SD to SF... best route to take... [Archive] (2024)

punklove

30th July 2006, 15:22

so i'm movin from the overbearing heat and sun, to the cool rainy bay, and am going to have to drive back and forth, at least three times...

i've taken the 5 all the way there and back, and was planning on taking the PCH...
unless there is a better/more scenic/faster route to take that someone knows of...

also, any tricks to gettin around the LA traffic, or any other traffic trouble spots?
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and i dont know if this is cool on this forum, but are there any good online housing rental sources for SF, besides craigslist?? and i stress "good."

Noble

30th July 2006, 15:36

.......unless there is a better/more scenic/faster route to take that someone knows of.........

Once you reach the half way point ~San Luis Obispo you have two choices, faster route -or- scenic route. Stay on the 5 or 101 if you are in a hurry. Take coastal Highway 1 if you want scenic.

Noble

SmokeyBear

30th July 2006, 17:48

i've taken the 5 all the way there and back, and was planning on taking the PCH... unless there is a better/more scenic/faster route to take that someone knows of...
Better? What do you mean by "better?" There is nothing better than PCH.
More scenic? Ditto better.
Faster? Nothing is faster than I-5. That's why we call it "The West Side Autobahn."
Can't help you get around LA. As you know, you'll never see SLO on I-5. Since you'll be driving back and forth about three times, I suggest doing a different route each time. Try doing 101 the whole way. At least it's some variety, rather than boring I-5. It's a compromise between boring I-5 and scenic 1.

You can try HWYs 33, 25, 46, 41. Buy a map. Also try www.pashnit.com

Rivergoat

30th July 2006, 18:56

Indeed, your definition of "better" may differ from the rest of us. If you've not done it, and you have the time, by all means make your way to Hwy 1 (you Southerners call it PCH down there :) ). You can travel north as far as Half Moon Bay. Hwy 1 is still closed at Devil's Slide because of the winter season slides. Cut over at Hwy 92, then north on Hwy 280 to SF.

Wave as you drive by, too :wave:

MY90

30th July 2006, 19:48

Rivergoat

30th July 2006, 23:44

rchase

31st July 2006, 02:19

If the goal is to get from SD to SF and back with the minimum of fuss, I-5 it is. If you want to miss LA, you can take I-15 north and cut over north of LA. Adds about an hour of travel time, but you might miss an hour of traffic and stop and go... or more.

For example... take I-15N to 138 west to Lancaster/Palmdale. 14 North to Tehachapi Pass. OR.. 395 North from I-15N to 4 corners, west on 58 across Tehachapi...which hooks back up I-5.

If you have not seen the windmills on Tehachapi, it is pretty cool.

You can also try a simple jog around by taking I-15 to 71 to 210 to I-5. But don't try this at rush hour. During non peak times, this can work. Best if you can to check here-
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/index?section=traffic&id=3309600

Otherwise, there is not a lot of options that make sense in LA. Surface roads like PCH will be buttslow and will have traffic. Fine for a Sunday drive. Not good for the start or finish of a long trip. If you get bored, there are some options....such as Ortega from I-5 to I-15. It adds an hour, but it nice in a roadster.

We recently did a trip and came back all along backroads through most of LA. May not have been quicker, but it was interesting. This was coming south on Highway 1, through 154 near Solvang into Santa Barbara.... then 192/foothill all the way to 150 to 126 to 23.. but eventually back to I-5.

I love the Highway 1 portion north of Morro Bay to Monterey, but I find personally that the sections beyond that are a bit tamer and I would rather just make better time.
You can mix in portions of Highway 1 and 101 into a mainly I-5 route, just to see different things. There are some great roads in between with cool things to see. Depending of course if you are in a hurry and if you are in a sportscar.

lkk1984

31st July 2006, 02:38

milo_x

31st July 2006, 03:01

Yeah, I'd take I-5 all the way through from SD, even LA (forget trying the 405, or any combo). You might also trying getting through LA before 6 a.m. on a weekday which should avoid commute traffic. This should also allow you to get to the Bay Area before rush hour.

Rent places -- CLs worked fine for me. The other places charge, like MetroRent. I'd just ask around when you get here, either people you know or meet or work.

punklove

31st July 2006, 03:59

Indeed, your definition of "better" may differ from the rest of us. If you've not done it, and you have the time, by all means make your way to Hwy 1 (you Southerners call it PCH down there :) ). You can travel north as far as Half Moon Bay. Hwy 1 is still closed at Devil's Slide because of the winter season slides. Cut over at Hwy 92, then north on Hwy 280 to SF.

Wave as you drive by, too :wave:

i think this route wins for the first trip.... watch out for the black and tan with pinstripes comin up the coast....

Rivergoat

31st July 2006, 09:49

If you drive on 101, be careful when you pass by King City. Lots and lots and lots of CHP

Ah, it's heartwarming to know there are things you can count on. MANY years ago my first CHP induced ticket was on 101 right in that area. I'm happy to know they're still hard at work :rolleyes:

Mark Booth

31st July 2006, 09:59

First trip: I'd leave San Diego at 3-4am and go straight up I-5
Second Trip: I'd leave San Diego at 3-4am and take I-5 to I-405 to the 101 the rest of the way

Alternate between one or the other of the above for remaining trips, save the last one.

Last Trip: I'd leave San Diego at 3-4am and I-5, I-405, 101 and then PCH (in SLO) the rest of the way

Save the best for last! While you are behind that motorhome going 15mph you won't keep saying to yourself, "I have to do this HOW many more times?".

Mark

Orthonormal

1st August 2006, 12:02

I've done the SF-SD trip several times. Taking I-5 is the dead simple way to go. You just follow the signs for I-5 all the way. The drawback is that you could hit traffic in San Diego, or in L.A. There's a bypass with a toll that goes from south of L.A. to north of San Diego. I don't remember the road number but it is definitely worth it if you're on I-5 and traffic is bad.

To avoid a lot of the traffic, take I-15 North to I-210 West to I-5 North. I don't think it adds much distance to the trip, certainly not an hour's worth.

Rivergoat

2nd August 2006, 01:31

milo_x

2nd August 2006, 15:44

punklove

12th August 2006, 00:32

punklove

13th August 2006, 00:42

And no one waves back.... i wave to everyone and no one waves back.... from santa cruz to SF and now two days of driving around all day, i've waved maybe 20 times with zero response....

yeah i know those motors are pricey.... one guy waved, but he used his hand...

Mr.Woolery

13th August 2006, 12:35

milo_x

15th August 2006, 02:17

Mark Booth

15th August 2006, 02:48

...15 pee and gas stop not included...

Dude, you need to see a doctor if you have to stop and pee that many times in 5 hours! :D

Mark

WMD

15th August 2006, 18:19

i ended up doing an all-nite haul up the 5.... but stopping in santa cruz for breakfast.... had to take the 156..ended up getting lost, found the 183, 101, & 152, probably not in that order... but the 156 , that was the most amazing leg of the trip.... the roads i've seen seem to positively reassure me that i will have lots of happy motoring days up in the chilly bay area...

Welcome to the Bay! What part of of the Bay btw? Unless you're in SF, you'll find that the Bay is not as chilly as non-residents perceive it to be - perfect weather imho. don't let last winter's storms fool you, that was a first in ages.

JasonC SBB

15th August 2006, 19:14