sacramento to eureka california

Can't comment on your first route, but "I-5 to Red Bluff and CA-36 to US 101" is one I've taken in reverse, 36 from 101 to Red Bluff and I-5 to Sacto. It will add some time to your trip, but is very scenic along 36. Your third route, "I-5 to Colusa (Williams) and CA-20 to US 101" is the most direct route, and CA-20 & 101 are scenic along a number of stretches, this is the route I usually take.

Safe travels and enjoy your trip.

By far, the best route is taking I5 to CA 299. Hwy 36 is a narrow, winding route that does not have any better scenery than 299---actually, 299 is labeled a "scenic route" since it follows the Trinity River for a good way over to the coast. And, 299 takes you through the historic towns of Old Shasta and Weaverville.

Going over Hwy 20 is slow and the only thing that might make it attractive is that a portion of Hwy 101 traverses a nice part of the coastal redwoods.

My choice would be I5 to Williams, hwy 20, to 101 and north to Eureka. Second choice would be I5 to Redding, 299 to Eureka. I would not advise hwy 36, to narrow and twisty.

I used to work that area and drove the three routes frequently. If you want the fastest, easiest drive, without much senery take 20. If you want scenery, the Trinity river is beautiful, and a drive with some curves and hills take 299 - it's slower than 20 but prettier. Avoid 36 at all costs, narrow with lots of sharp curves - you don't get to enjoy the scenery because you are trying to keep on the road and avoid potholes.

Contrary to what others have said, I see hwy20 as far faster to 101 than 299. On the east end of Clear Lake you can drop south, then west skirting almost all of the congestion of the resort areas on the north side of the lake. Taking this route from I5 to 101 can be done in about 1 to 1-1/2 hours. 299 from Redding to 101 will take you closer to three hours as I remember.

The loop we do to visit that part of the coast from So Cal is to go from Redding to Eureka, then down to Clear Lake then back to So Cal. In other words, we do both and I'd suggest the same for you. Both are beautiful drives. Probably less than an hour's difference in time required. I would suggest you consider two things. First, what time of the day are we talking? I'd prefer to do 299 in the daylight. Second is weather. Cal is critically dry this year, but I believe snow will occasionally close 299. Don't know about 20 of 101.

This question has come up so many times that I have saved the following directions. Living just East of this route in Yuba City I can tell you it is a fine route. I lived in the area almost 60 years and traveled the route hundreds of times. I do not like 299 because of the twists and turns. It is a beautiful route though.

Take Highway 20 West out of Williams. 37.1 miles.

Watch for Highway 53 as you drop down a hill after a fairly long climb. Easy climb and multiple lanes.
Turn what would be South onto 53. You will go about 8 miles. Look for the sign to Highway 29 which leads to Kelseyville. This is a nice road and will become freeway in a few miles. Eventually you are back to two lane for a short distance and will come to a stop sign. You are back to Highway 20 again. This leg is about 30 miles. Turn left and enjoy the beautiful drive right to 101

This route will bypass the two lane twisting and winding on the North side of Clear lake. If you want a good view of the lake go ahead and stay on 20 all the way to 101.

As others have noted above, take CA20 thru the Clear Lake area out to US101 and then north to Eureka. Maybe come back to Sacramento by taking CA299 from Arcata over to Redding and then south on I-5 to Sacramento. I wouldn't take CA36 under any circumstances.

You have more choices than what has been listed here. According to Google going up and taking 36 off of 5 is the route they pick but nobody else seems to like that and I've never been on 36. Going up and taking 299 is listed at 301 miles. Taking 20 around Clear Lake is listed at 277 miles. But if it's sight seeing you want to do, it's only 321 miles to take I-80 down through Fairfield and cut over to Napa. Then you can take Highway 29 all the way through the Napa Valley and up to Clear Lake and get back over on 101 North of Ukiah. Now that route may take you a really long time because you'll just have to stop at all the wineries for a taste and probably end up having to sleep it off someplace. But based on your criteria, this is the way I would go.

We take I-5 to Redding and then 299. We pull 5er with no difficulty. The drive is scenic. The only other suggestion I would offer is to check on whether road construction is completed near Buckhorn Summit (299) Road work was due to be completed sometime in fall of 2013, but you know how that goes. There were advisories for very long delays.