Sacramento to San Diego

If you take I-5, don't go through LA.

Either detour in Santa Clarita like you said or at the 210.

The 99 to 58 to 15 will be more interesting like you said. Plus this will avoid the Grapevine, which is stressful for a lot of drivers. If you do go over the Grapevine to Santa Clarita, make sure to avoid the hottest parts of the day. The heat takes its toll on the climb up to Tejon and on the downhill side to Castaic.

The majority agrees with me. Timmac, I drove I-5 through LA one time with a older and smaller 5er. And never again.
I will go to Kramer's junction and take I-15.
Timeroll, no I plan on doing it in 2 days.
You know I was going to Vegas all the time. My son and his family lived there. Now he is moving to San Diego. It is shorter, but I think longer in time. we will see.

rbp111 wrote:
I want to go from Sacramento to San Diego pulling a 35 ft fifth-wheel. All the maps on the computer say to take I-5 all the way to San Diego. I would prefer not to do that.
Would it be easier to get to Bakersfield, take hi-58 to Barstow then take I-15 to San Diego.
Or take I-5 to Santa Clarita, then take Hi-14 to Hi-138 to I-15.
Or is there another better route?

Yes to hwy. 58 to I-15. I will drive 100 miles extra to avoid driving I-5 through L.A. Especially towing a th wheel. The time of the day you drive any where in Southern Calif. is critical. If possile avoid early morning commuter hrs. and late afternoon times when people are going home after work. An alternative but longer route would be I-5, hwy 58 ,I-15 , I-10 to Indio, hwy. 86 to I-8 then west to San Diego.

If you have some extra time, take 395 south from Tahoe. World-class scenery, lots to do.

But if you want to get to San Diego from Sacramento in one day, stick to the 5. Dull, bouncy, but faster.

FYI the 58/99 intersection is torn up.

Bakersfield, take hi-58 to Kramer Jct (just west of Barstow) then take 395/I-15 to San Diego

Easier? Yes to stay off the short 6% hill at Grapevine take the 99/58/395/15
To just stay out of downtown LA you could take 5/210/15

Are you doing this in one day?

+1 for just cutting over on 80 or 50 to the 395 all the way down to the 15 if you have extra time and have not seen the beautiful eastern sierras. You will need to get down I think Sherman Grade from Mammoth to Bishop. All good roads.

I would just take I-5 its a faster and easier moving highway to SD vs doing all those others..

Just leave at a certain time to avoid rush hour thru LA..

:C

If you want a scenic route take 50 E to 89 SE to 395 S to I-15 or 99 S to Lodi then hwy 12 cut over to 88 E to 395 S to I-15. If taking one of the routes you said from Bakersfield on hwy 58 till it meets 395 at four corners and 395 to I-15.