Routing Help, Reno to Flagstaff- 395 or 95? Options

[csvreno]

We're taking a trip starting May 23 from Reno, and I want to avoid being hung up at Hoover Dam. Which route is better for a 35' gas Class A; via Barstow on 395, or through Searchlight on 95? It's the first leg of a trip to southern Illinois, so we'll be fairly well loaded. (the rig, not us!) Any advice would be appreciated.

[Texasrvers]

csvreno,

I'm sorry that I can't say which would be the better route that you have asked about, but I did want to tell you that we have been over the Hoover Dam several times in our class A (the most recent time being last Jan. and Feb.) and we have never had any trouble or a long wait. It is a bit slow going because of the twisty curves and the sightseers, but the inspection of the vehicle has always been very fast. In fact the RV lane at the inspection station rarely has any vehicles in it, and even then the officers work quickly. We have to open all our underneath bins, and one person comes inside and just looks around a little, and then we're on our way. So if you are not going that way just because of the dam, I'd say don't let it stop you. It's not bad at all.

We have also driven Hwy 95 from Las Vegas through Searchlight and then over through Laughlin to Kingman, but it has been about 3 years. Back then 95 was 2 lanes and had lots of 18 wheelers because they cannot go over the Hoover Dam and this is their detour route. However, the road from Laughlin to Kingman was 4 lanes and newly redone--if any of that makes a difference to you.

Hope this helps you some.