Why not just go down I-5 to I-80 and across like Burning Man recommends?
Unless you are far south of Redding, CA, Interstate 80 is really out of the way. It’s perfect if you are in the Bay Area or south. Taking the routes we describe can shave 6 or more hours off your journey. The same is true if you are coming from Alberta, Idaho or Montana. The northern part of Nevada has very few decent roads that head to Gerlach, NV. If you have a clear interstate to Winnemucca, then it is worthwhile heading south to Interstate 80.
