Have you ever driven from LA to SF (or vice versa) via Highway 99? (San Jose: 2013, costs)

[psulions2007]

I'm curious if people commonly driving between LA and SF have ever taken 99 to reduce the mind-numbing boringness and to see some civilization along the way. It really doesn't seem like that big of a difference, as 99 comes very, very close to I-5 in Manteca. The only truly out of the way part is the fact that you have to take Highway 120 to get to I-205 instead of getting the more direct route via I-580.

[GatsbyGatz]

When I traveled to SF, I usually just gunned it on I-5. Driving through Bakersfield, Fresno, and Modesto is not worth the slower route.

For a gorgeous trip, drive up PCH. Travelling through the Big Sur and visiting Hearst Castle, Carmel, and Santa Cruz is a pretty fun time.

[Trae713]

You could take the 101 if you want to have more to look at.

[bentobox34]

No I have never driven 99 on a trip straight from NorCal to SoCal nor would I ever want to. True, it doesn't add much time (30 minutes according to Google Maps, which sounds right), but honestly, I find the scenery along 99 even uglier than along I-5. Mainly you are driving by billboards, fast food and the types of ugly/industrialized land uses that cities tend to place near freeways. On I-5, since you don't pass through any cities you are mainly seeing open farmland and nature. It's not the most beautiful scenery in the world but I don't generally find it unpleasant (one important exception is the feedlot north of Harris Ranch, which is pretty horrible but over in a flash).

If I wanted a more scenic drive without adding too much time, I'd take 101, which contrary to popular belief only adds a bit more than an hour to the total drive from SF to LA (many folks don't understand the difference between 101 and PCH). I've done that quite a few times, and know the best places to stop for lunch in SLO or Santa Barbara.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by bentobox34

If I wanted a more scenic drive without adding too much time, I'd take 101, which contrary to popular belief only adds a bit more than an hour to the total drive from SF to LA (many folks don't understand the difference between 101 and PCH). I've done that quite a few times, and know the best places to stop for lunch in SLO or Santa Barbara.

I may take that route on my next drive out to the Bay Area, from the SW. (The lodging in Morro Bay, I discovered, costs half what it does in Tehachapi.) Where's a good place to stop for lunch in SLO?

[ccm123]

Downtown SLO is very nice, with a lot of places to eat and the steakhouse near Madonna Inn (near 101) is always good.

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

I may take that route on my next drive out to the Bay Area, from the SW. (The lodging in Morro Bay, I discovered, costs half what it does in Tehachapi.) Where's a good place to stop for lunch in SLO?

[ccm123]

I have taken all of the routes from the Bay Area to Southern California and usually prefer I-5 for the speed. I have only taken I-99 twice and it was many years ago. I drove last to Southern California in May, 2013, via 101 and 1. I stopped in San Luis Obispo for a business meeting and then drove down 101 and 1 to visit friends in Southern California. Total driving time was about 9-10 hours, including breaks.

[psulions2007]

I thought about the 101 too, but I was concerned about the increased travel time. I compared the distance traveled by looking at the exit numbers where 101 ends at I-5/10 Junction in LA (101- exit 1, 5- exit 134 = difference of 133) to where they both intersect CA 152 (101- Gilroy exit 356, 5- San Jose exit 403 = difference of 47) which led to a total increased travel mileage on 101 of 86 miles. That seemed a bit worse than 99 which also seemed speedier.

Really I guess the differences are:

101- most scenic, longest

5- fastest, most boring

99- slightly longer than 5, more civilization/close to Yosemite

[Count David]

I've always taken 99 when going between So Cal and Seattle.

[BeauCharles]

Between the Bay Area and LA its either I-5 or 101... or a combination of both. 99 is reserved for when I actually need to go to a town or city on it.