Two very interesting USA highway stretches....

[leftcoastjayhawk]

I will post a more detailed new thread later on our present road trip, but thought these two sections of today's 560 mile drive deserved a shout out.

First, US 50 from Lake Tahoe to Carson City, NV. Wow. What a display of the impact of a rain shadow! From Alpine forest to scruffy desert without ever touching the gas pedal...


If you have the chance, both of these are well worth driving. For us, they were even better because they were unexpected.

Last year I drove our new 2023 Nissan Z from Kansas City to home (California) on US 50. Because Interstate Highways in a new sports car are BORING!

Took our time (4/12 days). Scenic/sightseeing stops at the National Tall Grass Prairie Preserve, the Space Museum in Hutchinson, Kansas (spent 3 hours there, not nearly enough time), Boot Hill in Dodge City, Pikes Peak, Monarch Pass, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and of course in Nevada Hwy 50 is officially the Loneliest Road in America.

The empty highways of Kansas. No trucks, no cars, stress free cruising.

The stormy highway 50 of eastern Colorado. somewhat stressful because of the tornado and hail forecast.... (no hail or tornadoes occurred)

on the way to the top of Pikes Peak

The Continental Divide at Monarch Pass, Colorado, Elevation 11,312 ft.

 

[leftcoastjayhawk]

Highway 50 trip continued...

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Not quite as impressive as the Grand Canyon, but a much cooler name.

Stayed a day and a night in the old silver mining town of Ouray, Colorado. Now a tourist getaway and rock and ice climbing center.

US 50 in eastern Utah is co-resident with the western end of Interstate 70. Very fast and empty highway. The posted speed limit was 80 mph, and then we saw this sign for the recommend speed for a curve ahead: (I saw the sign but did not get a photo. Got this picture off Google Street View)

The Black Dragon Canyon scenic viewpoint in Utah

After we got home, I found a photo from 1974 when I had driven my Datsun 240Z across the country after discharge from the Navy. I noticed from the profile of the cliffs above the 240Z, that we had stopped at the exact same viewpoint, 49 years apart.

Then on to the Loneliest Road in America. (I think this was in western Utah looking toward the Nevada state line. (not a recommended route for plug in electric cars...)

After 14 hours from Ouray, we stopped for the night in Carson City, NV. Then home the next morning after a photo op at Lake Tahoe. (from the Cave Rock boat ramp parking lot)

Finally home with the new Zs great great great grandfather. (Yes, I still have it )

 

[Venturer]

How long to get to Tale of the Dragon from Asheville? Is there more to see and experience than those 11 miles?

It would take about an hour from Ashville to the Dragon. Then if you turn left at the end of it, you could go over to Tellico and take the Cherohalla Skyway across to Robbinsville NC. Then back up to Ashville if thats what you want.



































robinsville NC

 

[Winemaker]

SSSShhhh! please don't tell anybody about Ouray!
"Tell someone about paradise, kiss it goodbye! " The Eagles

 

[sdtech]

Iron Mountain in the Dakota Black Hills.
Apache Trail outside of Phoenix.
Not USA, but the sea to sea highway from Vancouver to Whistler.

 

[audreyh1]

SSSShhhh! please don't tell anybody about Ouray!
"Tell someone about paradise, kiss it goodbye! " The Eagles

I think the word has been out about Ouray for decades. Super busy town and highway.

 

[Surewhitey]

We didn't notice it on Sunday--and DW was getting out to take pictures every so often...

We did notice it last week when we came through Reno to Tahoe on our way from Lassen Volcanic National Park (and, a bit more smoke on the more northerly sections of the jaunt earlier in the trip)

Yeah, we flew out of Reno on the 8th. This was just a few miles south of the airport...they had just opened the interstate after it hopped over.

 

[Fotodog]

Nice trip report leftcoastjayhawk. Looks like a lot of fun in your new car. It’s amazing that you still have your original Z. Brings back memories of my 280ZX, my first “nice” car.

 

[brett]

Have done the I-15 one from Nevada to Utah and I agree. It’s spectacular!

Agree. We booked a last minute Mexican cruise from San Diego a few years ago. We decided to drive the entire length of interstate 15 from the Montana border to board the cruise San Diego.

Great trip both ways with lots of stops on the way home.

Our other favorite.... Bellingham, Washington down the coastal route to LA! Cannot count the number of times we have vacationed on the Washington/Oregon/California coast when we had children.

 

[EastWest Gal]

We drove from Palm Springs to Carson City on I-395 some 35 years ago. There was no one anywhere for most of the drive. From desert to the mountains was stunning. It started snowing toward the end of the drive, which was very scary for us inexperienced snow drivers, but we made it.

I know this is Canada, but the Sea to Sky Highway (BC-99) between Vancouver and Whistler, BC is one of the most stunning drives I've ever been on. There is a point where the highway, which follows along the edge of the fjord, turns to the east, south of Shannon Falls, and the stunning view of the snow covered mountains juxtaposed with the water of the fjord not to be believed. It takes your breath away.

 

[calmloki]

We drove from Palm Springs to Carson City on I-395 some 35 years ago. There was no one anywhere for most of the drive. From desert to the mountains was stunning. It started snowing toward the end of the drive, which was very scary for us inexperienced snow drivers, but we made it.

I know this is Canada, but the Sea to Sky Highway (BC-99) between Vancouver and Whistler, BC is one of the most stunning drives I've ever been on. There is a point where the highway, which follows along the edge of the fjord, turns to the east, south of Shannon Falls, and the stunning view of the snow covered mountains juxtaposed with the water of the fjord not to be believed. It takes your breath away.

We do the 395 route coming from and going to Oregon. About a month away from the trek south right now, expecting some slippery lo the dawn leaving Reno. Very pretty and more our style driving vs. multi lane I-5.