Recommended Route to Tucson?

[General Alcazar]

I am planning a trip to Tucson from San Francisco in the next couple of weeks. I am going to have the weekend to get down there, and then I will be coming back on the following weekend.

Anyone have any recommendations on what route to take this time of year, that can be accomplished in two days?

I could take Rte. 5, but that just seems soooo boring.

My concerns are:

• Is it too late to try and get over Tioga Pass?
• If I do take something other than Rte. 5, is it going to be just too damn long a haul to make in two days?
• Is it just too damn cold to be riding over the Sierras now?

Any tips from more experienced riders would be much appreciated!

[General Alcazar]

Bump.

[G8ESCAP]

Well Jeff, it is a long haul, 865 miles. Depending on your long haul experience and endurance, two days of mostly slab might be best. Find some side trips of nice twisties or scenery along the way to break up that drone mode on the super slab.

I can help you locate some side trips if you like. Wish I had some time. I'd love to see Tucson again. That's where I'm from originally.

Dale

[General Alcazar]

Thanks Dale.

Yeah, that is the most direct route, for sure. I was kinda hoping I might be able to head down 395 if at all possible. I am wondering if anyone has any reasonable estimates of the time it takes to go from Mono Lake to Barstow?

[G8ESCAP]

Originally Posted by General Alcazar

Thanks Dale.

Yeah, that is the most direct route, for sure. I was kinda hoping I might be able to head down 395 if at all possible. I am wondering if anyone has any reasonable estimates of the time it takes to go from Mono Lake to Barstow?

Keeping it legal? 285 miles and 6 hours.

[General Alcazar]

Originally Posted by Gixxerdale

Keeping it legal? 285 miles and 6 hours.

Hmm. If I get an early enough start, that's do-able then.

I don't always trust the online maps' time estimates. Thanks!

[DaleC]

Jeff - I'd resist going freeway as much as humanly possible unless the weather turns for the worse going or coming. I'd plan for a fun ride over anyone of the passes and throw something interesting on the backside of the Sierra and on to Arizona, but if the weather reports indicate potential trouble for the following days then you can switch to something like going down to Bakersfield and going over the Tehachipi Pass (Hwy 58) and out I-40 to Flagstaff and head south on something non-freeway to Tucson. Of course a lot depends on your bike comfort and mileage appetite per day, but if I had two days to get to Tucson from San Ramon, I'd go something like this:

Total mileage 1171 miles and not that many freeway miles - pretty easy 2 day trip IMO.

Going over Tioga Pass (Stop at Tioga Tommy's near the junction of Hwy 120 and Hwy 395 for lunch or late breakfast. Continue East (off of Hwy 395 on Hwy 120 (the whoopti-do's) to Benton and turn south, Catch Hwy 395 to Hwy 136 and Hwy 190 through Death Valley, then Hwy 127 south.

In Arizona - I-40, Hwy 89, Hwy 169, Hwy 260, Hwy 87, Hwy 188, Hwy 77

DaleC

[General Alcazar]

Originally Posted by DaleC

Jeff - I'd resist going freeway as much as humanly possible unless the weather turns for the worse going or coming. I'd plan for a fun ride over anyone of the passes and throw something interesting on the backside of the Sierra and on to Arizona, but if the weather reports indicate potential trouble for the following days then you can switch to something like going down to Bakersfield and going over the Tehachipi Pass (Hwy 58) and out I-40 to Flagstaff and head south on something non-freeway to Tucson. Of course a lot depends on your bike comfort and mileage appetite per day, but if I had two days to get to Tucson from San Ramon, I'd go something like this:

Total mileage 1171 miles and not that many freeway miles - pretty easy 2 day trip IMO.

Going over Tioga Pass (Stop at Tioga Tommy's near the junction of Hwy 120 and Hwy 395 for lunch or late breakfast. Continue East (off of Hwy 395 on Hwy 120 (the whoopti-do's) to Benton and turn south, Catch Hwy 395 to Hwy 136 and Hwy 190 through Death Valley, then Hwy 127 south.

In Arizona - I-40, Hwy 89, Hwy 169, Hwy 260, Hwy 87, Hwy 188, Hwy 77

DaleC

Perfect! Just what I was looking for Dale. Thanks! I just wanted to get the inside skinny on those roads from someone who has been down around there. I wasn't absolutely sure that 1100 miles in two days was going to be do-able on some of those roads, if they were too twisty, small, or rough.

I'm not on a Goldwing, but then again, it's not a sportbike either. The longest trip I have taken on this bike so far is to Yosemite and back from SF, which ended up being about 450 miles in one day, after all was said and done - and we dawdled quite a bit. So, I think I should be able to add another 100 miles there no problem - especially if I get a nice and early start.

[DaleC]

Originally Posted by General Alcazar

So, I think I should be able to add another 100 miles there no problem - especially if I get a nice and early start.

Let the "Force" be with you Jeff, and give us a report when you get back (along with a photo or two or three).

You can do it!!

DaleC

P.S. Most of all ride safe and have fun!

[General Alcazar]

Originally Posted by DaleC

P.S. Most of all ride safe and have fun!

Will do!