[3], US395 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System,[4] and part of the National Highway System,[5] a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration. Amtrak, the USAs only passenger train operator, announced that it has taken the first steps to upgrade its overnight trains for the first time in 40 years. Running east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, it's also a road of superlatives: highest, lowest, hottest, deepest, oldest - the 395 passes close by a whole host of -ests. The highway retains that name as it travels through Tuolumne Meadows, over Tioga Pass at an elevation of 9,945 feet, and through the Lee Vining Canyon on its 59-mile (95 km) journey to its intersection with U.S. Route 395, at Lee Vining. 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.). Passenger vehicles can use the unpaved road to Bodie ghost town, but it is famous for its bumps and potholes. From 1934 through 1964, California 299 was signed as U.S. 299 from Arcata to Redding and U.S. 395 at Alturas. You can also drive to Convict Lake easily from 395 and it is paved all the way. 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. And the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve near Lancaster will be in bloom, though that is a long way from the 395 and would be too far out of your way unless you choose to take the southern route around the Sierra Nevada (Techachapi, Bakersfield and the Central Valley to San Francisco). Topographic Map of California, USA. But hiking will be limited and you wont be able to transit over the Tioga or Sonora passes. The longer version is to go 13 miles further up the dirt road to the Patriarch grove. So, I was able to perfectly time my visit for fall color. [25] Though SR70 does not directly serve any major cities, the highway is noted as an all-weather crossing of the Sierras. And would you advice any of the year-round passes over the other (if all are open)? I appreciate your feedback. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-84866500', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car to remember. But a 2-mile hike in the snow at an elevation of 10,000 feet is NOT an easy hike for anyone. Tioga Pass is named after Tioga Mine, whose name came from the Tioga River in New York: Tioga is an Iroquois and Mohawk term meaning "where it forks". 2023 Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures company. It wasnt until a visit last fall that my feelings changed from admiring affection to full blown love. Heres a BLM map of the area. If it's favorable, we'll go that way. 4) regarding those all-year roads: any advice on taking I-80, US-50 or SR-88? In light snow years, the road may remain open until December and open as early as April.[3][4][5]. Ive lived in California for decades and been to the Eastern Sierras a number of times, but it took while for it to work its magic on me. I tried tripcheck.com but I could not find out what I was looking for. This 45-mile stretch of Highway 120 connects the base of. If you prefer a steady path without steep grades, use the flat route finder to get the least elevation change. Once again, there is an assortment of basic motels in Lone Pine. Or go on a guided tour to gain access to otherwise closed-off buildings. Then head into the Alabama Hills to see the filming locations for yourself. U.S. Route 395 ( US 395) is a United States Numbered Highway, stretching from Hesperia, California to the Canadian border in Laurier, Washington. 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. Farmers and ranchers raised cattle and other goods to trade with the mining boom towns nearby. Then head up to the Bristlecone Pine Forest, which is managed by the Forest Service. The Pacific Crest Trail passes through, and it crosses the highway here. 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. The highest elevation anywhere on US 395, which goes from the Canadian border through Washington, Oregon, and most of the length of California, is about 8300 feet/2.5 km above sea level. The latter is the largest area in North America from which waters don't drain towards an ocean. Or simply stop into town for a cold one at June Lake Brewing. If you need to rent a car, get your best rental car deal by comparingprices with Rentalcars.com. If you like this kind of spare desert landscape in the southeastern Sierras, youll love Death Valley. Then it gets monotonous. [3] After passing by three small lakes, Little Lake and North and South Haiwee Reservoirs, the highway enters the Owens Valley. Be sure to stock your car with adrinks, snacks and lunch supplies. The southern segment crosses the Mojave Desert and Owens Valley and passes east of the Sierra Nevada. The fastest route from SFO to the start of this trip is via South Lake Tahoe and Carson City. Like driving through a big national park with small towns along the way. Both the northern and southern segments of the US395 corridor were used by railroads built in the 1880s branching from the First transcontinental railroad in Nevada. These same volcanic forces have also created the many hot springs in along the highway 395 corridor. For sleeping, Mammoth Lakes has plenty of decent, alpine-style options including Tamarack Lodge. Huh, and here I think of (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Formerly a fertile lake and valley, Owens Lake and the southern portion of the valley are now dry. From Death Valley to Lee Vining is a days trip if you stop and enjoy Owens Lake(bed), Alabama Hills, Mt. [24] The highway returns to follow the receding escarpment of the Sierra. Past Escondido, the route passed through Fallbrook, using portions of what is now SR 78 and SR 76 before returning to I-15 near Temecula. Ive seen the obvious other options of I-5 and CA-99 described as very boring and that doesnt seem like a fitting end to what promises to be an amazing trip. With the announced closure of noma, it seems an era of international fine dining is also ending. If you can swing it, we recommend adding Death Valley onto your Highway 395 road trip. Wellit's a draw either way. Stay and eat:Time it right (its generally only open in the evenings) and Mono Inn, on the 395 just north of Lee Vining, will give you one of the most memorable meals-with-a-view youll have along the whole route. It comes with a AAA membership, most new car purchases or a credit card like the American Express Rewards Gold Card. This Summit also separates the Mono Lake watershed from that of the East Walker River. Its also the largest US national park outside Alaska. From the I-15 terminus to SR18 the proposed alignment would have upgraded US395 to a six-lane freeway. Interstate 80 is a major transcontinental corridor connecting California and New York City. The route clips into Nevada, serving the cities Carson City and Reno, before returning to California. The roads around Yosemite National Park are a driving utopia. I would go over to the coast, Highway 101 or 1. Some of the canyons managed by the Forest Service allow disbursed camping. Share this Highway 395 road trip itinerary with your friends on Pinterest: Thanks for the great site. It is the highest elevation highway pass in California and in the Sierra Nevada at an elevation of 9,945 ft (3,031 m) [1]. Whitney, the Lone Pine Movie Museum, Manzanar (optional for many international visitors but Id say a must for Americans), Bishop and the local lakes, Mammoth Lakes, June Lakes, Mono Lake, and any of the towns or view spots along the way. 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. [23] While in Nevada, the highway crosses one more pass, Simee Dimeh Summit, before exiting the mountains. 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. If you want something a bit funky, you can rent a night in a covered wagon at theVirginia Creek Settlement motel. For motels and Airbnbs: If your road trip occurs over a weekend or holiday in the summer, absolutely pre-book. Sacred to local Indigenous populations, Spirit Mountain (or Avi Kwa Ame) might become the newest federal national monument. The Alabama Hills are BLM land, which is also dog-friendly. State Route 120 runs through it, and serves as the eastern entry point for Yosemite National Park, at the Tioga Pass Entrance Station. Giant sweepers with giddying changes in elevation run through pastoral farmland for more than an hour. [29], North of Susanville, the highway bends around Shaffer Mountain and crosses the Modoc Plateau. Article first published in October 2015, and last updated in January 2021. This is on the Great Basin Divide, which demarcates the Great Basin. In 1969, the portion south of Hesperia was removed and assigned to other routes. [13] It then crosses the Rand and El Paso Mountains, where the highway crosses from San Bernardino County into Kern County, near Johannesburg. Much of those surfaces is loose, sandy soil made of pumice ash. I recommend taking mix of:trail mix,energy bars, individual cheese slices (or string cheese), crackers, pretzels, soda, water and candy bars. 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. Take a self-guided tour with the map fromthe small museum, peering into homes eerily still filled with their last owners belongings. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. From the city of San Francisco to four miles west of the Hudson River at Teaneck, New Jersey, I-80 traverses various terrain and 11 states. After leaving the Victorville area, the scenery changes as suburban neighborhoods disappear and the highway traverses the Mojave Desert. Check reviews and book here. Those yellow leaves slapped me in the face, waking me up to whats amazing about Californias Highway 395 corridor. You will be limited by road conditions. You can do as much or as little as you want of the 3.5 mile McGee Creek trail. Want to crisscross the vast USA in 30 days by train? Elevation Map: Satellite Map: Related Photos: Winton Park River View. This summit separates the Owens River watershed from that of Mono Lake, a salt lake approximately three times as salty as the ocean.[21]. Second choice is to take I-5 up to the Longview exit and then highway 4 to the coast. It follows some of the river, but it goes over the coast range. The route of US395 in California is split into two segments, as the highway exits and reenters California via Nevada. Check Cal Trans for snowy road conditions, watch out for fast moving semis, and stay in the slow lane, especially if you are in an RV. The elevation on this trip varies wildly, which is also why timing is so dependent upon the season. Alternatively, you may use, http://travelswithbillandnancy.com/eastern_sierras.htm, http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roadscell.cgi. Scott, that is still a million times better than the 99, or the soul-crushing I-5! The corridor has been used since the California gold rush, and before numbering was known by several names including El Camino Sierra. Whether you have a permit or not, its worth the drive up here for the views on the way, the fresh mountain air, and the chance to eat and pick up souvenirs (and tales of the trail) at the Whitney Portal Store. The snow would not likely be as heavy or prolonged as winter snow, but it can happen and it can make short closures (395 is a maintenance priority) or chain controls necessary. At Lake Hodges the highway crossed a now-replaced bridge to Escondido. It is cute the first ten minutes. [38] This portion was straightened to the route of modern I-15 by 1960. The next stop is back down Highway 395 at the Manzanar National Historic Park. Suge La, Tibet (China) - 5,430 m (17,815 ft) Another mountain in Tibet is not far from Lhasa, high up in the Nyenchen Dangla Mountains. In fact in April they might still be skiingjust depends on what kind of winter they have. 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. Dependent upon the season rush, and last updated in January 2021 & &?... Terminus to SR18 the proposed alignment would have upgraded US395 to a six-lane freeway Californias 395. Least elevation change advice any of the River, but it goes over the other ( if all open. Traverses the Mojave Desert at the Manzanar national Historic Park easily from 395 and it crosses the highway here created... 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