allencg wrote:
We'll be traveling from Bakersfield to the San Francisco RV Resort in Pacifica approximately 300 miles on Oct 8. Our trip planner has us taking I5 north to Los Banos, then Pacheco Pass Hwy west (Hwy 152?) to Gilroy where we should then head north on US 101. Read a few post relating Pacheco Pass Hwy could be difficult. We live in Florida and all of our trips have been fairly localized to southeast so flat driving just using automatic transmission. This will be first time to be concerned about adjusting transmission mode and making gear changes due to grades. We're driving a Jayco (Now called Entegra Coach) 40' DP with a Cum ISC 360hp and Allison Trans 3000MH. Thanks for your help.
I missed this post when I responded earlier today. Based on your trip of Bakersfield to Pacifica you probably want to take the route you listed here. 152 does have a steep climb, but it's a freeway and you'll probably be over in the right lane with the trucks. The steep climb is only a few miles long. I realize you Florida people are used to flat lands but the grades on 152 would rank at about a 1.5 on a scale of 1 to 10 of California mountain roads. I think the highest elevation on 152 is maybe 1200 feet.
You don't want to go up to 580 since your destination is Pacifica. Going up 580 will put you in the thick of bay area traffic and it will mean you'll have to cross the Oakland Bay Bridge. Toll is $20 (maybe more) for a motorhome and toad.
Take 152 over to Gilroy and then go north on 101. You'll want to get off 101 in San Jose and get onto 280 and take it North. 280 is a much nicer freeway and way less congested than 101 going up the peninsula. Take 280 up to 1 and then get over onto Southbound 1 and come back down the few miles into Pacifica. The earlier roads that cut over from 280 to Pacifica are crowded residential roads that take you over a steep hill. Going up to 1 keeps you on freeway.
Did you reserve a cliff site at Pacifica? You pull in forward to them and the front of your motorhome hangs over the cliff! Okay it doesn't really hang over, but when you look out the front windows you'll think you're hanging over the cliff.
