Best Route from 101 in Santa Barbara to I 40 in Barstow

Completed our journey over to I 40, many thanks for your route advice. It was really easy, we were even able to stop and buy fresh fruit and vegetables at a fruit stand, along the way. Thanks to all of you for taking the time to answer my query!

Thanks so much, we are studying the map and 138 looks good to us, especially since it has been expanded. Thank you all so much!

TOOBOLD wrote:
I'm another for the 101, 126, I5 south, 14 North to Pearblossom hwy 138, 18 to I 15.

Not knowing the time of day the OP would be going, that would be my recommendation as well.

Some people have recommended staying on 14N to 58E, instead of taking Pearblossom Hwy 138 to 18. But that adds almost 30 miles to the trip. The majority of Pearblossom Hwy has been expanded to 4 lanes, and the remaining 2-lane section is less than the 2-lane on 58. So I just don't see a reason to go almost 30 miles out of the way.

I'm another for the 101, 126, I5 south, 14 North to Pearblossom hwy 138, 18 to I 15.

Texas Roadrunner wrote:
Pulling our 36 ft. fiver, what is the best route for us to get from Santa Barbara to Barstow? It would be nice to miss the better part of the LA traffic, but we're wondering about some of smaller roads, your advice???

What time and day of the week are you going? I do this drive regularly, and vary between the suggested routes depending on regular traffic patterns...

aerbus32 wrote:
Best route? Don't go to Barstow from Santa Barbara! :) Here's what I would do. I've been on all these numerous times with our previous 32'er Class A pulling a Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. You can do it! South of Ventura take 126 to 118 to 405 to 5 to 14 to 138 near Palmdale to 18 to 15 in Victorville, which will then take you to Barstow. Sounds worse than it is.

My iPad maps recommends using 126 thru Santa Paula. I'm pretty sure this is one of those 'turn your headlights on for safety' roads that are notorious for accidents.

And, you do not want to be on 15 between Victorville & Vegas on a Friday. Traffic is very heavy and very fast.

In past years the 126 thru Santa Paula was a two lane, "turn your headlights on" roads, but is now a full freeway from Ventura to the I-5. No problem at all and a very nice drive with any vehicle combination.
Suggest taking the 126 as you suggest to I-5 then south to the 14 freeway north up thru Palmdale / Lancaster on north to Mojave and then east on 58 to Barstow. NO significant hills or mountains in that route, and all good highways and most all freeways. Only a small distance west from Barstow is a two lane highway.
Good Travels

I just did the 101, 126, 5, 14, 18, 15 route three weeks ago. Easy route.

I didn't figure the miles it may be longer. 101 S to 126 E, I-5 S, 14 N, 58 E to Barstow

Texas Roadrunner wrote:
Thanks so much Aerbus and Two Hands. We are most appreciative of your responses!

aerbus32 route

Don't miss the I-14 interchange it's a long ways to get turned around and get back on track, you can take the 126 all the way to the I-5, for the most part its a good 4 lane road and yes it's a safety area. Go south on the I-5 till you reach the I-14 interchange.Any route that's keeps you away from L.A. traffic is good.

two hand route

Since it does take you close to L.A. it's subject to heavy traffic and jams along the way. One big problem is the I-15 in the Cajon Pass, starting from friday (10 PM) its down to 1-2 lanes till Monday, I believe there still 4 weekends left on this project.

Thanks so much Aerbus and Two Hands. We are most appreciative of your responses!