Hwy 58 from Bakersfield to Pismo

[dandt]

We are on route once again and always looking for the less traveled way to get to our destination. Has anyone traveled HWY 58 from Bakersfield to Pismo instead of going to Lost Hills over to Paso Robles then down to Pismo. I know it is a 2 lane state hwy and that does not bother us...just want to make sure it is not to mountainous or overly windy. You guys always seem to know and have NEVER misled us yet....Thanks in advance Teresa

[HamRad]

Dave and Teresa,
Under no circumstances should you take Hwy 58 from Bakersfield to Pismo. It is not a "real" road. At places over the mountains it turns into a "trail"! Well at least it seemed that way to me. It's been many years since we've driven that route but they have done nothing to improve the road. We had some friends drive that route recently and they said it is still the same old road.

I take hwy 166 from the Taft area over to the Santa Maria area. We usually take that route when going to the Central Coast area. While it is not a 'freeway' it is a fairly good 2 lane road. A few miles of narrow road with little shoulder but for the most part a nice 2 lane road with shoulders. Going up Grocer Grade just out of Maricopa they even have 3 lanes.

As a last resort I'd take hwy 46.

Travel safely,
Dennis and Mary Kay

[Capt Kidd]

I've driven both those roads and as Dennis says Hyw 58 is not much of a road.

Hyw 166 is better but still no where as good as 46. If you go on 166 however you will be traversing the longest east-west valley in California. As I went thru Maricopa I did a double take when I noticed there police car had spider webs between it and the groung. I guess crime is slow there. The Cuyama River valley (166) is an intesting route. They grow a lot of carrots up there. This should be a great time of the year for the wild flowers.

[dandt]

HamRad....
Thanks for great road advice....All the agriculture was neat,sure wish they would make them idenify fields so I wouldn't have to guess as to what they are growing The first 20 miles or so we newly paved so that was fantastic, the rest good too. However there was a current forest service fire, but roads were open and we saw no flames. Rained most of the way. Currently at Pismo Coast Village RV Resort space #384 if anyone is in area. Teresa

[HamRad]

Dave and Teresa,
If you took the 166 then the crops were probably alfalfa, cotton, carrots. That would be up in the Cuyama / New Cuyama area.

Have fun on your adventure.
Dennis

[rosstok]

Dave and Teresa:

For looking into travel routes - (in addition to asking the MOC group of experts)- here are the sources I go to:

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/tr...route-list.xls - very detailed excel file of all the California Truck networks - lists restrictions and advisories - the associated maps are here: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/truckmap/

I have found the Mountain Directory West (and companion East) (R&R Publishing) to be helpful if you are worried about grades.

If you want to keep to the really big roads, the Motor Carriers' Road Atlas (Rand McNally) is good.
Finally, Googlemaps.com street view is a great way to get a close up look.

Happy Travels!
Ross