Best route from Escondido to Borrego Springs

what type of tow vehicle?

Safest route would be to try to avoid Montezuma Valley Rd. and/or Banner Grade.
1. Take I-15 North to HWY 76 – 15.3 mi. - Head East (Right)
2. Take Hwy 76 to Hwy 79 – 34.5 mi. - Head North (Left)
3. Turn right on S2 – 4.3 mi. - (San Felipe Rd.)
4. Take S2 to Hwy 78 – 16.8 mi. - (Turn Left)
5. Take Hwy 78 to Borrego Springs Rd. - 15.4 mi. - (Turn Left)
6. Borrego Springs Rd. will take you into Borrego Springs - 11.5 mi.

Total of 97.8 miles.
If you are comfortable driving up and through Valley Center you can knock off a few miles and meet up with Hwy 76 at the foot of Palomar Mountain. Then follow the directions starting at #2.

If you don't mind the extra miles, a big 190 mile loop around to the north and east over past Palm Springs and Indio keeps you on big rig friendly road all the way to Borrego Spring.

Go north on I-15 from Escondido for 30 miles up past Temecula to the I-215.

Bear right on I-215 for 30 miles to the Moreno Valley area and head east on 60.

Take 60 for 20 miles over to I-10 at Beaumont and go east on 10.

Stay on 10 east for 55 miles down to the Indio area and get off on route 89 south.

Take 89 south for 25 miles to S-22.

Take S-22 west 25 miles over to Borrego Springs.

(Be very careful not to get on route 111 down in the Indio area where you want to pick up the 89.)

There is a very good gas stop where S-22 cuts over to Borrego Springs. But immediately after getting on S-22 go slow for a mile or so due to some major undulations in the roadway.

And If you notice a "shortcut" across the 79 through the Hemet area it would not be worth a few less miles to you unless you just wanted to take a look-see at that area.

..You could also get even more detailed information on the "Roads and Routes" forum. Has come in handy for me several times:)

Go to Yahoo Maps and get your driving directions from there, I have a 38' 5th wheel and I would go that way, it's only 67 mi.& 1.5 hrs

Picking a route into Borrego Springs requires some careful consideration of what is likely to be encountered.

Sloop Smitten's route is the best route possible coming in from the west. I'd only comment that once you turn onto 78 from S2 the road becomes narrow and winding in a deep canyon. That might be somewhat intimidating for anybody not used to those conditions. And also. Along that stretch of 78 absolutely don't take the S-3 Yaqui Pass Road to the left up the mountain. Be sure to continue on east as Sloop Smitten's instructions detail for the full 15.4 miles to Borrego Springs Road.

The Yahoo Maps route that I got as recommended by Garry&Gayle had what to me is two problem areas. For one, Yahoo Maps recommended taking 78 from Escondido up into Ramona. The grade up into Ramona is a real tough long climb. I would not recommend it for anybody not knowing what they are getting into. And then at the other end Yahoo Maps had the route taking S22 through Ranchita and down the Montezuma Grade into Borrego Springs. While I personally love the Montezuma Grade and use it all the time - - for anybody wanting to avoid long downhill grades it must be noted.

Now for the 190 mile route I tossed out going all the way around through Palm Springs and Indio, it involves some traffic on route 60 over to Beaumont and then some pretty heavy truck traffic along I-10. Once onto 89 south at Indio the route becomes wide and lightly traveled. While Borrego Springs is a great place here in Southern California getting there can be a problem.

When you are in Borrego Springs, take your truck up the Montezuma Grade for a test ride. It's really not that bad a road and maybe you'd want to go home that way. You pretty much have your choices at this point. Good traveling.

That 190 mi route will put you into mid to heavy traffic all the way from Escondido all the way to Beaumont plus the pull up Shears Grade then a small pull before dropping down into Temecula, after going thru Moreno Valley you have the winding pull up thru the Badlands with heavy traffic to deal with. I would still go the Yahoo route unless I don't want to see any scenery, fuel cost is not an issue or I am paranoid of driving my rig. JMO

When we lived in Temecula, we did a day trip in my wife's brand new XC-90 to Borrego Springs. It was probably 78 that we used. At the time we had a 32' Class A. No way would I have taken it down that grade. We came back by way of 86 to 10. Long drive, and I hate traffic, but it is the route I would use in an RV.

We were going from Julian to Palm Desert and of course the shortest route was down the Banner grade. We have a 32'Carriage 5th wheel. After reading on here I was really concerned about hauling the rig down the mountain. You might have a different take, and I do have an exhaust brake on the TV and disc brakes on the 5th but it was a piece of cake. Easy not too busy or steep or tight windy roads for about 5 miles. Only once did I even have another vehicle behind me and within a mile there was a huge asphalt turnout so I could easily get out of the way. I personally would not hesitate next time.
Brian

huntram wrote:
I personally would not hesitate next time.

There us a bit of a problem here on the forums when recommending roads and routes. You are dealing not only with the capabilities of the equipment but also the comfort level of the driver. I see posts all the time warning people not to even think of taking some stretch of road while I've been driving it for years without a second thought. I try and tailor my recommendations to what I think the OP is seeking.

I can guarantee you Southern California "old timers" run up and down the Banner Grade, Montazuma Grade, and all the others without any hesitation. But not everybody falls into that "old timer" category.

Dropping out the north side of Big Bear on 18 right at the top of the grade is a sign warning of a 16 percent grade. We head down 18 all the time on that grade and have no problems at all. Am I going to recommend on this forum that others do it. Not a chance.