BajaNomad

From Calixico to Las Vegas

mcfez - 10-14-2012 at 07:53 PM

Can you recommend a driving route?

Cisco - 10-14-2012 at 08:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mcfez
Can you recommend a driving route?


Going North stay on the east side of the Salton Sea Deno. West side has a permanent checkpoint...let me look at the map...yea, looks like hwy 111 on the east side. If you need to sleep go to the slabs east of Niland.

That checkpoint is where the road comes out from Julian and Banner Grade I think. West side of the sea at any rate and there is always a long wait northbound and they are real a-holes.

East side go to Mecca (top of the sea) and hang a right, you will then go through what is called, I think, box canyon which puts you out at the southern entrance to Joshua Tree park. Go through the park to 29 palms and you are good to go.

Hang a right in 29 palms and whatever road that is will curve and take you up to 15. Pretty drive, lot of two lane with no traffic and some really cool cinder cones to look at.

windgrrl - 10-14-2012 at 08:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mcfez
Can you recommend a driving route?


Hi - we take the 8, then 115 at Brawley, then 78, the 95 North at Blythe, there's new road that bypasses El Centro off of the #8. Google map will show this route. It's a very interesting drive.

[Edited on 10-15-2012 by windgrrl]

mcfez - 10-14-2012 at 08:59 PM

Thank you both! WLUK how the driving was.

daveB - 10-14-2012 at 09:32 PM

East side of Salton sea also has a permenant checkpoint on 111, just before Bombay Beach. If the weather looks to being, or becoming, wet, stay away from Box Canyon east of Mecca, get onto I-10 instead.

Calexico to LV

yawaraman - 10-15-2012 at 07:57 AM

Go with Windgirlls route if you want the best route, Ciscos is the senic route, Box Canyon and JTNP are both slow, and you just end up in 29 or Yucca Valley, from there might as well take 239 to Lucern then Barstow and pick up 15.
Checkpoints are checkpoints you just roll the dice.

mcfez - 10-15-2012 at 09:54 AM

Again...txs for all the info.

Cisco .....that;s a great route! I will take that next time when I have time. Wow!

Windgirl.......you get the free chicken dinner prize! Do share it with yawaraman....

Cisco - 10-15-2012 at 10:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by daveB
East side of Salton sea also has a permenant checkpoint on 111, just before Bombay Beach. If the weather looks to being, or becoming, wet, stay away from Box Canyon east of Mecca, get onto I-10 instead.



Came southbound out of Mecca to the Slabs in April and was unaware of that checkpoint. Thanks.

It's getting to the point where they are everywhere. In San Diego county on the BLM land I enjoy camping on CBP comes and checks me out and asks that I leave for my own safety as I am in a high traffic narco zone. When I reply that I know they are watching all the time and how safe I feel knowing they are around they get frustrated.