Craig95005 wrote:
Planning a trip that will take us from Southern California to Sacramento, and looking at US 395 as the way to go. I remember driving it many years ago when I had a primitive motorhome but don't recall many details. Is it a pretty drive? Is the road okay? Any recommendations as to RV Parks along the way? Thanks.
Craig,
We've done it several times. There's some things to think about here. One, and in my opinion, the most important one. L.A. traffic is now and has been bad at just about all times of the day. And that includes the middle of the night. Some who live in that area may differ but, I can only speak from the times we've been through L.A. at various times and have stopped, completely dead stopped, in the middle of the freeway, for what appears to be no reason at all, several times.
Two, I don't know about I-5 now but, for years both it and 99 have been in seriously bad shape. I'm talking some major sized pot holes and bad concrete. Again, it's been a while but, I've not heard too much about "how nice the I-5 or 99" drive is now". I can speak directly from experience in the 395.
First off, basically from the Temecula on I-15 area, all the way through the San Bernadino area, and up to the split of 15 and 395, there's very little to see but freeways, residential and, commercial buildings. Once your in the split area, around Adelanto, it get's even more boring. From that point, all the way to about, Independence, plus or minus a few miles, it's nothing but desert.
Now, this is what we do but, not many would take this approach. I'm not EVER going to go through L.A. again, as long as I live, if I have any choice in the matter. And, you have to, to get to even 99. So, what we do is, since we live in Ramona, we pack up, get the coach and toad ready and park it in our street at home. At straight up midnight, we fire it up and head down to 15.
Once on 15, there's absolutely no traffic, coming or going and, I'm not jockeying for position with a zillion trucks, School busses, rice burners trying to zip in and out of lanes and all that. It's seriously peaceful. We climb the Cajon Pass in complete calmness. Once at the top, where the split is, we're almost completely alone, all the way up the baron 395 all the way to Independence, Big Pine, lone Pine and Bishop, where we've broken into daylight. Doing it that way is so phenomenally peaceful, it's incredible.
There's no competition for lanes, no one's pushing us and we're not pushing anyone. We've done it that way for the last two Eastern Sierra trips and, as far as I'm concerned, I'll not do it any other way. Now, as for the road, it's flawless. Your motorhome will love it. It's been good pavement for about 95% of it. And the bad parts, are still light years better than I-5.
Now, again, not many guys would do this. Some, have bad eyesight at night, some loose judgment, some get sleepy and more. And that's fine. I wouldn't want anyone out there, at that time of night, that's not enjoying his/her trip.
And, like stated, in my opinion, between Temecula CA and, Lone Pine/Big Pine/Bishop/Independence etc. there's absolutely nothing you're going to miss. From those towns on, that's a whole different story.
And, when coming home, we depart Bishop at the same exact time, MIDNIGHT! We fight no traffic, all the way home until we get to around Escondido at about 6:00-6:30 A.M. Even then, it's not bad 'cause we cut off of 15 at Camino Del Norte. Good luck on what ever route you choose. Have a safe trip.
Scott
