Los Angeles to Portland OR

[scottmandue]

Driving a car up to Portland from Smell A...

Wife is a country western fan so we are stopping in Bakersfield the first night to see Buck Owens Crystal palace. (corny I know but there it is)

Since Bakersfield is off 99 I wonder if I should cut back to I-5 when we leave in the morning? Highway 46?

Next overnight stop will be Chico CA (I have friends there)

Next stop overnight will be Medford/Ashland OR (Wife has family there)

Then on to Portland.

looking for suggestions on goofy tourist stops and mom and pop hole in the wall type places to stop to eat on I-5 and 99 to breakup the monotony.

Thanks in advance.

[Head416]

Highway 46 has a string of wineries east of the 101 (west too I think). My favorite is Tobin James. We usually find an excuse to take the 46.

[mossguy]

Angela is in Medford.

[scottmandue]

Interesting that Yahoo maps suggest taking 99 for the Bakersfield to Chico run (370 mile run) admittedly both are right on 99. However diverting to I-5 only adds about 20 miles. I think you could make better time on I-5

Anyone driven that stretch of 99? Or should I stick with I-5? Ideas?

[craigster59]

You can take Stockdale Hwy, Rosedale Hwy or 7th Standard Road and hit the I-5, not too far west of town maybe 8 miles. The 99 isn't a bad hwy to take if you want to hit all the towns between Bkfld and Sacramento.

[Don Plumley]

Years ago we'd avoid the 99 like the plague, much slower than the 5 - but that might be different now. However, every few days you hear about a bad DUI fatality on the 99, so be careful...

[craigster59]

I-5 is more "speed" friendly. I've driven the 99 many times, but the 5 has nice places to stop, Harris Ranch, Andersen's in Santa Nella, etc.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by craigster59

You can take Stockdale Hwy, Rosedale Hwy or 7th Standard Road and hit the I-5, not too far west of town maybe 8 miles. The 99 isn't a bad hwy to take if you want to hit all the towns between Bkfld and Sacramento.

Well, it is going to be a long ride that day. Does 99 stop in each of those towns along the way? If I had the time I would love to putter and see the sites along 99 but if it is an old school highway that goes through the center of each town I probably will make better time on the ugly I-5 super slab.

Thanks for the tips.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by craigster59

I-5 is more "speed" friendly. I've driven the 99 many times, but the 5 has nice places to stop, Harris Ranch, Andersen's in Santa Nella, etc.

Check, Santa Nelle for lunch, always stop at Andersen's in Buellton...

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

Years ago we'd avoid the 99 like the plague, much slower than the 5 - but that might be different now. However, every few days you hear about a bad DUI fatality on the 99, so be careful...

Thanks for the tip, but per Craig's advice... we need to make some miles that day... probably best to stick to I-5.

Any other ideas on places to eat along 5?

[Loomis]

Harris Ranch and Andersen's at Santa Nella are about the only places of note to stop on that stretch. There's an In n Out at Kettleman City. Be sure to hop on I-5 down south in Bakersfield, as it diverges quite far from 99 until you're back in Sacramento. I would do subsistence eating on that stretch, then splurge at Sierra Nevada brewery in Chico.

Nothing to see in any of the towns along 99, so you might as well get a move on on I-5. Fast lane is 80+. I try to find some room in the slow lane for long stretches and just lope along at 75. Nothing relaxing about a high speed peloton.

Once you get to Patterson/Westley keep the hammer down but watch for ghetto driving around Stockton - someone always cuts me off or tailgates in that stretch.

[Seahawk]

Go to Bend, then Rt 20 to Rt 395 South.

[jyl]

We drive Portland to Berkeley CA every year. It is a 10 hour drive if you stay on the 5, average at least 70 mph, and only stop for gas and food. Los Angeles to Bay Area is about 6-7 hours, I recall, though I haven't driven that in years. So, call it an 18 hour drive total and 4 days, 3 nights to do it in. Plenty of time. Not much to see on the 5 so spend the extra time w/ friends/family.

[Tobra]

Angela and Steve being there is reason enough to stop in Medford

I think 46 is the Lerdo Hwy, way to go from Bakersfield to I-5, through Shafter as I recall. Pea Soup Anderson's or Harris Ranch are good spots to stop for lunch on I-5, feed lots at Harris Ranch can stink pretty bad depending on the weather. You can get over from 5 to 99 at Sacramento. You can take the Garden Hwy at Sac, which winds around to the W of I-5 on top of the levee, winds around, under 5 over to 99. Swabbies on the Garden Hwy is a cool place on the river. If you have never seen the State Capitol, it is pretty groovy, as is Old Sacramento and Towe Auto Museum, or whatever it is called now, adjacent to Old Sac. If you are in Sacto on a Saturday morning, there is a farmer's market under the Fwy at X St that is pretty kick ass.

Just East of Chico there is a road up the river canyon that is STELLAR, does not go anywhere really, but pretty cool, your friends in Chico will have suggestions on a route for you.

[Tobra]

This is the road E of Chico, you can take 99 from Bakersfield to Chico if you want to spend ALL day doing it.

[scottmandue]

Ok, skipping Anderson's for Harris Ranch (after looking at their website), been to Anderson's a million times... love it but it will be fun to check something new out.

[sammyg2]

I fell asleep while driving on I-5 north of the bakersfield area once. Woke up refreshed, nearly out of gas, and hadn't even changed lanes. Bore ---- ING!

That road makes I-10 through the desert look like the twisties.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Tobra

You can get over from 5 to 99 at Sacramento. You can take the Garden Hwy at Sac, which winds around to the W of I-5 on top of the levee, winds around, under 5 over to 99. Swabbies on the Garden Hwy is a cool place on the river. If you have never seen the State Capitol, it is pretty groovy, as is Old Sacramento and Towe Auto Museum, or whatever it is called now, adjacent to Old Sac. If you are in Sacto on a Saturday morning, there is a farmer's market under the Fwy at X St that is pretty kick ass.

Just East of Chico there is a road up the river canyon that is STELLAR, does not go anywhere really, but pretty cool, your friends in Chico will have suggestions on a route for you.

Friends in Chico have already taken me for the ride east (very nice), they have extra bedrooms and I have vacationed up there for a week many times (this will be the first time they will be meeting my new wife) and yes the Sierra Nevada brewery is always a stop... remember back when it was a fraction of the size of the current facility.

No time to stop over in Sac this time but I have stopped and seen the capitol, you ar right, very cool town.

So are you saying the drive from Sacto to Chico on 99 is nice? We will have time for that.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

[RWebb]

US 101 thru the Redwoods & up the Coast is much much nicer than I-5

several wineries in So. Oregon, some of them pretty good (Abacela)

Miles Exit Hours From Eugene Increment

119 Roseburg area White Rhino restaurant – good lunch - inside Wildlife Safari (don’t have to take the tour to eat here)exit 119 off I-5, follow signs
150 2½ Grants Pass brewpub, pizza
Ashland Thai placeSammy's Cowboy Bar & Bistro 2210 S. Pacific Hwy (must be OR-99)in Talent The Peerless

I can Email you the word doc if that table doesn't make sense.

I'll be glad to meet you for lunch or for a beer when you pass thru Eugene - Email me.

Have a good trip!

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I fell asleep while driving on I-5 north of the Bakersfield area once. Woke up refreshed, nearly out of gas, and hadn't even changed lanes. Bore ---- ING!

That road makes I-10 through the desert look like the twisties.

Well, Yah... but if you want to make time set the cruse control to 80 and spin a few good CD's and you will be north in no time.

A friend and I made Rouge River to Los Angeles in eleven hours back when we were youngins.

I'm a lot softer now and not much for long hauls so that won't be happing this time.

[scottmandue]

I normally avoid the 5 but I have a long way to go and a short time to get there.

Haven't been on the 5 for many, many years so I'm checking to see what has happened on that road since. The first time I drove it to San Fran there was stretches with over a hundred miles between service.

Don't think I have time to burn to go up 101... or even 99... I will have to save those trips for a more gentile time when I'm not rushing to get to Portland (in four days).

I'm 53 year old Los Angeles native, driven Hwy 1 from Mexico to Canada, driven all of 101, all of 395, and most of I-5 from north to south.

Thanks again for all the help.