US Highway 395 - good to travel in a motorhome?

[Craig95005]

Planning a trip that will take us from Southern California to Sacramento, and looking at US 395 as the way to go. I remember driving it many years ago when I had a primitive motorhome but don't recall many details. Is it a pretty drive? Is the road okay? Any recommendations as to RV Parks along the way? Thanks.

[TechWriter]

Jabrad's Papa wrote:
If you do go 395, don't forget to check out Bodie. It's a ghost town just a few miles east of the 395. Very interesting and worth the time.

x2 -- Bodie pics

[Jabrad_s_Papa]

If you do go 395, don't forget to check out Bodie. It's a ghost town just a few miles east of the 395. Very interesting and worth the time.

[Crespro]

We have driven 395 in our RV and the road is good. One caution -- check the winds. One night the winds on the peak at Lone Pine were 100 mph and even in the valley they were gusting to 50 to 60 mph.

[2gypsies1]

I'd take 395 over I-5 any day. It's a gorgeous highway with many campgrounds along the way.

I wouldn't recommend Lone Pine and boondocking this time of year - too hot. We've been there multiple times but in much cooler weather.

[msmith1199]

smkettner wrote:
395 is a good road. Just don't try to shortcut to Sacramento over Ebbett's Pass (CA4) or Sonora Pass (CA108) as these a very steep and narrow. Go all the way to CA50 or I80.

Only place I know to stay is in Mammoth. http://www.mammothrv.com/

There are RV parks along the route, lots of them. To the OP, if you like Boondocking, go into Lone Pine and take a left on Whitney Portal Road. About five miles down puts you in the Alabama Hills. You'll recognize the place when you get there because half of all the old Western movies were filmed there as well as scene from many modern movies. Lots of commercials too. It's all BLM land with some good dirt roads to let you get a little way off the main road and just boondock. You'll be at the base of Mt Whitney in a very scenic area.

[time2roll]

HoudaFamily wrote:
We are planning a trip up to South Lake Tahoe and I'm hauling a pop up trailer and my brother a 17ft trailer. I am wondering if it would be easier to go up the 395 or the 5?

Fast is 5 to 50. Nice is 15, 395, 50.
JMHO

[time2roll]

395 is a good road. Just don't try to shortcut to Sacramento over Ebbett's Pass (CA4) or Sonora Pass (CA108) as these a very steep and narrow. Go all the way to CA50 or I80.

Only place I know to stay is in Mammoth. http://www.mammothrv.com/

[msmith1199]

jaxd153 wrote:
Hwy 395 is way out the way. While LA has its traffic problems if you travel between 10:00am and 2:00pm you will encounter the lightest traffic. Another point is to use the 210 Freeway which has the lightest traffic load. It will take you to the I-5 N of LA. When you transition from the 210 to the 5 stay in the truck lanes and that will get you an easy transition to 5. If you take the car route you will have to deal with 3 lanes of merging traffic. Note: the 210 takes a quick right exit. When you see the trains in the center of the 210 get in the right lane and look for San Francisco signs

I think you're missing the concept here. The six lane super slab may be the fastest, but it's not always the nicest route to take in the RV.

[J-Rooster]

Craig, I've never had any difficulties traveling on Hwy. #395 with my 36' RV towing a car.

[HoudaFamily]

We are planning a trip up to South Lake Tahoe and I'm hauling a pop up trailer and my brother a 17ft trailer. I am wondering if it would be easier to go up the 395 or the 5?

[RayChez]

Craig, There is a long climb from Bishop, and that is where the sierra's start. I come down 395 from Reno and it is a beautiful drive in the summer. I did stop at several camp grounds on the way and done some fishing. I never had any problems climbing with my 330 HP Caterpillar engine. But I done it in reverse from what you want to do. I had some high climbs up around Donner Pass, but it was no problem climbing them. But like I said it was in July and August that I was in that area.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so before you get to Bishop you will be driving through some desert and hitting several small towns. I enjoy the desert just as well as I do driving any part of this country. It all has its own unique beauty. So just take it all in and enjoy it. That is why I take drives up to death valley in the winter months and enjoy the hot baths at Tecopa and Scottie Castle.

[ArchHoagland]

The Elks lodge in Simi Valley has an RV lot too. About 13 miles from the Reagan library.

[Ex-Tech]

DSDP Don wrote:
Craig.....I can see the Reagan library from my backyard. If you plan to visit, there are really NO campgrounds near by, but there is a Walmart that allows parking in Simi Valley. It's about 3 miles from the library. There is a small County Park, called Oak Park, that has RV sites nearby. It's safe, but kind of a dive.

PM me if you need more info about the ins and outs of the Reagan library.

Actually there is a nice campground in Simi Valley on Tapo Canyon. Nice little park with hook-ups and about 15 minutes from the Regan Library.

[jaxd153]

Hwy 395 is way out the way. While LA has its traffic problems if you travel between 10:00am and 2:00pm you will encounter the lightest traffic. Another point is to use the 210 Freeway which has the lightest traffic load. It will take you to the I-5 N of LA. When you transition from the 210 to the 5 stay in the truck lanes and that will get you an easy transition to 5. If you take the car route you will have to deal with 3 lanes of merging traffic. Note: the 210 takes a quick right exit. When you see the trains in the center of the 210 get in the right lane and look for San Francisco signs