way to Carson City, Reno and Lake. As indicated, the climb out of Bishop is a long one and then again out of Lee Vining where the roads are a tad mountainous/s-turns but it should be a beautiful drive now with recent wet weather. The Walker River flows along the highway out of Lee Vining. We have traveled this in a 37' DP towing a toad.

Hwy US 395 | Good Sam Community

paulj
Explorer II
Feb 16, 2015
Yes, CA20 is the easiest way to the coast, and gives you access to all of the northern California redwoods.
slickest1
Explorer
Feb 16, 2015
2gypsies wrote:
From Reno if you want to go up through Oregon you could take I-80 west to Emigrant Gap and pick up Hwy 20 which will take you to Hwy 101 near Willits, CA. Stay on 101 all through Oregon. It's an awesome drive and good for big rigs.

Thanks for that, I looked it up on the mapand it looks good as well.
Lauren
Explorer
Feb 15, 2015
And the state park is fantastic place to stay - reservations probably needed.
JT
Explorer
Feb 15, 2015
Logging museum at Collier State Park:

http://www.collierloggingmuseum.org/
fireman93514
Explorer
Feb 15, 2015
2gypsies wrote:
From Reno if you want to go up through Oregon you could take I-80 west to Emigrant Gap and pick up Hwy 20 which will take you to Hwy 101 near Willits, CA. Stay on 101 all through Oregon. It's an awesome drive and good for big rigs.

X2 We have done this many times. I always enjoy the ride.
profdant139
Explorer II
Feb 15, 2015
395 from 58 to Reno is a great road, but try not to rush the trip -- there is so much to see along the way.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Feb 15, 2015
From Reno if you want to go up through Oregon you could take I-80 west to Emigrant Gap and pick up Hwy 20 which will take you to Hwy 101 near Willits, CA. Stay on 101 all through Oregon. It's an awesome drive and good for big rigs.
Lauren
Explorer
Feb 15, 2015
OMG, you will simply not believe the acres of old equipment! PM me your email address and I will send you some pix.
slickest1
Explorer
Feb 15, 2015
Lauren wrote:
We use the 395 to get up to OR Coast or just up into OR. Stay at Collier S P if you can in OR and be sure to visit the logging museum - HUGE and wonderful place.

Thanks Lauren, I trucked in the logging industry for many years and will definitely have to check that out. Thanks for your help.
slickest1
Explorer
Feb 15, 2015
paulj wrote:
You could stay on 395 all the way to the Canadian border - but then you have the BC3 ups/downs to deal with to get to the lower Frasier valley.

WA17 to US97 takes you to the border further west.

Dealing with the ups and downs don't bother me at all, I spent most of my working life trucking on BC's highways. Most of the passes I have seen down here in the US are pretty tame. I am sure there are a few that may surprise you though. That is why I like to scope it out ahead. This is the place to get the real info. Thanks for your help.

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