So, my wife is planning on driving from Sacramento to Vegas with one of the boys. This route is recommended as scenic (highway 395, South Lake Tahoe, Death Valley, various parks). One site calls it ‘California’s lost road trip/Epic Highway 395’
However, she is a (very) nervous driver, and is worried about how steep and scary the route is. Has anyone driven it? They’ll probably make it a two day trip (so not many stops, but possibly some (thinking of staying the night in Lee Vining)).
So - switchbacks? Driving next to death-defying drop offs?
If it might be too scary - any other suggestions for a relatively scenic easy two day drive?
I have driven most of that route traveling from Las Vegas to Santa Cruz, and for the most part, you’re in a long valley. I can’t speak to anything north of Lee Vining, tho, as I always cut through Yosemite.
Thanks. As a further update, the recommended route includes CA 89 out of South Tahoe to get to 395. 89 looks like it might be the more mountainous, challenging part of the trip (but also the more scenic bit).
The route isn’t that challenging. I used to make the run from Victorville to Moscow, ID via 395 on a fairly regular basis and never had any problems other than wicked sunburn.
The most death-defying drop off on that route is US 50 from Echo Summit down to Tahoe. If she’s familiar with that cliff, the rest of the drive will be a breeze. Kingsbury grade east from Tahoe is switchbacky, but not death defying. Personally, since south Tahoe traffic is usually a pain, I’d take a right on 89 over Luther Pass, and left on 88 to 395.
I have driven 395 in the middle of the night a few times. Nothing scary. Lee Vining makes a good middle of the night piss break, though I’ve never stayed there. The stretch by Tahoe has a sort of drop but it’s very wide, and I think has guards everywhere. 50 might have some stuff but it will be at the beginning of the trip.
Well there is maybe one part of 395 that is cliffy? Again, could be fine in daytime. It has very prominent reflectors all over the place, I forget exactly where.
89 to 88 to 395 is easy. If you take 89 south from Woodfords & over Monitor Pass to Topaz Lake it gets very “scenic” for a stretch.
Curious side note— on my iPad, your link gives me a map going down US95 through Nevada. On my computer, it gives me a route via 395. 95 is actually an easier drive to Vegas, but 395 is much more scenic, and appears to be what you’re asking about in the OP.
I was going to say the same. If that stretch is a problem, I-80 to Reno, and then south on 395 is probably a less-scary option.
And I’d do a different route through Death Valley. I’d stay on 190 through Furnace Creek to Death Valley Junction, then east through Pahrump to Las Vegas. It’s not that your route is scary (I wouldn’t know), but the Furnace Creek area was a much more impressive part of Death Valley than just crossing the northern portion like your route does.
Another vote for the recommended route over 50. The grade up from Tahoe to Echo summit isn’t too steep and she’ll be on the inside (inboard) side of the highway. If she returns on that route it’ll be a little more thrilling being on the outboard side, but it’s a comfortably wide road. Very scenic.
I do not recommend 120 through Yosemite even though the scenery is spectacular. The grade up from Lee Vining to Tioga Pass is brutal. Hard on a clutch going up, and even harder on the brakes going down on the return trip. The last time I came down that grade I had to pull over and let my brakes cool off. Also very cliffy. Also also, you have to pay the Yosemite Park entrance fee just to drive through ($17, I think, but the scenery is worth it if you’re not worried about going over the pass).
Sonora Pass (108) is even worse. The road over the pass is narrow, very steep, single lane, windy, cliffy, limited turn-outs. Lots of time spent in second gear.
Compared to any of the passes, 395 itself is a breeze.
Mono Lake State Park Visitor Center is a fast and interesting stop right off the highway. My favorite sight-seeing is viewing the Mono Craters just south of Mono Lake. This is a series of lava flows and cinder cones that form the “youngest mountain range in North America”. She can view them as she drives past on 395, no stopping necessary. The volcanism is still active; there have been fresh eruptions in the range proper as recently as 600 years ago, and the last eruption occurred just 270 years ago on Negit Island in Mono Lake.
While I enjoyed it, it may be good to mention to avoid SR 168 and Westgard Pass. It is a nice drive if you are a bit more adventurous and can be a good way to switch up that drive but it is narrow with more curves than the maps seem to show.
The GPS may display it as a short cut, So just make sure to stay on 395 through Big Pine.
I’ve driven from Vegas to Bishop via 266 and 168. This is a narrow and curvy route
(on the way back we took 6 to 95 because we left very early in the morning)
I’ve also driven from Bishop to Lee Vining and Bishop to Stovepipe Wells (via 136 and 190). There are some ups and downs going into/out of Panamint* valley
395 from lee Vining to Lone Pine is fine
I appreciate all the feedback so far - using street view, the stretch up from Echo Lake to Tahoe doesn’t seem that daunting (I’ll see what she thinks), so if that is likely the worst of it, we should be OK.
FYI - she is flying into Sacramento and then back home from Vegas, so no return trip. The boy is doing an internship in Vegas and she is helping him get there for the summer.
They are doing road work on 50 around Twin Bridges in California (down to one lane and a flagman), and just east of Cave Rock in Nevada (down to one lane in each direction). Just so ya know.
Also, I would recommend taking Pioneer Trail (turn right just past Meyers) to avoid a whole mess of traffic, road work, delays and general Old Bullshit. Very little to justify sticking to 50 between Meyers and Stateline.
I’ve never done that, but I’ve usually had to stop for gas in Bishop anyway.