hogenson2
Medford, OR
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I will be towing my 34' 5th wheel down the OR/CA coast in mid-Dec. I will be going to AZ., but will be staying in Bakersfield on the way. Last year I went all the way down to San Fancisco and took I-580 to I-5 as suggested by Map Quest. I have been looking at some post that suggest taking Hwy 20 to I-5. What do you suggest?
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downtheroad
Puget Sound
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Joined: 02/18/2003
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My experience: none of the coast to I5 routes are all that great.
I would take Hwy 299 (Trinity Highway) into Redding and pick up I5 that way.
Have a great trip and check the weather/road conditions this time of the year.
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kalynzoo
Los Angeles , California
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The 20 east is a lovely drive. It is mostly 2 lane, scenic, county road with cross traffic, so don't expect to save time. The drive around the lake is beautiful, but speed will often be reduced to 20mph for curves. If your not in a rush it makes a nice route. Another choice if you want highway travel, take the 101 and cross over to the 80 through Vallejo, on the 37, then take the 80 east and drive south on the 99. I like the 99, it has recently been resurfaced, there is less truck traffic, more towns along the way therefore more places to visit if you wish. To be honest, my wife prefers the 5, as it can be faster (no slow traffic) so we tend to switch each time we head north.
One other route, just to through it out. You can drive through Napa. There is one section just north of Napa with a few tight turns, and speed through Napa area is around 35mph. Also very few places to stop with a rig, especially if towing. Most vineyards have narrow long driveways and you can't be sure of a turnaround. Also crowds of cars in small parking lots make it hard to stop.
Enjoy you trip.
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Leeblev
Pinole, CA
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Not to disagree with kaylnzoo, but don't take 80 east from Vallejo to 99. If you take the Napa exit in Petaluma and stay on Lakeville Rd. to 37, then to Vallejo, you would want to take 780 to 680 to 580. Now, you can stay on 580 south, which will turn into 5, or you can take 280 to 99 in Manteca and then south. I prefer 99 also because it is not as boring as 5 is and there are far more opportunities for resturants, etc. on 99. I see that you are diesel. I like the Flying J stop just south of Manteca for fueling. Just my preference though.
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F-TROUP
VISALIA, CALIF
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I'd go 20 to I5, then down to just south of Stockton 120 east to 99, then south to Bako.....
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othertonka
Stockton, CA
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F-TROUP wrote:I'd go 20 to I5, then down to just south of Stockton 120 east to 99, then south to Bako.....
I agree with this route. 101 to 20 to I 5. But you can also take the Hwy4 Crosstown freeway in stockton to connect with Hwy 99 and then south to Bakersfield. I would NOT recommend 299 from 101 to I 5 in Redding. It is not that RV freindly and there are 5 passes where you could get snow.
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John95683
Sacramento
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I live in Sacramento and travel to and from Brookings fairly often. At this time of the year, in order to avoid the Siskiyous, I would go south on 101 to Hwy 20 across to I-5 at Williams. Then I-5 south to Stockton and use the cross town freeway to get over to 99, or you can just go south on I-5 to Bakersfield. I definitely would not go across 299 into Redding.
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ratherBcampin
Nice, CALIFORNIA 95464 And DANG proud of it!
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20 to 5 is easy, easy, easy!
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Islandman
NW Washington
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I agree with othertonka and John95683 above, do not take CA 299 from Arcata over to Redding; it's crooked, narrow in places, hilly, and long. Stick with the suggestions that others have made about CA 20 or those roads in the Petaluma and Vallejo area to go from US 101 over to I-5.
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The_Barbarian
Bakersfied, CA
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I drove the 101 down from Astoria to home here in Bakersfield in July 2009. In California we took the 101 down to Novata and the 37 over to Vallejo, then down the 780, 680, and 580 to the 5. The road was rougher than in a state in a finacial crisis. Have a good navigator that can keep an eye on exits and on ramps once you are in the Vallejo area.
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