Reno, NV to Petaluma, CA

[BJ_NW_Arkansas]

In late June we will travel from Reno, NV to Petaluma, CA. Computer route is I-80 to CA Hwy 37 (Exit 33 North of Vallejo) to US101 then North to Petaluma.

Is this the best route?

Older post indicate construction around Donner Pass. Still going on? What should I be aware of in this area.

Is there a rush hour in the North San Francisco area I should try to avoid?

Any input will be appreciated.

[2gypsies1]

ycswat wrote:
Made the trip two weeks ago on a Saturday. Definitely X3 on the Lakeville Road route. Sacramento, Fairfield/Vacaville always has traffic if you are anywhere near rush hours on weekdays.

Rob

X4 on Lakeville Rd. to Petaluma. We did it today. From CA 395 we came down Hwy 50. The Sacramento traffic was horrendous at 1pm. We normally don't do big cities but are visiting daughter for the weekend....then we're outta here!

[Litch]

kalynzoo wrote:
The Donner Pass area of the I-80 is in my opinion some of the worst paved highway stretches in America. There has been construction to widen the highway going on for years. The winter snow and the truck traffic makes the surface really rough. That said, it is still highway, paved, not twisty or winding, and safe. Just plan on speeds of less than 50mph, if it is a weekend, with Reno and Tahoe traffic, speeds can drop to 25mph to a crawl. It is only about a 10 mile bottleneck, and it can be easy sailing or not. The rest of the drive is a piece of cake.
Enjoy.

Outdated, inaccurate information. They never widened the highway, they completely re-built it from years of getting beat up from Winter traffic. Well needed and welcomed work has been completed except for some bridge work in various locations.

[ycswat]

Made the trip two weeks ago on a Saturday. Definitely X3 on the Lakeville Road route. Sacramento, Fairfield/Vacaville always has traffic if you are anywhere near rush hours on weekdays.

Rob

[ratherBcampin]

dkreuzen wrote:

Cordelia wrote:
The work on 80 over the Sierras is mostly done as has been previously posted. Caltrans is working on 12 between I-80 (Fairfield) and napa. I would take 37 and cut off on Lakeville road (between sears point and the petaluma river) which will bring you into south petaluma and avoid the traffic on 101 between Novato and Petaluma

Yep, Lakeville Hwy is the way to go...

YEP!

[dkreuzen]

Cordelia wrote:
The work on 80 over the Sierras is mostly done as has been previously posted. Caltrans is working on 12 between I-80 (Fairfield) and napa. I would take 37 and cut off on Lakeville road (between sears point and the petaluma river) which will bring you into south petaluma and avoid the traffic on 101 between Novato and Petaluma

Yep, Lakeville Hwy is the way to go...

[Cordelia]

The work on 80 over the Sierras is mostly done as has been previously posted. Caltrans is working on 12 between I-80 (Fairfield) and napa. I would take 37 and cut off on Lakeville road (between sears point and the petaluma river) which will bring you into south petaluma and avoid the traffic on 101 between Novato and Petaluma

[Marv_Hoag]

I-80 over the Sierras is in good shape. Construction is pretty much completed. Your route to Petaluma is a good one. I always try to get through the Bay Area between 10am to 3pm.

Traffic from before Sacramento all the way to Petaluma will be heavy all the time. Usually moves pretty well during the mid day. Rush hours are stop and go.

[romore]

We enjoyed that trip, slowed down through the Donner Pass but didn't consider it a biggie. We approached SF around three on a Friday afternoon, it was nuts. Once on 12 it was a nice drive, the wine country is beautiful. Word of warning, we paid 67 bucks for a night at the KOA in Petaluma. It was nice but not that nice. We were too tired to spend time looking for something else.

[kalynzoo]

The Donner Pass area of the I-80 is in my opinion some of the worst paved highway stretches in America. There has been construction to widen the highway going on for years. The winter snow and the truck traffic makes the surface really rough. That said, it is still highway, paved, not twisty or winding, and safe. Just plan on speeds of less than 50mph, if it is a weekend, with Reno and Tahoe traffic, speeds can drop to 25mph to a crawl. It is only about a 10 mile bottleneck, and it can be easy sailing or not. The rest of the drive is a piece of cake.
Enjoy.