Heavens

DH is driving south the I5. Are there any good stops along the I5 between Fresno and Bakersfield for the night and a good meal? Thanks for your help.

thepeters

Well, Visalia is close to the half-way point (a bit closer to Fresno than to Bakersfield).
http://www.resideo.com/us/california/visalia
There's a Fairfield Inn as well as a Marriott -- I'd try those two first if he's looking for a chain. The Lamp Liter Inn is pretty unique, tho, and is worth a look.

Hope that helps!

janisj

Where is he driving from/to? If from N. Cal to LA, I wouldn't think he'd need to stay over anywhere. If he is driving from say Washington State to San Diego - then yes he'd want to stop - but there are better places than between Fresno > Bakersfield.

So - what is his actual itinerary?

Heavens

Roseburg, Oregon to an hour south of Palm Springs, CA...he figures to be somewhere north of Bakersfield by 6 pm or so tonight, when he will want to knock off and find a place for a dinner and some sleep. He has things packed in his suv, so would like someplace safe, and on the 5 so he doesn't have to drive too far off the 5...

gigib

I5 between Fresno and Bakersfield is pretty bleak. Visalia is a bit off the highway. Both Fresno and Bakersfield have numerous comfortable chain hotels right on the highway, with the usual restaurants. Perhaps he can see how he feels as he gets close, it's about 100 miles between the two towns.

azzure

Surprised no one has pointed this out yet, but both Bakersfield and Fresno are on 99, not I5. The I5 route is pretty bleak, but you can make really good time. My husband and I have driven a few times from Roseburg (we leave from Seattle and usually make either Roseburg or Grant's Pass the first night) to the Lebec-Grapevine area on I5, where there are several decent motels and you can get a good jump on the next day's travel through the LA basin.

About an hour short of Lebec would be Buttonwillow, a huge truck-stop kind of place with lots of motel options.

kauai_aka

http://www.harrisranch.com/index2.php

(I5 off 198)

once you get pass the smell (not present near the inn/restaurant) this is really a nice place. we were going to stay in hanford or visalia but that was another 45 minutes east on 198.

dmlove

I don't know if it's on his "route", but the food at Harris Ranch is really very good.

gigib

Wow, how blind can we be sometimes? Thank you azzure, I've driven between Bako and Fresno dozens and dozens of times on HIGHWAY 99! I even typed I5 in my reply, sigh...

Heavens

What about hotels in Lost Hills or Kettleman? Any knowledge of these areas? And what hotel in Lebec? He is thinking he might go into Bakersfield, if he can drive that far. He has been driving since Roseburg, OR.

Harris Ranch is just too expensive and the other hotels in the area (Coalinga) are booked. Holiday?

azzure

The only Lebec area motel I have personal experience with is the Best Rest Inn, at the Frazier Park offramp. (I used to live in the mountains near there so was familiar with the property.) It is next to a Flying J Travel Plaza, but it's quite comfortable and serves a decent continental breakfast. There's also a Best Western and a Ramada Inn nearby.

Plenty of motels in Lost Hills and Kettleman City, plus the afore-mentioned Buttonwillow. All truck stops.

Heavens

WOW, he got as far as Santa Clarita. He just kept on going. Had good weather and not much traffic. He rolled into the Marriott there about 8:30 last night and had shrimp on the barbie at an Outback. Not truckstop for him, I guess. But he maybe should consider being a truckdriver...HA!

Thanks all for your help. That is a long, empty highway...

dmlove

Shrimp on the Barbie at Outback are fantastic! Hope he enjoyed.

beachbum

Heavens, I drove through the night from Portland to Valencia (next to Santa Clarita) two weeks ago, then a week later, from Los Angeles to San Francisco, both directions on I-5. I can COMPLETELY understand why your husband would just keep on going.

NeoPatrick

Phew. There for a minute, I really thought I had been out of the loop when they moved I-5!!

By the way, I loved the comment regarding Harris Ranch (which I do like) -- "once you get passed the smell". So true!