road conditions - driving through Nevada

[mrs_z]

We can shave off a couple hundred miles from our drive by going to Ontario, OR, then Hwy 95 to Winnemucca, NV, then catch I-80 to Reno, Sacramento, and down I-5 the rest of the way.

Is anyone familiar with this route and do you know if roads are decent? We'll be traveling next week. If roads are bad we can alternately go over to Portland and all the way down, it's just a lot longer that way. We're taking 2 days with 2 drivers (+ 3 kids).

 

[dalepool]

I think your plan would depend on what time of year. I have found traveling the interstates to be faster and easier.

Let me give you an exsample --- traveling from SW WA to Las Vegas---, we took the FAST way counting miles but not counting time. Wow it was single lane most of way--no place to pull over on side of road, passing lanes were few. Never Never again would I make this mistake. On way home we went thru Salt Lake longer in miles but a much easier and shorter in time trip.

Just my thoughts

Safe travels and hope you have a fun trip
Patty

 

[GrandBob]

I don't know much about US95 in Oregon & Northern NV. But the portion of I-80 between Winemucca and Reno should be mostly OK. The problem you're going to have is going over the Sierra Nevada, from Reno to about Colfax CA. That's the Sierra crest -- ever heard of the Donner Party? You'll be going over Donner Pass, just after Truckee. This section encounters chain controls during winter storms. Indeed, we're in the middle of a storm right now, and I-80 has chain controls as I type this. This storm should pass by Sunday, but there's another system moving in late next week.

If you do this route, carry chains for your car, and know how to use them. During chain controls, the speed limit is 30, and driving can be somewhat dangerous. In my experience, it adds about 1-2 hours to: put on the chains, go through stop-and-go for inspection, and drive that section at 30 mph.

HTH,
Bob

 

[GrandBob]

BTW, if you take the alternate, I-5 down from Portland, beware the Siskyou pass just south of Medford. There can be chain controls there, too. Indeed, there appears to be chain controls in effect right now on I-5 in northern CA too, around the Mt. Shasta area.

Whichever way you go, carry chains! And drive slowly and safely in snowy conditions. Good luck!

-Bob

 

[mrs_z]

Chains either way? Gulp. We have 4wd with studded tires. I hope we don't need chains -- thanks for the heads up!

 

[pixiewings71]

Soooo when are you coming? I'm EXTREMELY familiar with this drive as I do it many times a year, in fact I did it last weekend. My DD23, Mom, and sisters all live in Fruitland & Payette ID, which is right next to Ontario OR. In fact DD23 was BORN in Ontario! LOL So ya, we did it last weekend, it was easy breezy, no problems at all, BUT there was no storm then and the roads were clear. We've also done it when the roads were snowy and we had to use chains. Also, driving thru the Owyhee's you might have to put chains on if it's snowy. It is a very easy drive tho, not much to worry about at all. I know some good places to stop if you need them, let me know. After Winnemucca, you get onto 80, again easy, unless it's snowy thru the Sierra's. We take 5 as well, I'm not as familiar with getting onto 5 in Sac (we live farther west) but it's not that hard to find and follow the signs. I do get onto 5 to get one of my best friends houses, she's right off 5 but the opposite direction you will be going. Once you're on 5, again, easy peasy but if it's snowy over the Grapevine they will shut it down...no chains option for the GV, if it's "too bad" they just close it, if it's opened and snowy they will have a pace car and you will be driving really slooooooooowwwwww over the GV. lol
Again, if you have any other questions let me know, I'm happy to help and I'm very familiar with almost all of the drive you're thinking of doing.

Sorry, I just noticed you said next week......with snow tires I'm not sure what the restrictions will be...honestly people in CA don't really use those, unless they live in the mountains. I do know that even with 4wd and snow tires my Dad had to put chains on when we were kids (we lived an hour from Ontario up in the mountains) sometimes.

 

[Huff]

I'm not familiar with roads in Oregon so can't help there. I-80 from Reno to Sacremento goes through Donner Pass which can get very heavy snow. From Sacremento south should be easy driving except occasional snow on I-5 just south of Grapevine, CA. I-5 otherwise is fast, straight and very boring!

Taking highway 395 south from Reno would cut another 150 miles. That highway is a very good well traveled road. If it's a nice sunny day thats a beautiful drive. Winter storms would be a problem on 395 around Mammoth Lakes. Theres two ski areas there that are worth a stop for skiers!

A really good place to ask about roads is on RV.NET. Theres a forum there for talking about roads and routes and I find RV'ers are the best at knowing every road in this country!

 

[pixiewings71]

PS where are you coming from?

 

[GrandBob]

Chains either way? Gulp. We have 4wd with studded tires. I hope we don't need chains -- thanks for the heads up!

CA law has several levels of restrictions, including a severe one in which even 4wd requires chains. But that level is never used. If the roads are that bad, they just close them. The only level I've ever seen (short of closure), is that 4wd with snow tires is OK without chains, and everyone else needs chains. So if your studded tires are indeed snow tires, you shouldn't need the chains. But BTW, for most of the road in the lowlands, studded tires are a big pain. They cause a lot of vibrations in the car. Are you going to be using those even in the LA area? You should get lots of "interesting" looks

-Bob

 

[mrs_z]

CA law has several levels of restrictions, including a severe one in which even 4wd requires chains. But that level is never used. If the roads are that bad, they just close them. The only level I've ever seen (short of closure), is that 4wd with snow tires is OK without chains, and everyone else needs chains. So if your studded tires are indeed snow tires, you shouldn't need the chains. But BTW, for most of the road in the lowlands, studded tires are a big pain. They cause a lot of vibrations in the car. Are you going to be using those even in the LA area? You should get lots of "interesting" looks

-Bob

We live in the far NE corner of Oregon so we're used to getting a lot of snow, but I know driving on bad roads can really slow you down. We thought with all the warm weather lately it would be easy to go this route if there was no storm but it sounds like we should give serious thought to going over to Portland and down. I guess we'll wait and see what the weather report looks like.

I have to keep the studded snow tires on all winter (and part of fall and spring) - it looks like I won't get a ticket for having them in CA and if I get funny looks, oh well, we'll laugh about it too. I agree, they add some vibration but it's still a pretty smooth ride.

If it looks like we'll need chains I'll probably opt for doing the longer route. I sure don't want to waste time due to road closures on our way to DL!!!

 

[mrs_z]

A really good place to ask about roads is on RV.NET. Theres a forum there for talking about roads and routes and I find RV'ers are the best at knowing every road in this country!

Thanks for the tip about rv.net. We'll check it out.

 

[mrs_z]

Once you're on 5, again, easy peasy but if it's snowy over the Grapevine they will shut it down...no chains option for the GV, if it's "too bad" they just close it, if it's opened and snowy they will have a pace car and you will be driving really slooooooooowwwwww over the GV. lol

Okay I think I need to check out this Grapevine area more closely. I never heard of it before and a couple of you have mentioned it! Thanks.

 

[skiingfast]

We live in the far NE corner of Oregon so we're used to getting a lot of snow, but I know driving on bad roads can really slow you down. We thought with all the warm weather lately it would be easy to go this route if there was no storm but it sounds like we should give serious thought to going over to Portland and down. I guess we'll wait and see what the weather report looks like.

I'm in much the same boat. To get to DLR I have a few serious mountain passes to go over. Go through a couple hundred miles or serious winter travel. Then down I-15 through Utah were there are some quick passes and some locations that can get heavy snow.

It's a part of life that huge storms can roll through and shut down roadways. It's happened to me more than once.

I would, if I were you, not nessecarily go west first to avoid the high desert and donner pass, I would do something else. I would accept that it may be tough during the winter and risky during the shoulder seasons. See if you can build in a day extra of travel as a just in case precaution. Otherwise delay travel to better months.

 

[GrandBob]

Okay I think I need to check out this Grapevine area more closely. I never heard of it before and a couple of you have mentioned it! Thanks.

Grapevine area in Google maps

Going south on I-5, it's just after I-5 merges with 99, about an hour north of LA.

If it's closed, you can get around it by taking CA-58 through Bakersfield to Mohave, then CA-14 south through Lancaster. CA-14 then heads back west to Santa Clarita, well after the problem area.

-Bob

 

[Huff]

Okay I think I need to check out this Grapevine area more closely. I never heard of it before and a couple of you have mentioned it! Thanks.

The grapevine is a stretch of I-5 north of metro Los Angeles. It's a long grade up and over some mountains. The top isn't all the high of elevation so normally winter storms bring rain. Once in a while it gets cold enough and will snow. In all the years I've driven through there I've seen snow only once and highway was still easily passable but have heard of a few times its been closed.

Check weather reports as you travel and you can always pick a different route such as cutting over to Lancaster or over to highway 101.

 

[mrs_z]

Okay, I thought Grapevine was some little town - I get it now.

 

[h2oophelia]

We live in the far NE corner of Oregon so we're used to getting a lot of snow, but I know driving on bad roads can really slow you down. We thought with all the warm weather lately it would be easy to go this route if there was no storm but it sounds like we should give serious thought to going over to Portland and down. I guess we'll wait and see what the weather report looks like.

I have to keep the studded snow tires on all winter (and part of fall and spring) - it looks like I won't get a ticket for having them in CA and if I get funny looks, oh well, we'll laugh about it too. I agree, they add some vibration but it's still a pretty smooth ride.

If it looks like we'll need chains I'll probably opt for doing the longer route. I sure don't want to waste time due to road closures on our way to DL!!!

I really have no advice but just wanted to say hello to a fellow Northeastern Oregonian!

 

[mrs_z]

I really have no advice but just wanted to say hello to a fellow Northeastern Oregonian!

Hi! I'm so excited to be getting away from the snow for a few days!

 

[skiingfast]

Okay, I thought Grapevine was some little town - I get it now.

I want to mention that while the grapevine gets closed now and then. I and maybe you would consider the driving on the grapvine when it's closed like a typical march day in my driveway. To be bluntly honest most of the people driving it just don't know a thing about driving in snow and they make a mess of it.

 

[nunzia]

I don't know much about US95 in Oregon & Northern NV. But the portion of I-80 between Winemucca and Reno should be mostly OK. The problem you're going to have is going over the Sierra Nevada, from Reno to about Colfax CA. That's the Sierra crest -- ever heard of the Donner Party? You'll be going over Donner Pass, just after Truckee. This section encounters chain controls during winter storms. Indeed, we're in the middle of a storm right now, and I-80 has chain controls as I type this. This storm should pass by Sunday, but there's another system moving in late next week.

If you do this route, carry chains for your car, and know how to use them. During chain controls, the speed limit is 30, and driving can be somewhat dangerous. In my experience, it adds about 1-2 hours to: put on the chains, go through stop-and-go for inspection, and drive that section at 30 mph.

HTH,
Bob

Holy cow, I remember this route when I was a kid (lived in Reno and family in San Jose) and that was before the interstate came in and the road went right by the Donner area..super scary scary in weather...they have at times also closed the pass...You could cut down toward Vegas and over, but I think that road is still a pretty crappy 2 laner, isn't it? Any option would work, just be mindful of conditions and narrow roads.