Tehachapi or Grapevine to Joshua Tree National Park?

[Bettysabetty]

Hello! My husband and I just bought our first camper a couple of months ago. We're planning our first trip and I'm curious if it's better to take the 58 through Tehachapi or go over the Grapevine to get to Joshua Tree? I'm a new driver, with a 2007 Subaru Tribeca and we have a 1972 Starcraft pop-up camper.

[mileshuff]

MarkTwain wrote:

mileshuff wrote:

MarkTwain wrote:

Hwy 46 east to Hwy 99
South to Hwy 58

I prefer taking 7th standard rd between I-5 and 99. Much less traffic or stops of any kind.

what is the exit # off of I-5?

Exit 263 southbound/262 northbound

[MarkTwain]

mileshuff wrote:

MarkTwain wrote:

Hwy 46 east to Hwy 99
South to Hwy 58

I prefer taking 7th standard rd between I-5 and 99. Much less traffic or stops of any kind.

what is the exit # off of I-5?

[profdant139]

The advice for a new driver is to downshift to use the compression of the engine to slow yourself down. Otherwise you could burn out the brakes or warp the rotors. You will soon get the hang of towing -- learning to back up is also crucial.

Be sure to ask lots of questions on the trailer forum! Some of the answers will be useful, and others will be grumpy. 😉 Ignore the grumpy ones.

[mileshuff]

MarkTwain wrote:

Hwy 46 east to Hwy 99
South to Hwy 58

I prefer taking 7th standard rd between I-5 and 99. Much less traffic or stops of any kind.

[NMDriver]

If I was already on 99 then Tehachapi but if you are on I-5 then stay on 5 and take exit 198 to use CA 138 over to Palmdale then 18 to Apple Valley and 247 to Joshua Tree.

138 is a good. two lane. almost flat road and joins I-14 just north of Palmdale. You go through Palmdale on 14 and use exit 30 south of town to get onto the Sierra Hwy/Pearblossom Hwy back north to get back on 138 to the 18 junction.

You will climb up the Grapevine but stay at the top of the pass to exit onto 138. Almost no downhill driving and the uphill portion has extra truck lanes and few curves.

[MarkTwain]

Bettysabetty wrote:
Thanks Islandman! Is it very steep on the downhill? Any advice for a new driver?

Tehachapi is the best route. They keep Hwy. 58 clear of snow on a routine basis.
I-5
Hwy 46 east to Hwy 99
South to Hwy 58
East on 58 to Hwy 395
South on 395 to Victorville Hwy. 18/247 to Joshua.
I drive from north of Sac. to A Country RV Park which is right off of Hwy. 58 about 5 miles east of Hwy. 99. 661-363-6412

[Bettysabetty]

Thanks Islandman! Is it very steep on the downhill? Any advice for a new driver?

[Islandman]

I've always preferred the Tehachapi route when going east from the Bakersfield area over to Joshua Tree and other points. Can be a little slippery if snowing but there is a lot less traffic to deal with which makes it our preferred highway.

[Lwiddis]

Fear neither route. I alternate.