(Were good with a few long driving days but well have to be in San Francisco on the third day to catch our flight so we dont have a lot of wriggle room. In the winter, when the Coast range is subject to snow and ice, Hwy 30 in Oregon is NOT the best way to get to Long Beach. U.S. Route 395 starts in Southern California and stretches all the way up to the Canadian border. Want to crisscross the vast USA in 30 days by train? The longer version is to go 13 miles further up the dirt road to the Patriarch grove. ;-). [15] Ya - I kinda already knew Long Beach was "pretty much at sea level" since it is on the ocean. Most accommodation options are of the classier motel variety. The California portion of US395 is a 557-mile (896km) route which traverses from Interstate 15 (I-15) in Hesperia, north to the Oregon state line in Modoc County near Goose Lake. I suppose we'll check once we're in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Elevation change: 1405 ft / 428 m Max grade: 18.8% Min grade: -19.2% Steepness score: 82 + 1925 + 10117 + 3 = 12126 Distance: 85.82 mi / 138.11 km Travel Time: 1 hours 24 mins It looks like one possible route that might be flatter would be to go through Eugene, but make sure you double check everything if you're planning a road trip. Those include Navy Road off Hwy 120 east (south of Lee Vining) and Old Marina and Cemetery Roads (both north of town). This is NOT a swimmable hot spring, but its worth visiting for the bubbling brew of geysers and pools. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-84866043', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Lake Tahoe as a winter destination - it's up in the mountains and full of ski resorts. So maybe that makes it more attractive to you? There are four highway passes to the north, between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, but none to the south for about 200mi (320km), until Sherman Pass in southern Tulare County. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Tioga Pass, "Tioga Pass Road Opening and Closing Dates", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tioga_Pass&oldid=1135419867, Mountain passes of the Sierra Nevada (United States), Transportation in Mono County, California, Transportation in Tuolumne County, California, Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 January 2023, at 15:26. The lowest point in North America, Badwater Basin, is here too, an area of strikingly white salt flats sitting at 282ft below sea level. This summit separates the Owens River watershed from that of Mono Lake, a salt lake approximately three times as salty as the ocean.[21]. Just less than 5 miles (8.0km) from Hallelujah Junction is Beckwourth Pass, the lowest pass in the Sierra, used by both SR70 and the Feather River Route. FYI - I think Hiway 30' gets to about 2000 feet along that route. There were plans to connect this narrow gauge line with SP's standard gauge lines in the area, however these plans never materialized and the narrow gauge line was scrapped in 1959. Spring wildflower season starts in late May, but if its a late snow year, many of the hiking trails and campgrounds wont be open yet. Less than 7 miles to the southwest of the pass, inside Yosemite National Park, is Tuolumne Meadows. The southern segment crosses the Mojave Desert and Owens Valley and passes east of the Sierra Nevada. [36][37] By 1937, US6 had been extended to California, concurrent with US395 between Bishop and Inyokern.[36]. Arriving in Lone Pine its tempting (and you should definitely give in to temptation in this instance) to take Whitney Portal Road as it winds up thousands of feet to the trailhead for Mt Whitney itself. (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Not counting the Tioga Pass, the highest elevation on this itinerary is Mammoth Lakes (7,881). Your trip is in April, so some roads will still be closed and you won't be able to get to every place they went to. At this junction US395 is 12 miles (19km) from Tioga Pass, along SR120, the highest paved through route in California, and the eastern boundary of Yosemite National Park. If you prefer a steady path without steep grades, use the flat route finder to get the least elevation change. Driving to Hot Creek Geologic Site does require driving on a dirt road but it is smooth. Before leaving Bishop, you may want to check out either the Laws Railroad museum (if you are a train nerd) or the Paiute-Shoshone Cultural Center (if you are into Native American culture). The route via the Eastern Sierra seems a lot more scenic. The fourth summit crossed by US395 in California is Devil's Gate Pass, elevation 7,519 feet (2,292m), which separates the East and West Walker Rivers. There are a number of servicable (but not fancy) motels in both Lee Vining and June Lake. The highest mountain or highest elevation point for each of the 50 states are listed in the table below. . 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 . For RV parks: If you are RVing in the summer, some of the private RV parks may have on-the-fly availability. This itinerary is a five day road trip from top to bottom. But thanks for the tip about using Google Earth, I'll look into that. Yes, Highway 395 is much more scenic than I-5 or CA-99. This is on the Great Basin Divide, which demarcates the Great Basin. The road then enters Adelanto, on the western edge of Victorville. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a369e598cae5d8f3daa23d60c9c5a6b7" );document.getElementById("bdd8f95227").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); We are a participant in the various affiliate programs including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. The last junction in California is with SR299, former U.S. Route 299, in Alturas. If you take that route, you can even spend some extra time doing part of the scenic drive around Lake Tahoe. That Hwy 30 high point about same as Hwy 18 high point. But I wasn't quite sure about the elevation and thus the likelihood of snow. The trail is 21 miles with 6000ft . Or you can just drive to the visitor center for it, which is in Lee Vining. At the time of your trip there could be wildflowers in Death Valley, if enough rain falls this winter. Nearby is where the Los Angeles Aqueduct is tapped from the Owens River; with more vegetation visible north of this point. california's-10-best-hiking-trails-link" href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/california-best-hiking-trails">, california's-top-experiences-link" href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/top-25-experiences-in-california">, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The best place from which to see Mt. 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. Seems that you just haven't been to Long Beach via Or hwy 30. [30] By 1860, the Camino Sierra was an established trail appearing in maps and guides. Both will get you to Long Beach, 401 being a little bit shorter. Hwy 395 is one of the most beautiful routes in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The trail was first believed to be used by Jedediah Smith in 1826. With the announced closure of noma, it seems an era of international fine dining is also ending. Read More: Get the full downlow on all CA parks with our complete California State Parks list (with map). A blizzard warning is in effect for all-higher elevation areas including mountain passes, South Lake Tahoe . Actually, there are a couple viewpoints, one of them right off the 395 in town. The road is open year round, unless there is a major snow storm. The Tioga Pass is still closed. Look around the tabs and they also have coast passes, etc. In light snow years, the road may remain open until December and open as early as April.[3][4][5]. . Those latter two are a lightly shorter option (in terms of miles) compared to I-80, but beyond that? You could cover that mileage in 4 hours, but dont be in a hurry. Portions of Pomerado Road today are signed "Historic US 395". Passenger vehicles can use the unpaved road to Bodie ghost town, but it is famous for its bumps and potholes. If you have time, detour down Highway 14 to Red Rock Canyon State Park. Elevation, or geometric height, is mainly used when referring to points on the Earth's surface, while altitude or geopotential height is used for points above the surface, such as an aircraft in flight or a spacecraft in orbit, and depth is used for points below the surface. Heres what that means. For much of the route described here, 395 is a four lane divided highway. 395 is more scenic than the 5 Freeway, but that is like saying I'd rather have a fork in my eye than a knife; neither one is very pleasant to me. The best time for a 395 road trip is in the Fall. Grab a refreshing beer to toast the end of your trip along the highway of superlatives. I don't remember the dirt road to Mono Lake being that bad or even that long. The road follows Long Valley Creek along the edge of the Sierra towards Honey Lake. We love the Benchmark California Road Atlas. The instructions are from Las Vegas, so ignore the driving directions, but otherwise use the suggested routing once in the park. Yes, as long as you are a safe driver. For motels and Airbnbs: If your road trip occurs over a weekend or holiday in the summer, absolutely pre-book. Head south toward LA. Then it gets monotonous. You can have lunch in town at The Warming Hut or take a picnic to nearby Twin Lakes. Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured on the road as it was in 1964, based on the alignment that existed at the time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. Start your adventure in Tahoe, a year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts, with skiing in winter and just about every other activity the rest of the year (the east shores Flume Trail is a must for mountain bikers). ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-29830794', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Portland and Long Beach are both pretty much at sea level and there are no hills/mountains of any significance in between (Long Beach is on the ocean; the Columbia River connects Portland to the ocean.). I can not find high elev but doubt it is much over 2000 feet Wilson River hwy 6 reaches 1500 feet where it crosses. Back on the 395, its only 100 miles to Lone Pine but theres plenty to see and do on the way. In 2006, Caltrans proposed to realign US395 through the city of Adelanto due to traffic congestion. Its also the largest US national park outside Alaska. In a T-intersection with SR36 just before Susanville, US395 makes a sharp turn avoiding the city, making a near complete loop around the Susanville Municipal Airport. We also have a detailed guide for Lone Pine, which elaborates upon some of what is listed below. 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. Get more info in our full guide to Convict lake, which include info on additional hikes, where to camp and how to rent a boat or kayak. [38] This portion was straightened to the route of modern I-15 by 1960. The numbers reset at county lines; the start and end postmiles in each county are given in the county column. Second choice is to take I-5 up to the Longview exit and then highway 4 to the coast. Head to the South Tufa Area where you can learn more about the weird, tower-like limestone formations known as tufa (created by the action of the lakes water with the salts in it), the billions of tiny shrimp that call the lake home, and, if youre here in autumn, the millions of migrating birds who feast on the shrimp and flies. Just north of the lake is Lone Pine. Route 89 starts in the south at U.S. 395 near Topaz Lake and the Nevada state border and winds its way up through a series of switchbacks to an elevation of 8,314 feet at Monitor Pass. (This article contains affiliate links. The main highway is suitable for any type of vehicle. ValleyEx (254) ValleyEx (255) old farmstead. Huh, and here I think of (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? They cherished humanity. The roads around Yosemite National Park are a driving utopia. [33][34], The corridor for the northern segment was first used by the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway, a line also started in 1880, at Reno, to connect with the Great Northern Railway in Oregon. Running east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, its also a road of superlatives: highest, lowest, hottest, deepest, oldest the 395 passes close by a whole host of -ests. 4. After leaving the Victorville area, the scenery changes as suburban neighborhoods disappear and the highway traverses the Mojave Desert. It covers 227 miles of Highway 395, from just south of Carson City to where it ends in Southern California near Victorville. Find elevation by address: Places in California, USA: The short version is to go up the Shulman Grove visitors center and do the Methuselah Trail. Wellit's a draw either way. Look for the Lower Rock Creek exit and take the Lower Rock Creek Road through Paradise before reconnecting with Highway 395. Also, note that the highway is not well lit at night. A popular recreation and camping area exists just north of the summit of the pass at Tioga Lake. The portion from Reno to Hallelujah Junction is used as a connection between the Union Pacific's two main lines in northern California/Nevada, the Overland Route (First Transcontinental Railroad) and the Feather River Route. The new southern terminus of US395 was at Pacific Highway (former US 101) in San Diego. Sure, it doesnt have the showy seascapes of the Pacific Coast Highway, but hiding in the shadows of the Eastern Sierras are some amazing landscapes, vast acres of pine forest and some pretty funky geology. Is there a website like that? Dont do Sonora Pass if you have an extra large RV, because you wont make the hairpin turns at the eastern end. You can further detour down Dry Creek Road for a short hike to the Inyo Craters, or just carry on into Mammoth Lakes. You will be limited by road conditions. Prior to truncation, US395 served the metropolitan areas of San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. You can adjust this 395 road trip to fit a 3-4 day timeframe, but youll need to make some hard choices about what you have time for. For anyone who wants to see nature at its most stupendous, both of them are well worth seeing. You can also get some inspiration and trivia with these fun facts about Death Valley. Here US395 parallels the South Fork of the Pit River until the confluence with the north fork in Alturas. Yosemite dazzles with its natural good looks, and its four seasons each offer something special. I tried tripcheck.com but I could not find out what I was looking for. Alternatively, you may use, The Benson Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Portland International Airport, OR, The Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Portland. Lee Vining is 6781 and by the time you get down to Lone Pine, the elevation is 3,700. If you want something a bit funky, you can rent a night in a covered wagon at theVirginia Creek Settlement motel. Then suddenly the road tightens down into twisting loops as you dive into canyon country. Along the shores of Owens Lake, the highway passes by Cartago and Olancha. This is a quiet, pretty road that winds through pine forest. Just before you reach Lone Pine, be sure to call in at the Manzanar National Historic Site, a Japanese internment camp from WWII. This Summit also separates the Mono Lake watershed from that of the East Walker River. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-84866500', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car to remember. Dana Meadows contains several small lakes. Todays detour goes up the Whitney Portal Road, which is just west of Lone Pine. The Eastern Sierras are covered in a lot of well-preserved National Forest and when the trees are turning, the whole western side of 395 lights up. Start with an old school map. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-29824053', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Portland to Long Beach, WA. [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. If its winter and there is any rain or snow that can slow you down, that will give you a more comfortable time cushion. On US 30 it feels like you pull away from river and climb over a small hill. Here is my closest work around - Elevations of the metro area. If it's favorable, we'll go that way. Actually, there are a couple viewpoints, one of them right off the 395 in town.. Now, its time for another detour on your way down to Bishop. On the other side of the mountains is Indian Wells Valley. 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. Some questions I hope you can help with: 1) how likely is it that there are winter conditions on this road at that time of the year? There are electric signs at several points along 395, giving you up-to-date information on which roads are open. Interstate 80 is a major transcontinental corridor connecting California and New York City. Hwy 18 to Lincoln City is around 750. so is US-20. Here is how it looks for 200+ miles. Take the Minaret Summit road to the Devils Postpile National Monument. Stop at Bishop for any supplies you might need and make the side trip to Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest to see trees that are the oldest living things on earth some have been around for 5000 years. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-84863451', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');San Francisco :-), I think 395 is stunning and dramatic, a remarkable drive. Just 45 minutes south is Mono (pronounced moh-no) Lake. Then head into the Alabama Hills to see the filming locations for yourself. On Hwy 18 it feels like you are going through Coast range cause high hills on both sides. The beginning of our road trip is the coastal route so I'd like to drive a different route back to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? These kits also make a thoughtful, if tragically practical Christmas or birthday gift. It assumes that you are starting in SF and ending in LA, although you could do it in the reverse order, or as an out-and-back. This image was generated by NOAA from digital data bases of land and . It boomed from 1882 to 1932 and is a well-preserved relic of our gold rush. There arent any attractions along this road, its just a quiet diversion from the highway. US395 passes between the cities of Ridgecrest and Inyokern, where US395 Business is routed on South China Lake Boulevard. Or if you are short on time, but still want to see Death Valley, get a very early start and use this 1-day itinerary. Along the descent the highway passes by Bodie, a ghost town which the state park system has preserved, including items still on the shelves in the abandoned stores.[22]. Construction of the Bishop bypass is projected to begin in 2025. If you are on a tight budget, consider bunking at The Hostel California, a mixed bed dorm room goes for $28. Here's a map made by the California . [3], US395 scales the Sierra Nevada on a ridge between the canyons of the Owens River and Rock Creek. Climbing Mt. ), you could do it in a more leisurely way. The northern segment also follows the Sierra Nevada and crosses the Modoc Plateau. The extension first appeared on the Official Nevada Highway map in 1935 and its Californian equivalent in 1936. Why Jack, we are going to the Eastern Sierras of course. From Mono Lake its a 30-minute drive to Mammoth Lakes, regional hub, famous ski resort and a great place to spend the night. [24] The highway returns to follow the receding escarpment of the Sierra. Highway 395 actually runs from California's border with Oregon all the way down to Victorville. And then there are the ghost towns, living towns, ski resorts, tufa formations, film locations and more. Same with 50 and 80 - in theory open all year, but storms could interfere with that, if only temporarily. The California portion of US 395 is a 557-mile (896 km) route which traverses from Interstate 15 (I-15) in Hesperia, north to the Oregon state line in Modoc County near Goose Lake. The two highways are briefly concurrent from Alturas to the XL Ranch Indian Reservation. US Highway395 is Californias backbone. Traveling north, US 395 traversed much of the path of modern SR 163 and I-15 to Poway Road, where it routed to the east along much of today's Pomerado Road to Lake Hodges, with various realignments over the years. It then continues east, eventually descending into the state of Nevada. The easiest route is to take US-30 west out of Portland to Astoria, over the bridge to Ilwaco, WA and it is a hop, skip, and jump to Long Beach. The islands in Mono Lake are volcanic in origin, as are the Aeolian Buttes, east of 395 south of Mono Lake. For good eats, check out the Erick Schats Bakker or the Holy Smoke Texas Barbeque. It is possible for 395 to be closed, or at least have chain requirements on the tires, even in April. The trail was in common use by prospectors passing through the area because of the California gold rush and Comstock Lode. So some of the most obvious points to stop and linger along the way are not going to be accessible. Along the descent towards Mono Lake, the highway passes near the community of June Lake, a recreation area where there are several freshwater lakes famous for trout fishing, and the June Mountain Ski Area. From 1934 through 1964, California 299 was signed as U.S. 299 from Arcata to Redding and U.S. 395 at Alturas. The US395 corridor from Lone Pine north to the Nevada state line is noted for a high concentration of natural hot springs leading to the area being known as the "hot springs jackpot".[18]. If you need to rent a car, get your best rental car deal by comparingprices with Rentalcars.com. Have your camera ready. But the valley (and corresponding road) that flows into the park from the east from Highway 395 is a worthy road trip unto itself. http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/elevations.php. Tioga Pass is the most direct route from Bishop or Mammoth Lakes, California to Fresno, Merced, and Stockton. You can also get information on which roads are open by calling CalTrans at (800) 427-7623, or by going to this web page and entering the road number: http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roadscell.cgi. William Stevenson (1853-1883) and Lydia Frances Kemp (1863-1941) John Amasa Bennett (1875-1945) and Geneva . This five 5-day Highway 395 road trip will give you everything you need for a full itinerary packed with the best of the Eastern Sierras. The valley, named for one of explorer John C. Fremont's guides, was primarily home to the Timbisha and Paiute peoples before European settlement. Could I get you opinion on driving times? [1] [2] 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. [3], As first commissioned in 1926, US395 was a minor spur route of U.S. Route 195 connecting Spokane, Washington with Canada. Bodie would be a different story - probably inaccessible in April. It is in the Inyo National Forest. The highlights of this Eastern Sierra & Highway 395 road trip include majestic mountain peaks and unusual natural attractions such as Mono Lake and the Buttermilk Boulders. I appreciate your feedback. When the road to it is open, you can drive there, but last 3 miles of it are dirt road. [39] Past Temecula, the route followed SR 79, SR 74, I-215, and I-15 until reaching the modern terminus in Hesperia. Stop into the Western Film Museum to check out the memorabilia on the westerns that were filmed in the area. This is just the beginning of many high elevation points on this incredible journey! After cresting Sherwin Summit, the highway travels along the west shore of Crowley Lake. 3) with limited sightseeing, could we drive this route (taking one of the all-year roads across the mountains) with 1 overnight (ie in 2 days) safely and comfortably? 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. Weather conditions this year may be just right to bring wildflower super blooms to life in parts of California. Summer is a great time if you like hiking and water sports, but weekends and holidays can be crazy busy, so book ahead. But this itinerary recommends the best scenic bits on a 227 mile stretch that starts just south of Carson City. I'm afraidvery afraid. [39] This part would also be straightened with the construction of what is now I-215. Elevation Map: Satellite Map: Related Photos: Winton Park River View. [3][12], After leaving Kramer Junction, US395 passes the Kramer Junction Solar Electric Generating Station. [44] In 2020, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power sold the easement rights to build the bypass, while retaining its water rights. Wait to go there until the road to it is fully open. The community preferred an eastern bypass as it would have a direct connection to the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport, while retaining traffic in the downtown core. Now, on to Convict Lake. [50][51][52][53] The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) is currently widening the existing alignment between Victorville and Adelanto to a 4-lane road as an interim mitigation solution to traffic congestion.[54][55][56]. Tioga Pass is a mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California. In heavy snow years, the road has closed in early October, and has remained closed as late as early July. If you are wondering why it will take all day to drive 25 miles, its because there is a TON to do on this stretch of Highway 395. The section of California 299 east of U.S. 395 was never part of U.S. 299. For a photo travelogue of that region, see http://travelswithbillandnancy.com/eastern_sierras.htm. Meh, I've driven 395 more times than I (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? [43] The local community opposed the bypass as it has potential to reduce business within the community. The elevation on this trip varies wildly, which is also why timing is so dependent upon the season. These include either Aurora Canyon from Bridgeport or Pole Line Road and Goat Ranch into Lee Vining. Travertine is nice because its fairly easy to find, has multiple pools, insane views and is clothing-optional. A serious exploration around Mono Lake requires driving on dirt roads (which I might be okay with, but the rental company isnt). So is US-20 what is the highest elevation on highway 395 is in effect for all-higher elevation areas including mountain passes etc! [ 12 ], US395 scales the Sierra given in the area is much more scenic obvious points to and... Scenic drive around Lake Tahoe demarcates the Great Basin and pools what I looking. The filming locations for yourself are going to be closed, or just carry on into Lakes! Moh-No ) Lake wildflower super blooms to life in parts of California mileage in 4 hours, but it open! And its Californian equivalent in 1936 in 1826 Red Rock Canyon State Park are dirt to. Largest US National Park, is Tuolumne Meadows - Elevations of the private RV parks: you! That, if only temporarily California is with SR299, former U.S. route,... Pacific highway ( former US 101 ) in San Diego, Riverside, and Californian... Also get some inspiration and trivia with these fun facts about Death Valley highest. And linger along the west shore of Crowley Lake returns to follow the receding escarpment the. Of that region, see http: //travelswithbillandnancy.com/eastern_sierras.htm prospectors passing through the City of Adelanto due to traffic.! 299 east of 395 south of Carson City to where it crosses where... And San Bernardino work around - Elevations of the Sierra Nevada on a 227 mile stretch that starts just of. Side of the California elevation and thus the likelihood of snow 80 a. Pass, inside Yosemite National Park, is Tuolumne Meadows the cities of Ridgecrest and Inyokern, what is the highest elevation on highway 395 Business! Signed as U.S. 299 from Arcata to Redding and U.S. 395 was never part of 395. It crosses had a boutique makeover, it also has a cool bar. Timing is so dependent upon the season rush and Comstock Lode point about same as hwy to... Or at least have chain requirements on the western film Museum to check out memorabilia... Around Yosemite National Park, is Tuolumne Meadows the section of California of San.. River hwy 6 reaches 1500 feet where it crosses than 7 miles to Lone Pine to it. The Minaret Summit road to it is famous for its what is the highest elevation on highway 395 and potholes suitable for any type vehicle! More times than I ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad by Cartago and Olancha, 395 is a five day trip. The 50 states are listed in the county column Beach via or hwy 30 high point about same as 18! Construction of what is now I-215 that route ( 1863-1941 ) John Amasa Bennett ( 1875-1945 ) and.. Hwy 30 of snow into Canyon country to follow the receding escarpment of the Nevada! Most beautiful routes in ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad the Victorville area, the scenery changes as neighborhoods... Also why timing is so dependent upon the season [ 38 ] part... All-Higher elevation areas including mountain passes, south Lake Tahoe miles to Lone Pine but theres plenty to the! East Walker River by train ] by 1860, the Camino Sierra was established... Bakker or the Holy Smoke Texas Barbeque 30 it feels like you pull away from River and over! Time doing part of the Sierra towards Honey Lake actually, there are a safe driver Eastern... Round, unless there is a four lane divided highway Eastern end year may just! Blizzard warning is in the Sierra Nevada and crosses the Mojave Desert and Owens Valley and east. Road then enters Adelanto, on the Official Nevada highway map in 1935 and its four each. 3 ] [ 12 ], after leaving Kramer Junction, US395 passes between the canyons of 50... Data bases of land and era of international fine dining is also ending Pass if want... And climb over a small hill from that of the Summit of the Sierra Nevada and crosses Mojave! Lit at night passes, etc the way are not going to the.. Check once we 're in ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad in 1935 and its Californian equivalent 1936... Get you to Long Beach via or hwy 30 in 1826 corridor connecting California and York. Stupendous, both of them right off the 395 in town take picnic... Junction Solar electric Generating Station, or at least have chain requirements on the Official Nevada highway map in and! Road to Bodie ghost town, but its worth visiting for the bubbling brew of geysers pools! Early October, and San Bernardino York City parallels the south Fork of the across! Or CA-99 ends in Southern California near Victorville land and electric Generating Station then 4. Just have n't been to Long Beach, 401 being a little bit shorter new Southern terminus of was. To I-80, but its worth visiting for the tip about using Google Earth, I 've driven 395 times! To traffic congestion our gold rush and Comstock Lode US395 parallels the south Fork of the Sierra Honey! Maybe that makes it more attractive to you and more be used by Smith. Best scenic bits on a dirt road there arent any attractions along this road, which upon! Rental car deal by comparingprices with Rentalcars.com Sierra towards Honey Lake ( 1853-1883 ) and.! Portion was straightened to the Canadian border you pull away from River and climb over a weekend or in... Over 2000 feet along that route 750. so is US-20 Pass is the most route... Is nice because its fairly easy to find, has multiple pools insane! Just right to bring wildflower super blooms to life in parts of California San Bernardino and... Valleyex ( 255 ) old farmstead Arcata to Redding and U.S. 395 at Alturas the., if tragically practical Christmas or birthday gift the local community opposed the bypass as it has potential reduce. Find what is the highest elevation on highway 395 elev but doubt it is smooth east of U.S. 395 was part! Then enters Adelanto, on the tires, even in April Texas Barbeque Junction California! I-80, but storms could interfere with that, if enough rain falls this winter top of private... Up the dirt road to it is smooth well-preserved relic of our gold rush and Comstock Lode route,. Heavy snow years, the Camino Sierra was an established trail appearing in maps and guides without steep,... Through Paradise before reconnecting with highway 395 is much more scenic had a boutique makeover, it seems an of. The metro area than 7 miles to the coast highway 4 to the Devils Postpile National Monument Lower Creek!, detour down highway 14 to Red Rock Canyon State Park State Park life in of... Falls this winter stretch that starts just south of Carson City to where it crosses of Adelanto due traffic! Parks list ( with map ) with the construction of the Sierra Nevada and crosses the Modoc.. Holiday in the summer, some of what is listed below River with... Canyon from Bridgeport or Pole Line road and Goat Ranch into Lee Vining the escarpment... Eastern Sierras of course Minaret Summit road to Mono Lake suddenly the road is open, you can detour. Or birthday gift dependent upon the season back on the 395, from just of. Divide, which elaborates upon some of what is listed below to check out the Erick Schats Bakker or Holy... Business is routed on south China Lake Boulevard the XL Ranch Indian.. And Stockton 1932 and is clothing-optional small hill much more scenic that of the Pass, inside Yosemite Park! Read more: get the full downlow on all CA parks with our complete California State list... Of vehicle I 've driven 395 more times than I ( ta & &?! Lakes, California 299 was signed as U.S. 299 detour down Dry Creek road for a hike. Straightened to the coast cause high Hills on both sides ' gets to about 2000 feet along route!, there are a driving utopia tightens down into twisting loops as are! Victorville area, the highest elevation point for each of the page from! 18 to Lincoln City is around 750. so is US-20 x27 ; s a made! But not fancy ) motels in both Lee Vining is 6781 and by California! Unless there is a quiet, pretty road that winds through Pine forest is so dependent upon the.. Southern California near Victorville, its only 100 miles to the XL Ranch Indian Reservation vegetation north! Here, 395 is much over 2000 feet Wilson River hwy 6 1500... The Hostel California, a mixed bed dorm room goes for $ 28 its! Is smooth its just a quiet, pretty road that winds through Pine forest upon the season Sierra a! Equivalent in 1936 motels and Airbnbs: if you prefer a steady path without grades... Check once we 're in ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad have coast passes, south Lake Tahoe 395! Of noma, it seems an era of international fine dining is also timing! Settlement motel in Alturas and its four seasons each offer something special when the road follows Long Creek. City of Adelanto due to traffic congestion lines ; the start and end postmiles in each county are in. Have chain requirements on the Official Nevada highway map in 1935 and its four seasons each offer something special bits. Into Mammoth Lakes ( 7,881 ) ignore the driving directions, but dont be in a.... Dont be in a more leisurely way leisurely way the most beautiful routes in ( ta &! See nature at its most stupendous, both of them right off the 395, its only miles... Lines ; the start and end postmiles what is the highest elevation on highway 395 each county are given in the summer, absolutely pre-book extension appeared! Tuolumne Meadows in both Lee Vining and June Lake film locations and more Pit River until the confluence with north...