Fellow Busnuts -
As all good fathers should do, I'm going to be helping my daughter move from Kelowna, BC to Gilbert, AZ. I will be assisting her F-I-L driving the U-Haul pulling a car trailer - this is not, unfortunately, a bus run. . . :(
Anyway, Don will do the first leg from Kelowna to Cheney, then the two of us will continue to Gilbert. Four hours each behind the wheel will put us right at about 400 miles per day, which, at our age, will pretty much be our limit, especially in a U-Haul! :o Anyway, per Google Maps, the shortest route from Cheney, WA to Gilbert, AZ is pretty straight forward, but there is a portion of the route that I'm not familiar with, and that's where I'm requesting help.
Initially, we'll be on I-84 down thru Boise to Twin Falls, ID. Easy. It's from Twin Falls south to Las Vegas is where I need advice.
GM's routing has us taking US-93 south from Twin Falls thru Jackpot and Wells, NV, then continuing south to Ely, NV. From Ely, it gives us the option of taking US-6 to NV-318 down to Crystal Springs, where we again pick up US-93 and continue south until we meet I-15 NE of Las Vegas. The other option from Ely is to stay on US-93, but it appears to have more mountain grades to cross and is approximately 75 miles further to Crystal Springs than the first option.
So, my question: Is anyone familiar with this route thru Nevada? I'd appreciate any feedback. We are on a time schedule due to the truck's rental agreement, so we can't deviate too far (like taking I-15 from it's junction with I-84 all the way to Las Vegas - altho that might actually be a better route in terms of possibly needing service.)
TIA!
RJ
Hey Russ,
Take a look at the attachment. It seems 318 is the better route. Less elevation change, straighter, and shorter. No personal experience on that route. If time is a big issue and the truck/car is too low, which doesn't seem likely, unhook and drive the car. Doesn't seem like it'd net you much savings though by the time you factor in the unhitching/hitching stops.
Good luck. Don
https://www.dropbox.com/s/aqlhwne2lmrskz5/ely-crystal%20springs.png?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/aqlhwne2lmrskz5/ely-crystal%20springs.png?dl=0)
We go both ways 318 is shorter none of the grades are bad the National Forest south of Ely is not bad either,plan your fuel stops though it can be a long ways between stations ,the highway is at the bottom of the mountains nice scenery
RJ, your daughter and family moving away from Kelowna?
We have gone both ways many times. Either way is nice. Good highways. And you mean Ash Springs, not Crystal Springs right... 93 is more scenic, but more grades, although they are not big. If you want to just "get there", take 318.
Keep it between the rumble strips...
JC