Traveling from Ramona CA to Needles CA - advice please

[Jwrv1978]

As the titles says I’ll be traveling from Ramona CA to Needles CA and I’m trying to determine the best route. It looks like 78 is off limits to over 40ft, I have a 42ft, part of the way if I take 78 to 86.
Looks like I can go 78 to 79 at Saint Ysabel safely, but I don’t know how good or bad 79 is. Any advice on route to take would be appreciated.

[laknox]

There ya go! 🙂

Lyle

[Jwrv1978]

Thanks! I looked at my route again. Just gonna stop over in Quartzsite which will split my trip almost in half perfectly between 2 days.

[laknox]

Why go through Needles? Why not I-8 to I-10 to I-17? Yeah, it's about 30 miles longer, but it's faster. Travel after dark to avoid the worst of the heat. Stop in Yuma for the night, though it'd only be about a 10 hour drive, max.

Lyle

[Jwrv1978]

One day stop on the way to flagstaff. Not ideal but it works.

[TravelinDog]

Mmmm...Needles CA in July

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[opnspaces]

78 to 79 at Santa Ysabel is the route that everybody going to the desert takes, I've been driving it for 30 + years. It will easily take your 42 footer. In fact in the winter you will regularly see 40 foot motorhomes pulling 25 foot trailers. Once you're on the 79 you could go all the way to 15 north then 215 to the 40.

But for a much easier route with a whole lot less turns just take 67 south to Scripps Poway Parkway. Then straight through Scripps to 15 north and then as above to 215 then the 40. It's a whole lot easier for about 20 - 30 extra miles.

[CA_Traveler]

I avoid the CA Prohibited roads for several reasons. Someone may chime in with 79 info. North mid day to 40 may not be any more time.

Try the roads and routes thread.