I-5 or CA99?

5....

double post..sorry

triple post??? sorry again.

Both roads are constantly under construction. We travel from Los Angeles north at least 2-3 times a year. We always take Hwy99. I-5 may be a few minutes faster, but it's soooo desolate.

We take Hwy99 to the Hwy4 that cuts over to Stockton and onto I-5. You'll travel about 50 miles north on I-5 where you'll reach Lodi. Exit Hwy12 off ramp and you'll find multiple gas stations from 76 to AM/PM. They always have some decent prices because of the multiple stations. This point in your trip will put you at about 350 miles depending on where in L.A you started. From Lodi on, you're about 45 minutes out of Sacramento and traverse the maze through Sacramento with a full tank.

Actually most of 99 has been fixed. I haven't been down 5 in a while, but I think 99 is probably the better road. 5 is a little faster but a whole lot more boring. I hate driving I-5 from Tracy to the Grapevine. It's 300 miles of nothing. I-5 through Stockton right now is horrible because it's all under construction.

If you take Diplomat Don's advise and come up 99, don't take 4 in Stockton. Like I said I-5 north of 4 is a mess in Stockton right now. They are completely replacing the freeway so it's on one of those messes where the entire roadway is over on one side and when the one side is done they'll shift it all back over. If you come that far on 99 just take it all the way up to Sac. It's about 50 miles further from Stockton to Sac.

We travel I-5 a whole lot and the 99 every now and then. The I-5 is smoother and easier to drive, but has more traffic. The I-5 is not smooth at all in Stockton, it is downright rough.

We came north on I-5 with fog most of the way, man that was monotonous. I would like to try 99 just for something different.

3 months ago...We just came back from Pismo Beach area. Going and coming using I-5 from Tracy - Manteca (120) down around a 130 miles to Kettleman city turnoff highway 41 out to Paso Robles.
Our motorhome took a beating where the concrete bridges or short concrete strips adjoin the asphalt on I-5.
I slowed even to 35-45 with no traffic behind me and we still bottomed suspension out. I counted at least 10 different spots on that leg of the trip. So, just a warning, be prepared to loosen some teeth.
Next trip, I may try 99 part way starting at Merced north. We have used 99 north from Stockton to Sacramento and then cross over to I-5. It's fairly smooth. I-5 around Stockton is all torn up.

romore wrote:
We came north on I-5 with fog most of the way, man that was monotonous. I would like to try 99 just for something different.

No fog this time of year, but even without the fog it's still monotonous.