Winter Traveling Advice from Washington To Arizona

Buffalo, OG was right, it was only the political portion of the post that should be edited out, as I previously stated.  It should be removed as it violates the no politics policy.  

Oh so sorry...I lost my head...just have had such a bad experience...campgrounds overpriced food, gas and facilities, people regulations...that I lost my sense of perspective...I’ll just keep to the nice things and and forget about the rest

As a rainbird from the upper left hand corner...avoid California like the plague...to expensive, gas, to crowded, crappy state parks. Go down through e wa to NE or, to Idaho cross at twin falls down the las Vega run through ely...cut over to zona chill for awhile then head to deigo on 10 or any other southern route. Don’t worry about snow and ice...in March it ain’t that bad...just stay out of California it will drain your pocketbook...just my humble opinion 

Consider 395 to Reno, 50 to Ely, then 93 to Las Vegas.  Since you aren't likely to be driving 70 on a freeway, these mostly 2 lane road have little traffic and lots to see and enjoy.  If you do 50, called the loneliest highway, be sure to keep an eye on your gas and don't pass a gas station between Fallon and Ely with out filling up.  It's likely to be the same from Ely to Las Vegas.  Even though these areas are remote, you'll find gas prices far better than the over $5 a gal. that is typical on 395 between the NV state line and near Mojave.  As for things being closed in CA due to Covid, we've cancelled 2 trips to the Bay Area since early Dec. and are likely to cancel a 3rd scheduled for the end of this month.

I5 would probably be the quickest, and going coastal (Route 1 and 101 mostly) would be spectacular, but a lot slower. I would consider US 395 maybe a good compromise. We love a lot about it, it's less traveled for the most part, and the views are out of this world.