Sacramento Traffic

Thanks for the heads up, got it the day before making the trip (it seems I usually find out about these things after the fact). Good smooth road but for a brief section on I80 right before the I5 south turnoff.

If you R traveling thru Sacramento going north on I5, just past the airport + across the Sacramento River you will come to the Yolo Causeway, just before the City of Woodland. The Causeway is in need of repair. The bumps at each joint of the Causeway are jarring. Recommend you consider taking State Highway 113 as an alternate route. I5 northbound to I80 westbound, to Hwy 113 northbound (just past UC Davis), back to I5 northbound at Woodland. If southbound on I5, take Hwy 113 at Woodland to I80 eastbound, back to I5 southbound. We have been taking this route for several years now, even when we lived in the Sacramento area.

"The lanes are a little narrow for the speeds and the S.O.P. is to fill any open space between you and the car ahead ."

I have a different strategy. I keep several car lengths in front of me to increase the time I have to react. It also allows other drivers to change lanes without a panic. Most people that pull in front of me are crossing to the outside lanes and so only stay in "my gap" a minute or less. I seem to get there at about the same time.

Whats traffic like in Sacramento going through on I5? I'd probably shoot for a weekend but just in case whats in like during the week (outside of rush hours of course).

I-5 through Sac. is no problem. Avoid traveling this area from 7 to 9 am and from 4 to 6pm.

Whats traffic like in Sacramento going through on I5? I'd probably shoot for a weekend but just in case whats in like during the week (outside of rush hours of course).

I-5 through Sac. is no problem. Avoid traveling this area from 7 to 9 am and from 4 to 6pm.

Ka Ron wrote:

Lowsuv wrote:
I have driven through Sacto on I-5 during rush hour a half dozen times towing .
The lanes are a little narrow for the speeds and the S.O.P. is to fill any open space between you and the car ahead .
It is not as bad as Seattle .
My habit these days is to depart Oregon such that I miss the rush hour traffic .
I have departed Bend at midnight several times to go the Sacramento / San Joaquin Delta which is 1.5 hours south of Sacto .
When I do go through I just keep pace with the traffic give adequate car lengths and stay in the proper lanes .
Let's say that I am focused for those 20 minutes .

I have not found anyplace worse than Seattle on I5

X2
We either take highway 20 eastbound depending on destination and if it is open or westbound to take the Whidbey/Port Townsend ferry just to avoid it. Other times we leave home early Sunday morning to get through the worst before everyone wakes up.

Lowsuv wrote:
I have driven through Sacto on I-5 during rush hour a half dozen times towing .
The lanes are a little narrow for the speeds and the S.O.P. is to fill any open space between you and the car ahead .
It is not as bad as Seattle .
My habit these days is to depart Oregon such that I miss the rush hour traffic .
I have departed Bend at midnight several times to go the Sacramento / San Joaquin Delta which is 1.5 hours south of Sacto .
When I do go through I just keep pace with the traffic give adequate car lengths and stay in the proper lanes .
Let's say that I am focused for those 20 minutes .

I have not found anyplace worse than Seattle on I5

sueann51 wrote:
Agree with all. We like SF and head down a few times a year. Started doing it with our trailer this year and still find traffic on I-5 to generally be a non issue between about 10am and 3pm.

we live right outside of Sacramento so we travel I-5 almost on a daily basis. I would agree -ideal hours are 10-3. I-5runs alongside downtown Sacto and the only time it gets really busy is before right before and after work hours. Even then,however,it just slows you down but it's not a difficult freeway to navigate. We begin most of our travels using I-5...never had a problem.

I have driven through Sacto on I-5 during rush hour a half dozen times towing .
The lanes are a little narrow for the speeds and the S.O.P. is to fill any open space between you and the car ahead .
It is not as bad as Seattle .
My habit these days is to depart Oregon such that I miss the rush hour traffic .
I have departed Bend at midnight several times to go the Sacramento / San Joaquin Delta which is 1.5 hours south of Sacto .
When I do go through I just keep pace with the traffic give adequate car lengths and stay in the proper lanes .
Let's say that I am focused for those 20 minutes .

Agree with all. We like SF and head down a few times a year. Started doing it with our trailer this year and still find traffic on I-5 to generally be a non issue between about 10am and 3pm.