California Decision

I don't think you'll see any problems on that route.

Your planned trip would not include U.S. Hwy 101 through Santa Barbara which is our only big issue right now. No fires are burning. I recommend you buzz through Los Angeles County on I210 but you will still have traffic....morning, noon and night.

I think you've been watching too much news reports.
The only current area of concern, is the 101 closure between Ventura and Santa Barbara, from the mudslides.
It should be open by this weekend.

But, as former residents of that area and Napa Valley, we are bypassing both areas, on our upcoming trip, because of the heartbreaking destruction.

I believe Hwy 1 north of Cambria is still closed to thru traffic due to a massive mudslide last year. That's the scenic route along the coast to Monterey area.

With the route you describe, you won't be going near any of the affected areas. And the only thing that would stop you from driving would be the Hwy 101 closures near Santa Barbara, which are temporary anyway. You can still easily drive through the Napa/Santa Rosa fire areas on 101.

The only thing you have to decide is at what point you're going to swing over to the coast. I recommend taking Hwy 20 to Fort Bragg and then continuing north to the Oregon coast. If you take 299, that's a long, windy road, and if you wait until you get to Grants Pass (the next feasible opportunity), then you're doubling back south to get to Brookings via 199.

2oldman wrote:
I don't think you'll see any problems on that route.

me either :)

From Palm Springs take the I-10 west to the 210 fwy in Redlands, Ca. Stay on the 210 all they way to the I-5 north to avoid downtown Los Angeles traffic.

A very small part of 1 percent of the state has been affected by floods, fires and slides. A call to Cal-Trans 800# will give you updates along the way and their website now will give you any long term closures.

California has a very good traffic web site. I used it a lot last year when we did that basic route from Tucson to Seattle. We weren’t in a hurry, took two months for the trip.

A couple times we had to change a days planned drive due to mud slides and fires on our way back.

Be flexible and enjoy a fantastic trip.

Oh hell’s suggestion of CA Hwy 20 is good. A beautiful drive through the CA Jackson State Forest from Willits.