I used to go to Carson City from San Francisco along US 50. It's freakin' beautiful along that stretch. I think we picked it up at about Auburn, CA and all the way to Carson. Of course, it's been a few years. OK, decades.

I think I would take the longer US 50 route. I remember when half the adventure was getting there. Reading a road map, going through small towns, and enjoying long hours of solitude. Your kids might learn something.

I think a number of us will remember traveling before cars had air conditioning and in the absence of electronic devices. Driving through areas with no radio stations, and being told if we were bored to "look out the window".

Gotta laugh, on our bike trip from Co,thru Green River and on to 50 I remember this small bush that had about 4 cows huddled around it for shade, then in the middle of nowhere was this white horse, road thru a dust devil,got caught in road construction in the middle of nowhere. Good thing we had Goldwings and a BMW K1200lt that had the range and we all carried water....I would do it again.

I haven't driven it, yet. I have gone to Great Basin and also suggest you take the kids to the Lehman Caves, try to make reservations.

Here's a little story about Fallon, NV, I love these kinds of things. Be sure to go to the Maverick.

http://www.canyoncountryzephyr...ons-by-paul-vlachos/

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Probably spotty cell coverage, at best, if you get into trouble. That's what would concern me most.

Not picking on you or anything, but it amazes me how seemingly dependent we have become on these things.

I drove all over the lower 48 long before cell phones were around in POS vehicles far less reliable than those available today. Somehow I lived to remember it.

I say go for it. It is a desolate drive and there's a whole lot of nothing out there, but it is pretty in it's own way. You might consider doing it at night. More stars than you can imagine.