A road trip along California Highway 395 from Southern California to Reno, Nevada is a mix of beautiful scenery, colorful small towns, delicious food and instagrammable spots. It’s an alternative to busy interstates, and with so many places to explore, itineraries as long as a week are possible.
Road Trip: California Highway 395
I’ve been on several Highway 395 road trips, so I see and stop many times, and each time I discover something new. It takes 10 and a half hours from San Diego, but we will stay overnight on the way. The official start of the Highway 395 road trip is Victorville (7.5 hours total) and the magic begins from there in about an hour.
Ransburg Living Ghost Town
About 110 miles northbound at an elevation of 3,500 feet lies a former mining town. Ransburg. Together with nearby Johannesburg and Red Mountain, it makes up the Rand region, once home to 3,000 miners and their families. The main attractions are the mining museum, general store, and soda shop. A 1-mile trek to the main city center offers a small resting area, restrooms and plenty of photo opportunities.
Olancha lemon house and jerky
Next, don’t miss the bright yellow color. Lemon House Inn Located in a small town called Olancha just outside Lone Pine. It is a great landmark for taking pictures on the roadside. I have never stayed at this property and only stopped here once to take pictures.Olancha also has its headquarters Gus fresh jerky, A roadside landmark famous for its many billboards along the drive.
Bishop, California – Gateway to the Mountains
Bishop is one of my favorite towns and the one I stay in most often. This is about the halfway point of the drive and he one of the big ‘little’ towns along the route. It is home to a Dutch-run company. Eric Schatz Bakery, Here you’ll find the famous shepherd’s bread and made-to-order sandwiches. The smell alone is enough to draw me in, so I always stop by to buy delicious snacks and souvenirs. There is also a beautiful park across the street with a creek with great mountain views.
On one occasion, we added a two-hour detour to the Loews Railroad Museum and Historic Village. A few miles north of Main Street. This donation-based museum features 11 acres of exhibits that pay tribute to the 1800s railroad station of Loews and its nearby village. With 44 buildings and trains to explore, including a gold mine exhibit, there’s a lot to learn about the history of the area. If you have time, don’t miss it.
Oops Nelly Deli – Lee Vining
At the junction with Hwy 160 (Road to Yosemite), wind through the mountains and you’ll come across a discreet Mobil gas station. It’s more than that. There are spots in the station that you definitely want to stop by.of Who Nelly Deli Enjoy delicious food with stunning views of Mono Lake.
This family-run deli’s menu includes “world-famous” fish tacos, burgers, salads, breakfast burritos, and more. On our second visit, we finally got to try the fish tacos. On my first visit, they only served breakfast.
The restaurant is open seasonally from late spring to early autumn. An on-site convenience store stocks neighborhood souvenirs, maps, and anything a traveler might need on their way to Yosemite or the rest of the Sierra Nevada. Gasoline is what you buy here only if you need it. Because the prices are considerably higher than Valley.
independence, bridgeport, ice cream
For a quick photo shoot, Court of Independence and Bridgeport are historic landmarks worthy of your next stop. Inyo County Courthouse in Independence was built in his 1920s, and Mono County Courthouse in Bridgeport was built in his 1880s, both still in use today.
independence is also Eastern Sierra Ice Cream Company, Housed in a charming historic home on 395, it’s locally made and some of the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted. It’s a pity that I can’t repeat it because it’s only open on weekends from April to October.
Where to stay during your road trip
There are many accommodation options along the route, from camping to RV parks to motels. I’ve stayed at Bishop all my travels so far, and one of my favorite places to stay is the RV and tent friendly accommodation. Browns Town Campground Due to its proximity to the city and amenities. There are cafés, shops, laundry and even a museum of the Old West on site.
Plus, it was easy to find a motel room through the Priceline app even if we arrived too late or were too tired to pitch our tent. We look forward to extending our stay to other towns such as Big Pine, Lone Pine and Mammoth Lakes on our next trip.
rest stop, vista point, petrol
I often use rest areas to stretch my legs, admire the scenery, or use the restroom. His three main rest stops along the route have facilities such as picnic areas and vending machines. You are allowed 8 hours of sleep in the car at rest areas. Additionally, there are some viewpoints where I always stop and photograph the changing scenery from above.
There are many towns along the route, so the lack of petrol stations is rarely a concern for long journeys. However, apps like Gas Buddy and GPS can help you determine price and distance while on the go.
weather advice
Highway 395 is not year-round accessible, even for four-wheelers, so it’s important to check California road conditions before beginning your trip. I’ve been on this drive in different seasons and each one had a different experience. Changes in altitude can cause sudden temperature changes, and temperatures can reach 80 degrees at Bishop, but 40 degrees at higher elevations.
During our trip in late spring, we encountered a rainstorm that turned to snow within minutes. He watched the car’s thermometer go up and down by 50 degrees and the road went from wet to dry within 30 minutes.
Driving along Highway 395 between Southern California and the Sierra Nevada area is one of my favorite drives. I haven’t even scratched the surface of what to see, eat, and do yet, but I drive often and look forward to discovering each time. I prefer the highway to the freeway, even if it means getting stuck behind a slow car on the one-lane section of the highway. For me, the important thing is the journey, not the destination.
Kelly Dukat is a freelance writer, photographer and event planner currently based in the United States. She spent this past year as a nomad, traveling and staying home. She has a journalism degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and was previously an editor for a trade publication. Her favorites include traveling with dogs, road trips and nomadic living. She is currently working on her memoir and a series of personal essays.
