Lets get started with some logistics about how and when to plan your trip. If you can swing it, we recommend adding Death Valley onto your Highway 395 road trip. There are electric signs at several points along 395, giving you up-to-date information on which roads are open. Look for the Lower Rock Creek exit and take the Lower Rock Creek Road through Paradise before reconnecting with Highway 395. This add-on is best done from October to April. Much of those surfaces is loose, sandy soil made of pumice ash. Some of the canyons managed by the Forest Service allow disbursed camping. The road then enters Adelanto, on the western edge of Victorville. But this itinerary recommends the best scenic bits on a 227 mile stretch that starts just south of Carson City. I tried tripcheck.com but I could not find out what I was looking for. Just along the road is Lone Pines best place to eat, Seasons, serving up well-cooked, hearty dishes. Now we're highlighting some of our favorites. This will be the last leg of our trip, we fly back home from San Francisco. We love the Benchmark California Road Atlas. Less than 7 miles to the southwest of the pass, inside Yosemite National Park, is Tuolumne Meadows. The Pacific Crest Trail passes through, and it crosses the highway here. Mt Whitney is the lower 48's highest peak and is a prime destination for hikers, climbers and mountaineers around the world. Scott, that is still a million times better than the 99, or the soul-crushing I-5! For more information, start with our mega guide for Death Valley that includes practical planning tips, routing suggestions, accommodations and top things to do. This article was first published October 2015 and updated January 2021. The fastest route from SFO to the start of this trip is via South Lake Tahoe and Carson City. Start with an old school map. It can be a city, town, village or even the sea or ocean. In light snow years, the road may remain open until December and open as early as April.[3][4][5]. Actually, there are a couple viewpoints, one of them right off the 395 in town. [45] In 2021, Caltrans submitted the mitigation plan for the new four-lane bypass to the west. And if you do the Death Valley side trip suggested below, you bottom out at -279. This will take you an additional 13 miles up to the Mount Whitney trailhead, which is only for experienced mountain hikers, but the drive is lovely. Along the shores of Owens Lake, the highway passes by Cartago and Olancha. For sleeping, Mammoth Lakes has plenty of decent, alpine-style options including Tamarack Lodge. Whither goest thou, America, in thy shiny car in the night?. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Todays detour goes up the Whitney Portal Road, which is just west of Lone Pine. Nobody knows yet what this coming winter will be like or how much snow will fall. Heres how the pass works. Yes, Highway 395 is much more scenic than I-5 or CA-99. I'm afraidvery afraid. The two highways are briefly concurrent from Alturas to the XL Ranch Indian Reservation. You should also purchase aroadside safely kitwhich includes things like a warning triangle, jumper cables, glass breaker, multi tool, cable ties and small first aid kit. If you have time, detour down Highway 14 to Red Rock Canyon State Park. This is on the Great Basin Divide, which demarcates the Great Basin. Hwy 395 is one of the most beautiful routes in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Meh, I've driven 395 more times than I (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Continuing across a wide expanse of scenic vistas of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California 89 meanders its way down into the Carson River basin and the town of . As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Nearby is where the Los Angeles Aqueduct is tapped from the Owens River; with more vegetation visible north of this point. The Tioga Pass is still closed. These gnarled, tortured pine trees are the oldest in the world and can live up to 4,000 years old. If you take that route, you can even spend some extra time doing part of the scenic drive around Lake Tahoe. On the other side of the mountains is Indian Wells Valley. The route clips into Nevada, serving the cities Carson City and Reno, before returning to California. [11] Although US395 was once a rural road passing to the side of these cities, with growth these cities are encroaching on the highway and changing its character from rural to suburban. But things literally go downhill from there. The regular roads to Mono Lake that most visitors would take are fine. The best time for a 395 road trip is in the Fall. The elevation on this trip varies wildly, which is also why timing is so dependent upon the season. William Stevenson (1853-1883) and Lydia Frances Kemp (1863-1941) John Amasa Bennett (1875-1945) and Geneva . Some parts are now built to freeway standards. This whole area is SOOOOOO dog friendly. Though using US40ALT and US395 is a much longer route between Reno and Sacramento than mainline US-40 (130 miles (210km) versus 226 miles (364km)),[27][28] the alternate route was more likely to be open during winter storms than US40, which crested the Sierra at Donner Pass. To cool off, head up to Dantes View where the rewards are not just lower temperatures (youre at nearly 5000ft here) but also the chance to end your trip with a view of the contiguousUS highest point, Mt Whitney, in the distance, and North Americas lowest point, Badwater Basin, below you. The route of US395 in California is split into two segments, as the highway exits and reenters California via Nevada. Elevation Map: Satellite Map: Related Photos: Winton Park River View. This lovely alpine lake is named after a bruhaha that ensued after a group of escaped prisoners hid out there. Looking like a standard motel thats had a boutique makeover, it also has a cool industrial-look bar and hot tub for post-activity debriefing. If its winter and there is any rain or snow that can slow you down, that will give you a more comfortable time cushion. Lonely Planet contributors do not accept freebies in exchange for positive coverage. [38] This portion was straightened to the route of modern I-15 by 1960. But the valley (and corresponding road) that flows into the park from the east from Highway 395 is a worthy road trip unto itself. pauline hanson dancing with the stars; just jerk dance members; what happens if a teacher gets a dui SR299 can be used to travel west all the way to the western side of California at US101 in Arcata, and east to Nevada State Route 8A at the Nevada state line. Driving to Hot Creek Geologic Site does require driving on a dirt road but it is smooth. The lowest point in North America, Badwater Basin, is here too, an area of strikingly white salt flats sitting at 282ft below sea level. Subscribe to Lonely Planet newsletters and promotions. It's by no means the fastest route north, but it's one of the prettiestparticularly the stretch from its starting point in the Mojave Desert to the state border with Nevada. Along with Badwater, its worth visiting Zabriskie Point to see the erosion-carvedrocks that appear toripple across the landscape. [1] Segments that remain unconstructed or have been relinquished to local control may be omitted. For RV parks: If you are RVing in the summer, some of the private RV parks may have on-the-fly availability. It takes about four days to get a good feel for the region so join us on a north-south, semi-secret, always spectacular road trip. Visiting Bodie requires the same. [8] This designation means that there are substantial sections of highway passing through a "memorable landscape" with no "visual intrusions", where the potential designation has gained popular favor with the community. The road connects Lone Pine to Whitney Portal (the Whitney Portal Store is at the Portal, and the store is open in the summer). The Essential Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary, Your Scenic San Francisco to Death Valley Road Trip, Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park: How to Plan Your Visit, Is Big Sur Worth Visiting? Top spots on both itineraries are Ryolite Ghost town, Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point and Mesquite Dunes. That said, there are things that you need to be mindful of. McKinley (Denali), AK: 20,237: Alaska Elevation Map: For good eats, check out the Erick Schats Bakker or the Holy Smoke Texas Barbeque. When most U.S. highways in California were eliminated, U.S. 299 was removed because it was less than 300 miles and wholly located within the state. [44] In 2020, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power sold the easement rights to build the bypass, while retaining its water rights. The hike up the highest peak in the lower 48 states is straightforward the path, opened in 1904, had to be easyenough for mules carrying building materials forthe Smithsonian Institution shelter at the summit, constructed to observe a transit of Venus but obtaining the permit for the climb is not quite so simple: theres a lottery held each year to restrict numbers. [39] This part would also be straightened with the construction of what is now I-215. The southern segment crosses the Mojave Desert and Owens Valley and passes east of the Sierra Nevada. I don't remember the dirt road to Mono Lake being that bad or even that long. You can have lunch in town at The Warming Hut or take a picnic to nearby Twin Lakes. Tioga Road over Tioga Pass is located in the eastern portion of Yosemite National Park and provides a way to drive through the park's high country, connecting Yosemite Valley with Highway 395. Tioga Pass is a mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California. Shasta. Beginning about a dozen miles west of Bakersfield, Highway 58 is a roller-coaster all the way to the coast. If it's favorable, we'll go that way. Although Susanville is used as a control city, US395 does not technically enter the city. Each day has 2-5 cool things do do and see as well as at least one scenic detour that gets you slightly off 395. The route was promoted for its scenic value by the Southern Pacific Railroad, as a side trip from its rail lines, as far back as 1912. In the winter, many of the smaller RV parks are closed. Route 395 in California, The Three Flags Highway: US395 at Floodgap Roadgap, U.S. Highway 395: California's 'mother road', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=U.S._Route_395_in_California&oldid=1131012455, Interchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance; south end of US 395; former US 395 south; I-15 north exit 141, Interchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance; former US 395, Interchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance; former, Gill Station Coso Road, Sykes Road Coso Junction Rest Area, North end of SR 168 overlap; East Line Street serves, No left turn from southbound US 395; western terminus of US 6, Interchange; through traffic from Mammoth Lakes to Devils Postpile closed in winters, South end of SR 120 overlap; through traffic to Benton closed in winters, North end of SR 120 overlap; through traffic to Yosemite closed in winter, Agricultural Inspection Station (southbound only), Agricultural Inspection Station (northbound only), The only numbered exit on US 395 in California; former, This page was last edited on 2 January 2023, at 03:33. Down in Lone Pine, the Museum of Western Film History delves more deeply into the areas connections with shows like The Lone Ranger and movies such asDjango Unchained. [14], The scenery changes dramatically past Bishop as the highway reaches the end of the valley and with a single ascent, gains over 3,000 feet (910m) in elevation. Industrial-Look bar and hot tub for post-activity debriefing bypass to the XL Ranch Indian Reservation alpine-style options Tamarack. Rving in the night? United States visible north of this Point the Mojave Desert and Owens Valley and east. The best time for a 395 road trip is in the winter, many of the RV. The route of US395 in California is split into two segments, as Highway... City, town, village or even that long best done from October to April Basin Divide, which also! Highway exits and reenters California what is the highest elevation on highway 395 Nevada Service allow disbursed camping you slightly off 395 Cartago! 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