I'm going from Napa to Malibu on 101, am I going to cross over Grape Vine, any info would be appreciated.

The Grape Vine is not the 101. What exactly is your route?

Grapevine refers to the start of the climb on I5 as it crosses the mountains surrounding the LA basin. Why do you ask about the Grapevine? Have you read horror stories?

I'm going from Napa to Malibu on 101, am I going to cross over Grape Vine, any info would be appreciated.1. Assuming you are driving some type of RV, I would drive around the S.F. area to avoid congestion and traffic. If not in an RV, then choose any route you want.2. Take Hwy. 37 to Vallejo, then to Hwy. 80, Hwy. 80 to Hwy. 780, Hwy., 780 to 680, Hwy. 680 to 101 around the San Jose area.3. take the 101 south all the way to Oxnard4. At Oxnard pick up Hwy. 1 and continue south to Malibu.There is no need to drive over the "Grape Vine" on I-5. The Grape Vine is a slow, hill climbing and usually you will experience road construction on some section of the highway. Make sure your brakes are in good shape and prepare to down grade to keep your speed in control and keep your speed up when climbing . The "Grape vine" is doable in a RV just be prepared slow down and take your time. Coming down I usuallypull over in the special truck lanes and run 35 to 40 miles per hour.

Thanks Dick, I was planning on using the exact route you spelled out, glad to see somebody familiar with the area suggested the same.I have driven over the Grapevine pass & was just curious if I had to cross the same summit on 101, when we leave Malibu I was thinking of going back north to 126 then east to I-5 south 14E to 38, I-15, to Las Vegas.What do you think about this route.Like my profile says I am driving a 42 Ft MH towing a Silverado pick-up. Thanks Again

Thanks Dick, I was planning on using the exact route you spelled out, glad to see somebody familiar with the area suggested the same.I have driven over the Grapevine pass & was just curious if I had to cross the same summit on 101, when we leave Malibu I was thinking of going back north to 126 then east to I-5 south 14E to 38, I-15, to Las Vegas.What do you think about this route.Like my profile says I am driving a 42 Ft MH towing a Silverado pick-up. Thanks AgainJtovosr, I would take Hwy. 14 to Hwy. 58 then east to Barstow and then hwy. 15 to Las Vegas. Hwy. 138 from Palmdale to 1-15 is a 2 lane road with a long series of little road dips. It is doable but not my choice. People get anxious and want to pass slower vehicles, some times when it is not the safest time. Hwy. 14 is a good RV road and straight to Hwy. 58. Be sure and top off your fuel in Lancaster and then again in Barstow. Fuel stations can get a little scarse once you hit Hwy. 58. In general, RV parks from Lancaster to Las Vegas are limited if you plan on staying along the way. Safe travels:)

Grape Vine Pass North of LA | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

SCVJeff
Explorer
Sep 17, 2013
djgarcia wrote:
Hello jtovosr,
What do you think of 126 west from 101 to I-5 ?

Hwy. 126 is a great RV road with some pretty scenery and a number of fresh produce stands along the way. From I-5 going north it is a very short trip to the Lancaster cut off, Hwy. 14. Hwy 14 is mostly 4 lanes all the way to Hwy. 58. From Hwy. 15 to Las Vegas is an easy drive. Put a couple of bucks in the slot machine for me:):):)
its actually south, and its close to 10 miles unless you want to shortcut through Santa Clarita. Time-wise its a wash.
hotpepperkid
Explorer
Sep 17, 2013
Don't people look at a map before asking such questions?
MarkTwain
Explorer
Sep 17, 2013
Hello jtovosr,
What do you think of 126 west from 101 to I-5 ?

Hwy. 126 is a great RV road with some pretty scenery and a number of fresh produce stands along the way. From I-5 going north it is a very short trip to the Lancaster cut off, Hwy. 14. Hwy 14 is mostly 4 lanes all the way to Hwy. 58. From Hwy. 15 to Las Vegas is an easy drive. Put a couple of bucks in the slot machine for me:):):)
paulj
Explorer II
Sep 17, 2013
Maybe you should start a separate thread about Malibu to Las Vegas.

Do you backtrack to Oxnard, go north thru the mountains to US101, or east to I405? What's the trade off between urban freeways and mountain driving?
jtovosr
Explorer
Sep 16, 2013
Dick,
What do you think of 126 west from 101 to I-5 ?
SCVJeff
Explorer
Sep 16, 2013
paulj wrote:
wintersun wrote:
The Grapevine ... the heavy truck traffic ....

There must be something to say for the Grapevine, else all those trucks wouldn't use it...
and the reason is that they can stay on the 5 all the way to downtown where probably 90% of the truck traffic terminates anyway. Since the OP is going nowhere near downtown, there is no compelling to take an inland route that requires a 60 mile course correction West to get back in the 101 to Malibu. Besides, why would one possibly want to roll with a traffic jam of significantly more powerful and way faster truck traffic down that road if you don't have to?
msmith1199
Explorer II
Sep 16, 2013
The truckers use it because it's pretty much the only way to Los Angeles. Okay, it's not the only way, but the other routes would be 75+ miles further for them depending on where they're going, and the other routes all have some steep grades on them too.
paulj
Explorer II
Sep 16, 2013
wintersun wrote:
The Grapevine ... the heavy truck traffic ....

There must be something to say for the Grapevine, else all those trucks wouldn't use it...
time2roll
Nomad
Sep 16, 2013
Hit grapevine early for least amount of traffic.
wintersun
Explorer II
Sep 16, 2013
The Grapevine can have snow and often has high winds so avoiding it is a good idea. In general I make much better time on Hwy 101, where there is a fraction of the heavy truck traffic that exists on I-5, and the drive time and distance are often nearly identical. There are more fuel stops, nice restaurants, and much better scenery as well but the absence of trucking traffic and people speeding and trying to overtake vehicles by driving in the right lane and then cutting over suddenly, is reason enough to take Hwy 101.