Anaheim to Felton/Santa Cruz

[Freedom_5]

Dee,
  Since the 46 is close to us, just to let you know, the other nickname for that stretch of road is: "death alley"! :yikes:

The truckers use this one alot! But then again they use everything alot!

What about the 126 from the 5 over to the coast. You have been on that road going to Santa Paula for the Halloween rallies and it is two lanes each way for the most part.

The one town on the 46 and 99 is Wasco but you could avoid that one.

 If you came thru Bakersfield Im sure we could bring out the welcome mat and extension cord for your trailer. In fact there is a new RV park that is close by and the resturant is a crown jewel that locals are liking a lot!

[griffsdad]

I just did a roadtrip for work from OC to Monterey taking the 5 to 46 across to the 101. It was not a bad drive as going all the way up the 5 for instance if you're going to SF. Having said that - Highway 46 is world famous - the place where James Dean died in 1955. In fact there is a strech of the 46 called the James Dean Memorial Highway. Along with a tree memorial just 800 yards east of this famous intersection. I would not drive this stretch at night or westbound in the afternoon when the sun is setting in the west.
 
http://www.tentativetimes.net/cholame/

[Dee4j]

I'm pretty sure I'm going to go there in one day and I'm going to take the 101.

there seems to be more campground options if I need to stop and It won't be as hot when I want to stop for lunch etc

by looking at that amount of hours. I'm going to leave at 5 am so I can take my time and still get there at a decent hour.

thanks for the help

[cjpoppin]

Well darn you I thought I had my route all settled and now I again do not know what way to go.... Map quest has us going 395 to 58 to 99 across on the 46 to 101 we'll be spending a day and half in King City.  Then on to Smithwoods.  Now I'm worried about the 46......So now I'll have to rethink the whole route.....Could just go up the 101  Good thing I have lots of time to worry this out......

[Dee4j]

Well darn you I thought I had my route all settled and now I again do not know what way to go.... Map quest has us going 395 to 58 to 99 across on the 46 to 101 we'll be spending a day and half in King City.  Then on to Smithwoods.  Now I'm worried about the 46......So now I'll have to rethink the whole route.....Could just go up the 101  Good thing I have lots of time to worry this out......

Carol I think that is going to be too much out of your way to go the 101.

Laura didn't seem to think the 46 was that bad other than it's a 2 lane road and is Slow. Laura knows slow is not in my vocabulary and I'm not a patient person. my luck I would get stuck behind farmer Bob driving his tractor going to visit his friend Jimmy Joe... 10 miles away

Hwy 46 she says is only 60 miles

[OC Campers]

Carol if you want to take the 101 you could always take the 14 to the 5 to 126 like you are going to Santa Paula and then head up the 101.

Jacqui

[paspilot]

Hi Dee and Hoagie,
I'm not going, but your 57, 210 suggestion caught my eye.
It's not a rush hour route to do. It's been bad ever since the 210 met up with the 15. Don't know if it's worse than the 5- but if both are a parking lot, you want the shorter lot.
Check on maps.google.com and the traffic section has predictions depending on the time of day. It's pretty accurate for this area. I'm not on the road at 7:00 am, but the people I work with that carpool in tell me the carpool lane makes a 30 minute difference- and they arrive in Pasadena at 7 ish... Its congested but moving at 8:30, and reasonable by 9. It starts backing up around 3 in the afternoon.

I like the 152 when I'm not pulling a trailer and I get to pass the semis. I remember several long grades and there was major construction in what was a single lane in each stretch getting into Gilroy. It's probably still under construction. Mr. CHP likes those long sweeping vistas where they can spot you miles away.  
The 46 is almost boringly straight and would be my choice. A James Dean tune on this road ought to slow you down a bit.

Hi Dee,

Maybe I missed it, but I don't see where you say what day of the week and time of day you are planning on leaving. These could also affect your drive.

Overall, I agree with everyone else:  the 101 is much more scenic, has more places to stop and stretch your legs, and you will probably find it a more relaxing drive.

However, speed control is very stringent on the 101 once you get north of Ventura. As previously stated, the CHP can be rather thick in this area.

I-5 isn't nearly as interesting, but there are plenty of places to stop for gas and food. Just expect more chain fast food places, fewer mom 'n' pop cafes. Also, much higher traffic speeds. I've had semi-trucks pass me like I was parked. Looked down and I'm doing 70MPH!! How fast are they going?!!??

Highway 46 is a good road that has been steadily improved between 1-5 and the 101 over the past few years. It is still mostly 55MPH IIRC, but there are more sections of divided highway and passing lanes.

One option we use frequently when heading to Paso Robles, leaving early in the morning of a workday, is to head north on the 57 to the 210, then west on the 210 back to I-5. This adds a few miles, but you completely avoid the bottleneck of downtown LA. Again, the best route will be affected by day of departure and time of day.

Check out the traffic reports online right before you leave the house. That might help too.

[Dee4j]

Hi Dee and Hoagie,
I'm not going, but your 57, 210 suggestion caught my eye.
It's not a rush hour route to do. It's been bad ever since the 210 met up with the 15. Don't know if it's worse than the 5- but if both are a parking lot, you want the shorter lot.
Check on maps.google.com and the traffic section has predictions depending on the time of day. It's pretty accurate for this area. I'm not on the road at 7:00 am, but the people I work with that carpool in tell me the carpool lane makes a 30 minute difference- and they arrive in Pasadena at 7 ish... Its congested but moving at 8:30, and reasonable by 9. It starts backing up around 3 in the afternoon.

I like the 152 when I'm not pulling a trailer and I get to pass the semis. I remember several long grades and there was major construction in what was a single lane in each stretch getting into Gilroy. It's probably still under construction. Mr. CHP likes those long sweeping vistas where they can spot you miles away.  
The 46 is almost boringly straight and would be my choice. A James Dean tune on this road ought to slow you down a bit.

I have found that if I leave home around 9 am the 210 is usually fine by then

[Hoagie]

I have found that if I leave home around 9 am the 210 is usually fine by then

Last year we did the 57-210-5 route, leaving Orange around 7am. Clear sailing on the 57 until just after merging on the 210. Definitely slower (15-20MPH) from there until La Canada, then it started opening up again.
In past years we always went straight up the 5, sometimes opting for the 101 in downtown LA. We found that the 5 was by far the longer parking lot, backing up from basically OC straight through to Burbank.

So, yes, they are both horrible routes in the early morning rush hours, but we found the longer 57-210-5 route to be less nerve-racking.

Just my .02

[Recumbentman]

Dee
since we go up to Paso Robles every Memorial weekend for our annual bike ride. I know of a RV park you might want to consider on your way up north.   its a fairly new RV park. its located by the intersection of the 101 & 46. From Ventura its about a 3 hour drive and right across the street and within walking distance is a water park  
check out Wine Country RV Resort

[DK&3kids]

Dee,
Everyone's covered it, but we've tried it all.  Take the 101 all the way - kinder, easier, and much more easy on the eye!!!

:-) Kristi

[Dee4j]

Dee,
Everyone's covered it, but we've tried it all.  Take the 101 all the way - kinder, easier, and much more easy on the eye!!!

:-) Kristi

we are..the HOT thing reminded me of our carvan to yosemite..too hot to stop at the rest stop for lunch etc...

[Dee4j]

Dee
since we go up to Paso Robles every Memorial weekend for our annual bike ride. I know of a RV park you might want to consider on your way up north.   its a fairly new RV park. its located by the intersection of the 101 & 46. From Ventura its about a 3 hour drive and right across the street and within walking distance is a water park  
check out Wine Country RV Resort

looks nice n safe for a one nighter...they don't seem to be too kid friendly when you get into the nitty gritty of the rules, they wouldn't want us SCCamers there

[wavery]

oh we are stopping half way.  Sort of.  We are stopping in arroyo grande.  We made a trip from san fran home in one trip, and the kids were a pain, so we won't do that again soon...

Pack 'em in the PU :J

[dkutz]

Pack 'em in the PU :J

Good Idea!!!  The would have food and water at least!