LA to Bishop CA
 

driving to Bishop CA from LA. How are the roads. r we talking hair pin mountain roads or fairly decent roads. 2 women so we really do not want hazardous driving. One of the women has family from Bishop and wants to check out the area where her ancestors lived. Any advice....this would be in early October

It's not a dangerous drive in any way. Enjoy .

HTtY

I used to drive through Bishop by choice on my way from AZ to CA. Highway 395 is very scenic, with the highest point in the continental US on your left and the lowest point off in Death Valley to your right as you drive toward Bishop. The road is frequently almost empty of other traffic, a wonderful drive once you get past greater L.A. No hairpin roads at all.

Early October, if you're lucky, the cottonwood trees will be blazing gold and the weather lovely. May I come too?

No mountain roads or twisties but the southern section has ups and downs that limit visibility. I think that stretch actually has one of the highest accident rates in the state usually caused by drivers trying to pass when it's not safe http://articles.latimes.com/2004/aug...cal/me-395-4/2 The last time we drove it, there was a head on collision that shut down the highway. Just a heads up, not trying to scare you and we've driven it many times. Here's a recent thread with some suggestions for stops along the way http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-bishop-ca.cfm

Very little of 395 is now 2-lane as described in the 10-year-old L.A. Times article linked above. Except when going through towns (where the speed limit drops to 30), most of it is now divided.

My recollection from last year was that there were still many undivided 2 lane stretches. The accident happened just before Ridgecrest.

Went from LA up to Mammoth last Monday and returned on Friday, and no problems on 395. Very few places are two lane, and they are not long stretches.