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Travel tip going through LA?

Yahoo Message Number: 56473
We are coming down 101 in CA, heading for Palm Springs.
Since we have not done this before, are there any suggestions abut how to get through LA with least hassle? Routing and timing? It doesn't look like LA can be avoided, or ca it? Thanks,

ROwen Inspire 51442

Re: Travel tip going through LA?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56475
If you have the time, and want a little site seeing try going down I-5 and go through Bakersfield and around the back way using Highway 58 to I-15.
You go through the Tehachapi pass where you can see the Tehachapi Loop (railroad) and through the Mohave desert where the Burt Rutan built the ..X prize winning Spaceship One. It does add a bit to the trip..depending on where you are.. but we travel this way to Palm Springs.. just to avoid going through LA.

Hope this helps,

Russ and Jean
05 Intrigue
11883

Re: Travel tip going through LA?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56488
I just did the trip from Oregon, but used Interstate 5 to go south. The road was so rough I had to reattach one of my window valances in the back. Rig for rough service, and you will be ahead of the game. In the past I found California drivers aggressive, but good in that they will push a bit, but if you have to change lanes, they will (maybe reluctantly) give you the room you need. Not too bad going through LA once you catch on to the rhythm of it. I have more experience driving 18 wheelers through there than RVs, but the idea is the same.
From 101, take Ventura Freeway west to Interstate 5 West,(*) to Interstate 210 West, to SR57 West (actually south). That will lead you to Interstate 10, go west and exit on Indian Canyon Drive. Caution on the 210 to 57 transition, and the 57 to 10 transition, as there is a bottleneck there, and you may unexpectedly find your lane stopping while adjacent lanes are traveling 70 miles per hour. I was thanking my Brake Buddy. Since you are north of the city proper traffic is manageable. I found the anticipation more stressful than the actual drive, just look a long way ahead to judge jams.
(*)If you continue on the 101 south past the Ventura freeway you will head more into central LA. Try to avoid that. It will all work out OK, just more stress than you have to have.
Times to travel? Avoid rush hour. That is from roughly 5:30 AM to 11:30AM, and noon rush hour which starts about 10:AM and goes to 2:00 PM, and the evening rush hour which goes from about 2:15 PM until 8:00 PM. Other than that it is not too bad. ;*)
Dallas drivers are actually more dangerous than LA folks, but the rush hours here are shorter.
Good luck with that. If there is a better way to go I am sure someone on here with more experience will let us know.

Jack Nichols, 2003 Intrigue, south of Dallas

Re: Travel tip going through LA?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56490
We normally drive down Highway 5 over the grapevine and take Highway 210 through Pasadena. 210 will take you to Highway 10 east to Palm Springs. Therefore missing L.A. completely. Bakersfield on Hwy 58 to 395 to 15 to 210 to 10 is also another way to go.
Dede Loop

2001 Intrigue #11240

Re: Travel tip going through LA?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56492
Welcome to Southern California Rowen.
There is an easy way that keeps you out of most of the heavy traffic but your map or gps may not know it yet. First, I live about 2 miles from the 101 in Ventura county in a small town that we love, Camarillo. I take the 101 up the hill to the 23 towards Moorpark (no jokes about spelling it backwards please) it becomes the 118 freeway no turns required. Stay on the 118 until it ends and head toward Pasadena SE on the 210 at Pasadena you will stay in the second to the right lane and stay on the 210 East. The 210 will hug the northern side of the LA Basin and take you all the way through San Bernardino. No freeway changes. After you go though San Bernardino it brings you to the 10 with a very nice high rise ramp from the left lane. Once on the 10 you are past all the difficult stuff and can slide down into Palm Springs. It is 180 miles from Camarillo to Indo and we make it in just over 3 hours. We usually leave about 9:30 and arrive for a late lunch. Early is not better when dealing with LA traffic. Most maps do not show the 210 as being completed through San Bernardino. I guarantee it is having just used this route at New Years.
Warning! Do not plan on getting fuel in LA. You really need to know where you are going if you get off the freeway. Unless you use CFN, I would suggest a fill up in Paso Robles or King City.
Now if you want another access to the 210 you can catch the 126 from the 101 in Ventura. That takes you on a pretty drive through Santa Paula and Filmore over to the 5 around Magic Mountain. Head south on the 5 for about 10 miles and you will see the junction with the 210. My friends in Southwest Country Coachers (SWCC) tell me it is a faster/easier route to the 210. I don't use it only because I have to backtrack to get to the 126. Once on the 210 the only heads up is in Pasadena which I have already described.
The other nice thing about being on the 210 at the northern end of the valley is that you can drop down to either the 10 or 60 if the traffic gets too bad. All three will get you to Palm Springs.
Be sure to stop in Paso Robles at Wine Country RV and do some wine tasting and go to the 10th Steet Cafe in San Miguel for a wonderful Basque dinner if you are there over a weekend.
Travel Safe and enjoy the sun. You have picked a wonderful time to travel the central coast of California. If you want more ideas of where to stop and enjoy, let me know.

Rob Brown -CC Orphan

31557 07 Allure/10881 99Intrigue/3505 89 Mark V

Re: Travel tip going through LA?

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56499
I do this trip all of the time from Northern California. I suggest that you take I-5 down south of Santa Clarita and take the 210 freeway toward Pasadena. Once in Pasadena you will have to watch for and take the 210 exit again toward Pomona. Once you are on the 210 there just stay on it until you get to I-10 at Redlands. Near Redlands 210 and 30 are the same hwy. It is a brand new freeway just completed last year and is very easy to navigate and probably is not in your GPS yet. You can travel most anytime other than peak commute hours and even then it is not all that bad. You are nowhere near the Los Angeles congestion going this way. If you do not want to climb the Grapevine then you can go to Bakersfield to Boron, 395 to the 215 and on to the 10. It is about a half hour longer to go that way.

George B

Redwood Valley, CA
George in Birmingham
2003 Magna 6298

Re: Travel tip going through LA?

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56503
Rob, thanks, that is the information I was looking for around Thanksgiving, and is perfect.

Jack Nichols, 2003 Intrigue

Re: Travel tip going through LA?

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56506
Hi Rob, The Basque dinner caught my attention! Do you have any recommendation for an RV park near Paso Robles?

We are heading south next week following a rally near Hollister. Had planned to take 152 to 5 to 46 to 99 to 58 to 15 as we have done many times to LV but for a change was thinking about dropping down to Paso Robles for three days and then heading east on 46.

Thanks, David 31383

Re: Travel tip going through LA?

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56512
Rowen,

To get to Palm Springs from 5 we don't go through LA anymore.
We go to Bakersfield and stay at the Orange Grove RV Park just east of town on Hwy 58 East, then either:

1. Hwy 58 East to Kramer Junction (four corners), South on Hwy 395 to Air Base Road just North of Victorville, then East to Hwy 18 to Lucerne Valley, then Hwy 247 to Yucca Valley, then Hwy 62 to Hwy 10 just West of Palm Springs or,
2. Hwy 58 East to Barstow then Hwy 247 to Yucca Valley, then Hwy 62 to Hwy 10. Going this way be sure and slow up just before the stop sign at Lucerne Valley, the road gets like a roller coaster for a half mile or so.

Either way it is a very scenic route and a good road. We do this in a 45 footer.

James

2003 Prevost Conversion.

Re: Travel tip going through LA?

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56514
Hi Rod

We just got back to the Seattle area from down south. When we went south we took I5 to 210 at exit 161, east on 210 to 57 south for about 5 miles then 10 east. This was at the recomendation of friends that live down there. It worked great - missed the bad LA traffic.
Ray Down

Inspire 360 51602

Re: Travel tip going through LA?

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56515
Thanks so much to all who responded to the question about routing through LA.

We will carry on now with confidence!!!

Re: Travel tip going through LA? Palm Springs to Bakersfield.

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56516
Hey James,

I regularly travel between Indio and Bakersfield on my way N. to Sacramento via I-10, 210, 215, I-15,395,58. Your routes sound interesting as a possble change of scenery. Do you have a record of the actual miles and travel times for these routes between Bakersfield and P.S.? Daron Hairabedian, 98 Allure, 30226

Re: Travel tip going through LA?

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56565
Ray and Rod,

Next time try staying on the 210 all the way to the 15 south and then hit the 10 east from there. You will miss even more traffic and the 210 from the 57 to the 15 is newer so smoother. The mileage is a little farther but it takes alot less time usually. The biggest issue on that stretch of the 210 is not to get a speeding ticket.
Safe travels,
Kathy

'06 Inspire #51782

Re: Travel tip going through LA?

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56566
Rowen,

We like to take the 101 south to the 126 (thru Santa Paula) to the 5 south (Magic Mountain area) to the 210 east to the 15 south to the 10 east to Palm Springs. The roads are much better and you miss all the traffic thru the valley. If you are nervous in tight quarters (narrow lanes) you will like this route a lot better and find it a lot less stressful. I would recommend you make sure the coach has plenty of gas and the bladder is empty so you don't have to stop until on the 10 east as it will be pretty challenging off the freeway. Don't ask why I know!! We are currently at Emerald Desert until Saturday in #668. Come by and say "Hi" if that's your destination.
Safe Travels,
Kathy

'06 Inspire #51782
 

Re: Travel tip going through LA?

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56678
Kathy: thanks for the routing info. We are in palm Springs now - just arrived. If you are leaving tomorrow, you would likely be too busy to receive visitors. Maybe next time.

ROwen Inspire 51442