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Hi Josie, Highway 5 is the major north-south route through
California, and the fastest. The road runs down the western
side of the San Joaquin Valley and really offers nothing in
the way of scenery; unless, of course, one has an interest
in agrobusiness. It's sister highway the 99 runs parallel on
the eastern side of the valley. This route passes through
the major cities of the central valley; Modesto, Merced,
Fresno, and Bakersfield. Still not offering any better
scenery except for the possible backdrop of the Sierras,
that is if it is clear enough to see them. Alternative
routes would include the 101 and the 1 which would add
considerable time to your travel although improve your
scenery immensely. Especially in the case of Highway 1 which
would probably add two or three days to your drive down once
you become entranced with the spectacular views. The 99 will
offer more in the way of accommodations just because it runs
through the major towns. Fresno would be about 3-4 hours out
of San Francisco (that is once you got on the road;
additional time must be added on for car rental pick-up,
getting out of the city, etc.). Avoiding LA is impossible.
The urban sprawl will begin in Castaic just as you come off
the Grapevine (the name of the I-5 route through the
Tehachapi Mts. north of LA) all the way south until it is
broken by the military base at Camp Pendleton at the north
end of San Diego County. It also extends west from Oxnard in
Ventura County all the way east to San Bernardino in
Riverside County. There are countless labyrinthine routes
through the spaghetti network of freeways within the LA
area. Locals will attest to one way versus the other as a
means of saving a minute here or minute there. My suggestion
is to stick with the I-5 traveling in the third lane
(counting from the right). As you approach Orange County
move over into the car pool lanes on the left side. Plan on
about two and one-half hours to get from the bottom of the
Grapevine (Castaic) to San Clemente (southern border of
Orange County. Of course, any number of factors could change
this estimate. The drive from San Francisco to San Diego is
comparable to the Sydney to Melbourne inland drive. It
should be no problem for someone used to those long hauls.
Once you're in San Diego I'd be glad to meet with you if
you'd like. You were very helpful with suggestions last year
for our visit to your lovely country. I'd love to
reciprocate. Let me know.
John in San Diego which is worth the drive through LA
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