Looking out from inside Hidden Cave near Fallon, Nevada, across the desert basin

US-395 · 13 stops · N→S

Highway 395 — Eastern Sierra

The full route from the reel, north to south: every stop and my pins.

Open this route in Google MapsPart 1 of 3: Hidden Cave to Mono Lake Vista Point. Free, no sign-up. Part 2 of 3: Mono Lake Vista Point to Bishop → Part 3 of 3: Bishop to Alabama Hills — Whitney Portal →

13 stops, north to south. Google Maps takes up to 3 in-between stops per link on a phone, so the route opens as 3 parts.

Road essentials

Quick grabs for the drive. Open the listing, or add it straight to your Amazon cart.

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Gear for this drive

EUHOMY 37-qt 12V Portable Fridge/FreezerCold food and drinks between stops, no ice needed. Amazon.Add to cart
weBoost Drive Reach RV Signal BoosterTurns 1 bar to 4 in remote spots. Amazon.Add to cart

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Take the map with you

Printable route poster: Highway 395 — Eastern Sierra
Route poster: Highway 395 — Eastern SierraDigital download, 13 stops on one map. Nothing is shipped. Get the poster — $12

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Highway 395, Eastern Sierra: route map with all 13 stops

Here's the exact route we ran down 395. Tap any stop to open it in Google Maps. Stops tagged free stay are spots you can overnight for $0.

  1. Fallon, NV

    Hidden Cave

    A real cave you can hike into off 395.

    Open in Maps

  2. Virginia City — Washoe Club

    Old-west mining town + the historic (haunted) Washoe Club.

    Open in Maps

  3. Wa She Shu Travel Plaza free stay

    Free place to park overnight.

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  4. Bridgeport, CA

    Travertine Hot Springs free stay

    Natural hot springs, and free places to camp nearby.

    Open in Maps

  5. Mono Lake

    Mono Lake Vista Point

    The tufa towers: best view of the lake.

    Open in Maps

  6. Mono Visitor Center

    Worth a stop for the history + overlook.

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  7. Devil's Postpile & Mammoth Lakes worth the detour

    Wild basalt columns + the Mammoth Lakes area.

    Open in Maps

  8. Hot Creek Geological Site

    Steaming geothermal creek in a canyon.

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  9. Bishop, CA

    Bishop

    Awesome little town: food, shops, resupply.

    Open in Maps

  10. Ancient Bristlecone Forest

    The oldest trees on Earth, some over 4,000 years old.

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  11. Manzanar

    WWII-era Japanese internment camp. Sobering, important history.

    Open in Maps

  12. Lone Pine Movie Museum free stay

    Drive to the filming spots nearby, and stay free on the BLM desert land.

    Open in Maps

  13. Alabama Hills

    Alabama Hills — Whitney Portal free stay

    Iconic filming locations, free overnight stays, at the base of Mt. Whitney.

    Open in Maps

All 13 stops

Quick list. Tap any to open it in Google Maps.

  1. Hidden Cave Maps
  2. Virginia City — Washoe Club Maps
  3. Wa She Shu Travel Plaza free Maps
  4. Travertine Hot Springs free Maps
  5. Mono Lake Vista Point Maps
  6. Mono Visitor Center Maps
  7. Devil's Postpile & Mammoth Lakes Maps
  8. Hot Creek Geological Site Maps
  9. Bishop Maps
  10. Ancient Bristlecone Forest Maps
  11. Manzanar Maps
  12. Lone Pine Movie Museum free Maps
  13. Alabama Hills — Whitney Portal free Maps

Short on time? Drive just 3 stops

Bristlecone Pine Forest → Manzanar → Alabama Hills · 72 miles · about 2 hr 24 min. Route map, verified facts, a save button and gear.

Open the 3-stop route

Building your own rig?

The real numbers from our Ford E-450 build.

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The gear that got us there

Everything we packed for the road: solar, fridge, the free-camping memberships.

See the gear & resources How we sleep free: Harvest Hosts (20% off)