I-5 or CA99?

[Normph]

Driving from Los Angeles to Sacramento. Which highway yields a smoother drive (pavement), I-5 or CA 99?

Thanx

[msmith1199]

coolcity wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
Harris Ranch is good, but I wouldn't do I-5 just for it. There's plenty of places along 99 too. I like the McDonald's in Chowchilla myself. 🙂

Pretty tough to compare Harris ranch to a Mcdonalds resturant
In fact a bit insulting to harris ranch in my opinion
I found I5 ok but pretty dam rough in some areas north of bakersfield through to sacremento.Ok north of Sacremento

You're kidding?

[coolcity]

msmith1199 wrote:
Harris Ranch is good, but I wouldn't do I-5 just for it. There's plenty of places along 99 too. I like the McDonald's in Chowchilla myself. 🙂

Pretty tough to compare Harris ranch to a Mcdonalds resturant
In fact a bit insulting to harris ranch in my opinion
I found I5 ok but pretty dam rough in some areas north of bakersfield through to sacremento.Ok north of Sacremento

[kalynzoo]

Boring!! Two of our children graduated Sac State, and we have friends in Herrold. We make the trip a lot. Since I keep my speed between 55 and 60 traffic is not a problem, they pass me, I do not have to pass anything. I-5 has by far less merging traffic, so it is an easer drive, as you only have to set your cruise control and sit in the right lane. Harris Ranch is the 1/2 way point, with a lovely restaurant, nice grassy areas, and rather expensive, both for food and fuel. I usually fuel up at the 76 station at the Highway 12 exit. Same exit as Flying J but the 76 actually have a nicer access and egress. I-5 also has newer, more frequent rest areas. Sometimes we take the 99 just for a change in scenery, or when construction is in progress on the I-5.
Happy Trails.

[DSDP_Don]

When I posted, I thought they would have finished that stretch through Stockton, but I guess the Republic of California is doing what they do best, hire a six man company to do 10 miles of freeway so that it takes three years and they can hang onto the road improvement money a little longer.

[Doug_E_]

Just drove 99 from Madera to Stockton Saturday.
Some construction spots to watch for Madera for about 3 miles, Merced for about 4 miles, Lathrop about 10 miles.
I know there is more construction south of Madera by the San Joaquin river about 1 mile and Kingsburg by the Kings River,about 6 miles.
99 is going through a major make over, with all that said, most of 99 is way better than it has been in years.
Haven't traveled I-5 in a while, it knocked my I teeth out the last time I was on it.

[YC_1]

Traveled the I5 route a couple of weeks ago. Much better than in past years. Yes there are some bad bumps crossing bridges. The stockton area is making some progress. At least this time the traffic slowed way down so the bumps were not as bad.

[96Bounder30E]

If you have the time and don't mind some extra distance....... Take 395.....It's a wonderful drive this time of year...... Lots of small towns to pass through.....

[msmith1199]

Harris Ranch is good, but I wouldn't do I-5 just for it. There's plenty of places along 99 too. I like the McDonald's in Chowchilla myself. 🙂

[rctour]

You guys have left out the real benefit of I-5, Harris Ranch and their 20oz Prime Rib. We do the LA to Sac+ now and then and make a half point stop for the meal, a little wine and spend the night in the truck parking area.

[msmith1199]

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.

[road_glide]

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]

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.

[Two_Hands]

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.

[msmith1199]

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.

[msmith1199]

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.