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bluwtr49's avatar
bluwtr49
Explorer II
Sep 13, 2014

Routing Info, Bend to Livermore, CA

I may need to swing by Livermore, CA and Bakersfield, CA on our way back to Tuscon and have question regarding the route.

Since I abhor driving through large cities I will do my best to skip them but for the leg from Bend to Livermore it seems it will be unavoidable. The choices appear to be 580 through the bay area or 5 through Sacramento. Which one would be the best to avoid long stretches of traffic?

The leg to Bakersfield seems pretty simple as does the route from Bakersfield over the hills trough NV and into AZ on 40.

Thanks for any suggestions.
Class A
  • JFC's avatar
    JFC
    Explorer
    Sep 15, 2014
    I'd stay at the fair grounds in Pleasanton. They've put in a new shower/laundry facility and you'll be going against commute traffic to LLNL.
  • msmith1199's avatar
    msmith1199
    Explorer II
    Sep 15, 2014
    That's why I gave him an easy route to get around the worst of the construction on 5. Going 80 to 680 to 580 just to avoid the construction on 5 would not be a good move.
  • dgodinez's avatar
    dgodinez
    Explorer
    Sep 14, 2014
    9 times out of 10 I would have said 5 to 205 to 580, but like others have said construction on 5 by stockton is terrible right now. I just commented to the wife the other day while driving in a car that I wont be bringing the bus this way anytime soon.

    As far as rv parks, I dont know of any in Livermore. Have you tried Del Valle is a camp ground but might be your best choice.
  • msmith1199's avatar
    msmith1199
    Explorer II
    Sep 13, 2014
    On RV parks in Livermore that's close to home for me so I don't camp that close to home. The only thing I'm even familiar with right in that area is the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. They have RV spaces and it's next door to Livermore.
  • msmith1199's avatar
    msmith1199
    Explorer II
    Sep 13, 2014
    I will caution you that I-5 through Stockton right now is a total mess especially southbound. At one point they even split the traffic around construction. You can actually avoid it by jumping over to 99 in Sacramento and the in Stockton take 4 back over to 5. This doesn't avoid all the construction but it does get you around the biggest mess on I-5 which is North of 4.
  • bluwtr49's avatar
    bluwtr49
    Explorer II
    Sep 13, 2014
    Thanks for the replies, that is sort of what I had thought but I haven't been in that area in years.

    Any decent rv parks in Livermore you can recommend?? I would be visiting the LLNL campus for a day.
  • JFC's avatar
    JFC
    Explorer
    Sep 13, 2014
    We always take 5 to 205 to 580 to Livermore. Interstate 5 through Sacramento and Stockton isn't bad, and is much better that the 505 to 80 to 680 which seems always busy. We hate to use that route even when we're only in the car.
  • msmith1199's avatar
    msmith1199
    Explorer II
    Sep 13, 2014
    580 runs east-west and Livermore is on 580. So I assume your question is do you take 80 to 680 to 580 to Livermore, or do you take 5 to 205 to 580 to Livermore. And the answer is by far 5 to 205 to 580. You'll still have to go through Sacramento and Stockton that way.
  • Yellowboat_'s avatar
    Yellowboat_
    Explorer
    Sep 13, 2014
    I take I-5 when traveling south from Washington, Oregon. 580 will take you closer to the big cities and lots of traffic. On your way to Bakersfield you can take I-5 or 99.

    Safe travels. JD

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