Fastest/most fun route to take from SF to LV?

[Bach415]

I'm going on a vacation to las Vegas in about 2 weeks and taking the 86 with me. Which routes would you guys recommend me to take heading there that is fun and not time consuming? Hoping to get there around within 9-10 hours with a bit of fun thrown in to keep me awake.

[retoocs]

The boring route is to go east from Bakersfield to I-15. The other routes are longer. One is to go towards Carson City and navigate south on 395. The other one is similar but you navigate south from Fallon. If you do the Nevada routes, go the speed limits in the small towns or else they will collect speed tax.

[IllBRZ]

Nice! I'm going to Vegas in 2 weeks too! Not taking the BRZ but I am driving. I usually take Highway 152 to Pacheco Pass to I-5 and so on...

[MyRx]

I'd like to know too. Otherwise go really fast on the shortest route there . I think that'll make any route to LV fun.

[PMok]

yeah it's such a long drive, I'd take the shortest/fastest route to get there and just have fun in LV.

when we went to 86EXPO the route we took was I-5 down to Bakersfield area, cut over on a local road to 99 to get through Bakersfield and on to 58 over the Tehachapi pass. 58 has some fun uphill and downhill fast sweepers that you can take at 100+. It's always more fun to go in a group and bring radios so you can communicate.

[Bach415]

Originally Posted by IllBRZ

Nice! I'm going to Vegas in 2 weeks too! Not taking the BRZ but I am driving. I usually take Highway 152 to Pacheco Pass to I-5 and so on...

Should take the BRZ for the experience! I'd usually go down to LA first but this time it's straight to LV so yeah..

Originally Posted by MyRx

I'd like to know too. Otherwise go really fast on the shortest route there . I think that'll make any route to LV fun.

I rather drive in twisties rather than fast on straights. It's not as fun haha.

Originally Posted by PMok

yeah it's such a long drive, I'd take the shortest/fastest route to get there and just have fun in LV.

when we went to 86EXPO the route we took was I-5 down to Bakersfield area, cut over on a local road to 99 to get through Bakersfield and on to 58 over the Tehachapi pass. 58 has some fun uphill and downhill fast sweepers that you can take at 100+. It's always more fun to go in a group and bring radios so you can communicate.

I wanna have some fun with the 86 before getting to LV. I'm sure I'll have fun in LV but it's just my gf and I only so we will see haha! I might take your thought on 58 for some quick fun.

[BigFatFlip]

Unfortunately, I don't think you can have both (little bit of fun in the twisties and getting there in 9-10 hrs). Just because there isn't really any sections you can "cut into" to have some fun along the way. The freeways avoid the sierras/hills in the expense of getting you there faster.

Here's what I'd recommend, my wife and I did a similar route on a road trip from Utah.

http://goo.gl/maps/KZZ6N

I'd be really careful at the Sierras (108) as some of those sections are narrow and steep. This section will probably take up most of your time, but the scenery is amazing. You can also cut through Yosemite, but then you'll have to pay to get into the park. You can then head south to Vegas via 95, typical NV long straight sections, you can make up for the time you missed. All in all, about 10 hrs. of driving, take breaks even if you don't think you need it, there's lots of cool things to see. We did this route from Tonopah NV to SF Bay area and I was dead tired when we got home.

[Bach415]

Originally Posted by BigFatFlip

Unfortunately, I don't think you can have both (little bit of fun in the twisties and getting there in 9-10 hrs). Just because there isn't really any sections you can "cut into" to have some fun along the way. The freeways avoid the sierras/hills in the expense of getting you there faster.

Here's what I'd recommend, my wife and I did a similar route on a road trip from Utah.

http://goo.gl/maps/KZZ6N

I'd be really careful at the Sierras (108) as some of those sections are narrow and steep. This section will probably take up most of your time, but the scenery is amazing. You can also cut through Yosemite, but then you'll have to pay to get into the park. You can then head south to Vegas via 95, typical NV long straight sections, you can make up for the time you missed. All in all, about 10 hrs. of driving, take breaks even if you don't think you need it, there's lots of cool things to see. We did this route from Tonopah NV to SF Bay area and I was dead tired when we got home.

Thanks a lot Brian!(Sorry if I misspelled your name). That seems like a perfect route for a bit of fun and scenery to keep us awake haha to get there and back. Let's just hope none of those roads are closed.

[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by Bach415

Thanks a lot Brian!(Sorry if I misspelled your name). That seems like a perfect route for a bit of fun and scenery to keep us awake haha to get there and back. Let's just hope none of those roads are closed.

You're more than welcome! Shouldn't be a problem, I know sometimes they close those roads, but that's usually during the winter when there's too much snow, but rock slides are also common, so maybe just check before heading out.

If I remember correctly, there is a very cool section right after Mono Lake and right before getting into NV with twisting AND undulating roads, with what I would call "semi-blind" crest after another (imagine going up a first crest, seeing the corner after the second crest, then going down hill after the first crest and knowing which way the road goes, then seeing the following corner after the third crest, rinse repeat, it was very fun knowing which way to turn into a blind turn, we were both laughing while the wife was busting out the rally pace notes "keep right over crest-into-5 left- crest-into 5 right-keep left over crest" Anyway, obviously we had a good time, hope it is for you too!

[Bach415]

Originally Posted by BigFatFlip

You're more than welcome! Shouldn't be a problem, I know sometimes they close those roads, but that's usually during the winter when there's too much snow, but rock slides are also common, so maybe just check before heading out.

If I remember correctly, there is a very cool section right after Mono Lake and right before getting into NV with twisting AND undulating roads, with what I would call "semi-blind" crest after another (imagine going up a first crest, seeing the corner after the second crest, then going down hill after the first crest and knowing which way the road goes, then seeing the following corner after the third crest, rinse repeat, it was very fun knowing which way to turn into a blind turn, we were both laughing while the wife was busting out the rally pace notes "keep right over crest-into-5 left- crest-into 5 right-keep left over crest" Anyway, obviously we had a good time, hope it is for you too!

Oh boy, the way you describe it sounds so much fun haha! Gonna see if I can get this on the GoPro for memories :P