Visit our Popular Forums

Bambi_Bandit · 12-17-2008, 09:50 PM

Calling for advise from fellow CA forum members or those in the "know".

Currently Prim and I are in transit from Austin to San Jose, however, the "storm of the century" seems to be pounding California right now, and even I-5 (our original route) is closed.

We're holed up at the KOA in Pomona, right next to the LA county fairgrounds... Just south of all the snow...

Can anyone advise us a good route to San Jose (Morgan Hill) Area? Should I take the 101 all the way up? Won't the passes or higher elevations still have snow?

I heard there is another system coming to hit CA near X-mas time, which concerns me as I still need to get back to TX for work, so my window to get there and is quickly closing.

I appreciate anyone's quick help. Prim and I will need to decide if we will hunker down here another night or not by tomorrow AM...

Airslide · 12-17-2008, 09:56 PM

101 is a nice route to take up. Done it many times myself. Its cold here right now and icy. becareful. 101 doesnt seem to have all the natural disasters that hwy 5 has. Will take a bit longer but if you have the time to see some sights i would recommend it.

Airslide · 12-17-2008, 10:01 PM

From LA county up to San Jose

Yahoo! Maps, Driving Directions, and Traffic

TBSarfari28 · 12-17-2008, 10:03 PM

I feel the 101 would be your best bet in the morning. It's a good highway and there are no big grades, so no icy road conditions. It will take you a little longer going north than Interstate 5. Take Interstate 10 west to the 101, plan to to leave the campground about 9:30 or so to miss the morning traffic.
Good Luck

Airslide · 12-17-2008, 10:04 PM

This highway information is the latest reported as of Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 21:03 .

US 101
[IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA]
NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA.

[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]
NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA.

wkerfoot · 12-17-2008, 10:05 PM

Kevin,

I would wait until tomorrow morning. Hopefully the grapevine will be open and it will be clear sailing to San Jose. The coast route will work but it is not as fast and probably have some flooding problems. Regardless, I would wait until the sun is up and not try the coast in the dark.

Bill

Big Dee · 12-17-2008, 10:14 PM

i agree if you can get over the grape vine, then it would be easy sailing up I5. there are no other passes except pacheco pass on hwy 152 which almost never closes due to weather. 101 has no big passes and is much prettier drive but will add hours to your time. happy trails.

Airslide · 12-17-2008, 10:18 PM

Wow.. there is a bit of action going on I-5 right now..

This highway information is the latest reported as of Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 21:15 .

I 5
[IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA]
IS CLOSED FROM THE JCT OF SR 91 /IN FULLERTON/ TO ARTESIA AVE
/IN BUENA PARK/ (ORANGE CO) FROM 2330 HRS EACH NIGHT TO 0400 HRS EACH MORNING
MONDAY THRU FRIDAY & FROM 0030 HRS TO 0500 HRS ON SATURDAY THRU 12/26/08
- DUE TO CONSTRUCTION - A DETOUR IS AVAILABLE

THE SOUTHBOUND CONNECTOR TO EASTBOUND SR 60 /IN LOS ANGELES/
(LOS ANGELES CO) IS CLOSED FROM 2100 HRS EACH NIGHT TO 0600 HRS EACH MORNING
MONDAY THRU FRIDAY THRU 12/19/08 - DUE TO CONSTRUCTION - A DETOUR IS AVAILABLE

THE NORTHBOUND & SOUTHBOUND CONNECTORS TO WESTBOUND I 10 /IN LOS ANGELES/
(LOS ANGELES CO) ARE CLOSED FROM 2300 HRS EACH NIGHT TO 0400 HRS EACH MORNING
MONDAY THRU FRIDAY THRU 12/19/08 - DUE TO CONSTRUCTION - DETOURS ARE AVAILABLE

THE SOUTHBOUND CONNECTOR TO NORTHBOUND SR 14 /IN SYLMAR/ (LOS ANGELES CO)
IS CLOSED FROM 2100 HRS EACH NIGHT TO 1200 HRS THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON MONDAY
THRU FRIDAY THRU 12/19/08 - DUE TO CONSTRUCTION - A DETOUR IS AVAILABLE

IS CLOSED FROM 4 MI NORTH OF THE JCT OF SR 126 /AT LAKE HUGHES ROAD/
(LOS ANGELES CO) TO THE LOS ANGELES/KERN CO LINE /THE GRAPEVINE/ - DUE TO SNOW
- MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC IS REDUCED TO 1 LANE FROM THE JCT OF I 110 TO
THE JCT OF I 10 /IN LOS ANGELES/ (LOS ANGELES CO) FROM 2300 HRS EACH NIGHT
TO 0400 HRS EACH MORNING MONDAY THRU FRIDAY THRU 12/19/08 - DUE TO CONSTRUCTION

[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]
IS CLOSED FROM THE LOS ANGELES/KERN CO LINE TO 25 MI SOUTH OF BAKERSFIELD
/AT LAVAL ROAD/ (KERN CO) /THE GRAPEVINE/ - DUE TO SNOW - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED
TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

Fyrzowt · 12-17-2008, 10:28 PM

The highest pass on the 101 is in San Luis Obispo, just south of me. No snow around here. 101 may be slightly longer but not hours, as posted above. I think the 101 may even be faster/more direct.
Good luck and drive safe.
Dave

Bambi_Bandit · 12-17-2008, 10:32 PM

Wow,

Thanks guys... It seems I-5 may be dicey in the morning... so 101 may be the best bet. Slower going (seems slow towing at 55 MPH anyways) is better than stationary in snow shutdown...

How much slower (added hours) is it taking 101 versus 1-5 (if it opens)

Vlmica,

Where are you getting your info on the road conditions? Do you mind telling me the link? That would be handy.

Alumanutz · 12-17-2008, 10:43 PM

I am not Vlamica but you can get Cal. highway info here;
Road Conditions

NUTZ

Big Dee · 12-17-2008, 10:46 PM

i would disagree that the 101 route can be faster even if there were no traffic on either. but 101 traffic can be nasty at oxnard and santa barbara areas. i have hit traffic before santa barbara that added at least an hour to my time. I5 can be crowded but seldom cruises below 75 mph. and it's straight as an arrow. 101 meanders all over the place. overall, 101 is more fun if you have the time but I5 for best time.

ROBERTSUNRUS · 12-17-2008, 11:11 PM

Hi, Bambi Bandit. We are at the Morgan Hill area right now. We left Lakewood, Ca. last week and went half way up the Oregon coast.: And we are on our way back home. Above the San Francisco area, on the 101, we met up with a snow storm and we were basically trapped and forced to keep on moveing. But from here down to where you are should be OK We have been traveling on the 1 and 101 mostly because of the icy roads. We drove through them, but I would not recommend it to anyone. You should be OK on the 101 from Pomona to here. [Morgan Hill]

Toldfield · 12-18-2008, 12:26 AM

Morning traffic will be horrible westbound. I would suggest that you go west on the 210 through Pasadena. If you leave after about 9am the traffic should be a lot better. In Pasadena stay in the right lanes and continue on the 210 toward San Fernando. Go north on I-5 and check with CalTrans, 800-427-7623, to see how I-5 is northbound. If you take I-5 it is probably best to hop over to the 101 on Highway 152 (Los Banos to Gilroy). This will avoid a lot of hassle and backtracking in the bay area.

If you find that I-5 is a mess you can go west on the 126 to the 101 and have a leisurely drive up 101. I-5 is usually faster but if there are any problems or accidents it can be a long wait. On the 101 you can usually get off the highway and use surface streets to get around the mess.

Harris Ranch, near Coalinga, is a nice stop on I-5. There is a swell restaurant at Santa Paula airport in the town of Santa Paula if you go out the 126.

Tom O

Bambi_Bandit · 12-18-2008, 08:47 AM

IS CLOSED FROM 4 MI NORTH OF THE JCT OF SR 126 /AT LAKE HUGHES ROAD/
(LOS ANGELES CO) TO THE LOS ANGELES/KERN CO LINE /THE GRAPEVINE/ - DUE TO SNOW
- MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]
IS CLOSED FROM THE LOS ANGELES/KERN CO LINE TO 4 MI NORTH OF
THE JCT OF SR 126 /AT LAKE HUGHES ROAD/ (LOS ANGELES CO) /THE GRAPEVINE/
- DUE TO SNOW - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

I guess 101 it is.....

Thanks everyone!!! Who knows. Maybe we'll end up liking the slower pace and views of 101...

doorgunner · 12-18-2008, 09:18 AM

FWIW;

kcra.com the local sacramento television station has a pretty good active weather map on their web site. While traveling I try to find similar stations in whatever area I'm heading. It's not road info but advance movement of weather may help.
Key West is in the other direction!!
It's supposed to be cold rain starting later tonite for 2 daze.
Travel safe. 101 is fine

48_liner · 12-18-2008, 10:33 AM

I work with the trucking business in central California and everyone is using 101 as both the grapevine and Hwy 58 through Tehachapi is closed. There will be a lot of trucks on 101 due to the diverted traffic which means heavy traffic in the already tight areas. May be best to wait until the grapevine reopens which is usually fairly quickly after a snow fall. They close it when just a small amount foosnow falls so once the storm passes, it reopens pretty fast.

TPdrums · 12-18-2008, 04:52 PM

I take the 101 from Morgan Hill to LA from time to time. It's a much more relaxing drive, with nicer stops along the way. You never really have to worry too much about traffic and it wont add on as much time as people like to say it will. The roads are wet around here now, but not so much that you can't make it to where you want to go. If you start out by 9 you'll be here by 4 or 5. Good luck.

ROBERTSUNRUS · 12-18-2008, 09:07 PM

Hi, Bambi Bandit. This morning we left Morgan Hill takeing 101 south to Pismo Beach. The traffic was moveing good, not too crowded, not wet, and it was smooth sailing all the way. We only passed one rest stop and it is closed for remodeling. [both sides] Tommorrow we will finish going south arriving in Lakewood. 101 seems to be the only/best way to go.

Bambi_Bandit · 12-19-2008, 12:09 AM

Thanks for everyone's input. We pulled out of the KOA at 10:30, and got to Morgan Hill at 6:30. No heavy congestion as I was expecting, but did see the southbound lanes back up for about 10 miles due to some road lane closure.

I really did enjoy the scenery and it was an easy pull with no grades or snow. I think I'll change my norm from I-5 to 101... and try to stop and see some of the state beaches next time.