West coast driving

[ArdraF]

Don - Thanks for the link.  Can't believe they're actually getting it done!  It seemed like there were daily arguments in the newspaper about doing the bypass.  Passions ran high, to put it mildly.

ArdraF

 

[gypsy-jim]

Thank you for all the responses.  We are presently in Columbia River Gorge and will be heading for the coast in 2 days and appreciate all the input.  We are visiting relatives in SF and "must" head out in the easiest way as we will be unfortunately moving along to get back to FL .  Our main concern after the route along the coast was getting to Route 10 from SF.  Thanks for your input any additional input regarding R 10 would be appreciated
Jim & Viv

 

[Carl L]

Thank you for all the responses.  We are presently in Columbia River Gorge and will be heading for the coast in 2 days and appreciate all the input.  We are visiting relatives in SF and "must" head out in the easiest way as we will be unfortunately moving along to get back to FL .  Our main concern after the route along the coast was getting to Route 10 from SF.  Thanks for your input any additional input regarding R 10 would be appreciated
Jim & Viv

US 101 to Ventura;  then CA-126 east to I-5;  south on I-5 to I-210 at the north city limits of Los Angeles;  southeast on I-210 to CA-57;  south on CA-57 to I-10;  east on I-10 to Jacksonville, FL. 

That should route around most of the bad knots in LA's freeway network.  AVOID RUSH HOUR.  Do the transit on a week end or between 9am and 3 pm on a week day.  This I know, I have lived and driven  in LA for 50 years.

 

[DonTom]

  AVOID RUSH HOUR.

The last time we were in LA, rush hour was almost a full 24 hours.

-Don-

 

[34footer]

The last time we were in LA, rush hour was almost a full 24 hours.

-Don-

We get about a five hour break, 11pm-4am.
J

 

[34footer]

Exactly what Carl L said. It's best to be at the I15 and I10 interchange by 2pm. You will then cruise on out of Ca. Fuel is cheaper in Az than in Ca, you can fill up
in Ehrenberg or Quartzsite, Az,  just east of the Ca/Az border. The best fuel stops south of Bakersfield are Castaic on the I-5 and Ontario/Fontana on the I-10. When you hit the coast make sure you are topped off, large fueling stops are not the norm.
J

 

[34footer]

The way to skip L.A. altogether is to take the 58 east in Bakersfield to the I-15 south, then take I-10 east.
J

 

[Lou Schneider]

To completely avoid L.A. and it's traffic, from I-5 take CA 58 east over the Tehachapi Mountains to Barstow, then I-40 east to the Arizona state line.

Then take AZ 95 south through Lake Havasu City (home of the London Bridge) to Parker.  South of Parker take AZ 72 southeast to meet up with I-10.

All of the Arizona roads have good surfaces and have light traffic.

 

[Bob.n.Sue]

Just an update: It is no longer necessary to turn south on the 57 fwy at Glendora to access the 10 freeway in Pomona (unless you intend to stop at the CG in San Dimas mentioned above).  The 210 (called the I-30 east of the 57) has been opened now all the way through San Bernardino where it joins the I-10 in Redlands.  This is, by far, the best way to avoid E/B I-10 traffic which can get pretty bad around the 57 interchange and east through Ontario in the afternoon.

The 210, back towards LA,  is a godsend compared with trying to drive through LA in the afternoon to get to the E/B I-10.  Remember, though, it still gets a little backed up for about 10 miles through the Pasadena area to the 57 interchange.

If your going to be on the 10 E/B, remember the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs) area for stopping spots also.  There are several great CG's in the valley, ranging from free (there are 3 or 4 casino parking lots off the 10) to pricey.  Also some of the best restaurants, shopping and entertainment to be found anywhere.  If you do stop in this area between the end of June and about mid October, make sure your A/C units are in good working order!

 

[BernieD]

I agree with Bob & Sue re I-210. I have always found I-10 crowded with lousy roadway between CA-30 and CA-57. I-210 is in good shape with much less traffic. I've switched off using Ehrenburg (Flying J) or QZ (Loves and Pilot) for fuel stops. Exit 45 on I-10 in AZ, where AZ-72 connects to I-10, has the Zip Truck Stop. Good fuel prices, no hassle on credit cards or AZ truck diesel tax at the RV pumps, easy in and out and competitive propane pricing..

 

[Bob.n.Sue]

One of the cool things about AZ is that the extra fuel tax is on the truckers, instead of the other way around, like in many states. 

 

[Ned]

Truckers pay road tax in other states as well, but they pay it in bulk, not at the pump as in AZ.

 

[Carl L]

Just an update: It is no longer necessary to turn south on the 57 fwy at Glendora to access the 10 freeway in Pomona (unless you intend to stop at the CG in San Dimas mentioned above).  The 210 (called the I-30 east of the 57) has been opened now all the way through San Bernardino where it joins the I-10 in Redlands.  This is, by far, the best way to avoid E/B I-10 traffic which can get pretty bad around the 57 interchange and east through Ontario in the afternoon.

Good update thanks.  Because of my location in West LA, my route east is straight thru on the 1-10, a route I do not recommend to anyone.  West of downtown the 10 is busy and fast except in rush hour when it is loaded and slow.  Passing thru downtown it is amazing confusing, even to old veterans who have driven it since it was opened some 40 years ago.    At one point it doglegs across the I-5 converging in middle of vehicles converging from the I-5 and CA-60 to your right and left.  Things do not really clear up until you pass CA-57.

By all means the 210, if you can.

 

[bigbit]

Just an update: It is no longer necessary to turn south on the 57 fwy at Glendora to access the 10 freeway in Pomona (unless you intend to stop at the CG in San Dimas mentioned above).  The 210 (called the I-30 east of the 57) has been opened now all the way through San Bernardino where it joins the I-10 in Redlands.  This is, by far, the best way to avoid E/B I-10 traffic which can get pretty bad around the 57 interchange and east through Ontario in the afternoon.

The 210, back towards LA,  is a godsend compared with trying to drive through LA in the afternoon to get to the E/B I-10.  Remember, though, it still gets a little backed up for about 10 miles through the Pasadena area to the 57 interchange.

If your going to be on the 10 E/B, remember the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs) area for stopping spots also.  There are several great CG's in the valley, ranging from free (there are 3 or 4 casino parking lots off the 10) to pricey.  Also some of the best restaurants, shopping and entertainment to be found anywhere.  If you do stop in this area between the end of June and about mid October, make sure your A/C units are in good working order!

I agree with all of this except that the highway is not called Highway 30 east of 57.  It changes from an interstate designation to a CA highway designation but the route # remains the same - 210 - all the way to Redlands and the intersection with 10.

Highway 30 still exists as city streets (Baseline and Highland, depending on the city).

 

[Bob.n.Sue]

You're right bigbit.  I was dating myself.  The two state highways were seperated when the freeway was completed.  It is Interstate 210 west of the Glendora curve and State Hwy 210 east to the 10 Fwy.