Ron_H

What say you about US 80/alt 93 from Reno to Wells versus US 50 from Reno to Ely? I know US 80 from Reno to Winnemucca. It loves 928s so long as the occasional truck poking along is spotted in advance. Since I have an aversion to bears, does anyone in Utah or Nevada know how to keep from irritating my allergy?

dr bob

I've driven 50 across there more than once. Radar/laser detector is very helpful. NHP used to keep the radar on "idle" all the time, so it was easy to get a warning well before I was in range, using a good detector. I don't know if they use any rolling laser yet.

I also got in the habit of running a scanner tuned to their air-to-ground so I could get a heads-up on aircraft ops. That was mostly on the I-80 section between Tracy and Fernley, though. Never got a peep out of it once east of Fallon on 50.

Generally, the truckers are the best clue on that section. More than a few times I'd be cruising at 80+ in the Explorer, and have a semi come by me at well over 100. If they are driving fast, it's a safe bet that you can too.

Ron_H

Muchas gracias Dr Bob. I use a V-1 and a bear tracker and a CB. Not much space left in my ear for tunes though. I agree with the truckers being the best source for warnings. I also like to talk to them. I can also take some fresh donuts along, just in case.

bigs

Hey Ron!

Where you aiming to eventually end up?

US 50 is a wonderful road. Take I 80 from Reno for a ways, then drop down to US 50 through Fallon, NV. I've driven that road a few times, and the bears are extremely rare. Plus, due to the few small mountain ranges there, you get to travel through alternating courses of winding mountain roads then long valley straights many times over. So you can enjoy the twisties, then open 'er up and let 'er rip.

Plus, you get to go past Area 55 where you may either see a UFO or be mistaken for one!

If you're coming into Utah, switch to US 6 just past Ely and come through Delta, UT. The scenery ain't much in that part of the state, but the road is long and empty - if you catch my drift.

Let me know where you're eventually going to be in Utah, and I'll give you an expert review of the greatest roads known to man - memorized from my motorcycle days.

Ron_H

Thanks for the tips Bigs. I am heading for Indianapolis for the US Grand Prix, then Hershey for the Porsche Parade, so my direction will be Grand Junction.

bigs

OK. If you're driving US 50 through NV, and you need to make good time and just get through Utah, stay on 50 out of Delta to Holden. At Holden, pick up I-15 northbound for a ways til you hit Scipio. Drive through the hamlet of Scipio and you'll be back on US 50 on your way to Salina. When you reach Salina, drive through town and pick up I-70. From there it's a straight shot to Grand Junction.

I-70 from Salina to Green River is actually very nice and very scenic as well as a pretty good driver's road. From Green River on, the landscape will look much like an old worn-out carpet.

But...

If you have time and want to have a marvelous driving and scenic experience:

Just inside the Utah border, peel off US 50 onto Utah 21 south to Milford. (This will be the west desert and will be dreary scenery. Be patient.) Turn south at Milford to Minersville. From there, I'd suggest you stay on Utah 21 and pick up I-15 at Beaver. Drive I-15 south for maybe 40mi to Cedar City.

Cedar City might be a good place to spend the night, because you'll want to drive the next leg of the trip in daylight! And take your camera.

Take Utah 14 out of Cedar City up over Cedar Breaks. Gorgeous country. Stop at some of the overlooks along the way. Cedar Breaks National Monument is a short drive off the main road if you have an extra hour. When you come down from Cedar Breaks, you'll hook up with US 89. Turn left (north) and drive maybe 20 miles through nice high mountain valleys until you reach Utah 12 to Bryce Canyon. Turn right on Utah 12 and enjoy driving one of the great roads in the country. If you have time, you can make a quick stop at one of the Bryce Canyon overlooks. You'll have to pay to enter the National Park, but it's worth it if you have an extra hour.

Stay on Utah 12 until you meet up with Utah 24 at Torrey. By the time you reach Torrey, you will have driven over and through just about every kind of scenery and topography known to man. Pull off on some of the overlooks here and there. Did I mention to bring your camera? At Torrey, turn right onto Utah 24 and you'll go through Capitol Reef National Park to Hanksville.

At Hanksville, stay on Utah 24 northeast-bound until you hook up with I-70 just as it comes down from the San Rafael Swell heading into Green River.

Or, at Torrey, you can also turn left and go through Bicknell and Lyman. Then, just before Loa, turn right onto Utah 72 up over the mountains to pick up I-70 at Fremont Junction. You can then stay on I-70 over the San Rafael Swell into Green River. The second option is a faster road, but perhaps slightly less scenic than Capitol Reef. Sixes in my book.

Edit: If you take the scenic route and get an early start out of Cedar City, you should be able to make Grand Junction by night - even with some stops to admire the scenery.

bigs

Ron -

Sheesh! I forgot the most important info: bear habits!

As a general rule, Utah bears reside fairly near towns. They don't like to waste their time and gas setting up speed traps out in the wilderness when they can nab the unwary and meet their quotas just as easily much closer to Dunkin'. So, I usually reel back the speedo a little as I approach maybe within 10-15 miles of a town. This is especially true for the interstates.

Utah bears love to lurk in the median of interstates and under dark overpasses.

I have never in my life seen aircraft patrols in Utah - despite what road warning signs may claim.

The small town of Salina is notorious for speed traps on a two-lane stretch of road just outside the far side city limits just before the I-70 on-ramp. I think the speed limit is kept ridiculously low on this stretch of road and it is commonly patrolled by "Sheriff JimBob." It's only maybe 2-3 miles long, and since you've left town, it looks like it ought to be at least a 55 limit. IIRC, it's much less. Beware of entering Salina and leaving Salina!

Beaver picks up a little extra revenue from I-15 as well. If you take the scenic route, be careful entering and leaving the Beaver area! (Words to live by in more ways than one, I suppose!)

There are a fair number of county mounties that drive American SUV's - without lights on top. So don't assume an SUV is automatically non-threatening.

I don't believe I've ever seen a single patrol car on the entire length of Utah 12. I've driven it maybe 2 dozen times.

I've never seen motorcycle cops anywhere in Utah except Salt Lake.

If you're approaching a "suspicious looking" Crown Vic or SUV from behind, all Utah patrol cars have an "EX" license plate. (Stands for "exempt" from property tax.) So, if you can see far enough ahead, or if you have a sidekick who can check through a pair of binoculars, all types of patrol cars will have a license plate with maybe 5 numbers and a small vertical "EX." There are rare undercover cars that are exceptions, but these are very rare.

Ron_H

Bigs, thanks for all the great tips and particularly those about alternate routes and bear habits. I am thinking of taking your advice and seeing some sights as I pass through, though it will mean another day. I usually move along at a "brisk" pace but you've painted an intriguing picture.