Interstate 5 or Hwy 99 through Calif

In April this year I was on 99 from where it starts on the south end up to Merced and I had no complaints about the road. There might have been a short section (less than 5 miles) where the right lane was a little rough, but I just moved over to the left lane and it ended pretty quickly.

From SD go up 395 at Mojave, much more scenic & relaxed drive with lots of camping on that road....

Flyboy---

Good suggestion.....I would love to go up 395 all the way...But--I cannot leave until June 1st and we catch the ferry June 7th in Bellingham.....I am afraid that if I started up 395, a road that, you are right, is terrific, I would miss the ferry by 2 weeks..Too many nice places to stop.....So I am pretty much stuck on 5 out of Sacramento....Just don't know about 5 or 99 through the Central Valley......

“Too many nice places to stop.....” x2 That’s 395!

I prefer 5 as there are less cities and less merging traffic. The road conditions seem the same to me between the 5 and 99.

Having driven both many times I usually take 99, but they are pretty much equal. Don't know about construction this year.

Lots of improved road on 99 for the "Bullet Train to nowhere" realignment. We take99 from LA all the time. At Manteca, you can go west for a very short distance and catch 5 which will put you on the west side of Sacramento with far less traffic.

Bob213 ~~ That sounds about right

I--5 vs 99
Overall 99 is a better road on your RV. Although I-5 has been getting alot of road repairs, there are still some sections north of Kettlemen City are less than smooth. I-5 might be a little quicker as far as time but as of May 2019 I would still choose 99 until they do some more road repair on I-5. On and off traffic is not a big issue like it use to be. 99 is not as hard on your RV . I-5 around Salem can have some traffic to contend with especially early am and around 5 pm when workers are going home. Try to avoid those times. I-5 in Seattle can be a real cluster of traffic. Take the 405 to skirt around Seattle.

I've done both and prefer the 5.