AZ to Fairfield CA Dec

[MarkEllen]

We are traveling to Fairfield CA the day after Christmas and back after New Year. We are towing our 34 ft 5th wheel with Ram 3500. It will be our first trip out with this rig. We have made the trip before with just the truck going I10-210-I5. We are thinking the traffic will make this a bit nerve wracking. We will also have our 5 year old twin grandkids and want to spit the trip into two segments with an easy overnight or boondock option. Any advice is welcomed.

[R.Wold]

Originally Posted by MarkEllen

We are traveling to Fairfield CA the day after Christmas and back after New Year. We are towing our 34 ft 5th wheel with Ram 3500. It will be our first trip out with this rig. We have made the trip before with just the truck going I10-210-I5. We are thinking the traffic will make this a bit nerve wracking. We will also have our 5 year old twin grandkids and want to spit the trip into two segments with an easy overnight or boondock option. Any advice is welcomed.

I’ve always found 99 to be less stressful than I5. The road surface isn’t as good in some areas and of course there is construction in a few places mid way up between Bakersfield and and Hwy 12, but you get a lot less high speed traffic and there are plenty of trucks to fall in with when you get tired of driving with the cars. So that’s always my choice. If I were just driving a car or pick-up I might take I-5.

How you get to 99 depends on where in Az you’re starting from, but taking 40 to Barstow and 58 to Bakersfield avoids all the 15/215 (LA) traffic. 58 is also a pretty easy hill to climb compared to the alternatives. I wouldn’t even consider 210 to 5, unless I was passing through between 1am and 4am.

Good stops along the way:

Desert View RV resort (right next door to the KOA in Needles may be a good stopping point and it’s a very pleasing RV park. Not really a resort, but they don’t charge like one either.

The Visalia KOA is a good stop over if your day is ending near there. Nothing special but I’ve used it a few times and always had good experiences.

If you do take I-5, the Buena Vista Aquatic Rec Area (hwy 119 exit, west) is a nice county RV park, but it may be impacted by covid shut downs.

[Coulter]

Originally Posted by R.Wold

I’ve always found 99 to be less stressful than I5. The road surface isn’t as good in some areas and of course there is construction in a few places mid way up between Bakersfield and and Hwy 12, but you get a lot less high speed traffic and there are plenty of trucks to fall in with when you get tired of driving with the cars. So that’s always my choice. If I were just driving a car or pick-up I might take I-5.

How you get to 99 depends on where in Az you’re starting from, but taking 40 to Barstow and 58 to Bakersfield avoids all the 15/215 (LA) traffic. 58 is also a pretty easy hill to climb compared to the alternatives. I wouldn’t even consider 210 to 5, unless I was passing through between 1am and 4am.

Good stops along the way:

Desert View RV resort (right next door to the KOA in Needles may be a good stopping point and it’s a very pleasing RV park. Not really a resort, but they don’t charge like one either.

The Visalia KOA is a good stop over if your day is ending near there. Nothing special but I’ve used it a few times and always had good experiences.

If you do take I-5, the Buena Vista Aquatic Rec Area (hwy 119 exit, west) is a nice county RV park, but it may be impacted by covid shut downs.

This. x2

[biosensai]

We just left Vineyard RV in Vacaville (right next to Fairfield) heading home to Murrieta. First, be aware that the emperor has decreed no short term RV travels. Exceptions to this are available at Orange Grove RV’s website. Being a local for decades, you don’t look at mileage, you look at time. Also, we used to make at least 2 trips to Redding a year. I know these roads! Here’s the route I use from Murrieta. 15 to 58 (all 4 lane divided, lots of it new) over Tehachapi (easier than Grapevine) to 99 to 4 to 5 to Vineyard. Going, we stay at The Lakes in Chowchilla. Heading home, Orange Grove. Call ahead for reservations. (It’s a bit out of your way, but Pechanga RV in Temecula is very nice also.)

We did I-5 2 years ago on 12/26 using just our truck. Insane. Just finding bathrooms was nuts. In your rig, truck stops abound along the routes I just described, including a brand new Love’s in Boron. We generally top off our F350 (auxiliary tank to 70 gallons) at the Flying J in Tehachapi. Separate RV islands.

[Glenn and Kathy]

We did the 58 to 99N thru Bakersfield 2 weeks ago. Both were hell in Bakersfield, but ok otherwise. That's road condition, traffic wasn't bad at all.

58 from Barstow to Bakersfield is a lot better now that it is all divided 4 lane and bypasses Kramer Jct.

Glenn

[MarkEllen]

Thank you! We are coming from Phoenix metro. We have taken 99 before and I was thinking it was probably a better option. I appreciate the feedback.

[MarkEllen]

Thank you for the advice!

[JFreitas]

When we leave Scottsdale to Fairfield after spring training we travel I 10 to Hwy 72 through Parker AZ then go to CA 95. Spend the night at the Needles KOA. We then take 40 to the 58 and then stay at Bakersfield RV resort. Then is about 300 miles to Fairfield. We take I5 and then Hwy 12. Been doing this for a few years.

[MarkEllen]

Originally Posted by JFreitas

When we leave Scottsdale to Fairfield after spring training we travel I 10 to Hwy 72 through Parker AZ then go to CA 95. Spend the night at the Needles KOA. We then take 40 to the 58 and then stay at Bakersfield RV resort. Then is about 300 miles to Fairfield. We take I5 and then Hwy 12. Been doing this for a few years.

Great. Thank you.

[R.Wold]

Headin to Death Valley and beyond tomorrow from Grass Valley. There really is no wrong way, weather notwithstanding.