Hi we heading down to southern California next weekend. Driving down 101 from Oregon into California. Now my problem is I-5 thru Stockton. I despise this part of the trip, so we are thinking of staying on 101 to San Francisco then making our way up to Tracy to I-5, then I-5 to Los Banos then east to 99 to Bakersfield. Have never driven close to San Francisco before, looks like a bigger city than I would like but anything is better than Stockton. Any ideas would be great. we drive a 36Ft Gas Motor Home towing a Jeep, if that helps any.Cheers.

Hi. Why not GO east over a I-5 by-pass route, and jump over to I-5 before you get to S.F. Or try Cal S/R 99 which will put you closer to stackton which is still east of I-5. I came down from Wa.,Or. in Sep. / Oct. 2015. WATCH OUT FOR BAD WEATHER.

Depending on the day of the week and time of day taking 101 to the Richmond/Rafael bridge takes you east of San Francisco where you can rejoin 101. In Gilroy you can take 152 over to 5, then 46 to 99 a few miles north of Bakersfield.

The alternate routes aren't any better but:101 37, 80, 780, 680, 580, 5or101, 19th Ave through SF, 280, 85, 101, 152, 5You will have to pre or post pay the GG toll as you cannot pay as you cross. Then you'll have 6 miles of SF city traffic. You can stay on 101 through SF which is also city traffic and continue to 152. I prefer the middle lane of 19th Ave.Do the above routes midday and your best route is to take 20 to 5 and through Sac/Stockton midday. In Sac you could take 50 to 99 to avoid Stockton.

Richmond/Rafael bridge etc is an alternate. But I'm a member of the I hate Berkley/Oakland club. But I've done it many times midday and you could take 580 over to 99.

What is the matter with 101 to the 37 to the 80 to the 680 back to the 101?I have that route marked on my map so I have done it before. No big "red X" on it so it must not be to bad.

101 south over to I-5 around San Francisco | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Dec 12, 2015
isa wrote:
On hwy.101 at Petaluma take Rte 116 to the Lakeville Hwy. to 37 to Wilson Ave. exit, then Mares Island Way to Curtola Pkwy to I-780 to the I-680 to Hwy.4. Follow Hwy.4 to the Byron Hwy. where you take the Mountain House Pkwy. to I-580 that leads into I-5 some 20 miles south of Tracy.
Interesting - I haven't been on 4 for a few years so may give it a try.

When I lived in the bay area 4 was to often on the news and it was never good...
isa
Explorer
Dec 12, 2015
On hwy.101 at Petaluma take Rte 116 to the Lakeville Hwy. to 37 to Wilson Ave. exit, then Mares Island Way to Curtola Pkwy to I-780 to the I-680 to Hwy.4. Follow Hwy.4 to the Byron Hwy. where you take the Mountain House Pkwy. to I-580 that leads into I-5 some 20 miles south of Tracy.

Anytime I take 101 south because of Weather conditions on I-5 (Siskiyou's), this is the route I take to get from 101 to the 5 and avoid both San Francisco and the Sacramento / Stockton area which has been a mess for at least the last 10yrs.
MarkTwain
Explorer
Dec 10, 2015
dons2346 wrote:
What is the matter with 101 to the 37 to the 80 to the 680 back to the 101?

I have that route marked on my map so I have done it before. No big "red X" on it so it must not be to bad.

Hwy. 37 drops you in at Vallejo on Hwy. 80 which can be a cluster of traffic congestion depending on the time of day and road conditions i.e. accidents. Can it be done? yes? Have I done it" yes but in a van not towing an RV. Would not be my choice!
dave54
Nomad
Dec 10, 2015
CA Traveler wrote:
You never know. My daughter lives in Carnation, WA and all of the bridges are closed. I said take water and a sleeping bag to work or stay home!....

Both our cars have a gym bag with a change of clothes and a spare set of toiletries. Stays there all winter. You never know when you are going to be stuck somewhere.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Dec 10, 2015
You never know. My daughter lives in Carnation, WA and all of the bridges are closed. I said take water and a sleeping bag to work or stay home!

But next week could be a new and great weather experience.
RVLimey
Explorer
Dec 10, 2015
Thanks for the replies. However my original question might be a moot point now. With all the storms we are having right now and especially in Washington, rivers are overflowing, mud slides reported. It looks like we might do better staying on I-5.
I know we should have left mid November. Live and learn.
Again thanks for the replies. We'll look at doing the coast home bound in March.
Cheers
MarkTwain
Explorer
Dec 09, 2015
korbe wrote:
I would take mid-day Stockton I-5 traffic over the Bay Area.

Giving the choice of driving 101 through the bay area vs driving through a short section of Stockton I-5, I'll take I-5 . When I drive through Stockton I do two things: 1. get in the middle lane and stay there all the way through Stockton.
2. I run 62-63 MPH and watch my Valentine Radar Detector. I have never got a ticket yet. In the last 15 years I drive at least once a year through Stockton. Yes, the road conditions have be terrible until about 2 yrs. and they have done a lot of total repairs.
JohnG3
Explorer II
Dec 09, 2015
Raften wrote:
I5 thru Stockton is much improved. I go thru twice a week.

Went through Stockton on I5 in late October. Looked and felt like the road had been used for demolition practice.
Raften
Explorer
Dec 09, 2015
I5 thru Stockton is much improved. I go thru twice a week.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Dec 09, 2015
OP,

BTW The Wool Growers restaurant in Los Banos is a great family style setting. We really enjoy it. You can stay at the Fairgrounds.