Reno to Las Vegas - Nice!

[DT6]

I just wanted to post a quick note to others who may be considering traveling in Nevada that the drive from Reno to Las Vegas is absolutely beautiful and interesting. Towns like Hawthorne and Tonopah are interesting and neat stuff to see, especially if you like old mines and ghost towns.

I've wanted to drive on some of the Nevada highways for quite some time, and we were not disappointed. I can't wait to explore the rest of the state.

The highway is nicely maintained and lite traffic most of the time.

Staying in Nellis AFB Family Camp this week. For those who are acitve/retired Department of Defense (military or civilian), you can access this camp and it is very well maintained, quiet and very safe.

[Rossue]

Love driving out there- especially when the military jets are flying inverted about 100 feet from the deck.

[John in Santa Cruz]

another fun one is Nevada 375, the 'extraterrestrial highway'. very empty road, beautiful in the late winter/spring... Gotta stop in Rachel, heh.

[marsman]

This is good to know, I'll be in that area this winter and maybe I'll try that.

Couple of years ago we were in Las Vegas for a visit and I rented a Harley Davidson Ultra from EagleRider; we went from Las Vegas through the length of Death Valley stopped at Furnace Creek and had a couple of cold drinks and back to Vegas. It was very very hot and really picturesque!!!

[George Johnson]

If you want to see the real Nevada, take the time to travel across the state on Highway 50, "the loneliest road in America." Good road and much to see.



I've done it by car, truck, RV and motorcycle and it has never disappointed. Intend to to it again when ever I have the opportunity.



Avoid I-80 like the plague.

[George Johnson]

Oh, and as John says, the stop in Rachel is worth your while, but make sure you top up with fuel before heading off on 375. The last time I went through there, the gas pump was out of service, and it would be a looong walk to the next station if you run out. Just sayin'...

[Perry Butler]

Originally Posted by DT6

I just wanted to post a quick note to others who may be considering traveling in Nevada that the drive from Reno to Las Vegas is absolutely beautiful and interesting. Towns like Hawthorne and Tonopah are interesting and neat stuff to see, especially if you like old mines and ghost towns.

Did you make the drive in the last month or so? We're thinking of driving down I5 from Portland, if the weather gods allow, and turning at Sacramento to cross Donner Pass to Reno, again if the weather gods allow, to camp at Lake Mead in about two weeks.

Just keeping our options open,

Perry

[Donna D.]

Donnor Pass? Oh dear. This time of year? Here's a current picture at Whitmore. It's unlikely to get a WHOLE LOT better in the next two weeks. Please, please keep an eye on the Caltrans cameras here: https://cwwp2.dot.ca.gov/vm/iframemap.htm

[DT6]

Originally Posted by Perry Butler

Did you make the drive in the last month or so? We're thinking of driving down I5 from Portland, if the weather gods allow, and turning at Sacramento to cross Donner Pass to Reno, again if the weather gods allow, to camp at Lake Mead in about two weeks.

Just keeping our options open,

Perry

Hi Perry - We left Salem, OR and took I5 South until we could cut over to Susanville, CA shortly after going through Yerka, CA. From Susanville to Reno, then to Las Vegas. Very enjoyable drive. We took this trip over Christmas, and we were constantly watching the weather. I believe at least one more storm system has gone through the Serra Nevada mountains since, so Donna's advice on checking road conditions is spot on. We took Route 89/44 and the road was clear but snow was piled up 3 sometimes 4 feet high on the side of the highway.

[Mike G]

Originally Posted by DT6

I just wanted to post a quick note to others who may be considering traveling in Nevada that the drive from Reno to Las Vegas is absolutely beautiful and interesting. Towns like Hawthorne and Tonopah are interesting and neat stuff to see, especially if you like old mines and ghost towns.

What, no pictures?

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by DT6

I believe at least one more storm system has gone through the Serra Nevada mountains since, so Donna's advice on checking road conditions is spot on.

Donnor Pass has gotten 47 inches of snow in the past 7 days....

[Perry Butler]

Originally Posted by DT6

Hi Perry - We left Salem, OR and took I5 South until we could cut over to Susanville, CA shortly after going through Yerka, CA. From Susanville to Reno, then to Las Vegas. Very enjoyable drive. We took this trip over Christmas, and we were constantly watching the weather. I believe at least one more storm system has gone through the Serra Nevada mountains since, so Donna's advice on checking road conditions is spot on. We took Route 89/44 and the road was clear but snow was piled up 3 sometimes 4 feet high on the side of the highway.

WE WILL BE WATCHING THE WEATHER!

Question is, with all the rain will there be any slides on US 1 down the coast. Won't know our route until the day we drive. For every day we'll have alternate routes, or just plain spend the day in a motel hot tub.

One route that's tempting is Portland I84 > to 95 near Ontario, OR, turn south > Las Vegas. If the Sierra's can tap most of the moisture out, this looks like the safest route. Not really worried about mileage or mpg, it's about bad weather.

The way I see it, there is no way to Las Vegas that can't have bad weather.

Thanks for your route. I'll be lookng at it to see how it may work for us. Currently I have a Google window open that has nothing but our spreadsheet outlining our route on 94/90 to Seattle crossing to BC, and seven NOAA tabs for the various cities on our route to Sidney, BC.

One has to be flexible this time of year,

Perry

[Escape_19]

Originally Posted by Perry Butler

.......to camp at Lake Mead in about two weeks.
Perry

Perry, is there still a LAKE there?

[CADreamin]

I second Donna's statement, check the road reports. Donner Pass is a major thoroughfare from East to West, especially for big rigs, so CalTrans works overtime to keep that roadway clear. Nonetheless, you MUST carry chains and, should the weather change suddenly, prepare to hunker down for a number of hours (accidents can snarl traffic as well). Can't tell you the number of times we've sat on that highway coming home from skiing. Check road conditions by calling 1-800-427-7623. There's also an app called https://driveweatherapp.com/ I just heard about that might help.

To me, Hwy 1 south of Carmel is always 'iffy' when it rains but they tend to clear slides pretty fast. Of course, right now, our coastal areas are taking a beating. It's not terribly scenic, but we normally take Hwy 101 south, cross over to Bakersfield (two nice RV parks, River Run and Orange Grove ... you can pick oranges off the trees) and then it's a straight shot to Las Vegas. Las Vegas KOA at Sam's Town is easy to get to, clean, convenient to downtown via Uber and right next to some great restaurants in the casino).

[Perry Butler]

Originally Posted by Escape_19

Perry, is there still a LAKE there?

Pond?

Enjoy,

Perry

[John in Santa Cruz]

California route 1 is definitely closed south of big sur and north of san simeon, and will be for quite some time, probably months. So, when/if you get to Monterey/Carmel, turn inland to US101, then you can reconnect with the coast at Cabria or farther south, or visa versa.

[Mike G]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

California route 1 is definitely closed south of big sur and north of san simeon, and will be for quite some time, probably months. So, when/if you get to Monterey/Carmel, turn inland to US101, then you can reconnect with the coast at Cabria or farther south, or visa versa.

Dunno, seems like 4WD should handle that...not!

[TahoeJoe]

Originally Posted by Perry Butler

WE WILL BE WATCHING THE WEATHER!

Question is, with all the rain will there be any slides on US 1 down the coast. Won't know our route until the day we drive. For every day we'll have alternate routes, or just plain spend the day in a motel hot tub.

One route that's tempting is Portland I84 > to 95 near Ontario, OR, turn south > Las Vegas. If the Sierra's can tap most of the moisture out, this looks like the safest route. Not really worried about mileage or mpg, it's about bad weather.

The way I see it, there is no way to Las Vegas that can't have bad weather.

Thanks for your route. I'll be lookng at it to see how it may work for us. Currently I have a Google window open that has nothing but our spreadsheet outlining our route on 94/90 to Seattle crossing to BC, and seven NOAA tabs for the various cities on our route to Sidney, BC.

One has to be flexible this time of year,

Perry

Let me know if you want a boots-on-the-ground conditions report for this section of the Sierras as it gets closer...these highways (80 and 50) can change drastically in a matter of a few days, so it's too early to tell what they will be like then. But right now they are extremely challenging!

[HarleyD]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Donnor Pass has gotten 47 inches of snow in the past 7 days....

And take plenty of snacks, some folks didn't and became a snack?

[John in Santa Cruz]

google maps, with the traffic option enabled, is quite good at showing open/closed conditions on major highways.

the official California site for all highways is https://roads.dot.ca.gov/ ... like right now, I80 shows...

I 80
[IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA - SOLANO CO]
A HIGH WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT AT THE SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND BAY BRIDGE /IN SAN FRANCISCO/ (SAN FRANCISCO,ALAMEDA CO) - TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CAMPERS, TRAILERS, OR PERMIT LOADS

A HIGH WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT AT THE CARQUINEZ BRIDGE /IN VALLEJO/ (CONTRA COSTA,SOLANO CO) - TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CAMPERS, TRAILERS, OR PERMIT LOADS

A HIGH WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM RICHARDS BLVD /IN DAVIS/ TO SUISUN VALLEY RD /IN CORDELIA/ (SOLANO CO) - TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CAMPERS, TRAILERS, OR PERMIT LOADS

[IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA]
ALL WESTBOUND TRUCKS ARE REQUIRED TO STOP AT THE BRAKE CHECK AREA 0.5 MI WEST OF NYACK (PLACER CO) - TO REDUCE THE RISK OF BRAKE FIRES

A HIGH WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT OVER THE YOLO CAUSEWAY & OVER THE BRYTE BEND BRIDGE /WEST OF SACRAMENTO/ (YOLO CO)

or, US395 (a north/south route that goes along the east side of the Sierra Nevada...)

US 395
[IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA]
NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA.

[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]
CHAINS OR SNOW TIRES ARE REQUIRED FROM 25 MI NORTH OF BISHOP TO 12 MI SOUTH OF THE JCT OF SR 203 (MONO CO)

CHAINS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT 4-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES WITH SNOW TIRES ON ALL 4 WHEELS FROM 12 MI SOUTH OF THE JCT OF SR 203 TO THE JCT OF SR 203 (MONO CO)

CHAINS OR SNOW TIRES ARE REQUIRED FROM THE JCT OF SR 203 TO LEE VINING (MONO CO)

PLEASE RESEARCH CHAIN CONTROL LOCATIONS AS CALTRANS IS CURRENTLY WORKING TO UPDATE CHAIN CONTROL DESCRIPTIONS FOR CONSISTENCY WITH INTERNET MAPPING, LIKE GOOGLE MAPS & MAPQUEST.

- LARGE TRUCKS WITH SINGLE-AXLE-DRIVE TOWING TWO TRAILERS ARE PROHIBITED IN CHAIN CONTROL AREAS

A HIGH WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM THE INYO/MONO CO LINE TO THE NEVADA STATE LINE - TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CAMPERS, TRAILERS, OR PERMIT LOADS

[IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA]
NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA.