More Oakland to Santa Clara driving route questions (San Leandro, Piedmont: home, luxury)

[rhz]

Hi,

This is a follow-on question to a previous post. I'd like to get a better sense of the best route for driving from Oakland (say Rockridge, Piedmont Ave, or Grand Lake) to Santa Clara. I have the luxury of doing this at post-rush-hour times (leaving Oakland after 10AM and leaving Santa Clara after 7:30PM). My question has more to do with choices in Oakland:

1) 24 to 980 to 880

2) 24 to 580 to 238 to 880

3) 24 to 13 to 580 to 238 to 880

Have I missed any good choices? Which one would be fastest and/or least stressful?

Thanks everyone!

rhz

[bentobox34]

Originally Posted by rhz

Hi,

This is a follow-on question to a previous post. I'd like to get a better sense of the best route for driving from Oakland (say Rockridge, Piedmont Ave, or Grand Lake) to Santa Clara. I have the luxury of doing this at post-rush-hour times (leaving Oakland after 10AM and leaving Santa Clara after 7:30PM). My question has more to do with choices in Oakland:

1) 24 to 980 to 880

2) 24 to 580 to 238 to 880

3) 24 to 13 to 580 to 238 to 880

Have I missed any good choices? Which one would be fastest and/or least stressful?

Thanks everyone!

rhz

I would definitely go with 2) or 3) as you avoid the windy, slow part of 880 between Downtown and Fruitvale. Also avoids the Coliseum area which can often slow down even outside rush hour. Lastly, 580 through the hills is just a way nicer drive than 880.

3) would probably be the best option as long as you live far east enough that you're not going out of your way to get on 13. I wouldn't backtrack to get on 13 however.

[jade408]

I totally disagree. 238 can be a pain, then you just get caught up trying to get back onto 880. That downtown to fruitvale isn't really that slow unless it is the magic window when the sun is in everyone's eyes. Otherwise it is free and clear most of the time, tailing at least 50.

The real diss is, basically after 238/San Leandro it can be backed up till kinda late. 980 is usually easy, unless you are in one of the right lanes.

[rhz]

Looking on google traffic at various times of the day shows backups at 238--even until late morning. Wasn't sure how serious they are.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by rhz

Looking on google traffic at various times of the day shows backups at 238--even until late morning. Wasn't sure how serious they are.

It is better than it used to be. But not great. The backup is pretty consistent. And the more connections, the more headaches!

[artemis78]

It depends on where you're starting from, too. You only need 24 in the mix at all if you are starting from Rockridge or Temescal, so if not, you don't want 13 in there either. Grand Lake and Piedmont Ave have direct 580/980 access. Personally I prefer driving on 580 to 880 even if it takes a little longer (and in the mornings it's basically always clear in that direction--sometimes 880 is still slow after 10), so I often choose that. At those hours, I've never found either route especially bad (although 238 does get congested, as others have said, and I don't do the drive daily--those who commute regularly at those hours are obviously better sources). I actually tend to check traffic when I leave and go whichever route looks clearest that day. It's not consistent, and you might, for instance, find that you prefer the 580 route in the mornings and the 880 route coming home.

[jade408]

It is good to note, the way home is way more unpredictable. There are days when after 7 is packed on 880.