I-5 or CA99?

99 has the Mid State marker,, a Redwood northbound and a Palm southbound,, Madera still has the B-17 along the side.
5 is more direct and I feel it is faster,, also you have In and Out in Kettleman City and the Tri Tip sandwich at Harris Ranch warrants a stop..
99 runs you through the center of allot of small cities,, 5 you are way on the out skirts.
The base of the Grape Vine has some nice eateries,, and a few places to get out and walk....
Fort Tejon is a good tour,, and if you get a chance,, Find the Old Ridge Highway!! 7 mile detour Packed with old history of travel over the mountains...
5= brain dead fast!!
99= scenery slow!!
both have rough spots,, but from Modesto to sac,,99 is a NASCAR run!!! Jack Tone road and north seems to be a speedway..I usually take the 4 over to the 5 and it seems wider,, Although Elk Grove into downtown is no place to lolly gag either..

I5

If 99 has been improved in recent years, I'm glad to hear about it. Last couple times I was on 99 it was one continuous rumble strip.

I-5 has been smoother and faster, but more desolate. If you are trying to get through the valley views and side trips are not required. And travelling in our motorhome we have everything we need anyway.

msmith1199 wrote:

coolcity wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
Harris Ranch is good, but I wouldn't do I-5 just for it. There's plenty of places along 99 too. I like the McDonald's in Chowchilla myself. :)

Pretty tough to compare Harris ranch to a Mcdonalds resturant
In fact a bit insulting to harris ranch in my opinion
I found I5 ok but pretty dam rough in some areas north of bakersfield through to sacremento.Ok north of Sacremento

You're kidding?

no but after thinking about it I realized you were just trying to be funny. (prefering mcdonalds over harris ranch)

coolcity wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
Harris Ranch is good, but I wouldn't do I-5 just for it. There's plenty of places along 99 too. I like the McDonald's in Chowchilla myself. :)

Pretty tough to compare Harris ranch to a Mcdonalds resturant
In fact a bit insulting to harris ranch in my opinion
I found I5 ok but pretty dam rough in some areas north of bakersfield through to sacremento.Ok north of Sacremento

You're kidding?

msmith1199 wrote:
Harris Ranch is good, but I wouldn't do I-5 just for it. There's plenty of places along 99 too. I like the McDonald's in Chowchilla myself. :)

Pretty tough to compare Harris ranch to a Mcdonalds resturant
In fact a bit insulting to harris ranch in my opinion
I found I5 ok but pretty dam rough in some areas north of bakersfield through to sacremento.Ok north of Sacremento

Boring!! Two of our children graduated Sac State, and we have friends in Herrold. We make the trip a lot. Since I keep my speed between 55 and 60 traffic is not a problem, they pass me, I do not have to pass anything. I-5 has by far less merging traffic, so it is an easer drive, as you only have to set your cruise control and sit in the right lane. Harris Ranch is the 1/2 way point, with a lovely restaurant, nice grassy areas, and rather expensive, both for food and fuel. I usually fuel up at the 76 station at the Highway 12 exit. Same exit as Flying J but the 76 actually have a nicer access and egress. I-5 also has newer, more frequent rest areas. Sometimes we take the 99 just for a change in scenery, or when construction is in progress on the I-5.
Happy Trails.

When I posted, I thought they would have finished that stretch through Stockton, but I guess the Republic of California is doing what they do best, hire a six man company to do 10 miles of freeway so that it takes three years and they can hang onto the road improvement money a little longer.

Just drove 99 from Madera to Stockton Saturday.
Some construction spots to watch for Madera for about 3 miles, Merced for about 4 miles, Lathrop about 10 miles.
I know there is more construction south of Madera by the San Joaquin river about 1 mile and Kingsburg by the Kings River,about 6 miles.
99 is going through a major make over, with all that said, most of 99 is way better than it has been in years.
Haven't traveled I-5 in a while, it knocked my I teeth out the last time I was on it.

Traveled the I5 route a couple of weeks ago. Much better than in past years. Yes there are some bad bumps crossing bridges. The stockton area is making some progress. At least this time the traffic slowed way down so the bumps were not as bad.