Interstate 40 in California: Barstow to Needles | Mojave Desert Scenic Drive

[@dennisandry1632]

Last time I went this far out as I live in the HD since '16 was that I went back to a favorite... WINSLOW AZ...then came back to see SEDONA for the first time. So beautiful each time I go. 😊

[@dennisandry1632]

That trip wás in '18.

[@extralock1045]

I've only ever been to Barstow once, until recently. I went through Barstow to Las Vegas for a day trip, got to see a bunch of nice lights at night. Then right after that the Northern Lights came far south, so I drove 100 miles each way to Barstow, 3 days in a row to see the lights. Ended up putting 1,500 miles on my car in a week! Haha! It's nice up there! Cajon pass is pretty hard on the car though. Got to get speed up before the hill. I can go 54 MPH up the cajon pass at 2,700 RPM. But if I need to slow down for any reason, I can only really get up to around 45 MPH without revving the snot out of the car. Luckily 3 of the 4 times I went it was a traffic jam, going about 5-10 MPH.

[@richardwells9033]

I definitely like desert landscapes.

[@InterstateKyle]

They are very underrated in my opinion!

[@TK-gm3xg]

You know what would be cool? Having a map in a corner showing where you are on map.

[@teresat7596]

Thanks for sharing this video! Going to drive this route to New Mexico. Very grateful for the preview of what to expect for this stretch of the trip.

[@ronhyde]

Wonderful video. Thank you!

[@travist.7279]

Thanks for this. I've lost count of my trips over this road. Each year, the truck traffic gets a little worse. It's like that all the way to Oklahoma City. At times, during this video, I could almost hear you cussing at that those trucks. The "A$$HOLE ALERT" sign was classic! Thanks also for mentioning the idiocy of not continuing I-40 all the way to I-5. Saved me a lot of typing. No one has ever been able to explain that decision. In fact, up until the 1990's, it was nearly impossible to make the connection from I-40 to SR 58. Now though, with the completion of that new freeway and interchange in Bakersfield, the connection to I-5 is close to reality.

[@dogbarbill]

37:35 I love the desert, and love driving through it.

[@InterstateKyle]

Me too!

[@scottg391]

I can't remember the last time I went 300+ on the 40.... Ludlow in 11 minutes... Nice....

[@dwood78part23]

Most "road warriors" for some reason don't find I-40 in CA as interesting a drive- thus why there's hardly even videos on it on YT. Thanks for posting this & Happy Birthday!

[@BagBreakerMMA]

Anyone who calls himself “road warrior” better be younger than 20, otherwise it’s really cringeworthy

[@extralock1045]

@@BagBreakerMMA I'm a driver, not a warrior. I drive slow and steady. Managed to wrack up 20,000 miles in 8 months! Haha. I go rarely any faster than 55 MPH, unless downhill on a very steep grade 6% or more.

[@brs293]

Glad to hear your thoughts at the end of the video.

[@sumo434]

Never had the chance to see Interstate 40 from Barstow (in similar videos they always go directly to Las Vegas), thanks for the video! Love it, it is a brand-new journey for me.

[@InterstateKyle]

Interstate 40 deserves some love too!

[@BNTheRoadFanatic]

7:11 Never would I have thought I would see Kyle cuss in a video, but here we are. (IK it's just on screen text and not his actual voice, but YGWIM)

[@katereitzel]

Also love this drive.

[@InterstateKyle]

Me too!

[@tonylagergren5417]

I love driving through the Desert, especially from Carson City to Las Vegas, I would love to drive this route sometime.

[@InterstateKyle]

That is one of the best drives in the U.S. love the wide open landscapes!

[@S_Over_Street]

I also hope sometime in my lifetime that I-40 is extended from Barstow to I-5 west of Bakersfield replacing CA58. Now that Caltrans has finally completed that freeway extension in Bakersfield for CA58 w/ the CA99 junction.

[@ameg7571]

Thank you, I enjoy this show.

[@InterstateKyle]

Thanks for watching!

[@april6117]

Loved the video, have you thought of going all the way to Wilmington?

[@AlvinSeville1]

I walked there.

[@mattwiser8406]

Thanks for the video! Excellent job as usual, and I did recommend you making this drive some time back. I've driven this one quite a few times, and it's a favorite. Now for comments: 1) I-40 Western Extension was proposed twice, in '56 and in '68, rejected both times. I-5 E from Buttonwillow through Bakersfield, Tehachapi, and Mojave to the I-15. 58 still has some intersections in Kern County (CA 223, Bealville Rd, and several E of Mojave to Edwards AFB), and in SBD County between 395 and Hinkley. 2) Did you know about Project CARRYALL: it was a proposal to use nuclear weapons to excavate the right-of-way for both I-40 and the BNSF RR in the early '60s. Canceled by the Johnson Administration in '66. The Bristol Mountains would've had twenty-two low-to-medium yield weapons to clear the way. Concerns about fallout and possibly violating the Atmospheric Test Ban Treaty were key. 3) Needles: AZ 95 ends just across the river, coming south from Bullhead City, and AZ DOT asked CalTrans to cosign AZ 95 along 40 to the state line. CalTrans declined, citing possible confusion with U.S. 95. As for gas prices? I can verify that-my mom and stepdad (Both RIP) would RV there in Winter, and they were told by locals to get gas either in Mohave Valley or at the two truck stops at 40 and 95 (Exit 9). The locals go across the river to Mohave Valley.... When I go this way, I get gas at Love's in either Boron or Barstow, and make it across the desert to Arizona, and refuel at the Love's at Exit 9. Then no more gas until Williams.... Though the Wagon Wheel cafe at the West Broadway exit is well worth it, as the food is excellent!

[@compdude100]

Oh man, what that truck did at 7:10 cutting you off there reminds me of what a truck did to me as I was driving over Tehachapi Pass in 2020. But this seems even worse! The Asshole Alert sign that you added there was quite fitting lol.

[@extralock1045]

The trucker may have missed Kyle, and didn't mean to do that. Things like that happen. I cut off a pickup truck the other day, my lane completely stopped, so I looked, could swerve to the right, did so, and that lane was full of people swerving into it from the right, so I tried going 1 more lane to the left, cutting off a pickup I mis-judged their speed, who had to swerve around me. All out not great.

[@BNTheRoadFanatic]

Also, I think we can all agree that simply due to the sheer number of big rigs, and trucks passing trucks, that this freeway needs to be at least 3 lanes on each side. I'm passionate about making 3 lanes on each side, 6 total, the standard for any freeway with a lot of trucks. At least make it required on interstates.

[@InterstateKyle]

The only places where this freeway needs to be three lanes is on the inclines heading up these mountain passes because that’s where the bottlenecks begin. That’s one thing I-15 has that I-40 doesn’t. The only truck climbing lane on I-40 is the westbound ascend of South Pass coming out of Needles.

[@Planetcharr]

I am not a fan of when an extra lane is added it has to be a diamond lane or toll lane. Just make it a lane. but I wonder if the reason no extra lanes is due to boundary or land ownership issues.

[@povertyspec9651]

0:29 Caltrash signage is a terrible, jumbled mess. The sign on the left is original and probably around 55 years old. The US 93 shield was covered up.

[@davesaunders5247]

I've driven that road many times I love hwy. 40

[@InterstateKyle]

As do I!

[@travist.7279]

Here is an interesting historical fact: Back in the early 60's, during the planning stages of this section of I-40, the federal government proposed using NUKES to cut a path through the Bristol Mountains. This proposal went under the name, "Project Carryall".

[@InterstateKyle]

Thanks for sharing that fact, I didn't know. It's much appreciated!

[@flarrfan]

I like the first horizon view of Needles and the green Colorado valley. I think the Nevada desert driving might be more interesting, if only because the mountain passes tend to be a bit higher, especially along US 50.

[@InterstateKyle]

The scenery here is definitely underrated, but I agree with your comments. Nevada has some of the most underrated scenery in the country in my opinion.

[@jeffreyferguson83]

Nice video! Like the information on the bottom as well as in the corners. Well check out other Videos 😇

[@InterstateKyle]

Thank you Jeffrey!

[@c7rfnmn]

I-40 was NOT built on top of US-66 in California, though it did replace it. US-66 ran down to Amboy and Essex and then back up; I-40 cut through the mountains to the north of Amboy. That choice meant that California, like Arizona, has long stretches of old US-66 that can still be driven (as long as the bridges are repaired) as they didn't build the interstate on top of it.

[@p3n1_85]

It would be nice to see I 40 extended west but considering California applied for it twice in the 70s and it was denied both times it probably wont happen, however with the opening of the centennial corridor CA 58 is closer to being a much better route to I 5 than before, considering there is a planned freeway extension from the current west end of the westside parkway along with truck lanes in the Tehachapi pass which would remove the last at grade intersections on CA 58 in kern county west of Mojave and east of I 5

[@grizzfan08]

Good grief, it's like Whack-a-Mole with the potholes!!! I should point out that just past that 1st rest stop where the ground becomes black... that's an actual lava flow from a nearby extinct volcano that's to the south of the freeway. There's a DQ in Ludlow that I would recommend stopping at for a pit stop (way better than the actual pit rest stops). There must have been only 1 lane open at the Ag Checkpoint or something (normally there's at least 2 open).

[@gosnooky]

I'll always associate Needles with Snoopy's brother, Spike.

[@joppaz1988]

Is it more greener because of the big raíns the past 2 years????

[@BagBreakerMMA]

7:12 all I saw was you trying to pass while there was a car entering, and two semis in the right lane. Could have waited 30 seconds

[@dogbarbill]

20:30 The way Commiefornia operates, I wouldn't hold my breath for it.

[@cathrynm]

It would make sense for I40 to continue all the way to I5. Partly it's the USA, it's just impossible to get anything built anymore.

[@dogbarbill]

@@cathrynm I agree.

[@randywood61]

Would not hurt to add another lane from barstow to needles in both directions

[@Sacto1654]

Right now, there is a small chance the western terminus of Interstate 40 may move from Barstow to as far west as Bakersfield! Reason: the fact California Route 58 from Barstow to Bakersfield is almost fully compliant with Interstate Highway standards. Possibly even as far west as a junction with Interstate 5 if the planned freeway from Bakersfield west to I-5 is ever built.

[@jonahdinger2000]

I’m not the biggest fan of driving through the desert tbh…especially I-40 in California. I wish they could add a bit more civilization out along the stretch between Barstow and Needles like a Love’s Truck Stop, Buc-ee’s or something to make the drive a little more interesting. Also, the road infrastructure along I-40 in California, especially the signage is very dated and could use an upgrade, but probably won’t happen anytime soon since Caltrans District 8 doesn’t have a ton of money to bring everything up to spec…

[@povertyspec9651]

Even if they had the money, the signage would still suck. Their sign standards are a joke.

[@mejercit]

By contrast, Interstate 15 is only 111 miles to Primm.

[@InterstateKyle]

Yep!

[@MoProf]

Given the fate of infrastructure projects in California, it would take the rest of your life for I-40 to be extended to Bakersfield even if it was approved.

[@InterstateKyle]

I wouldn't doubt it!

[@travist.7279]

Actually, now, with the completion of the Bakersfield project, the only 2-lane section left is the 10 stretch of Stockdale Highway from Bakersfield to I-5. The rest of SR 58 is now either freeway or divided highway. It is almost there.

[@alsmith568]

Don;t stop in Barstow- not even for a glass of water! Rip off town big time and everyone in the area know it.

[@leeshaver7825]

That is one long boring drive

[@RobertoRamos-b4q]

St. Luis to Chicago is a boring drive.