cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Best Route around LA from Palm Springs to Santa Barbara

Texas_Roadrunn1
Explorer
Explorer
We are looking for some local knowledge to get around LA from Palm Springs to Santa Barbara, we are actually headed up to Carmel for the ATT tournament at Pebble Beach. Will probably be leaving Palm Springs on Monday. As always, thanks in advance for your help.
17 REPLIES 17

SCVJeff
Explorer
Explorer
NMDriver wrote:
My favorite is the 10 to the 210 to the 118 which turns into the 26 and finally the 101 to Santa Barbara.


My vote for the best also and I use to work in Riverside and live in Ventura. By the Way I think you mean the 23 to the 101, not the 26.

One warning though is the Canajo Grade just east of Camarillo on the 101. Very steep down grade so use caution. You can use 118 after it is no longer freeway through Moorpark instead of using the 23 to the 101. It is more stop and go but it avoids the steep downgrade to get to the 101.

The problem I have with using the 5 to the 126 is the 5 between the 210 and the 126 plus the 126 itself is often congested, much more than the 118.
doesn't matter now because the OP is where they are going. I travel the 118 and 126 all the time, both on the weekend and weekdays at all times, and have never ever seen the 126 anywhere close to the traffic on the 118. You said "used to". If that is before it was widened, I would agree, but that's been years. And I-5 only during rush hour on a way shorter stretch than spanning the 118 all the way to west Simi.
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350

FrankShore
Explorer
Explorer
SCVJeff wrote:
This is the fastest, less crowded route. 1st don't do any to these during rush hour, period..

- 10 West to the 210 toward Pasadena until it ends at the I-5 at the top of the San Fernando Valley
- Take I-5 North about 10 miles to the 126 West
- Take 126 West to the end and it will drop you on the 101 North at the extreme north end of Ventura.next stop: Santa Barbara


STAY OFF THE 101 IN LOS ANGELES !!! It's as bad or often worse than the 5 or 405

(edit: fixed spellin')

+3
2014 F-250
2014 Minnie Winnie 2351DKS (Traded In-Burnout-Use A Surge Protector!)
2015 Arctic Fox 22G (Great Trailer But Heavy - Traded In)
2018 Lance 1685 w/ Solar & 4 Seasons Package
1999 Beneteau 461 Oceanis Yacht
En Norski i en Fransk båt - Dette må jeg se!

Texas_Roadrunn1
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks so much to all of you who responded. We made it safely to Carmel, left Palm Desert this am at 8 and made it to Carmel around 5. That 55 mph speed limit is a killer! Traffic was not bad, a few slow downs around Pasadena, but we never stopped in the line of traffic. We chose to stay on 5 till we got to 46 as we will come back down 101 to go to Malibu. We are out here to go to the ATT at Pebble Beach and then to the Northern Trust at Riviera CC. We enjoyed the drive today, thanks to all of you!
Susan

NMDriver
Explorer
Explorer
My favorite is the 10 to the 210 to the 118 which turns into the 26 and finally the 101 to Santa Barbara.


My vote for the best also and I use to work in Riverside and live in Ventura. By the Way I think you mean the 23 to the 101, not the 26.

One warning though is the Canajo Grade just east of Camarillo on the 101. Very steep down grade so use caution. You can use 118 after it is no longer freeway through Moorpark instead of using the 23 to the 101. It is more stop and go but it avoids the steep downgrade to get to the 101.

The problem I have with using the 5 to the 126 is the 5 between the 210 and the 126 plus the 126 itself is often congested, much more than the 118.
5er/2500Duramax/18ftBoat

hotpepperkid
Explorer
Explorer
SCVJeff wrote:

This is the fastest, less crowded route. 1st don't do any to these during rush hour, period..

- 10 West to the 210 toward Pasadena until it ends at the I-5 at the top of the San Fernando Valley
- Take I-5 North about 10 miles to the 126 West
- Take 126 West to the end and it will drop you on the 101 North at the extreme north end of Ventura.next stop: Santa Barbara

That would be my choice. Some of those other suggested routes would take me two days at the miles I travel in a day
2019 Ford F-350 long bed SRW 4X4 6.4 PSD Grand Designs Reflection 295RL 5th wheel

mileshuff
Explorer
Explorer
tres vagabonds wrote:
10 to 210 to 15 to 395 to 58 to 99 to 46 to 101
you'll hit 101 just past Paso Robles
If you have to go to Santa Barbara stay on the 210 to the 134 which runs into the 101.
Im sure there will be other suggestions


I agree with previous poster if you do not need to go to Santa Barbara. 10 to 210 to 15 to 395 to 58 to 99 to 46 to 101 at Paso Robles. Bypasses almost all of Metro L.A.

In prior years I've always gone 10 to 210 to 5 to 126 to 101. This is the best route through L.A. non-rush hour as it avoids downtown. The first route above was an easier drive for us and will probably go that route next time we're headed up 101.
2014 Winnebago 26FWRKS 5th Wheel
2007.5 Dodge 2500 6.7L Diesel
2004 Dodge Durango Hemi 3.55 (Used to tow TT)

TyroneandGladys
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for the responses even though I am not the poster I will be going from Banning CA to Jalama Beach this summer.
Tyrone & Gladys
27' 1986 Coachmen

Texas_Roadrunn1
Explorer
Explorer
Thank you so much, less crowded is what we are looking for since we are pulling a 36' fiver! Really appreciate all of you taking the time to respond.

CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Explorer III
One time we took 210, 134, 101 w/o issues.
2009 Holiday Rambler 42' Scepter with ISL 400 Cummins
750 Watts Solar Morningstar MPPT 60 Controller
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland

Bob

CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Explorer III
Midday 210, 118, 23, 101 is a good route.
2009 Holiday Rambler 42' Scepter with ISL 400 Cummins
750 Watts Solar Morningstar MPPT 60 Controller
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland

Bob

Nutinelse2do
Explorer
Explorer
AZRick wrote:
SCVJeff wrote:
This is the fastest, less crowded route. 1st don't do any to these during rush hour, period..

- 10 West to the 210 toward Pasadena until it ends at the I-5 at the top of the San Fernando Valley
- Take I-5 North about 10 miles to the 126 West
- Take 126 West to the end and it will drop you on the 101 North at the extreme north end of Ventura.next stop: Santa Barbara


STAY OFF THE 101 IN LOS ANGELES !!! It's as bad or often worse than the 5 or 405

(edit: fixed spellin')


+1

X2
Living Our Dream
MTHRSHP - 2006 KSDP 3912
Cummins 350ISL...Spartan Chassis
ESC POD - 2019 Ford Ranger XLT FX4
Zippy Scoot- 2018 Honda PCX 150 on an Overbilt Lift
Shredder at the Rainbow Bridge - You Will Always Be With Us

AZRick
Explorer
Explorer
SCVJeff wrote:
This is the fastest, less crowded route. 1st don't do any to these during rush hour, period..

- 10 West to the 210 toward Pasadena until it ends at the I-5 at the top of the San Fernando Valley
- Take I-5 North about 10 miles to the 126 West
- Take 126 West to the end and it will drop you on the 101 North at the extreme north end of Ventura.next stop: Santa Barbara


STAY OFF THE 101 IN LOS ANGELES !!! It's as bad or often worse than the 5 or 405

(edit: fixed spellin')


+1

SCVJeff
Explorer
Explorer
This is the fastest, less crowded route. 1st don't do any to these during rush hour, period..

- 10 West to the 210 toward Pasadena until it ends at the I-5 at the top of the San Fernando Valley
- Take I-5 North about 10 miles to the 126 West
- Take 126 West to the end and it will drop you on the 101 North at the extreme north end of Ventura.next stop: Santa Barbara


STAY OFF THE 101 IN LOS ANGELES !!! It's as bad or often worse than the 5 or 405

(edit: fixed spellin')
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350

kalynzoo
Explorer
Explorer
My favorite is the 10 to the 210 to the 118 which turns into the 26 and finally the 101 to Santa Barbara. The 210 can be very congested during rush hours, but so can every other freeway in LA. Try to head north no earlier than 9:30Am, avoid 3:30 to 7:30pm. Great on weekends.