how to avoid the grapevine

I-5 south to Buttonwillow interchange. Large truck stop there.

East to Bakersfield.

Make a right onramp onto Highway 99 freeway.

Exit 99 toward TECHACHAPI and MOJAVE.

Keep driving east to Barstool, oops I means Barstow.

Transition to I-15 north toward Las Vegas a short dogleg.

Then east on I-70

Exit south onto US 95

Misses Losengens 100%. Avoids Scrapevine.

Sounds complicated but it isn't. Check a map.

Extremely little urban highway except around Bakersfield.

You couldn't pay me to deviate from this route. I love relaxed driving.

Hope this helps.

46 all the way across to the 99.
South 99 to the 58 east bound for Tehachapi.
58 to the I 40 east.
Take the CA 95 south from Needles to Blythe.

kimmccafferty wrote:
I am trying to get from Paso robles, ca down to Blythe ca without using the grapevine. I am looking for the next fastest route. Does anyone have any guidance to offer me? thanks kim

Old-Biscuit wrote:
CA 46 over to Bakersfield
CA 99 (S) to CA 58
CA 395 (S) to I-15 (S)
I-15(S) to I-215(S)
I-215 (S) to I-10 (E)

roughly 450 miles

I'm not sure if the OP is trying to avoid traffic or grades, but if it's traffic, it really depends on the day of the week and time of day (or night). Depending on the day and time your go through the Grapevine, traffic isn't necessarily an issue, and absent the traffic wildcard, the Grapevine to 210 to 10 can be the quickest, most direct route. Of course, on the other hand if you hit it at the wrong time it can be a mess. As for grade, the GV doesn't seem much different than the Cajon.

I used to make the drive between the IE and Merced every weekend one autumn when I was living in Riverside and going to school up north. To break up the monotony I used a similar route to the one quoted above going northbound on Sunday nights, and the Grapevine southbound to I-210 to I-10 westbound to the IE on Friday nights. Both routes put me in the opposite direction of the main flow of weekenders who were going out of LA on Friday nights and back into LA on Sunday nights.

My northbound variation was I-15 to 138 to 14 to 58 to 99 in Bakersfield, although 395 and 58 in lieu of 138 and 14 would certainly work, too.

I really enjoyed that drive on 138 on Sunday nights, skirting along the mountains in the high desert with the lights of the desert towns twinkling in the distance on my right, the sky-glow of the LA basin outlining the mountains on my left, almost no other cars on the road, and nothing to keep me company but a voice on the radio (KFI, the 50,000 watt talk radio blowtorch out of LA).

That's funny, Scott! So I can't do the Grape any longer with my Tahoe? Lol

you could take 58-40-95 through Havasu but that would add about 100 miles to the trip and would be hotter. See no problem with the grapevine but I would take 101-126-210-10

Old-Biscuit wrote:
CA 46 over to Bakersfield
CA 99 (S) to CA 58
CA 395 (S) to I-15 (S)
I-15(S) to I-215(S)
I-215 (S) to I-10 (E)

roughly 450 miles

X2.. this is the best and most direct route. Why would those even questioning the OPs not wanting to go over the GV anyway? There's absolutely no reason to, nor is it anywhere near as fast

I have towed all types of RVs over the Grape Vine in the past 55 years never had problems towing even the 40 ft 5th w that I towed one winter. Had problems with snow and winds at times. Will be going that way in Oct, Dec, and April going to Yuma. Only one time with a diesel . Last 18 years with the V10 eng

Old-Biscuit wrote:
CA 46 over to Bakersfield
CA 99 (S) to CA 58
CA 395 (S) to I-15 (S)
I-15(S) to I-215(S)
I-215 (S) to I-10 (E)

roughly 450 miles

X1, I take this route except I turn off of 395 at Victorville on 18 to 247 to 62 to I-10 then east to Blythe. This route eliminates having to deal with traffic on I-15, through San Bernardino then on to I-10. This route drops you just north of Palm Springs on I-10. Traffic on any route around the L.A. area is a real cluster of traffic and crazy drivers and generally some road construction.

Don't know if you are trying to avoid traffic or elevation. If it's elevation check your route here first. I thought about avoiding the Grapevine from Fresno to Hemet last week and was suprised to find that my alternate route was actually higher in elevation and had greater inclines and decline Percentages.
Flattest route