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Avoiding the mountains of CA

TChallenger
Explorer
Explorer
Looking for help from San Diego to San Francisco to avoid some of the major mountains of CA
24 REPLIES 24

Kayteg1
Explorer II
Explorer II
I used to have a project in San Diego (Escondido) and was "commuting there" quite few times.
With car I was making the trip in 8 hr including dinner, but that was in times when radars on I-5 were rare and my Valentine One could detect them ahead of time. Now trigger-activated radars make the time impossible.
So you definitively don't want to cross LA area in afternoon traffic.
I was taking I-15/I-210 route as it turns much faster than others.
Coming afternoon to Bay Area you are mostly against the traffic, but still 4-6 PM most of the freeways are jammed.
My car technique was to leave 10-12 AM, pass LA before heavy traffic and come to Bay area pretty late when all the traffic gets easy.
Knowing the exact destination can generate additional advise.
Saturdays are usually the best days for the trip as semis do most of slow downs on I-5

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
Least traffic is 4 am to maybe 8 am Sunday

When do you expect to go through?

RayChez
Explorer
Explorer
BobGed wrote:
TChallenger wrote:
Thanks for all the great tips! We will take the 5 from Seal Beach to San Fran. Any tips on avoiding traffic, or is this a lost cause? Any time frame better then the other. We are traveling in a 2015 40'Class A with tow, gas engine.

Without knowing your final destination in the City, my preference would be to approach SF from the south which will avoid crossing any bridges. To do that you would take Hwy 152 West at Los Banos to Hwy 101 North at Gilroy. Mornings would be the worst time.


Drove that route many times because I had to get to Fremont, but traffic in the morning when people are going to work and in the afternoon when they are getting off is worse then driving in Los Angeles.
2002 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser
330 HP Caterpillar 3126-E
3000 Allison Transmission
Neway Freightliner chassis
2017 Buick Envision

BobGed
Explorer
Explorer
TChallenger wrote:
Thanks for all the great tips! We will take the 5 from Seal Beach to San Fran. Any tips on avoiding traffic, or is this a lost cause? Any time frame better then the other. We are traveling in a 2015 40'Class A with tow, gas engine.

Without knowing your final destination in the City, my preference would be to approach SF from the south which will avoid crossing any bridges. To do that you would take Hwy 152 West at Los Banos to Hwy 101 North at Gilroy. Mornings would be the worst time.
2017 Tiffin Phaeton 40QBH
2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited

RayChez
Explorer
Explorer
Going through Los Angeles is crazy. And the climb from Santa Clarita up hwy 5 is a long climb for any coach. It might not be very steep, but it is long. I would go I-15 and avoid all that heavy traffic from Los Angeles. I-15 then you can get 395 just before you get to Victorville to Kramer Junction, 58 to Bakersfield and there you can get either 99 or I-5. They are both good interstate highways.
2002 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser
330 HP Caterpillar 3126-E
3000 Allison Transmission
Neway Freightliner chassis
2017 Buick Envision

Smitty77
Explorer
Explorer
If your not in a rush, the mentioned 5 to 101 or 5 to 405 to 101, will give you a more scenic drive once you get out of the LA area. We enjoy this drive. We do try to time it to miss rush hour traffic in the LA area. Nice places to stop and spend the night on the way North, if you want to break it up into a few days.

If your in a hurry, 15 to 210 to 5 (Just take our time over the grapevine, and monitor for wind condition forecast before taking off.). You can take your choice between 5 and 99 once you are near Bakersfield, as they both can get you to the San Francisco area...

Travel safe, have fun,
Smitty

bbaker2001
Explorer
Explorer
getting thru LA is only bottleneck.
up over grapevine all the way toward Tracy should not be an issue where you will see the bypass to SF, I think it is 205 West to San Fran. same traffic as LA from there if in commute time
get to SF by either Bay Bridge or San Mateo
BTW spent much time at Seal Beach Huntington,
don't know how you handle the traffic.
I commuted from Montclair to LA airport everyday nuts
BB from California
2015 Ram 3500
2001 Cardinal
best friend is my wife ๐Ÿ™‚

TChallenger
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for all the great tips! We will take the 5 from Seal Beach to San Fran. Any tips on avoiding traffic, or is this a lost cause? Any time frame better then the other. We are traveling in a 2015 40'Class A with tow, gas engine.

CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Explorer III
The Grapevine is 4,000' and 4-6% grades so a small mountain. Lots of truck traffic.
2009 Holiday Rambler 42' Scepter with ISL 400 Cummins
750 Watts Solar Morningstar MPPT 60 Controller
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland

Bob

AstroRig57
Explorer
Explorer
The OP doesn't mention, is the concern over hills due to concerns about the capabilities of his motor home, or is it because someone in his party has altitude limitations due to COPD or other pulmonary issues?
2005 Winnebago Sightseer WFD30B "rigged for night" with red LED lighting for night adapted vision.

Do you remember when the sky was dark, and the stars were bright?
The International Dark-Sky Association
American by birth...Scottish by the Grace Of God.

kalynzoo
Explorer
Explorer
You don't mention what you are traveling in. Anyway, the Grapevine (I-5 between Valencia and Bakersfield) is you one really big climb and drop. Any well maintained RV should handle it without a problem. If you have an older rig, turn of your engine Air Conditioner before starting the climb. Don't let the engine overheat, so keep your revs at a normal rate and enjoy the scenery. Going down on the other side watch your speed, don't let your speed get beyond your comfort level, and tap your brakes as needed to keep your speed down rather than trying to stop when going too fast. I usually keep my downhill speed at about 45 to 50 mph. It really isn't a bad drive at all.
If you are really concerned, or just uncomfortable, then take the lovely drive straight up highway 101. You will still have a few grades to deal with, but they are shorter, not necessarily flatter. Camarillo grade (steep down run), and Atascadero grade (short but steep up and down). The drive up the 101 is by far more scenic, but it will add at least an hour to your trip, probably more as traffic will be much slower. Again, if your rig is in good condition, the Grapevine should not be a problem.
Happy Trails.

GPWayne
Explorer
Explorer
I-5, 101, 99......No big deal. Done all these many times with gasers and DP. Get to know you rig. With a gaser use same gear going down as going up.

Two_Hands
Explorer
Explorer
There are no mountains between San Diego and San Francisco. Some hills maybe but nothing to be concerned about.
2015 Fleetwood Excursion 33D
2016 Grand Cherokee Limited
Retired Law Enforcement
U.S. Army 1965-1973/RVN 1968-'69


I am the frequent recipient of "Get out of the way old man!"

RayChez
Explorer
Explorer
I-15 north out of San Diego, then Hwy 58 to Bakersfield, then I-5. The biggest climb will be Cajon Pass, the next small climb will be Tehachapi, then it is all flat all the way to destination.
2002 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser
330 HP Caterpillar 3126-E
3000 Allison Transmission
Neway Freightliner chassis
2017 Buick Envision