Route questions through CA, Hwy 99 or I-5

[TitanMike]

Tentatively I am planning on a trip from WA to Apple Valley, CA in August.

Several routes available but in the past I've pretty much stuck to I-5 S to Buttonwillow then E on 58 to Barstow and then S on I-15 to Victorville.

Map programs are suggesting cutting over to Hwy 99 and going through several cities until Bakersfield. Then onto 58 and east until the turn for Edwards AF Base then on to Apple Valley.

Questions are:

Hwy 99 or stay on I-5 until hwy 58?

58 to Barstow then S on I-15 to Apple Valley?

OR

other roads.


In the past I have used 395 in this area and at the time the road was TERRIBLE. The kind of terrible that causes rear view mirrors to drop off windshield mountings.

I'm more than willing to add an hour or so to my journey in order to avoid bad roads so any advice on this routing would be appreciated.

[mmartin_tdc]

I always take I5 to 58 towards Buttonwillow. Rarely take 99.

[Capt Kidd]

if I am going east on 58 at Bakersfield I take 99 it is way better than I5. Yes they are still doing some work on it but the roadway is much better than I5 and faster than going down I5.

[robo44]

TitanMike -
Im headed that way end of July, both are okay, i also would take an hour out of my way just to avoid road hazards or crummy roads.
Were going to take I5 to (Hwy 46) but Hwy 58 is just as good. Maybe it's me and 50 years of driving in CA, but the minimal time I spend on 99 the better. Unless they recently paved the roads I always bounce up ad down lose fillings ect.... on the highway due to road conditions. Semi's just tear up the right lanes.
Id recommend I5 to Hwy 58 then S on I15, but that's me

[CHICKDOE]

We just came across 58 and up 99. 58 east of tehachapi is all new concrete roadway in great condition. 58 west of tehachapi is one of the worst road surfaces I have ever seen! 99 is just fine, at least from stockton to Bakersfield. There is intermittent construction.

[jbflag21ds]

I drive 99 all the time. Much nicer than I-5, flatter so less change in speed but more on and off ramps to contend with. Still road construction through greater Fresno region but not bad. I-5 tend to have more trucks and more people in a hurry as well. I feel safer on 99 even without a trailer

[pwoods]

99 has lots of 3+ lane sections. 5 is all 2 lane which gets crowded. Been on both south of Sacramento in the past couple of months. Hadn't been on 5 in years since we prefer more pit stop opportunities on 99.

Both have sections of really smooth new pavement and both have sections that will jar out your fillings. Based on my trip up I-5 today I'm sticking with 99 because it's less crowded.

[jbflag21ds]

I will add that I live close to 99 so its just easier for me as well, but I still find it the better route.

Six weeks ago I dragged my trailer down 99 then east on 58 and then to 40 in Barstow (the 6500 more miles to AL). Of that portion of the trip, 58 is pretty crappy in places once you start going up the hill. There is some construction just as you get off 99 onto 58 but its not bad. Once over the mountain 58 is really nice (new).

[JimMorrell]

We live 85 miles north of Sacramento and travel to Socal regularly. We used to take I-5 to 58 to 395. We found the I 5 traffic dangerously fast and the outside lanes full of potholes. Then we moved from I-5 at Sacramento to US 99 to 58. We always take this route now. Its as fast, less traffic and many more places to stop. Actually we cut over to 99 just south of Stockton. And we always return on California's 2nd most beautiful highway...395. 395 is an excellent highway today. You can take your pick.

[GrandpaPaul]

We've been living in Bakersfield for the last couple of years (NO laughing please!). The DW makes frequent trips up into Oregon to visit her 98 year old step-mom so I get the road reports from her, especially about construction delays. She usually takes 99 and the only real bad delay area has been just north of Fresno, around Madera. They are starting to get the job wrapped up and the delays are decreasing. By August shouldn't be any problem at all.

There has been a lot of road work in Bakersfield area the last three or so years and it will keep going for a couple more.

The Good News:
The road work itself on 58 east of 99 is completed, just working on landscaping. No problem at all with the road.
99 north of 59 is still being worked on, but it is mostly off-ramp upgrades, so if you are going straight through to 99 then no problems. The interchange onto 58 is in great shape.

The Bad News:
99 south of 58 is all torn up.
They have started work on the new connector for 58 west of 99. If you want to come down I-5, I would suggest what Robo44 suggested, come down I-5 to Hwy 46, east to 99, then south on 99 to 58 east. Just a little south of 46 on 99 there is a Flying J on the left.

Also, going over the Tehachapi's on 58 there is a new Love's just as you get past the town of Tehachapi.

Make sure you wave as you go by and have a great trip.

p.s.: I've been up and down Hwy. 395 many times and I love the drive, but not if I'm pulling something. As a trucker friend was fond of saying, "It doesn't matter which way you go on 395, it's up hill all the way!"

[BlueQuasar]

I-5. That’s all!

[Jakieboy]

We recently drove south from Oregon on I-5 and then transitioned to 99 south of Sacramento. I was very impressed with the roadway quality compared to years ago on 99. There are many sections now that are three lanes vs. two, and the truck drivers seemed to be in less of a hurry than on I-5. I would recommend 99 vs. I-5 all the way to 58.

As an alternative, or perhaps on your return trip, Rte 395 is in generally excellent shape these days, with far less traffic than either I-5 or 99. You could access 395 southbound in Oregon through Susanville, CA and Reno, NV, then onward to 58. Boulder Creek RV Park just south of Lone Pine is one of our very favorite parks, and would be a great place to spend a day or two to break up what looks like a very long trip.

[mtnlvr]

Another vote here for the scenic 395. I drive it all the time and it’s better maintained than most of So Cal’s horribly paved Hwys. The I-5 is loaded with semis, not my idea of fun driving.

[mtnlvr]

Originally Posted by Jakie-Boy

We recently drove south from Oregon on I-5 and then transitioned to 99 south of Sacramento. I was very impressed with the roadway quality compared to years ago on 99. There are many sections now that are three lanes vs. two, and the truck drivers seemed to be in less of a hurry than on I-5. I would recommend 99 vs. I-5 all the way to 58.

As an alternative, or perhaps on your return trip, Rte 395 is in generally excellent shape these days, with far less traffic than either I-5 or 99. You could access 395 southbound in Oregon through Susanville, CA and Reno, NV, then onward to 58. Boulder Creek RV Park just south of Lone Pine is one of our very favorite parks, and would be a great place to spend a day or two to break up what looks like a very long trip.

X2- Boulder Creek is my favorite layover. If you travel with dogs, they have the best large dog park I’ve encountered.