Driving from Oklahoma to California (Oakland, Bakersfield: motel, live in, moving)

[iamgin]

So, I'm driving from Tulsa to Oakland on Labor Day (b/c I'm retarded and didn't realize September 1st was Labor Day when I planned this. ) has anyone else made this drive? Any suggestions on how to make this as smooth a drive as possible? Also, is the 5 the better highway to drive into Oakland?

Thanks in advance.
Jenny

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by iamgin

Also, is the 5 the better highway to drive into Oakland?

Sure, take I-5 north and near Tracy, take I-580 all the way into Oakland

[iamgin]

oh thanks.

[Jaybee]

I live in northern CA-3 hours north of Oakland, and I've taken most of this route several times. Take I-40 all the way west to Barstow, then Highway 58 to Bakersfield. From there you can decide whether to go west to I-5 or just travel up 99. Me, I prefer 99 instead of the empty miles of I-5 in that stretch.

I think I-40 westbound starts getting interesting about Albuquerque-where topography and the arid west takes over instead of the plains of eastern NM and Panhandle TX and west OK. The red colored cliffs around Gallup are pretty. Be sure and stop at Winslow AZ and "stand on a corner" as the Eagles suggest in "Take it Easy".

Flagstaff is beautiful-but be careful if you stay there due to railroad noise. The very busy RR runs right thru the downtown. Try getting a motel nearer the freeway to the south to avoid the sleep interrupting RR. If you have time divert here to take in the Grand Canyon-but then again its Labor Day, so maybe not. Williams to Kingman is pretty stark, as is Needles to Barstow. Miles and miles of empty desert. Barstow to Bakersfield isn't bad-cross over the Tehachapi's-drive by the Borax plant and Edwards AFB.

Like I said I've made parts of the trip on several occasions. I like the trip. It's not everyone's cup of tea though. Make the most of it.

You can definitely make good time on I-40. Last time I was on it we were nearly blown off th eroad by trucks moving at 80 mph through New Mexico.

Originally Posted by iamgin

So, I'm driving from Tulsa to Oakland on Labor Day (b/c I'm retarded and didn't realize September 1st was Labor Day when I planned this. ) has anyone else made this drive? Any suggestions on how to make this as smooth a drive as possible? Also, is the 5 the better highway to drive into Oakland?

Thanks in advance.
Jenny

[iamgin]

Originally Posted by Jaybee

I live in northern CA-3 hours north of Oakland, and I've taken most of this route several times. Take I-40 all the way west to Barstow, then Highway 58 to Bakersfield. From there you can decide whether to go west to I-5 or just travel up 99. Me, I prefer 99 instead of the empty miles of I-5 in that stretch.

I think I-40 westbound starts getting interesting about Albuquerque-where topography and the arid west takes over instead of the plains of eastern NM and Panhandle TX and west OK. The red colored cliffs around Gallup are pretty. Be sure and stop at Winslow AZ and "stand on a corner" as the Eagles suggest in "Take it Easy".

Flagstaff is beautiful-but be careful if you stay there due to railroad noise. The very busy RR runs right thru the downtown. Try getting a motel nearer the freeway to the south to avoid the sleep interrupting RR. If you have time divert here to take in the Grand Canyon-but then again its Labor Day, so maybe not. Williams to Kingman is pretty stark, as is Needles to Barstow. Miles and miles of empty desert. Barstow to Bakersfield isn't bad-cross over the Tehachapi's-drive by the Borax plant and Edwards AFB.

Like I said I've made parts of the trip on several occasions. I like the trip. It's not everyone's cup of tea though. Make the most of it.

You can definitely make good time on I-40. Last time I was on it we were nearly blown off th eroad by trucks moving at 80 mph through New Mexico.

oh wow, thanks. i think since i'll be in a bit of a hurry i'll take the 5, but I'm sure I'll be making that trip several times so I'll be sure to take in the 99.

Oh, also, how steep are the grades typically? We're not talking Colorado Rocky grades, are we? I like hills but those really sharp grades make me a bit nervous.

[sonarrat]

99 and 5 are flat as a pancake.. I think the steepest grade you'll encounter is on 580, the Altamont Pass which is not that bad at all. I don't know about 58, it looks like a ridge on the satellite image?

[humboldtrat]

There are mountains along hwy 58 near Tehachapi (between Mojave and Bakersfield) and the pass is about 3500 ft, but it doesn't amount to much. However it does get windy in this area (big wind farms near Tehachapi).

[riceme]

I realize that Labor Day has passed us, but for anyone else to whom this information might be of value:

I've made that drive a hundred times or more (from Tehachapi to Humboldt, and reverse), and I prefer taking I-5 because the quality of the 99 is so bad. Of course if you have a nice car with a good suspension system, it probably wouldn't be so bad, but I had an 86 Toyota pick-up.

The grade from Tehachapi down to Bakersfield is very steep. Make sure your brakes are in good working condition, and that you don't overheat them on the way down the hill. Also, when traveling on the 58, especially on the steep grade from Tehachapi to Bakersfield, keep alert for truck drivers. The 58 is a main trucking artery, and as I mentioned, is very steep.

Yes, and you will see many of our wind farms , enjoy the wind and our turbines!!

[Capt. Dan]

If a person isnt in a hurry or is a little tired of seeing the same scenery along I 40, then I would suggest US highway 64 from western Oklahoma to just north of Gallup NM. Spectacular scenery. It crosses the Rio Grand in northern NM and passes by Taos. it goes thru reservations and deserts. Really nice!

[amc760]

Good luck on your trip!