California route question

[sailor]

We'll be traveling south on I-5 toward, and then through LA, ending that day in Temecula. We plan to stay a bit north of LA and head in around 10 am to minimize traffic. Can anyone suggest the best route to take? Google doesn't always get it right for trailers. There are numerous possibilities and we've gotten turned around before on their freeway system.

 

[Neal]

While I don't have a route suggestion be sure to check covid restrictions and how campgrounds are handling reservations.

 

[sailor]

Thank you. I found one helpful informational piece on this form already about this issue.

 

[sheridany]

It really depends on the day and the time of day you go through LA as it is the traffic mecca of the world.

A few of us typically take the 5 south to Bakersfield (you have to go across before Bakersfield and take the 99 or take surface streets) and take 58 to 395 south which runs into the 15 which then connects to 215.

Others will stay on the 5 go over the grapevine pick up the 210 and connect down to the 15 via a couple of local expressways that extend south to the 15. We did that going to the desert this year but the traffic was horrible on a Saturday afternoon going that way and it seemed to add 90 minutes to the trip.

Both grapevine (5) and the cajon pass (15) are long grades up and down so beware of that in terms of braking and speed. @CaptainGizmo on this forum is from down there may have better advice on the best way to go. Like @Neal said plan accordingly for travel issues.

 

[CaptainGizmo]

We'll be traveling south on I-5 toward, and then through LA, ending that day in Temecula. We plan to stay a bit north of LA and head in around 10 am to minimize traffic. Can anyone suggest the best route to take? Google doesn't always get it right for trailers. There are numerous possibilities and we've gotten turned around before on their freeway system.

I can help. Yes, we have to endure the LA traffic every day and every time we travel home!

There are TWO major factors to deal with right now: early afternoon traffic and construction. Saturdays and Sundays are no longer a benefit, except for a bit less construction slowdown.

So, boldly...I can tell you this is THE answer in terms of the lesser of the evils. This is the route I would take, and have taken even as of a couple weeks ago. It's VERY straight forward and, frankly, a lot easier than many other metropolitan freeway systems we've been through. So, no fear...this is a cakewalk.

GIVEN:
You say you'll be leaving "somewhere north of LA" at 10am.
Sounds like you'll be locked onto the 5 as you come south as you come through Valencia/Santa Clarita and over the hill down to the northern San Fernando Valley.

ROUTE:
5 south to 210 EAST (toward Pasadena)

• The 5/210 junction is a messy gathering of several freeways, but it's okay if you just take it slow, and look at the signs.
• You'll make a couple splits to wind up on the 210. Just watch for the 210 East/Pasadena signs.

210 east to 15 SOUTH (toward San Diego)

• You will hit traffic through Pasadena to Glendora every day starting 2pm.
• The 15 South is an easy junction, exit on the right.

15 south to Temecula

• You will hit some construction slowdowns around the 91 freeway and south

 

[NWIP]

Oh how I don’t miss CA traffic. I do go over to Dana Point area from AZ a couple times a year but don’t take the RV if I can get away with leaving in AZ. Lived there most of my life until 2000.

 

[Lunge motorsport]

It really depends on the day and the time of day you go through LA as it is the traffic mecca of the world.

I smiled at this as I spent 3 weeks in Manila this year...Nothing I have ever seen compares to the traffic in Metro Manila

 

[sailor]

Thank you all for your responses. Now we just are hoping with covid restrictions that we can find places to stay overnight. We'll be leaving Olympia around the 10th of Jan. hoping for an
easy time over the passes. We'd hate to push our endurance levels by having to drive straight through the state on one day on our way to Arizona. Thanks again.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Be sure to get a good read on the Siskiyou Summit road conditions before leaving the Medford area. Conditions can change quickly up there.

TJ

 

[sailor]

Yes, thank you. We are prepared to stay put at 7 Feathers RV Park until its good and clear. We love it there.

 

[rjwilliams11741]

IMO the best route is the one suggested by Capitan Gizmo. I-5 to I-210 to I-15. The other 2 normal routes take you through downtown LA this route probably has the least traffic. My wife's sister used to live just south of Temecula and this is the route we would always take when driving down from Northern California (Bay Area).

 

[sailor]

Thank you. I was wondering if going through downtown on 5 was a viable route given that many business people are working from home now. Because of covid we may end up by passing Temecula and just keep heading south to get to I 8. Everything is uncertain and changes from day to day.

You all have been so helpful. Thank you for taking the time to resond.

 

[CaptainGizmo]

Thank you. I was wondering if going through downtown on 5 was a viable route given that many business people are working from home now. Because of covid we may end up by passing Temecula and just keep heading south to get to I 8. Everything is uncertain and changes from day to day.

You all have been so helpful. Thank you for taking the time to resond.

I would NOT suggest taking the 5 through DOWNTOWN LA. You’re asking for trouble: the freeway is old, NARROW, and can get Avery congested. Additionally, AND MOST IMPORTANT, is this is NOT a “route with an out” in that it does not conform with my continually situational awareness of always have a way out, to exit, to turn around should things go bad ahead.

The ENTIRE DTLA region is NOT a place where you want to exit the freeway as an escape or detour!!!

Take the route I suggested. It won’t take you any longer and you’ll be rested and not frazzled!

 

[sailor]

Thank you again Captain G., we will take your route. I like your idea of always having an exit plan. We got off an unknown exit in Biloxi to get to our RV reservation and had a terrible time trying to make a right turn on very narrow streets. That was our first year towing. Situational awareness that goes beyond driving condirions to geographic locations is a great concept.

 

[rjwilliams11741]

Captain G's route is far superior, especially pulling a trailer. The area just south of Los Angeles on I - 5 near Firestone Blvd and the City of Industry is bad all the time in just a car, pulling a trailer it would be pure hell.

 

[murphysranch]

Wave as you pass thru Medford!!

Note the horrible devastation from this summer's fire in Talent and Phoenix OR. Its mostly on the west side of 5. Thousands of homes lost.

 

[sailor]

Wow so sad. We saw hurricane devastation in the south when we went through. Mother Nature can be beautiful and also so devastating.
We'll wave on our way through.

 

[jltravato]

Why go to the epicenter of COVID. Be careful. John

 

[sailor]

Thanks John. We are watching things. We are going to try and go straight through without stopping from someplace north of LA to our R.V. rental space in Arizona. Not sure if we are heading East from 215 or going further south to I-8. If you know of a better route that won't take us through a lot of snowy passes, we are open to safer suggestions. The only stopping we plan on is for gas and for sleeping. We will continue to keep our eye on things. We will also continue to be careful. We stayed alone on Thanksgiving and met our family via zoom at Christmas and have done shopping on line or through pick up.

 

[CaptainGizmo]

Why go to the epicenter of COVID. Be careful. John

The route I gave him is just fine.
You don’t catch COVID by driving through the air at 65MPH.

Don’t stop at any dance parties and share glasses and you’ll be just fine.