Actually looking at the map and your destination of Pahrump, I would not take 395 at all. You don't want to take CA190 from 395 into Death Valley. There are two problems, a very narrow section where big vehicles need to drive over the center line just before getting to Death Valley, and the 9-1/2% grade climbing out of Panamint Valley in the park. The other choices are much further north or going all the way to I-40. 95 is not exciting, but we have taken it a couple times.
We prefer to actually stay in Death Valley in the Furnace Creek area but we don't mind dry camping. It is much warmer in Furnace Creek area than Pahrump, being at much lower elevation. Pahrump is about an hour-and-a--half one way and since we like to go to evening ranger talks it is too far. Death Valley is the largest national park outside Alaska. Beatty would be closer with campgrounds and you can get hookups at Stovepipe Wells in the park and sometimes the Furnace Creek Ranch has spare spaces that are normally for their employees. Furnace Creek has cell service and it is extended network for Verizon so you also have internet, slow 1X internet, but it exists. This is a good time to be there and we normally go in early December when the days are in the high 60s/early 70s and it is normally sunny. You just missed the Death Valley 49ers Encampment, http://www.deathvalley49ers.org/ .
Edit: If you have not already bought the Mountain Directory West, http://www.mountaindirectory.com/westmap.html , I would advise getting a copy. It will help with decisions about grades and mountain passes.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Monday 12th of November 2012 02:38:26 PM
Hdrider said
06:31 PM Nov 12, 2012
Wed. will be departure day for us... finally!!
We are watching the weather now because we take off Wed. It looks like we might be able to head down I-5 and head to Reno from Mt Shasta. Then it will be a choice of 395 or over to Fallon and down 95. If the weather or roads look bad that way we are not apposed to traveling down I-5 further before cutting over but I don't know which way that would be. I think our plan is to get to Pahrump area and then slow down a bit. We just want to get away from the threat of snow and be warm.
Looks like we will be taking off on our first day performimg the cardnal sin of not having a destination for the end of the day LOL!!
Any thoughts out there??
bjoyce said
07:00 PM Nov 12, 2012
We often travel without a firm destination for the end of the day.
395 goes to fairly high elevation so check the weather closely on that route. Also, you might find some of the campgrounds around Reno full of Amazon workers so keep Carson City and Verdi as backups.
Now what is in Pahrump that makes it a first destination?
Hdrider said
07:08 PM Nov 12, 2012
bjoyce wrote:
We often travel without a firm destination for the end of the day.
395 goes to fairly high elevation so check the weather closely on that route. Also, you might find some of the campgrounds around Reno full of Amazon workers so keep Carson City and Verdi as backups.
Now what is in Pahrump that makes it a first destination?
Copy on 395,,, I guess it has good chances of snow until you get past Bishp,, correct? So would you recommend heading over to Fallon and down 95??
As far as Pahrump. No real reason other than I figure that is a good point to be into warm weather and we certainly want to experience Death Valley before heading down towards Lake Havasu so Pahrump looks like a good spot to sit for a week and regroup.
Lucky Mike said
11:48 PM Nov 12, 2012
Ok ....now you guys got me missing the west coast!!!!!
Trabuco said
05:01 AM Nov 13, 2012
Dave & Dianne congrats! We're going to winter in Washington state, visiting family and testing out the rig in cold weather. Currently in Deer Park, WA in snow. The rig is holding up real well. In fact we didn't know it got down to 8 degrees Saturday night until we spoke with our neighbors.
In the next several weeks we're going to move to to the west side. Come spring we start our trek to Maine and down the east coast.
Hope to see you on the road sometime.
Hdrider said
06:03 AM Nov 13, 2012
Trabuco wrote:
Dave & Dianne congrats! We're going to winter in Washington state, visiting family and testing out the rig in cold weather. Currently in Deer Park, WA in snow. The rig is holding up real well. In fact we didn't know it got down to 8 degrees Saturday night until we spoke with our neighbors.
In the next several weeks we're going to move to to the west side. Come spring we start our trek to Maine and down the east coast.
Hope to see you on the road sometime.
Dang Ken!! 8 degree's!! I grew up in Iowa and I'll be honest. I don't care if I ever see 8 degree's again in my life time LOL!!
Come spring we will be headed to the east coast from the south and headed up the coast so there is a good chance we can run into eachother. Have a great time up there.
WestWardHo said
07:29 PM Nov 13, 2012
Dave & Diane,
Good for you!!! Liked Bills advice for Death Valley ( one beautiful serene place!) but if you do stop in Pahrump we recommend the Winery RV Park, newly remodeled, very clean & friendly, great wine tasting and great pricey restaurant on the grounds plus an RV washing station. The escapees park in Pahrump looked pretty old, i would not want to stay there. Also the drive from Pahrump to Vegas is gorgeous although steep down grades.
Hope to see you on the road.
Sherry & Jesse
Hdrider said
03:31 AM Nov 15, 2012
Thanks for all the advice and ideas. The weather was good so we took I-5 down to Shasta and headed to Susanville and on to Bordertown where we are for the night. A little longer day than I wanted because we didn't hit the road until 10am but not bad.
Tomorrow we will head to 95 and go south. Not sure if we will make another long day of it and shoot for Beatty. If we see a good stop half way we will probably do that. BUT WE ARE FINALLY ON THYE ROAD NONE THE LESS!!!!
NWescapee said
07:39 AM Nov 17, 2012
Dave & Diane - Congrats!! So happy to hear that you have finally made the escape:) We're dreaming of sunshine here in Western WA:(
Ken & Roxanne - what are you still doing in the Spokane area??? Seriously, it's time to head to the "wet side" of WA!! Snow is coming in this weekend and having grown up in Spokane and then lived in the Seattle area now for a number of years, the window of opportunity for getting across the mountains without Avalanche control, snow, sleet, ice, etc. is closing. I was just in Spokane for 2 days this week, traveled over there courtesy of Alaska Airlines. No way will you see us driving over Snoqualmie this time of year.
Trabuco said
05:39 PM Nov 17, 2012
Ruth, we'll be taking the southern route to Vancouver after Christmas. All the snow is gone currently! Just cold air remains. We're parked with several others that are static full timers in Deer Park. The one on our left has been static in Deer Park for 4 years. A bit much for me but they're enjoying it.
bjoyce said
01:05 AM Nov 18, 2012
This time of year I would also take the Columbia Gorge. Your route should take you through the Tri-Cities, Richland, Pasco and Kennewick WA. This is where Diane and I met while we both lived there. The Maryhill Museum and Stonehenge Memorial are on the Washington side of the river and worthwhile. Both from "Sam Hill" of the "What in Sam Hill are you doing?"
Hdrider said
04:59 AM Nov 18, 2012
Hey Ken,,, it was over 80 today in Death Valley
Trabuco said
05:56 AM Nov 18, 2012
Dave, it was over 40 in Deer Park today ! LOL! All the snow is gone, at least for now!
Bill, Been the gorge route many times with family both in Spokane and Vancouver. Did not know about the museum and memorial, will have to check those out. Although this trip we'll be on 84.
bjoyce said
04:59 PM Nov 18, 2012
The museum and memorial are both just across the Biggs Bridge and so is Maryhill State Park, which is supposed to be a really nice place to camp.
Trabuco said
07:09 PM Nov 18, 2012
Thanks Bill, we'll check them out!
NWescapee said
07:01 AM Nov 19, 2012
Ken- I totally agree with Bill, Maryhill is definitely worth a stop.
If you're taking I-84 you'll be going through Hood River, there are a couple of nice state parks on the OR side that are great places for a nice or two near there if you're taking your time on the drive. In the town of Hood River itself the local Water company offers a free RV dump station and place to fill up with fresh water if you need that. Dale loves the beer at the Big Horse Brew Pub and the views from the restaurant overlooking the Columbia River are great!! Great opportunities to watch the kite boarders and wind surfing. Multonomah Falls is also a great place to visit but strongly advise you to disconnect your car from the MH and leave the MH parked while your drive the old section of Highway to get there. We towed a small 18 ft. trailer through there once and Dale said, never again on that road with anything but a car.
I know the snow was gone this week, but I think it's headed your way again. Hoping I'm wrong since it looks like I might be flying there again the last week of November:( I keep telling my company I really don't want to drive in snow, I've avoided it for 20+ years but looks like that might be coming to and end.
Millie said
06:40 AM Nov 22, 2012
HAVE A LOVELY TIME!!!, Dave, Diane, an' Jack!!!
DON'T FORGET TO SEE the wagon tracks in Death Valley!!!
DON'T FORGET TO SEE Josuha Tree National Park!!!
MAGNIFICENT VIEWS of DEEP valleys below!!!
...you can enter it at 29 Palms!
...then take Box Canyon Road, down to highway 111 ...down to 'Brawley' ...because you can get on highway 78 from there ...and travel up to 'Blythe' (where I used to live.)
Between Brawley and Blythe ...you'll go through some very mighty impressive SAND DUNES!!! ...that look just like the Sahara!!!
HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME WHEREVER YOU'S GO!!!
Jwar said
07:52 AM Nov 22, 2012
Dave and Diane, congrats to your leaving the nest, we will know next month if we can or not....Im envieoussssss to lay the least.
Im a bit late here but a bit of food for thought. Perhaps think about hiway 70 over Beckworth Pass in winter, it is the last hiway to close in heavey weather as its the lowest pass. Actually trucks run over 70 when I 80 is closed or about to close on account of snow. In the past few years they have re-worked 70 and took a lot of the sharp turns out, but still have to wach for fallen rocks, it is also very senic drive.
Enjoy
Millie said
12:11 PM Nov 22, 2012
Oh! Gosh! ...You're perilously close to Las Vegas! - The town of financial ruin!
...but, I guess you're gonna wanna be going there, if you've never been there before.
Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY! ...and 7 day relax at the Lakeside place there! - I looked it up ...and there's a casino.
I also noticed there's PADDLE BOATS there!!!
You could always veer over to the west a bit, to Barstow ..and 29 Palms... ....
OH! GOSH! ...I envy your FREEDOM!!!
You're going to have the most wonderfullist
TIME OF YOUR LIVES!!!
-- Edited by Millie on Thursday 22nd of November 2012 12:15:30 PM
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Friday 23rd of November 2012 06:55:44 PM
Hdrider said
04:12 PM Nov 22, 2012
Thanks Millie and Jwar
We ended up taking I-5 south to McCloud and then cut over through Susanville and through Reno and Fallon Then 95 south through Hawthorne and Tonopah down to Death Valley through Beatty. Then up to Pahrump where we are staying now at Lakeside RV Resort for 7 days. We have a great view of the lake through our windshield at the spot we have.
Hope things are well with you and yours on this Thanksgiving Day!!
Actually looking at the map and your destination of Pahrump, I would not take 395 at all. You don't want to take CA190 from 395 into Death Valley. There are two problems, a very narrow section where big vehicles need to drive over the center line just before getting to Death Valley, and the 9-1/2% grade climbing out of Panamint Valley in the park. The other choices are much further north or going all the way to I-40. 95 is not exciting, but we have taken it a couple times.
We prefer to actually stay in Death Valley in the Furnace Creek area but we don't mind dry camping. It is much warmer in Furnace Creek area than Pahrump, being at much lower elevation. Pahrump is about an hour-and-a--half one way and since we like to go to evening ranger talks it is too far. Death Valley is the largest national park outside Alaska. Beatty would be closer with campgrounds and you can get hookups at Stovepipe Wells in the park and sometimes the Furnace Creek Ranch has spare spaces that are normally for their employees. Furnace Creek has cell service and it is extended network for Verizon so you also have internet, slow 1X internet, but it exists. This is a good time to be there and we normally go in early December when the days are in the high 60s/early 70s and it is normally sunny. You just missed the Death Valley 49ers Encampment, http://www.deathvalley49ers.org/ .
Edit: If you have not already bought the Mountain Directory West, http://www.mountaindirectory.com/westmap.html , I would advise getting a copy. It will help with decisions about grades and mountain passes.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Monday 12th of November 2012 02:38:26 PM
Wed. will be departure day for us... finally!!
We are watching the weather now because we take off Wed. It looks like we might be able to head down I-5 and head to Reno from Mt Shasta. Then it will be a choice of 395 or over to Fallon and down 95. If the weather or roads look bad that way we are not apposed to traveling down I-5 further before cutting over but I don't know which way that would be.
I think our plan is to get to Pahrump area and then slow down a bit. We just want to get away from the threat of snow and be warm.
Looks like we will be taking off on our first day performimg the cardnal sin of not having a destination for the end of the day LOL!!
Any thoughts out there??
395 goes to fairly high elevation so check the weather closely on that route. Also, you might find some of the campgrounds around Reno full of Amazon workers so keep Carson City and Verdi as backups.
Now what is in Pahrump that makes it a first destination?
In the next several weeks we're going to move to to the west side. Come spring we start our trek to Maine and down the east coast.
Hope to see you on the road sometime.
Dang Ken!! 8 degree's!! I grew up in Iowa and I'll be honest. I don't care if I ever see 8 degree's again in my life time LOL!!
Come spring we will be headed to the east coast from the south and headed up the coast so there is a good chance we can run into eachother. Have a great time up there.
Good for you!!! Liked Bills advice for Death Valley ( one beautiful serene place!) but if you do stop in Pahrump we recommend the Winery RV Park, newly remodeled, very clean & friendly, great wine tasting and great pricey restaurant on the grounds plus an RV washing station. The escapees park in Pahrump looked pretty old, i would not want to stay there. Also the drive from Pahrump to Vegas is gorgeous although steep down grades.
Hope to see you on the road.
Sherry & Jesse
Thanks for all the advice and ideas. The weather was good so we took I-5 down to Shasta and headed to Susanville and on to Bordertown where we are for the night. A little longer day than I wanted because we didn't hit the road until 10am but not bad.
Tomorrow we will head to 95 and go south. Not sure if we will make another long day of it and shoot for Beatty. If we see a good stop half way we will probably do that. BUT WE ARE FINALLY ON THYE ROAD NONE THE LESS!!!!
Ken & Roxanne - what are you still doing in the Spokane area??? Seriously, it's time to head to the "wet side" of WA!! Snow is coming in this weekend and having grown up in Spokane and then lived in the Seattle area now for a number of years, the window of opportunity for getting across the mountains without Avalanche control, snow, sleet, ice, etc. is closing. I was just in Spokane for 2 days this week, traveled over there courtesy of Alaska Airlines. No way will you see us driving over Snoqualmie this time of year.
Hey Ken,,, it was over 80 today in Death Valley
Bill, Been the gorge route many times with family both in Spokane and Vancouver. Did not know about the museum and memorial, will have to check those out. Although this trip we'll be on 84.
If you're taking I-84 you'll be going through Hood River, there are a couple of nice state parks on the OR side that are great places for a nice or two near there if you're taking your time on the drive. In the town of Hood River itself the local Water company offers a free RV dump station and place to fill up with fresh water if you need that. Dale loves the beer at the Big Horse Brew Pub and the views from the restaurant overlooking the Columbia River are great!! Great opportunities to watch the kite boarders and wind surfing. Multonomah Falls is also a great place to visit but strongly advise you to disconnect your car from the MH and leave the MH parked while your drive the old section of Highway to get there. We towed a small 18 ft. trailer through there once and Dale said, never again on that road with anything but a car.
I know the snow was gone this week, but I think it's headed your way again. Hoping I'm wrong since it looks like I might be flying there again the last week of November:( I keep telling my company I really don't want to drive in snow, I've avoided it for 20+ years but looks like that might be coming to and end.
HAVE A LOVELY TIME!!!, Dave, Diane, an' Jack!!!
DON'T FORGET TO SEE the wagon tracks in Death Valley!!!
DON'T FORGET TO SEE Josuha Tree National Park!!!
MAGNIFICENT VIEWS of DEEP valleys below!!!
...you can enter it at 29 Palms!
...then take Box Canyon Road, down to highway 111 ...down to 'Brawley' ...because you can get on highway 78 from there ...and travel up to 'Blythe' (where I used to live.)
Between Brawley and Blythe ...you'll go through some very mighty impressive SAND DUNES!!! ...that look just like the Sahara!!!
HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME WHEREVER YOU'S GO!!!
Dave and Diane, congrats to your leaving the nest, we will know next month if we can or not....Im envieoussssss to lay the least.
Im a bit late here but a bit of food for thought. Perhaps think about hiway 70 over Beckworth Pass in winter, it is the last hiway to close in heavey weather as its the lowest pass. Actually trucks run over 70 when I 80 is closed or about to close on account of snow. In the past few years they have re-worked 70 and took a lot of the sharp turns out, but still have to wach for fallen rocks, it is also very senic drive.
Enjoy
Oh! Gosh! ...You're perilously close to Las Vegas! - The town of financial ruin!
...but, I guess you're gonna wanna be going there, if you've never been there before.
Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!
...and 7 day relax at the Lakeside place there! 
- I looked it up ...and there's a casino.
I also noticed there's PADDLE BOATS there!!!
You could always veer over to the west a bit, to Barstow ..and 29 Palms...
....
OH! GOSH! ...I envy your FREEDOM!!!
You're going to have the most wonderfullist
TIME OF YOUR LIVES!!!
-- Edited by Millie on Thursday 22nd of November 2012 12:15:30 PM
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Friday 23rd of November 2012 06:55:44 PM
Thanks Millie and Jwar
We ended up taking I-5 south to McCloud and then cut over through Susanville and through Reno and Fallon Then 95 south through Hawthorne and Tonopah down to Death Valley through Beatty. Then up to Pahrump where we are staying now at Lakeside RV Resort for 7 days. We have a great view of the lake through our windshield at the spot we have.
Hope things are well with you and yours on this Thanksgiving Day!!