Big Sur to Las Vegas in December

[sparrow]

What is the best way to get from Big Sur to Las Vegas if I want to
avoid driving on the 15?

Also I would like to take a scenic route if there is such a thing going
to Vegas. On the map there's lots of roads that cut across the state. I
was thinking of heading through yellowstone, but I hear its closed
during winter due to snow. Is there any way of shooting across the
state and hitting the 95 so I would arrive in Vegas from the north.

I was told to take the 58 east to Bakersfield, then the 14 north to the
190 north through death valley and hit the 95 that way.

Any other recommend routes?

[sparrow]

Sorry, I meant to say that we were thinking of going through Yosemite,
Yellowstone is a whole other trip.

[Carmen L. Abruzzi]

sparrow wrote:
> What is the best way to get from Big Sur to Las Vegas if I want to
> avoid driving on the 15?
>
> Also I would like to take a scenic route if there is such a thing going
> to Vegas. On the map there's lots of roads that cut across the state. I
> was thinking of heading through yellowstone, but I hear its closed
> during winter due to snow.

You mean Yosemite, as you said later. Well, the park isn't closed, but
the road across it is. You can get in but you can't get out the other
side. Same difference for you, I guess.

> Is there any way of shooting across the
> state and hitting the 95
> so I would arrive in Vegas from the north.

>From Big Sur this would be a big detour. The only way would be to head
north up to Monterey/Salinas then take 152 over to I-5, then north on 5
or 99 to at least hwy88. this will not be scenic, not at all once you
reach 5. Take 88 from Stockton over the Sierra (gets scenic again once
you hit the mountains) all the way into Nevada (89 will be closed
between 4 and 395, so you can't take that shorter route) all the way
into Nevada where you'll reach 395 or 95. From there it's only another
9 hours to Las Vegas.
>
> I was told to take the 58 east to Bakersfield, then the 14 north to the
> 190 north through death valley and hit the 95 that way.

Oh I see. Yes, that's a much more sensible route. still not very
scenic between the coast and US-395, but there's really no way to avoid
crossing the Central Valley. Death Valley is certainly more scenic
than I-15 route.
>
> Any other recommend routes?

[Alan S]

On 15 Oct 2005 20:56:26 -0700, "sparrow"
> wrote:

>What is the best way to get from Big Sur to Las Vegas if I want to
>avoid driving on the 15?

You could do what we did: SJC-LAS via M80 (couldn't
resist:-)

Cheers, Alan, Australia

[Icono Clast]

Carmen L. Abruzzi wrote:
> sparrow wrote:
>> What is the best way to get from Big Sur to Las Vegas if I want to
>> avoid driving on the 15?
>
> Take 88 from Stockton over the Sierra

That's a major snow risk.

>> I was told to take the 58 east to Bakersfield, then the 14 north to
>> the 190 north through death valley and hit the 95 that way.

That's the way I'd go. In fact, I have. I've taken both routes suggested
by Carmen.

>> Any other recommend routes?

Yes, but even longer.
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[Shawn Hirn]

In article . com>,
"sparrow" > wrote:

> What is the best way to get from Big Sur to Las Vegas if I want to
> avoid driving on the 15?

Best? Fly. Unless you enjoy spending hour upon hour of one of the most
boring drives you could ever take, fly. You can probably fly for less
than it costs to drive, esp. if you factor in the value of your time.

[Bill McKee]

"sparrow" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> What is the best way to get from Big Sur to Las Vegas if I want to
> avoid driving on the 15?
>
> Also I would like to take a scenic route if there is such a thing going
> to Vegas. On the map there's lots of roads that cut across the state. I
> was thinking of heading through yellowstone, but I hear its closed
> during winter due to snow. Is there any way of shooting across the
> state and hitting the 95 so I would arrive in Vegas from the north.
>
> I was told to take the 58 east to Bakersfield, then the 14 north to the
> 190 north through death valley and hit the 95 that way.
>
> Any other recommend routes?
>

Yosemite's Tioga Road closes at first big snowfall. So you have to go North
to 88 and Carson Pass, or I-80 via Reno. Very scenic to drive South on Hwy
1 from Big Sur, stopping at Hearst Castle, and running over to Solvang near
Oxnard, and getting some pastries and continuing the drive to LA via 101.
Then connect to the I-15 to LV. Or go over the Coast Range just south of
Hearst to Jolon and then over to Bakersfield and the Tehachapi's or furthur
south is a cutover from 101 just before the mountains to Grapevine area. and
then via Bakersfield.

[Carmen L. Abruzzi]

Bill McKee wrote:
> "sparrow" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > What is the best way to get from Big Sur to Las Vegas if I want to
> > avoid driving on the 15?
> >
> > Also I would like to take a scenic route if there is such a thing going
> > to Vegas. On the map there's lots of roads that cut across the state. I
> > was thinking of heading through yellowstone, but I hear its closed
> > during winter due to snow. Is there any way of shooting across the
> > state and hitting the 95 so I would arrive in Vegas from the north.
> >
> > I was told to take the 58 east to Bakersfield, then the 14 north to the
> > 190 north through death valley and hit the 95 that way.
> >
> > Any other recommend routes?
> >
>
> Yosemite's Tioga Road closes at first big snowfall. So you have to go North
> to 88 and Carson Pass, or I-80 via Reno. Very scenic to drive South on Hwy
> 1 from Big Sur, stopping at Hearst Castle, and running over to Solvang near
> Oxnard, and getting some pastries and continuing the drive to LA via 101.
> Then connect to the I-15 to LV. Or go over the Coast Range just south of
> Hearst to Jolon and then over to Bakersfield and the Tehachapi's or furthur
> south is a cutover from 101 just before the mountains to Grapevine area. and
> then via Bakersfield.

Jolon is north of Hearst Castle, you can get there by the only road
that crosses the coast range in the Big Sur region, the infamous
Nacimiento-Fergusson Road. This is a very very steep narrow winding
mountain road, dirt in places, very slow going, suitable only for an
adventure, or to access the primitive campgrounds near the top.

South of Hearst Castle, you'd take CA-46 to Paso Robles, then on to
Bakersfield.

Seems the OP is planning on this route, but adding a detour north to
Lone Pine and through Death Valley, instead of heading straight to LV
on I-15. He should probably plan on spending the night in Lone Pine,
otherwise he'll probably be going through Death Valley in the dark.

[Bill McKee]

"Carmen L. Abruzzi" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Bill McKee wrote:
>> "sparrow" > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>> > What is the best way to get from Big Sur to Las Vegas if I want to
>> > avoid driving on the 15?
>> >
>> > Also I would like to take a scenic route if there is such a thing going
>> > to Vegas. On the map there's lots of roads that cut across the state. I
>> > was thinking of heading through yellowstone, but I hear its closed
>> > during winter due to snow. Is there any way of shooting across the
>> > state and hitting the 95 so I would arrive in Vegas from the north.
>> >
>> > I was told to take the 58 east to Bakersfield, then the 14 north to the
>> > 190 north through death valley and hit the 95 that way.
>> >
>> > Any other recommend routes?
>> >
>>
>> Yosemite's Tioga Road closes at first big snowfall. So you have to go
>> North
>> to 88 and Carson Pass, or I-80 via Reno. Very scenic to drive South on
>> Hwy
>> 1 from Big Sur, stopping at Hearst Castle, and running over to Solvang
>> near
>> Oxnard, and getting some pastries and continuing the drive to LA via 101.
>> Then connect to the I-15 to LV. Or go over the Coast Range just south of
>> Hearst to Jolon and then over to Bakersfield and the Tehachapi's or
>> furthur
>> south is a cutover from 101 just before the mountains to Grapevine area.
>> and
>> then via Bakersfield.
>
> Jolon is north of Hearst Castle, you can get there by the only road
> that crosses the coast range in the Big Sur region, the infamous
> Nacimiento-Fergusson Road. This is a very very steep narrow winding
> mountain road, dirt in places, very slow going, suitable only for an
> adventure, or to access the primitive campgrounds near the top.

Never saw any dirt when I used it about 10 years ago.

[Carmen L. Abruzzi]

Bill McKee wrote:
> "Carmen L. Abruzzi" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> >
> > Bill McKee wrote:
> >> "sparrow" > wrote in message
> >> oups.com...
> >> > What is the best way to get from Big Sur to Las Vegas if I want to
> >> > avoid driving on the 15?
> >> >
> >> > Also I would like to take a scenic route if there is such a thing going
> >> > to Vegas. On the map there's lots of roads that cut across the state. I
> >> > was thinking of heading through yellowstone, but I hear its closed
> >> > during winter due to snow. Is there any way of shooting across the
> >> > state and hitting the 95 so I would arrive in Vegas from the north.
> >> >
> >> > I was told to take the 58 east to Bakersfield, then the 14 north to the
> >> > 190 north through death valley and hit the 95 that way.
> >> >
> >> > Any other recommend routes?
> >> >
> >>
> >> Yosemite's Tioga Road closes at first big snowfall. So you have to go
> >> North
> >> to 88 and Carson Pass, or I-80 via Reno. Very scenic to drive South on
> >> Hwy
> >> 1 from Big Sur, stopping at Hearst Castle, and running over to Solvang
> >> near
> >> Oxnard, and getting some pastries and continuing the drive to LA via 101.
> >> Then connect to the I-15 to LV. Or go over the Coast Range just south of
> >> Hearst to Jolon and then over to Bakersfield and the Tehachapi's or
> >> furthur
> >> south is a cutover from 101 just before the mountains to Grapevine area.
> >> and
> >> then via Bakersfield.
> >
> > Jolon is north of Hearst Castle, you can get there by the only road
> > that crosses the coast range in the Big Sur region, the infamous
> > Nacimiento-Fergusson Road. This is a very very steep narrow winding
> > mountain road, dirt in places, very slow going, suitable only for an
> > adventure, or to access the primitive campgrounds near the top.
>
> Never saw any dirt when I used it about 10 years ago.

It's possible I'm thinking of side roads off Nac-Ferg, to the primitive
campgrounds. Anyway, here's an interesting link that gives a feel for
the road:
<http://www.motelmag.com/articles/pismo.html>

Here's a more favorable one, from a great site for interesting
California roads, even if you don't ride a motorbike:
<http://pashnit.com/roads/cal/NacimientoRd.htm>

[Icono Clast]

Carmen L. Abruzzi wrote:
> here's an interesting link that gives a feel for the road:
> <http://www.motelmag.com/articles/pismo.html>

Hilarious! Thanks, Carmen.

Seems to me last time I took that road it wasn't paved.
__________________________________________________ _________________
A San Franciscan in (where else?) San Francisco.
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