Colorado To California HWY 50

[rmalicki]

I've never been thru HWY 50 and i'm doing a lot of research to see if it may be a good idea and site see or if it is a really bad idea in a Fiat. There doesn't seem to be many gas stations so i'm a bit affraid of the running out of gas senorio. Any suggestions or people that have already done this please chime in. I'm in need of some inspiration or good advice. Thanks again!

[Danno]

I don't want to read about some boring trip made on a highly populated & boringly terrained road. I need some excitement in my life (the vicarious type, of course). Figure out what you are comfortable with, then do something different. lol. sorry that I'm no help.

[2ndwind]

Rather than getting any more spare parts together and being anxious about this trip, have some fun. Go down to the local AAA. Spend $$ on a membership if you don't already have one. Not only can they give you great travel tips re gas stations etc., you can get a tow if needed. Just keep an eye on your approximate location during the trip.

[Zippy]

The first thing I would do is figure out what kind of gas mileage I am getting and what my range is fully loaded. Then I would plot out my route and find towns within that range and see if they have a gas station. I used Google Earth and searched for gas stations along the route and it looks pretty good. There is a long stretch of US 50 that is also I-70 between Green River, UT and Salina, UT. I don't know if there is a parallel road for US 50 or not along that stretch.

How reliable has your car been since you've had it? Do you feel confident that you could fix any minor thing that broke along the way? Will you be traveling alone or with a companion that can help, or with someone who might feel unsafe if you left them with the car while you went for help?

Good luck with your adventure.

Al

[bajacalal]

AAA is good advice, a lot of people think AAA memberships are frivolous but when you're in the middle of nowhere in rural Oregon and it's raining cats and dogs and you find yourself needing a jump start, it's well worth $70/year to call their 800 number and have them send the closest available tow truck. I find myself in those sorts of situations quite often. Plus you get free maps, a lot of places offer AAA discounts and I avoid a lot of trips to the DMV by using them.

[rlux4]

AAA is great advice!
Those of you who were members in the summer of 08 will remember my adventure on my first trip up from SoCal to the Oregon campout weekend. I got stranded in Grants Pass, Oregon with an overheating problem. I had to spend three days there to try to get it diagnosed and fixed. It turned out to be the little gasket where the heater tube connects at the water pump had failed and the system would suck air in when it was running, not the head gasket I thought it might be. Anyway, my wife called AAA and explained the situation and they said they would cover all of the non-mechanical part of my expenses: towing, meals, motel rooms (my Mom was with me, so we needed two rooms). When I got home and we sent AAA the receipts they reimbursed us to the tune of over $900!
I should say that we have the "Plus" membership, so I'm not sure if these expenses would have been covered with the basic membership.
We would not be without AAA.
Ron

[NJFIAT1981]

Hey this sounds like a AAA commercial. I agree with everyone else on this matter. Go for the premium membership. They will tow you car up to 200 miles for free. They will bring you gas, jump start your car and even give you free passport photo's. I have used them a few times over the years. Always very efficent and friendly. They will even tow any vehicle that you as a member are in. It does not have to be yours. Well worth the money.

[cincifiat]

Not Colorado to Calf. but I took a trip (1989?)on a motorcycle with my wife on Rt 50 from Cincinnati to Ocean City Maryland. It was one of the best trips we ever took. Beautiful ride all the way up to DC and then on to the ocean. Now that I have the Fiat I would love to do it again. Would love to hear if you do it and post how the trip went.

Ray

[rocky]

Let me know when you get settled in Sacramento. It's not far from the San Francisco Bay Area. There is also a guy in Sacramento who has a ton of parts for our Spiders and he's great to work with. You'll like Sacto, although right now it is hot. Good luck.

Greg
'77 Spider

[av8vito]

I've driven US 50 from Utah to California many times. Between Ely NV and Fallon NV, there are only two fuel stops. One at Austin, and another at Erueka. There is absolutely no civilization other than these two towns. That being said, it's definitely a beautiful, nature drive. Didn't notice if there was complete cell phone coverage the whole way, but there is enough traffic that if you have a problem, someone will be along shortly. Pretty hot in the summer, and possible snow in the winter. I'd recommend Fall as a nice time to go. Don't miss the opera house in Eureka. It's resotred to its 1880's splendor, and hosts plays on the weekends. Stopped in when I spent the night in Eureka and was entertained by a good play, and an audience that dressed the part of 1880's westerners. Lots of fun.

[PENNEYTOM]

You'll have good cell phone coverage all the way. But I would suggest getting a cheap pre-paid phone that resides on another network in case your regular carrier's coverage is spotty in certain areas. The prepaids use the major networks (Verizon, AT&T).

[rmalicki]

Thanks for all the advice. I will definetly take all of your advice and get the AAA membership. I used to have one but never used it with my honda civic. I also have verizom as my cell carrier. Greg i will definetly let you know and thanks i will need a good guy with parts close i'm sure. I've put about 5000-6000 miles on the car while restoring since march and it so far has been great. I will be leaving saturday night at about 10p and stopping in Delta or Salt Lake depending on I70 route or Hwy 50 route an should be there about 10am. Then sleep till 7pm and drive the rest and should be in Sacramento around 7am monday morning. My girl is finishing interviews for Sacramento city Fire/EMS on tues at 3pm. Thanks for the advice and I will definetly be acting on it!
...West coast see you soon!

[2ndwind]

How was the trip?