Tigre10 wrote:
"I would stay on I-5 to 152 near Los Banos and take 152 over the hill to Watsonville, then up to Santa Cruz."
You can do that if you want, but the person who said 17 was narrow and winding was wrong! It is a freeway now. Once upon a time, back in the 80s, it was narrow and winding, but no more. The Los Banos is the narrow one now, as it is just two lanes. But if you like back roads, like me, then it is a good one.
Looking at the route between Virginia City & Reno & decided on 95 to 50 to 80 & Reno. Then north on 395. At Susanville to Bellingham getting to the I-5 as easily & as soon as feasible. It will be the end of Oct. & hoping there won't be any snow in higher elevations yet.
Looking at this suggestion: "139 from Susanville is on the narrow side. Your rig will be riding the depressed reflectors on the centerline and at the same time riding the fog or shoulder stripe for about the first 60 miles. The good part is that it's not heavily used".
Any other thoughts on this last leg?
I took 395 north from Susanville, instead of 139, this summer. A fine two lane road, flat, through farm country. 139 is the mountain option.
I prefer to stay east of the mountains north of Susanville rather than going over to I5. There is far less traffic on the east side -- almost none. It is fast two lane roads rather than freeway, though.
The I5 pass over the Siskiyous at the CA/OR border is beautiful, but I find it very scary to drive because of all the semis.
Snow/ice is unlikely in late Oct, but you can look at caltrans and ODOT websites close to the day. You have to cross a mountain pass either way -- on I5 it is the siskiyous, and on 395/97 it is the cascades.
Also looking for recommendations of campgrounds along the I-5 from Eugene OR to Los Banos CA.
I'll send you a pm. I did this trip late Oct 2015.
Do you have reservations / places to stay in Santa Cruz, Santa Monica, etc.? If not, reserve now! Things fill up. North of there you don't have to worry about.
