Driving from LA to Sacramento- is it better to take 5 or 99?

[Beaverhausen]

Going next thursday and coming home on sunday.

Any tips would be appreciated.

Last time we did this, it was thanksgiving weekend 2008 and it took FOREVER on the 5. I'm wondering if 99 is going to be better, or if 5 was just so bad because of the holiday weekend.

[CreekDog]

1. I prefer 99, more lanes and more places to stop

It's about the same distance.

99 is busier in places on a weekday than 5 will be, but on a weekend, 5's two lanes are oversold and I've found 99 to be more reliable.

[Betsy Ross]

2. 99 for fun, 5 for speed

LA to SF Bay via 5 is about a six-hour drive. 99 it is about 8.

[LaPera]

3. It'll take forever on 99 as well....

It's just a long haul either way....but 99 is the old highway, more to look at, less semi's and nicer stops and 99 won't feel like such a grind as 5....However, highway 5 will probably be faster.

[mackerel]

4. The tule fog is bad this time of year, go with I-5

[mackerel]

5. I'm really surprised to read that someone thinks 99

has more lanes than I-5.

[CreekDog]

11. because 99 through the San Joaquin Valley DOES have more lanes than I-5 mostly

I've been taking 99 to/from the Bay Area to Las Vegas and other places because heavy traffic on I-5 made that ride very slow and bathroom stops very long (because the places were so overwhelmed by people).

And 99 is three lanes for a good distance and is more than two lanes in most places where it gets really busy --I-5 is not.

[Ernesto]

6. I-5 has the death camp for cattle....

A real attraction for all you fast food burger fans!

[Beaverhausen]

7. You mean Cowschwitz?

Been there - don't ever want to see it again.

[Sequoia]

18. That's for sure.

I like the 99. We used to take it to the road (41) that goes to Yosemite Nat'l Park.

[Kerrytravelers]

8. My parents live in the Bay Area and I've lived in LA since 1994. Been doing the dive for 15 years.

I always take the 5. It's quicker. There are plenty of places to stop. I've taken the 99, but the flow of traffic is better on the 5. On the 99, there are tons of towns along the way, and this actually slows down traffic. Just my opinion, but after 15 years, I've seen it all.

[LeftyMom]

9. Take I-5. The fog tends to be worse on the 99.

And either way there will be traffic and semis, personally I'd rather deal with them with more lanes to work with, and be done faster.

LMK if you want the latest Sacramento veg dining update. We have a bunch of relatively new places to go.

[Beaverhausen]

13. Sac Veggie restaurants

Hi there

Yes, any suggestions would be great. We are visiting my husband's kids in Rancho Cordova, and my step-daughter is vegetarian, so she may know some but might also like suggestions.

Hope you didn't get any damage from the quake!

[LeftyMom]

14. Didn't even feel it clear down here.

In Rancho the closest places happen to be two of the best- Udipi Cafe on Sunrise (by the Kmart) is a great Indian place- everything is vegetarian, most of it's vegan. On the other side of the river Sunflower Drive-in is really good too- they make the best veggie burger I've had anywhere.

If you guys want to eat out of the area a little, there's a really good raw food place that just opened (the sign on the door still says they're closed, but they're in the soft launch) in Del Paso Heights of all places called the Art of Food which serves the only raw food I've ever really liked, but it has this kind of cloyingly positive hippie thing going on that I find kind of annoying. My favorite place around here is over on College Oak between Auburn and Madison, we have three or four veg*n Vietnamese places, but IMO Noble Vegetarian is the best.

Oh, and if you get over to the co-op, the Sugar Plum Baking stuff is fantastic. They're supposed to be opening their storefront any time now over on K at 24th street in midtown, but I haven't heard how soon "any day now" is.

[Beaverhausen]

15. thanks for the tips

we ate at Updipi for her birthday last spring- very yummy! I will make notes of the other places.

thanks! :hi:

[EmKayUltra]

10. Forget Hwy 99 Exists

Highway 5 is your best shot, not only for time travel, but for less wear and tear on your vehicle. Hwy 5 is smoother. True the fog is worst on 99. You will still venture into fog on hwy 5, especially around Kettlemen City.
When you pass up Tracy Hwy 5 becomes small city friendly. Meaning more places to fuel up and better quality of places to eat.

Bottom line travel on Hwy 5 is superior to Old 99. Happy trails

[Beaverhausen]

12. Thanks everyone - looks like the 5 is the way to go

I would just so not like to go by Harris Ranch and the cows. It takes days for me to get that smell out of my head.

But when we finally go to Yosemite, we will take 99.

[beltanefauve]

17. Tip:

Close up your vents as soon as you see the exit for Coalinga-Hanford and keep them closed for apporoximately six miles.

[Xithras]

16. I live a couple miles from 99...and drive over to I-5 when I'm driving to LA.

I've done both many times, and 5 is always faster. There's certainly less to see though.

Unless the discussions succeed and SR99 gets upgraded to Interstate 9, I don't ever see that changing.