Central CA I-5 to Borrego Springs

djgarcia wrote:

nandj wrote:
If heading south on I-5 to Borrego Springs, CA, it looks like the following is the most direct route.

I-5, I-210 at Santa Clarita, CA-57 at San Dimas, CA-71, CA91, I-15 at Corona, CA-79 at Temecula.

Would there be a less congested route where we're not going too far out of our way? Have considered I-5, CA-138 through Palmdale then I-215 through San Bernardino. Have done Palmdale once and it was slow due to small towns.

Thanks,
Neil

Yes,
Take 1-5 to Hwy. 58 at Bakersfield then go east to hwy. 395. South on 395 to Hwy. 18 to hwy 247 to hwy.hwy 62 to I-10. This drops you out at Palm Springs. Go east on I-10 to hwy. 86 to S22. Go west for about 20 miles and you will be Anza Borrego. This route avoids all the traffic clusters you hit around the L.A. area. I tow this route every year with a 35' 5th. wheel with no problems.

This is the route I always use to go down anyplace in that area. I even use this to go to San Diego. If you check Google maps it only adds about 40 miles to use this to San Diego. I just checked Google and this route is 19 miles further than going down to 210 to get to Borrego Springs.

The problem with going through Los Angeles is no matter what day of the week or what time of day it only takes one crash to bring everything to a halt. Especially going over the Grapevine. So unless I'm going to Los Angeles, I always take 58 and 395 to go to anything down South. And don't go through Palmdale because that is congested and there are lots of intersections on that route. 395 has some cross traffic, but it's not bad.