Old Highway 80

[echinus1988]

Does anyone have any good information on Old Highway 80 out to the west. I have yet to find a decent map of it or figure out how to pick it up in Arizona.

I see pictures but have yet to actually find a usable map, even on the Old Highway 80 page.

So, if you have taken it or found a map of it that is usable, I would sure appreciate the info so I can go south, pick it up and ride into San Diego on it. I'd like to see the plank highway section also.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Ride Safe!

[AZgl1800]

I just did a Google Maps search for "hwy 80 arizona" and it came right up with South South Bisbee, AZ

https://www.google.com/maps/place/AZ-80 ... 09.8274255

just zoom out and follow that along.

It appears that it terminates on I-10 at Benson, AZ

When I lived in Mesa, AZ and went to San Diego, I often would use the I-8 route which leaves I-10 near Eloy, AZ. Never heard of the planked road you speak of, and lived in AZ for 20 years.

[echinus1988]

That might be it. Still researching.

Take a look at this from Rider Magazine, it's how I learned about it. It has a picture of the old plank highway section. Going to Rider Magazine and search Historic US 80 and it should bring it up or copy and paste the link below.

https://ridermagazine.com/2018/12/14/th ... lank-road/

I'll need to read that article again. Looking at it again, I forgot it mentions the information I am looking for. Mainly the starting point and then I'll be good. Sounds like a rough road but fun. I'll have to work on it and continue my examination.

Thank you for your help.

Ride Safe!

[AZgl1800]

the reason I was not aware of that road, is that it is all west of Yuma, AZ....

I was always on I-8 and I do remember seeing those bridges off to the side of I-8

but, I was always in Point 'A' to Point 'B' mode running at 80mph back home to Mesa, AZ.

I once pulled off I-8 west of Yuma some 30-60 miles in a little place that had an A Frame building that served as a Convenience store, and had one gas pump... thank gawd for that, I was nearly empty at the time.... I had been running into 40-50 mph headwinds and not backing off the throttle, the '94SE GL1500 was guzzling fuel at an atrocious rate. Leaving San Diego, I was always able to make Yuma with a 1/4 tank left, or only using up 4.5-5.0 gallons to top off again. Not this one trip though.

gassed up at that little store, grabbed a pre-made sandwich, and headed out going east.

[landisr]

Using Google Maps, you can see what appears to be the western terminus of Old Hwy 80, just east of where it intersects with CA Hwy 79, west of Guatay, CA. It then goes east from there, although chasing it is like 'following' old Route 66. I think the plank section in that article is closer to Yuma, near Midway Campground (still in CA).

In Arizona, there are more stretches of it along I-8, east of Yuma, and also a nice section that runs from Gila Bend up towards Palo Verde and Buckeye. It's quite pretty and scenic, good pavement, and a nice 'back way' in to the Phoenix area.

Ron in AZ

[echinus1988]

I have more research to do on it because I may pick it up further east. Might not. I just want to ride it because those are the type roads I like. Not necessarily straight but untraveled. It sounds interesting but I also ran into information showing caution because of armed drug smugglers and traffickers (mainly south of I-8). Gotta keep an eye out I guess.

I won't spend a lot of time on it due to what I want to see. Yuma has 3 museums I want to visit and San Diego has 4. Then I want to ride Highway 1 up the coast and see the more rugged part. I missed Hwy 1 last year. I ended up on 101 and didn't realize I had to move over to pick up 1. I'll correct that this year. May head into San Francisco again to ride the hills and see Alcatraz. Also, isn't that curvy street there also?

Again, still more research for that trip. My Yellowstone, Bear Tooth, possibly Glacier is just about ready.

Ride Safe!

[landisr]

The street you're thinking of in SF is Lombard St.

[WingAdmin]

The street you're thinking of in SF is Lombard St.

I've driven down it, but never on a bike. It's typically so clogged with slow-moving cars and tourists that it wouldn't really be that much fun on a bike.

Lombard Street

[landisr]

True. I wonder how many "big" bikes have tumbled there.

[offcenter]

On a bike, it would be more fun going UP it.
But I believe it's one way going down.

[echinus1988]

Lombard St is now on my list of To Do in SF! I would have eventually looked it up but as usual, someone here has the information and will help. This is truly an amazing website with amazing people on it.

I'm still in the planning part of this trip. Not going to over plan, after all, I ride till I get ready to stop and stop. I try to limit my travel time and not push to get somewhere. This will be my September trip most likely. Still not decided whether to move it to May. I'm a bit excited to take it. Yellowstone in September is a nice trip also. Might do that to give me time to get back into shape! Other than round that is.

I am in the process of replacing my trunk rack since the PO broke a tap off inside it. Was going to get it removed and was told it was not going to be cheap. So I'm looking for an affordable rack. My local dealer took it down to $107 from $121 so I might go that route. I get the right one and I have local support from them. That came in handy when I had a hitch that didn't fit properly.

So, now that I have rambled, I will ask one more question of those more traveled than I am.

You always see Highway one running along the coast right on the ocean. Will I run into that running from San Diego up to Los Angeles and then up to San Francisco?

[landisr]

Regarding Lombard Street, there was just an item on the news saying that due to complaints from residents, SF is considering imposing a fee to go down it, and possibly a permit process. Seeing as how there are garages and driveways right among those maximum hairpin turns, and the fact that visitor traffic has increased over the years, I guess I can understand. So as your departure date approaches, it wouldn't hurt to check the SF web site and/or Google Lombard St ahead of time.

Ron

[WingAdmin]

On a bike, it would be more fun going UP it.
But I believe it's one way going down.

You're correct.