Driving from Denver to San Jose (Fort Collins, Grand Junction: bars, area, permit)

[paraag]

I am not looking to make long stops or detours along the way, would be starting on Saturday morning, is it realistic to expect that i'll reach by Monday.

Here are following stops
Denver
1) Grand Junction (4 hours)
2) Beaver (4 hours) halt at Saturday night
3) Las Vegas (4 hours)
4) Bakersfield (4 hours) halt at Sunday night
5) San Jose (4 hours) Monday afternoon

Is this doable for someone who doesn't drive much? Also any other ideas / tips / experiences of driving around same month (Jan/Feb)

BTW I will be driving lightly used Honda Civic 2012 in good condition (< 50k miles) and recently serviced

[reed303]

Why are you going out of your way to Bakersfield ? Instead of stopping in Barstow, then staying with I-15 straight to San Diego ?

https://goo.gl/maps/JZWznqyxiNF2

Otherwise looks good. Of course weather at the time could be an issue. Be prepared to extend the overall time if weather becomes a problem. Pack extra food, water, etc for the trip.

[paraag]

Hi reed303, I am going to San Jose (Bay area) and not San Diego...I suppose weather could be an issue only while driving across CO & UT

[Willy702]

One area of weather you might want to be aware of is the valley fog in California. I remember driving to the Bay Area after a week in Vegas on a Sunday thinking I was making great time and like a wall it hit with visibility going from clear to very little. You'll have a pretty nerve wracking drive if this happens because you can't go much more than 35-40 on the freeway or else you could badly rear end someone.

Also I suppose you have no choice, but Vegas to Barstow is terrible on Sunday starting at about 11am on most weekends, earlier on a holiday weekend. The two hour stretch can take 4-5 hours and its gridlock in a few spots. If you can, start out really early, like 6am, from Beaver and drive until you get to Barstow with only emergency stops along the way. Or alternatively push yourself a little further on Saturday and go to St. George (90 more minutes) or Mesquite (2 more hours). If you do any of those you might beat the worst of it.

This is all unless you are going this weekend. Super Bowl weekend and its no problem because everyone will be staying in Vegas until the game ends.

[Happy in Wyoming]

A far better and easier trip is I-25 to Fort Collins. West on Colo. 14 to US 287. then north to Laramie and I-80. Stay on 80 to Oakland, the south to San Jose. 80 is usually closed for a few days every winter so check weather and road reports, but it's normally clear and dry. 70 is almost guaranteed to be miserable.

[alloo66]

Originally Posted by Happy in Wyoming

A far better and easier trip is I-25 to Fort Collins. West on Colo. 14 to US 287. then north to Laramie and I-80. Stay on 80 to Oakland, the south to San Jose. 80 is usually closed for a few days every winter so check weather and road reports, but it's normally clear and dry. 70 is almost guaranteed to be miserable.

Once in Oakland SB on 880 to San Jose.

[Vision67]

Originally Posted by Happy in Wyoming

A far better and easier trip is I-25 to Fort Collins. West on Colo. 14 to US 287. then north to Laramie and I-80. Stay on 80 to Oakland, the south to San Jose. 80 is usually closed for a few days every winter so check weather and road reports, but it's normally clear and dry. 70 is almost guaranteed to be miserable.

^^^This

The I-70 route is usually crowded with ski traffic and it is especially influenced by weather.

I-80 will be quicker but you still need to travel only at times when the weather is mild.

[tanbark813]

Originally Posted by alloo66

Once in Oakland SB on 880 to San Jose.

Just make sure you time it so you hit 880 before 3pm. You don't want to be on 880 near Oakland during rush hour, especially if you don't drive much.

[brown_dog_us]

I've driven to and from SF numerous times and taken all the routes. I think the easiest is I-25 because you miss the crazy ski traffic and mountain weather can be unpredictable and very bad.

I'd go to Salt Lake on the first day (8 hrs), to Reno the second day (8 hrs), and then to SJ (5 hrs).

Check the weather and be willing to change your route. You can drive all the way down to ABQ and then across on I40 if you have to. This adds about 3-4 hours.

[reed303]

Originally Posted by paraag

Hi reed303, I am going to San Jose (Bay area) and not San Diego...I suppose weather could be an issue only while driving across CO & UT

Ouch ...maybe I need my glasses checked

And in that case the I-25/I-80 route, as mentioned above, would be better, weather permitting