I5 Bakersfield to Redding
Will be driving up the valley to the Oregon coast in a few weeks and was wondering which was the better road surface, the 5 or the 99 ?
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19 Replies
- If you are driving from Bakersfield, you don't really have a choice do you? 99 ends at Sacramento and you need to be on 99 to get to Sacramento.
I guess you could go west to 5 from Bakersfield first but I don't see the point in doing that. - FYI just north of Redding is a nice RV park - Mountain Gate. Nice stop b4 you hit the mountains.
- There is nothing to see much from Bakersfield to Redding whether taking 99 or 5.
Best approach for sightseeing is to be on 101 soonest That means going Westward from Bakersfield -- well, unless you have someone to meet or see in Redding. - I don't know where you are going on the Oregon coast. Having done all the routes to Brookings at the south end of the Oregon coast, and guessing you want to see the entire Oregon coast; also not knowing what equipment/experience you have; personally I would take I5 to W/B US 299 in Oregon and take US 101 North along the Oregon coast. The downside of that is you miss the northern California coast/Redwoods NP, but with the exception of an about 20 mile stretch of 299 in California it is an easier drive. My opinion.
- Straight up 5. Watch the web cams and check highway info but this time of year should be ok.
- Agreed but 5 is the quickest when open. And 101 gives you the entire Oregon coast.
- 99 has too much traffic. I-5 is boring but makes for easy traveling. You just have to have good timing going over Siskiyou Summit heading into Medford.
- I find U.S. Hwy. 99 more interesting but when headed north U.S. Hwy. 395 is my first choice then cut over.
gtnsmlr wrote:
Will be driving up the valley to the Oregon coast in a few weeks and was wondering which was the better road surface, the 5 or the 99 ?
99 is overall the best of worst, neither are perfect. With 99 you trade road surface with greater traffic. At Sacramento switch to I-5. Then go west on Hwy. 20 at Colusa over to 101. Not clear about your "going to Redding" and then going up to Oregon?? Not a route I would take during the winter months. I-5 just north of Redding has been closed down twice this year:(
