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2seniors · 04-13-2019, 05:24 PM

I'm going from NC via rt 40 to Bakersfield,Calif. Then to Seattle WA. Via RT 5. Anythings I should look out for from Bakersfield to Seattle,... RT 5 ok and any good campsites along the way, Thanks

Skip426 · 04-13-2019, 05:55 PM

Came up the route in the last week of March .

Below Sacramento I-5 is a mess some sections well maintained ( differs county to county) above Sacramento , fairly smooth . I can't say if the 99 is any better , but I avoid it due to, constantly merging traffic
Casino RV park at Corning ( Rolling Hills $35 ) was full , so we stayed in overflow behind the truck stop . $0. Then used rest area near Willsonville OR. it has a huge extended stay area behind the main buildings.
Those were two of our stops this year , as departure time put us out of sync with our usual stops , Flying J near Lodi CA, junction I-5 and 12 , and Seven Feathers at Canyonville OR.
Seven Feathers is a Woodalls 10/10/10 park , but a bit $$ currently $40+ a night. Pull threw sites 65' long , no need to disconnect and shuttle service to Casino .

coupevilleDF · 04-13-2019, 05:57 PM

I would take 99 from Bakersfield to Sacramento, the pick up I5 north from there. The stretch of I5 paralleling 99 in that stretch was terrible the last time I went that way.

F4Gary · 04-13-2019, 06:01 PM

I have stayed at Kit Fox RV Park in Patterson just off I-5 and west of Turlock.
Spaced will be limited as you get close to Orland/Corning because of all the refugees from the fire that leveled Paradise. Call ahead.
I-5 from Sacto north is pretty good.

twogypsies · 04-13-2019, 10:10 PM

You didn't say when you're doing this trip but if in summer CA395 is much, much better and more beautiful that I-5. You can take it into Oregon. Drive secondary roads - they have a lot more to see.

2seniors · 04-14-2019, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

You didn't say when you're doing this trip but if in summer CA395 is much, much better and more beautiful that I-5. You can take it into Oregon. Drive secondary roads - they have a lot more to see.

I'm starting from NC May 1st, thanks for the info

Bob_C · 04-14-2019, 04:51 PM

Only 4 passes to travel over, first at the Calif/Oregon border, and 3 more a little north of Grants Pass....the last two aren't bad cause you're already up......be going thru there this Thursday...395 is without those passes, but watch your fuel level....and fuel costs are high in Calif....

ktn1966 · 04-18-2019, 08:47 AM

Lots of beautiful places to stay. There are forest service campgrounds by Shasta, a very nice Oregon State Park between Medford and Grant's Pass, casino in Canyonville, or go up Hwy 97 through Bend to Yakima then I90 to Seattle you won't be disappointed. I pull my 35 foot TT with an F250 gas engine, no problems at all.

LovesToWine · 04-29-2019, 10:49 AM

We just returned from a 30 day trip from WA (coast) to Cottonville, AZ.
We took 101 to Calistoga then cut across to 99 and drove south. We prefer 99 for numerous reasons- Free Harvest Hosts locations and Costco gas

Then on the return trip (from SW Utah), we caught 395 North from the Reno area.

We really enjoyed 395!!! It was a very pleasant surprise. We followed it until we moved over to get on 97 to go to Bend, OR. That was also very nice.

So, we will most likely use 97 and 395 on future trips south- we have family in S. California and grew up there. Figuring out the most enjoyable way is an adventure!

Rodg495 · 04-29-2019, 05:46 PM

I-5 is bad south of Stockton. I'd use 99 if you're going up the San Joaquin valley. 395 is the best route and head up thru Bend, etc. if your coming out on I-40. Very nice drive with less traffic. Big plus for I-40 to Barstow area then 395 is you will miss Los Angeles !!!