Looking For Route Advice OR, NV, UT, WY, MO

[Guest divey]

Dale124 and myself will be returning to Canada from Venture West (late June) via Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Montana. I'm looking for some route, accommodation, food, weather and/or tourist advice to help us plan the trip. Specifically, comments on the following would be appreciated:

 

- Hwy 140 from Klamath Falls, OR to Winnemucca, NV - issues with fuel stops, road conditions, weather conditions??

- I80 from Winnemucca to the Salt Lake City, UT area - can we expect any extreme weather, i.e. heat, winds??

- I80/Hwy 189 from Salt Lake City area to Jackson, WY

- Best route to take after leaving Jackson heading to Great Falls, MO

 

We don't have the luxury of spending extra days at each location but would like to get a taste of the areas as we travel through. We would prefer to stay off the Interstates (where feasible) but definitely don't have the off-roading/goat trail desires that Cowpuc and Tippy long for!! Thanks in advance to anyone who's willing to offer up their advice or suggestions.

 

Doug

[utadventure]

Doug-

 

Not a lot of choices from Winnemucca to SLC other than I-80. During the summer it can be pretty hot in the desert so travel early and hydrate often. Elko and Wendover are your biggest stops along the way.

Leaving Salt Lake, I would suggest going through Kamas, Ut via I-80/Hwy 40/UT248. From Kamas you can go to Evanston, WY via UT150 over Mirror Lake Road. Beautiful ride and great views. Once in Evanston you can go to Jackson via US89 or US189, both join back together south of Jackson.

 

Depending on timing and other things going on I may be able to ride part way and, I we're home, we have some room.

 

Just don't believe anything Condor and Lone Eagle have to say about us!!

 

Dave

[Zzyzx]

I agree with Dave regarding the heat across Nevada and Utah.

Unfortunately there's not really any back roads I would recommend taking across this area. Start early and you will be fine.

As for gas, food, etc, on I-80 headed east out of Winnemucca you will want to stop in Elko NV, then Wendover, NV on the NV Utah border.

Once you leave Wendover the next gas in just outside Salt Lake City, about a 110 mile ride.

After that you can stay on I-80 to Evanston WY. It's a nice ride up the mountains, or head north to Logan UT, then toward Jackson.

One note on Jackson, hotels run from around $125 and up and the cheaper motels fill up real fast.

Have fun on the ride and I will see you at Venture West.

[cowpuc]

Hi ya Sonshine, @divey!! Glad to hear you two troublemakers are fixing to hit the highway again together!! SOUNDS LIKE FUN!!

Wish I had advice on motels, got none.. I do know that Wendover has a Casino with really decent rates, good food and prices too.. Concerning ride options, if it were me and I were gonna do that much ickspress way anyway, I would head north out of Wells (on 80), go up 93 to Twin Falls, north up to 20 and to 26 and and back to 20 across to Idaho Falls, then 26 over to 89 and around to Jackson.. I would then grab a NP pass and scoot up thru Yellow Stone. Grab the Beartooth, back around to 89, up to Livingston. If not pressed for time, stay on 89 up to Great Falls, if pressed for time - 90 west thru Bozeman over to 15 and north to Great Falls..

Lot cooler going the way I am talking and AWESOME scenery.

Mountains is mountains, afternoon storms can be nasty - ride early to 1 pm and watch skies closely between 1 and 5 - them storms can come on real quickly..

If you do stay with your posted route - dont forget to stop at the Bonneville Salt Flats on the outskirts of Wendover. Go out on the flats and ride a few miles - really fun!!

Shell station in Wendover now has Bonneville stickers thanks to your ol Dad, stop and get one and put it on your bike and I will return your signature on Tweeks with mine on your bike :scared:next time we see each other..

Carry LOTS of water when crossing the desert regions and a little xtra gas. Aint so much for the ride but things can happen and get ugly real fast. Also nice to have in case you come to someone else broke down and they need water/gas - happened many times to us (both ways).. Dont forget to check air pressures with altitude changes. Winds? OH MY GOSH, they can come out of no where and blow ya sideways - Tweeks has a sticker that says "Windy Wyoming" and it means what it says. I always carry a set of dirtbike goggles for both Tip and I onboard - you would be surprised how handy they are (she is really really cute in hers). Even with a bike shield and glasses - that desert talcum powder like dirt gets in the wind and it is brutal!! Full face helmets with shields may be the answer for some but, if your traveling that way - watch your overheat inside of the helmet - heat stroke can be really subtle. Dont forget LOTS of good sunscreen and DONT FORGET LIPSCREEN SUNSCREEN (like chapstick)!! I use the lip screen on my nose, ear tips and over my eyes cause I cant stand sunscreen when it gets in my eyes from sweat - lip screen works awesome!! Dont trust no wooden indians that can talk or cowboys that dont have cowpoop on their boots.. Keep your tanks topped off out there. Buy candy bars for kids at gas station when ya get a chance (parents permission of course) - kids got it rough these days and its fun to see em smile!!

Wish we could ride with you two champs, have a BLAST out there - ride safe!!

Give our love to everyone at Venturewest Doug and heres some for you guys from Tip and I too!:bighug:

 

 

PS, dont forget 's and MORE 's to share with your ol buddy!!

Edited May 19, 2015 by cowpuc