Photo by CountyLemonade@Flickr.com CC BY 2.0
An Interstate 80 Road Trip, Stages 1 & 2: The California Gold Country and Nevada
When I’m in the mood to get away from everything and most everyone, I’ll choose to take to the sparse and ruggedly beautiful wide-open spaces on an Interstate 80 road trip.
Oftentimes, my primary purpose for heading out on the road is to infuse my soul with what I lack in my day-to-day life:
Freedom.
Adventure.
Being alone with my thoughts. Or with some bellicose buddies. Both are equally worthy.
At the risk of sounding like a loner and a crank, getting as far away from the multitudes of consumers and stressed-out strivers as humanly possible is my motivation. The desolate and expansive surroundings of Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Nebraska satisfies my wanderlust and inspires my imagination like few places I’ve been.
Lord knows, there are more lush and classically scenic routes one could take. An Interstate 80 road trip isn’t about staying at cute bed-and-breakfasts or passing through a quaint or affluent town every three minutes. Go drive down the California Coastal Highway if that’s what you’re seeking.
But for soaking in the real America – with all her varied landscapes and inhabitants, panoramic views and often harsh weather – then I-80 is hard to beat.
My last trip took me from San Francisco to Lexington, KY and here are some of this writer’s favorite stops on this 2,400 mile trip. I purposely left out large cities like San Francisco, Sacramento and Salt Lake City as there are plenty of travel sites that have those covered. The focus here is on the smaller cities and towns.
Since I am most decidedly not a shutterbug, I’ve included some beautiful photos from the talented folks at Flickr that capture the essence of the lands along the route. You can also use the map below to follow along and click on the balloons for various notes and thoughts on that particular place.
View Interstate 80 Road Trip in a larger map
Stage 1: Gold Rush Country & The Sierras
Auburn, CA Photo by aresauburn@flickr.com CC BY 2.0
After you leave the congestion behind in Sacramento, you will start the long, steady climb through the Sierra Nevada foothills. This will be the most scenic stretch of the Interstate 80 road trip no matter what time of year you go. There are plenty of turnouts, rest areas and towns along the way that afford you the opportunity to relax and partake of the mountainous beauty without deviating far off your path.
Colfax, CA Photo By Loco Steve @ Flickr.com CC BY 2.0
The towns of Auburn, Colfax and Truckee are recommended for these purposes and all have ample dining, lodging and fueling options. Because of the beauty of the surroundings, spending a little extra time in the area is well worth the delay to your schedule. Lake Tahoe is a skip and a jump from I-80 by taking Highway 89 near Truckee.
The Truckee-Donner Lake area is where the ill-fated Donner Party expedition came to a halt by a massive blizzard in 1846. If you don’t have time to check out the Donner Memorial State Park to the south, there is a vista point on eastbound I-80 that offers a grand view of Donner Lake.
Donner Lake Photo By Loco Steve @ Flickr.com CC BY 2.0