I-5 in Cali. north of Redding

In 2014 I took I5 from Medford Oregon to Redding at least 15 times and 4 times pulling the trailer and went through the construction area north of Yreka with no problem. I have taken I5 several times since they have finish the big job north of Yreak , you will come to some road work but not that bad, I don't think that I5 from Oregon to Redding is that bad! their are worse roads and traffic that you will be in on your trip. Just have a good trip. Jay

If you don't have enough time to take 101, then I5 is next best. There will be construction slow-downs on every route.

66 from Ashland is a good road although not so good for trailers....slow at times and curves. 140 from Medford to KFalls is a good road.....but so much easier just to use I-5 from Medford to Redding. The road is good all the way. The speed limit for anybody towing is 55 mph throughout Ca. The speed limit has never been 75 in N.Ca. and you get stopped for going much more than 55 ph.

Never seen a semi travel I-5 at 55mph. We will travel about 62-65 and we don't pass many semi's.

We've got our trip planned out so that DW gets off work and we arrive in Monterey on a particular date (for the annual Historic car races) and can't afford to add much time. We were on 395 last year and it is a really nice hwy but it's too far east. I don't think 101 would work for us either, although I would love to take that route. So it sound like only some sections have been re-surfaced.

I really like the run up Grants Pass on the north side and would hate to have to miss that. Yes, parts of I-5 can be barren but at least not as bad as from SF to LA. Forest fires could potentially affect things too.

We're doing a leg out of Seaside in the northwest corner of Or. to a CG in Redding and that is a long enough drive as it is. What about hwy 66 out of Ashland to Klamath Falls and down 97 back to I-5 at Weed or perhaps going a bit farther east on 39/139 and then 299 to Redding? The hwy 66 on our map shows it as a secondary hwy and may not be a good drive tho.? We were on 299 last summer and it's definitely a nice drive.

I would assume there is a website(s) that tells you what the I-5 condition is like and where it's bad? We've got a Garmin RV 760LMT GPS now and it would be nice to program in the sections of road that are bad. The 55 max speed limit for towing is a bummer, esp. on nice straight sections of hwy. I never go above 65 but 55 seems like you're standing still in comparison. Are we going to get pulled over for doing say 60 mph?

I've read before that the reason the concrete sections of I-5 have taken such a beating is that the suspension on semi trucks and tractor trailers have a harmonic frequency that coincides with the spacing of joints and the trucks literally pound the concrete into the ground at the joints.

2gypsies wrote:
395 is a much better highway, much nicer scenery, plenty of campgrounds or boondocking areas and much less traffic.

IMHO, If an alternative is to be offered, I would recommend hwy 101, since getting back over to Santa Cruz from 395 would be a lengthy alternative.

395 is a much better highway, much nicer scenery, plenty of campgrounds or boondocking areas and much less traffic.

Word of caution! The California Highway Patrol troopers are alive & well. They watch for truckers and those pulling trailers.
Speed limit was 75. Unless pulling a trailer then it drops to 55. I had an empty cargo trailer. Certainly I was guilty when pulled over for speeding. He radar shot me at 80.
Fortunately wrote it for 69 in a 55. Fine cost me $492.
I was guilty. Paid the fine after 3 months trying on phone (no answer or no call back), online ("new system, so we do not have ticket entered). FINALLY got fine online. Royal PITA just to get fine amount.
So watch your speed!!!

Not all of the sections have been reconstructed. The section between Mount Shasta and Weed is in need of repair and new AC sections are currently going down near Weed. The AC section from Weed to Yreka is in fine shape. The Section north of Yreka to just about the state line was recently re-constructed with a new concrete section that is real smooth right now. Don' have any road surface conditions south of Mount Shasta to Redding.

I travel that section at least once a year (from Phx AZ to Roseburg Or and back) pulling my 40' 5th wheel.
The I-5 travels from Redding North and into Oregon are not to rough.
But the routs south of Redding down thru the rest of Calif are terrible. Pulling a trailer, you have to stay in right lane, and stay at 55MPH, along with all the Semi traffic. Those lanes have been warn so badly, and un-maintained, the trailer just gets pounded for hundreds of miles.
I have refused to use that route for so many years now. Besides, it is baron and not very nice scenery.
I now cut off the I-5 around Shasta and and head East to the 395 along the Calif/Nevada border. Much less traffic, roads are nice, and the scenery is soooo much nicer and Lush. At least until you get down around Mojave (scenery wise).
Just my .02
Gery