pirlbeck

Iowa

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Heading out from Iowa to the Fresno,CA area in a couple of weeks to see some friends and will be driving I80 out to Reno. From Reno Mapquest shows 3 different possible routes with time and distance being close enough that I would consider any of them. The 3 choices are shown as CA-99, I-5S and CA-4. Traveling with a truck camper, my wife and 7 year old grandson if it makes a difference. My only preferences are I would like to avoid very heavy traffic if possible and Vegas type heat.
Also looking suggestions for short stops along I80 to break the trip up and to entertain the grandson.
Thanks!
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Dick_B

Palos Heights, IL USA

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Mountain Directory West is a good resource.
IMHO there is nothing you can do to entertain a 7 year old on a trip like that.
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MarkTwain

Northern, Ca. , USA

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pirlbeck wrote: Heading out from Iowa to the Fresno,CA area in a couple of weeks to see some friends and will be driving I80 out to Reno. From Reno Mapquest shows 3 different possible routes with time and distance being close enough that I would consider any of them. The 3 choices are shown as CA-99, I-5S and CA-4. Traveling with a truck camper, my wife and 7 year old grandson if it makes a difference. My only preferences are I would like to avoid very heavy traffic if possible and Vegas type heat.
Also looking suggestions for short stops along I80 to break the trip up and to entertain the grandson.
Thanks!
I-80 to Reno to Sacramento then south of Hwy. 99 to Fresno is the most direct route. From Salt Lake City to Reno is a long route with very little to see or do and it will be hot. Little small towns with casinos.
Be sure and have your air conditioner checked out before you start . Look for state rest stops once you get to Calif. The temp in Sacramento is 100 deg. today. From Sac. to Fresno is about the same. Depending on your time schedule, break up your trip with motel stops with pools and try to drive until you start getting the hot afternoon temps.
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IdaD

Idaho

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DVD player until you get into western Wyoming, then it'll start to get scenic. Park City is beautiful and along the way and would be a great place to spend a night and part of a day, and it should be fairly cool there. There would be lots of possible activities there. After you leave Salt Lake you'll need to fire up the DVD player again until Reno, that'll be a pretty boring stretch for a 7 year old. Motel/Pool stops are a good idea. Once you get past Reno, Tahoe would be a cool place to check out.
You probably know this already but if you're looking to avoid heat, Fresno in August is not an ideal destination.
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jmtandem

western nevada

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Quote: . My only preferences are I would like to avoid very heavy traffic if possible and Vegas type heat.
Travel south from Reno on I580/US395 to Minden/Gardnerville about 45 miles and then take SR 88 to Stockton and then south on SR 99 to Fresno. You will not be disappointed taking SR 88. Lots of scenery. Not a lot of traffic.
* This post was
edited 07/29/19 03:43pm by jmtandem *
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ppine

Northern Nevada

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I agree with jmtandem.
US 395 south to Route 88 over Carson Pass.
On a weekday I would consider route 49 south. instead of SR 99 which is boring and has a ton of traffic.
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dicknellen

Fallon Nevada

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jmtandem wrote: Quote: . My only preferences are I would like to avoid very heavy traffic if possible and Vegas type heat.
Travel south from Reno on I580/US395 to Mindan/Garnderville about 45 miles and then take SR 88 to Stockton and then south on SR 99 to Fresno. You will not be disappointed taking SR 88. Lots of scenery. Not a lot of traffic.
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dicknellen

Fallon Nevada

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To avoide Reno traffic you could take exit 48 or 46 at Fernley and then Alt 95 S to hwy 50 West into Carson City then 395 to SR88 or a new hwy that connects with 50 to carson city at exit 32 then 439 to 50. We have taken SR 88 to avoide Reno and Sacramento in our motorhome pulling our toad.
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dedmiston

Valencia

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My dad taught me to read the AAA maps at a young age. Give him the map, show him what the little darts and numbers mean, and then get him actively involved in watching the towns and the miles go by.
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pirlbeck

Iowa

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OK, thanks for the route ideas, I will copy and paste these suggestions into my word doc that I have for info on this trip.
As far as the 7 year old, we realize that it is going to be a lot of riding for him, but we are hoping to not be too rushed and have too big of days driving. We are taking a personal DVD player and a number of kids DVD's. Also, we have a number of kids books about the states and some follow along type maps, with one that is a scratch off as we travel through the states. Grandma also borrowed some hand held video games from a friend just for this trip. He normally does not get to play with games of this type, so we hope they will help keep him from being bored.
After the CA portion of this trip we are heading up the coast and ending up in the Portland area where our oldest son lives with his family. We want the 7 year old to be able to spend some time with his 2 cousins. The older one is about his age and unfortunately they do not get the opportunity to see each other as often as we would like.
Thanks for the help!
Edit to add: Yes I am aware of the temps most likely being 90-100 in the area we are heading, but that is still 5-15 cooler then Vegas. And I just serviced (recovered, vac, recharge and cleaned condenser) my truck AC over the weekend.
* This post was
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edited 07/29/19 05:17pm by pirlbeck *
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