getting around the passes
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
getting around the passes
is there a way I can get from San Francisco, around from Donners pass going across CA to NV , & also the Laramie / Cheyenne pass , I would like to hook up with I-80 across country ,in an rv
#2



Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 75,015
Likes: 50
Your question isn't that clear . . . are you asking if you can get from San Francisco across the Sierra to Nevada without having to drive mountain passes?
The answer is no. The only way to get from SF to Nevada w/o going through mountains is to head south to Bakersfield and on to Las Vegas. Or perhaps down to Bakersfield and up the east side of the mountains on hwy 395. But both of those routes are hundreds of miles out of the way.
But many people do manage the passes in Motorhomes so unless it is terribly underpowered/old/decrepit you should be able to cross on hwy 50 or I-80.
The answer is no. The only way to get from SF to Nevada w/o going through mountains is to head south to Bakersfield and on to Las Vegas. Or perhaps down to Bakersfield and up the east side of the mountains on hwy 395. But both of those routes are hundreds of miles out of the way.
But many people do manage the passes in Motorhomes so unless it is terribly underpowered/old/decrepit you should be able to cross on hwy 50 or I-80.
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#8
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,960
Likes: 0
"There is no Laramie / Cheyenne pass."
There actually is a bit of a pass between Laramie and Cheyenne but nothing for you to worry about. Interstates have to be built in a way for all traffic to be able to navigate them---grades, curves, shoulders, etc.
From a local:
"There is a pass just east of Laramie with a steep climb that maxes out about 8400 ft. (up from Laramie at 7200 ft. about 10 mi. away). Everything else is pretty flat."
There actually is a bit of a pass between Laramie and Cheyenne but nothing for you to worry about. Interstates have to be built in a way for all traffic to be able to navigate them---grades, curves, shoulders, etc.
From a local:
"There is a pass just east of Laramie with a steep climb that maxes out about 8400 ft. (up from Laramie at 7200 ft. about 10 mi. away). Everything else is pretty flat."
#12
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,030
Likes: 0
Jungle11, it would be helpful if you returned with a few comments about your concerns about the passes. Most major roads, especially interstates, are relatively straight with modest grades. Not like the old days of hairpin curves and very steep grades. Now you can still find that on some of the older US highways but not on interstates.
#13
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,702
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#17
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 11,527
Likes: 0
You will still be driving through the mountains in Arizona and New Mexico. Once you cross Raton Pass into Colorado, you'll be on the east side of the Rockies.
What time of year will you be traveling? What are your concerns in driving through the mountains? If you could give us more information, we could give you a little more help.
Lee Ann
What time of year will you be traveling? What are your concerns in driving through the mountains? If you could give us more information, we could give you a little more help.
Lee Ann




