California questions

I will be flying to LAX next month on business, and then driving up to San Jose to visit my son. A few questions for folks in the area:

1. At this time of year, which is the preferred route. I know that the coastal highway is the more interesting route, but is it dependable during the winter months? Or would it be better to just stay on I-5 and concentrate on getting to the destination?

2. A while back there were reports that Rt. 1 south of San Francisco had been closed by a mud-slide. Has that road reopened? We will be going into the city for a day, and I really prefer the scenic qualities of Rt. 1 over the speed of 101.

Thanks

http://www.dot.ca.gov/

enter 1 in the box for hwy 1

Monophoto said:

I2. A while back there were reports that Rt. 1 south of San Francisco had been closed by a mud-slide. Has that road reopened? We will be going into the city for a day, and I really prefer the scenic qualities of Rt. 1 over the speed of 101.

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devil's slide was reopened in september.

If you plan to take a few days over the journey and photograph seriously, then its worth taking Route 1. If you're going to drive pretty much straight there, then Route 1 is just long and slow.

It really depends on what you want to accomplish.
Fast transit from point A to point B?
I5 is the straght, fast, exceedingly boring route through the Central Valley. Beware. BEWARE of fog! Valley tule fog can get to nearly zero visability on I5 in the winter. This can bring your speed to an unsafe crawl.

Take in some coastal scenery and central coast "cultue".
Rt. 1/101 is slower and offers a variety of "side" attractions such as Solvang, Morro Bay, Hearst Castle, wineries, etc. There are actual towns to stop, rest and eat at other than factory or fast food joints. Plan on an all day leisurely tour.

Whichever, welcome & enjoy!

Cheers,
Geary

Rte. 1 is perfect drive up if you have the time. But sucks if you get stuck behind a 33' RV.

I drove up Rte 1 from LA to SF some 30 years ago and wished I'd driven it the other way instead.

Heading north you are mainly looking inland (keeping to the right) - glances to the left to look at the sea can lead to catastrophic collisions!

I've always want to drive Rte 1 again - but next time North to South!

If you're concerned about coastal mud slides, watch the weather. Those slides occur during, or shortly after, prolonged heavy rains (back to back storms).

Earthquakes are only a remote possibility.

Your biggest worry should be crazy drivers! (I can say that and get away with it since I'm a California native, LOL)

Napenthe is worth the stop for lunch as well. Hopefully, you can stop by Big Sur or at least stay the night in Carmel (might as well visit the galleries while there). From there, take the 1 up to Santa Cruz and you can take the 17 to San Jose. Drivers aren't too bad. Just give the mortorcycle guys some room when you see them coming through. They like to drop their knees on the turn. I just pull over and let them burn at 60MPH through the turns.

101 isn't a bad compromise between 1 and I5, it gives you easy access to some good scenery if you want, or you can press on and get to your visit. Note that LA to San Jose is 6 hours + or -, assuming you don't already know that. If you don't have inclinations to stop for scenery then 1 isn't worth it as the views are hard to appreciate from behind the wheel.

IMHO it's the CA drivers who are sane and it's all the rest just about everywhere else who are nuts, especially around Boston.

If you like split pea soup, make sure you stop at Anderson's in Buellton along 101.

The galleries in Carmel are definitely worthwhile, especially Weston gallery
Pt Lobos State Park more so.

Barry

PatTrent said:

Your biggest worry should be crazy drivers! (I can say that and get away with it since I'm a California native, LOL)

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The craziest drivers in California are the tourists and recent transplants. (well.. and native teenagers should be included...LOL!)

The best part of the state doesn't start until 100 miles north of SF, but then I am a bit biased (I am so far north that the Bay Area barely qualifies as "Northern" California!)

Hippy, I mean happy travels!

Vaughn

PS...take HWY 101 out of LA -- see the burnt-out mansions of Malibu, then Santa Barbara. Hit HWY 1 at San Luis Obispo up to Carmel -- then the main hwy to San Jose. A long day of traveling! Check out the Marin Headlands on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge if you get tired of the inner city.

Vaughn said:

The craziest drivers in California are the tourists and recent transplants. (well.. and native teenagers should be included...LOL!)

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In California we grow our fruits and nuts on trees...the rest we get from out of state (ha, ha, ha!).

Oh by the way, don't forget route 99...goes thru Fresno and you can make a day trip out of Yosemite...then cut over to Gilroy for GARLIC and on to San Jose.

Have fun.

LA to San Jose is about 5 1/2 hours with no stops using I5. Add about an hour for 101. Add some more for PCH (route 1).

The I5 route really can be done in 5.5 hours...there is nothing there. Look at the map--hundreds of miles of strait highway.

101 is a bit nicer. Oxnard, Santa Barbara, San Louis Obispo, etc. are nicer. Some coastal driving.

Route 1 is much nicer. More coastline. I've only done it north-south, so I never noticed that the other way could be not as nice!

You could take a couple of days to do the coastal route--stopping for nice scenery and all. I5...if it takes a couple of days, your car broke down.

Matt

If you have the time to invest in the scenic route, definitely take Highway 1 - but take the 101 north till Santa Barbara. Unless it has been raining quite a bit the coastal route is open and inviting. If you won't have time to make some pit stops/pix stops along the way, staying on the 101 is a good compromise between a swift journey and an attractive journey. Or keep to the coast just so you can say you drove it and make mental notes of all the places along it that you wish to make a return visit to with camera in tow.

Otherwise, supply yourself with a heroic amount of caffeinated beverages, lots of CD's for the rental car that hopefully has a CD player, and make haste up Interstate 5 and remember: once you've left the Big City and the highway dwindles down to two lanes, the right lane is for speeding - the left lane is for going ridiculously fast!

Joe(who has bicycled from San Francisco to San Diego and now knows that is the only way to see the California Coast)

noblebeast said:

If you have the time to invest in the scenic route, definitely take Highway 1 - but take the 101 north till Santa Barbara.

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Do that and you will miss a large sand hill on the east side of the road just north of Sycamore Canyon. People slide down the hill on cardboard, skiis, snowboards and surf boards. Across from this hill is a 1/2 mile + of beach with surfers and windsurfers.