Which route would you take (Los Angeles, San Francisco: how much, safer, moving)

[knrstz]

I'll be heading halfway cross country, leavin from San Francisco. Ultimately I need to end up on I80 in Nevada. I was curious about the differences between taking I80 east out of Sacramento or Hwy 50 into Nevada and joining up with I80 there. Is one route more scenic? Which is faster? If faster, by how much. Thanks in advance for any responses.

[BVitamin]

use google map, you know dragging the little person icon onto the map and you get to see what's around, albeit virtually.

I jumped around on both highways and the 50 seems more scenic, although one must consider when the pictures were taken. i80 looks like the pictures were taken during the summer cause nature is looking rather brown. Looks like you won't be able to go as fast on the 50 and looks like it's one lane on each side... yikes! I don't mind one lane so much just when I'm stuck behind a car moving along rather sluggishly. I mean cars that just doesn't care how many cars are behind them and are moving in a walking pace, Double you T-F!

GL

[bellalunatic]

I 80 is faster by at least an hour or so. Also, 50 has tolls, 80 does not. Didn't notice scenery much as I drove 50 at night once.

[Highnlite]

Also, 50 has tolls,

Eh? Where?

Folks tell me that it is faster from Reno to Salt Lake City via 50 than via I80. 50 is a

80 to Reno is much faster than 50 to Carson City though.

[bellalunatic]

Originally Posted by bellalunatic

I 80 is faster by at least an hour or so. Also, 50 has tolls, 80 does not. Didn't notice scenery much as I drove 50 at night once.

Originally Posted by Highnlite

Eh? Where?

Folks tell me that it is faster from Reno to Salt Lake City via 50 than via I80. 50 is a

80 to Reno is much faster than 50 to Carson City though.

Wow. I am a total spaz after 9pm..... I answered the question thinking of the trip as a whole from SF to Reno, not Sacto to Reno.
and I also meant to write 80 is toll (bridge) not 50. duh. me.
Thanks for catching that Highnlite.

[Highnlite]

No worries. To give the poster a bit more info, 80 runs in the only east west valley in Nevada, along the Truckee River, then the 40 mile desert, then up the Humboldt River, fairly boring for most people.

50 crosses the whole Horst Graben complex that makes Nevada, Nevada, numerous 7,000 foot+ passes and a sequence of quaint old mining towns, an interesting and pleasant drive.

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by bellalunatic

I 80 is faster by at least an hour or so. Also, 50 has tolls, 80 does not. Didn't notice scenery much as I drove 50 at night once.

It seems to me that practically every highway has the same scenery after dark. Headlights. Signs. Signals. No scenery.

That's why I always travel during the daytime. And safer too.

[knrstz]

Thanks for the info, everybody. It is greatly appreciated.

[sonarrat]

Halfway across the country.. SF to Reno? That's only a 4 hour drive. It's shorter than the drive to Los Angeles.