Route Suggestions

[retiredhappy]

Anyone know how to get from Reno to Eureka, ca with the absolute LEAST amount of steep downhill mountain driving. I plan a route then look at my Mountain Directory and scratch it. Its darn near impossible to go from east to west in California without going thru big city like Sacramento. HELP!!!!

[lak99]

Karen,

I lived at Lake Tahoe for 13 years. The easiest and fastest way without steep driving is to just
take Hwy 80 to Sacramento. You do not actually go through Sacramento but you will go around the
north side. It is all freeway driving. From there you can head north.

As a side note, if you have never seen Lake Tahoe you are missing one of the most beautiful places
in the world. The turnoff is a Truckee and it takes about 20 minutes to get to Tahoe City.

[sharon]

ROFLMAO! You are sooo screwed, MF! Yup, 80 is your best bet. Just make sure you go thru Sac after 0930 and before 1500 hours! Sac isn't that big so you should fly thru there in less than a half hour driving the speed limit. I've never had a problem on any of the freeways going thru there. It's not like SD.

[OregonLuvr]

Karen I absolutely HATE going I-80. The road is either always under construction, (or needs to be) and the huge amount of trucks make me crazy. Also lots of people wanting to go super fast to somewhere?? I go 395 up to Susanville and then mosey my way over to Redding,(hwy44) it is a very pleasant drive with minimal steep hills. I drive it in my 35ft MH towing my SUV with no issues. Now, the road from Redding to Eureka has a windy, uphill area just outside of Weaverville but it doesnt last long. It is a bit of a curvy road in parts due to it follows the river. I dont mind the drive tho and it ends at HWY 101 with Eureka being just south of there. Your going to Eureka "on purpose" ha ha I worked there on and off for 3 years, dont inhale. LOL

I dont know if your looking for the fastest route or a pleasant route. If you choose to go over I-80 then go north on I-5 , take Hwy20 to 101N. Also scenic with ClearLake and the Redwoods on the way. Avenue of the Giants is on that route just outside of Garberville.

Hope this helps

karen

[JudyJB]

Sacramento is not bad, unless you are driving east on a Friday along with all the folks heading to the mountains.

However, MAKE SURE you check on construction!!!! In mid-July, I drove 80 from the Nevada border and got into a horrible and very scary consruction situation. They had narrowed the lanes, put cement barriers on the outside, and left the sharp edges of the newly constructed left shoulder sticking up. This meant in most places, that there was a 1' to 2' edge where the shoulder should have been. If I had driven in the left lane and hit it, it would have meant an instant blowout to at least one or two tires. Ditto for hitting the concrete barriers on the right side of the right lane. It was terrifying because of the narrowness of the lanes.

So I went right down the middle and took up two whole lanes, to the irritation of all those behind me because I really blocked traffic. I had to do this for maybe 10-15 miles. No way to get off.

There were no other large vehicles or trucks on this stretch, for obvious reasons. I was a nervous wreck when I got out of the mess.

Maybe the construction is finished, but I would certainly be very sure of this before I ever drove this stretch again!!

[Bethers]

I'd go Karen (Oregonluvr's) way. And Karen, you can do those hills - you could before, but even easier now. I HATE the freeway - and the wind on it and the big trucks flying by are much worse than the hills, etc for me. Just the few miles I did on an interstate today proved it yet again. And I'll be on it again next week to get to the gtg. Gag me lol

[retiredhappy]

Thanks everyone. I like Orelvr's route. If Carole and I actually get to take this trip next summer we'll be so happy. We've talked about it for years and if her health allows, we'll do it.

[sharon]

Well shoot! Thought you were coming out to see me this winter! Should have known, no one comes out to SoCal to see me!

[OregonLuvr]

Ummm WELL! You are never home. HA HA

karen

[pattyk]

I can give you an update on I-80 tomorrow night. I will be traveling it tomorrow to finally get home. There is always construction on I-80 over the mountains. Another route you could take is I-80 to Hwy 20 (Nevada City) which ultimately would take you to 101. You would avoid Sacramento all together. 20 is a beautiful drive from I-80 but when you get down into the valley it is mostly farmland.