San Diego to Bakersfield

[exav8tr]

Will be going from Jamul to Bakersfield (Orange Grove RV Park) in a couple of weeks. What would be the best routing around LA. I would like to arrive in Bakersfield without nerves being completely rattled.

Phil

[jjackflash]

If it we're me Phil,I'd catch the 15 than take it all the way to the 58 than go West all the way to Orange Grove Rv Park. We stay there last year,make sure you pick some oranges.
I'm sure Hamrad will jump in here!
Jack

[HamRad]

Hello Jack,
OK. You've covered the "far east" route. That would certainly get him around the L.A. area. And that is a route that might work well for Phil.

Phil,
If you don't take the 15 then you are pretty much stuck with going up the 5 or the 405. Both of these routes, however, take you directly through the L.A. area. They both are problematic. Your only real choice is the time of day that you work your way through the traffic.

A slight alternate route would be for you to take either the 57 or the 605 up to the 210. Then take the 210 through Pasedena and north to intersect with the 5 which would take you toward Bakersfield. The 5 and 99 split just after you drop into the Valley. You'd take the 99 then into Bakersfield. At 58 you'd proceed east about 15 miles or so to the Orange Grove.

Regarding the parks in and around Bakersfield: If you take the 15 route then the OG Park will work well because you'll come to it before entering Bakersfield. Coming up the 5 and the 99 you might want to stay at one of the other parks. A couple of really nice ones are The Bakersfield RV Park and Resort and The River RV Park. The Orange Grove is a very nice park and you'll certainly enjoy it but it is about 10 miles east of town.

Hope to see you folks in a couple of weeks.
Dennis and Mary Kay

[jjackflash]

Hi Dennis, I was just trying to prevent him from going over the Grapevine which would take him about an hour compared to the Cajon pass which would be about 20 minutes to get over.
I'd do anything to By pass that Grapevine,of course you understand Why. Ha!
Jack

[jjackflash]

Phil, I sent you a PM.
Jack

[helmick]

Phil
We live just off of 5 in south Orange County. We have driven the Grapevine and the Cajon Pass, I don't think you will have any trouble
on either one with your Chey. When we go to Bakersfield we always go 5 to 405, 405 is an easy driving FWY. 5 through Los Angeles is old and narrow. Just do not drive 405 in the morning or afternoon commute time. Hope you are have a good time in San Diego.
Ron

[HamRad]

Ron,
I thought they had widened the 5. But since you live there you would obviously know. I still cringe when we approach the 5 and 10 interchange! Or at least I think that is the one.

I agree that the 405 and then the 5 over the Grapevine is an OK way to go. We've pulled the Monty up and down it a number of times. It is not my favorite route but is easily doable. You're right about the times. Do NOT be anywhere near the "rush hour" either AM or PM! Of course you have to remember everything is relative.

Dennis

[helmick]

Dennis
I don't even like taking 5 through Los Angeles in my car. To much constuction and to many enterchanges.
Once you get on 405 at the El Toro Y you just stay on it till it joins the 5 again.
We have driven the 405 during commute hours, but it not my favorite thing to do.
Ron

[BirdingRVer]

Phil, What Dennis and Ron aren't telling you is that "rush hour" in Los Angeles last 24 hours a days 7 days a week.

Kathy's brother-in-law drives 42 miles down the I-5, I-405 corridor to work. He leaves the house at 3:30 AM to get to work by 5 AM! Talk about a guy counting the days until retirement.

I suggest I-15 to US-395 to CA-58.

The oranges at Orange Grove are Navel Oranges and we get to pick them in December and January so you will probably be too late to get any oranges this time of year.

[helmick]

Phil
I live within five miles of the 5/405 Y and drive it all the time, we will be leaving at the end of May for our trip to Canada and we will be taking 5 to 405. I drive 15 a lot in the middle of the day from the 91 up the Cajon to Apple Valley and we spend a lot of time sitting. You can have traffic on either route. All I can say is I would take the 5-405 route. You might have traffic and be mad at me for saying that, or you might have traffic on 15 and be mad others. I'm not telling you we don't have a rush hour, but it is not 24 hours a day.

[jjackflash]

quote:Originally posted by BirdingRVer

Phil, What Dennis and Rod aren't telling you is that "rush hour" in Los Angeles last 24 hours a days 7 days a week.

Kathy's brother-in-law drives 42 miles down the I-5, I-405 corridor to work. He leaves the house at 3:30 AM to get to work by 5 AM! Talk about a guy counting the days until retirement.

I suggest I-15 to US-395 to CA-58.

The oranges at Orange Grove are Navel Oranges and we get to pick them in December and January so you will probably be too late to get any oranges this time of year.

Exactly Right!
I used to live right next to the 405 and Grant is right.
for 18 years I drove 5 nights a week to Oak via 405 to 5
and if I had the choice if would've taken the 15 .
Jack

[Parrothead]

We lived in So. Cal and I worked in Northern Cal (living in an RV up north). We have made this trip hundreds of times, maybe even thousands. The 15 to the 395 to the 58 is the only way I would recommend. You will see a lot of RVers on this route. We have stayed at Orange Grove many, many times. Always friendly, nice park.
Happy trails.....................

[helmick]

Phil
Good luck and safe trip no matter how you go.
Ron

[BirdingRVer]

quote:Originally posted by helmick

I'm not telling you we don't have a rush hour, but it is not 24 hours a day.

OK, Ron maybe it has improved since I last drove through LA. How about 23 hours a day and only 6 1/2 days a week? LOL

[exav8tr]

Thanks everyone, I will have to look at each of these routes since there does not seem to be a consensus. That's what I was looking for, choices.....Phil

[HamRad]

Phil,
Looking for another choice?

Take the 5 / 405 / 5 and as soon as you pass Valencia (Magic Mountain) take the 126 over to the coast at Ventura. Then take the 101 north. Just on the north side of Santa Maria take the 166 east toward Taft and then on into Bakersfield. Highway 166 is a lightly used two lane road through some sparsely populated country until you get near Bakersfield. This route would take you along the Coast and then into some ranching and oil country. Just another choice.

We've had our rig over this route a few times. Bob and Sharon even took Big Red with their rig over this road.
Dennis

[Art-n-Marge]

Lived in L.A. for 10 years, worked in Orange County for 20 years, retired to Riverside County for almost 5 years... Still doing all those areas and know them all well.

If I was in Jamul and going to near Bakersfield, I would definitely take I-15 to SR395, to Hwy 58 like many have mentioned.

Getting through Western San Diego, Orange County then L.A. is way too unpredictable and the roads are rough from all the usage. It will beat you silly. I've towed my rig through there and I HATE it. It might be shorter, but the recommended route is better and not as rough. Traffic can be bad at SR91. But stay as far left as you can and you should be fine. The Cajon climb is steady uphill from I-10, and real steep at I-215 junction to the pass, but after the El Cajon climb you will be FLAT (no downhill) right before taking SR395.

That's my vote.

[exav8tr]

Well, It looks like the chosen route will be 15 - 395 - 58. Thanks to all who responded and offered help.....We will be driving this route on 23 May and spending just one night in Bakersfield and motoring on to Yosemite on the 24th....

Phil & Cathy

[Mynabird]

Phil, for my 2 cents I would agree that you made a good choice.

We, Bob and I, drove 395 to 58 to Bakersfield first of April and it was a nice ride! Seriously!

Have not driven So. California much! But avoiding the Grapevine is always a good thing! IMHO