gr8trprpse

Traveling with infant from Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe. Probably will need to stop somewhere in between overnight because I don't think she will able to last that long in the car. Any suggestions of specific places or locations to stop overnight?

TravelTess

Assuming you're going the fastest route via I-5, I would stop at either Harris Ranch in Coalinga or one of the many motels in Tracy. Stockton is also another thought but may be a little too north.

dwooddon

I doubt I-5 is the fastest on this trip. It goes so far west and you would have to double back that the higher speed on I-5 will be about equal to the time via US-99. The tie breaker for me would be the extra fuel costs needed for those extra miles.

On US-99, Fresno or Modesto would be logical places.

There is another alternative that might please the adults. At Fresno, take Cal-41 to Cal-49 and then north on CA-49 to US-50. CA-49 is the Gold Rush Trail and you'll pass through many of the small towns that sprang up during the California gold rush. Lot's of interesting places plus the scenery will be tremendously better than on either US-99 or I-5.

TrvlMaven

The Gold Rush tour would be very interesting with lots of options for stopping--but how prone is the little one to motion sickness?? It can be a bit weary for the faint of stomach.

TravelTess

Dwooddon, I-5 is indeed the fastest route. 99 is full of big rig trucks and it's not a big freeway, like I-5. Have you ever traveled with an infant? The last thing you want to do is travel through the long and windy roads of the Gold Country. Talk about making the trip longer!

mpf

Hwy 14 to 395 sounds like an easier drive. However, it depends where in LA you will be starting, and how early in the morning you plan to leave. It can be done in one day with an infant. Lone Pine and Bishop have nice parks, June Lake is just off the highway - Walker River has a day use -- plus rest areas along the highway - to stop 20 minutes, stretch, and do the necessities.

Also, there is less traffic. If you are going to South Lake Tahoe, you can turn off at Kingsbury Grade - or go on to Carson City and take Hwy 50.

My preference would be to drive a full day and get settled. A stop in Bishop will be nearly a 4 hour drive to your destination.

lvk

Of the 3 routes mentioned, the 395 route is the most scenic. It also passes through some cute little towns where you can stop to eat, stretch, etc.

You can choose to stay overnight in Lone Pine or Bishop. If she's not too fussy, you can continue on to Mammoth or June Lake. There are plenty of lodging options in all of those places.

dwooddon

TravelTess: On any given day, either route could be faster depending on traffic problems or their lack.

Having driven both routes more times than I can count, I am fairly sure that they are about equal in driving time and that the extra miles and fuel cost on I-5 are the deciding factor for me.

I guess I was lucky traveling with my kids when they were infants. Both of them treated a drive of more than 2-3 blocks as if they had taken a sleeping pill until they got to be a couple of years old. I, in fact, took both of them along CA-49 several times and it was not a problem.

Suzie

Can I weigh in on the 99 I5 discussion? Easter weekend we drove Sacto to LA on Thursday starting around 2:00 pm. Traffic between Sacto and Tracy is impossibly annoying. It was not overly congested either. The rest of eh drive must be driven at about 80 mph due to I 5 having only 2 lanes and everyone speeds. The right hand lane is full of trucks that surprisingly do stay at about 60 MPH even when passing. It's not going to be relaxing.

Coming home on Sunday around 4:00pm we used 99. This road was much faster and frequently has 3 lanes. Not so many trucks. We arrived home about 30 minutes earlier than our arrival in LA plus we stopped more frequently just because therr are more places to stop.

Since 30 minutes is not really enough to quibble about I think it's a matter of preference about what kind of driving you want to do.

I really do like 395 but Barstow to South Lake Tahoe is 8 hours so it will definitely be a much longer drive.

If you are traveling on 99 you might want to stay in Merced. It is known as the gateway to Yosemite so there are more than the usual amount of hotels for the size of the town. It would be about 4.5 hours from LA to Merced. There is a Holiday Inn Express and a Best Western in town.

mpf

One would take the 5 to the 14 (Newhall Pass), the 14 makes a right turn in Mojave, and then the 14 end when 395 cuts in from Ridgecrest. Barstow isn't in the picture coming from LA. Mojave with one 15 minute stop to Hwy 50 in Carson City is about 6 hours.

Suzie

Thanks for clarifying that about 395 from LA 'cause I was thinking that is way too long!

gr8trprpse

Thank you for all your reply's, that helps a lot.

TravelTess

My husband just laughed when I told him somebody recommended 99 from L.A. to Tahoe as being fastest. He said to tell you that 99 narrows in many spots. In addition, there are many towns along the way that will cause you to slow your speed. Clear sailing on I-5 with a 70 MPH speed limit.

Suzie

I don't understand Tess. I 5 has bumper to bumper trucks on a freeway with just 2 lanes in each direction. That leaves just 1 lane for cars.

If 99 narrows it narrows from 3 lanes to 2 and has far fewer trucks than I 5. I think the difference between I 5 and 99 is a matter of choice than speed. Either way you get from LA to Tahoe in the same amount of time. Maybe 15-30 minutes earlier if you use 99. Lots of drivers prefer the fewer towns thus fewer on/off ramps that you have on I 5. Other drivers like to have more choices to stop thus they choose 99. As a frequest driver of both, there is no time saving of choosing one over the other.

cafoodie

The real trick to this drive is timing it right. You don't want to hit rush hour in LA or Sacto. It also makes a big difference where in Tahoe you're going. If it is South Shore, any of them are good choices. But if you're heading to North Shore then definitely take I-5 thru Sacto

IMO I-5 is the easiest because it usually is pedal to the metal all the way. But it can be "put you to sleep" boring, so bring some good music to liven up the drive. BTW, Harris Ranch and Anderson's Pea Soup are very consistent with good quality food (at least they have been on all of my trips).

Both 99 and 395 are great options, especially if you hear of an over-turned big rig on I-5. But the decision really comes down to what is more important to you -- speed and ease of driving? Go I-5; Scenery and a slower paced drive with less miles? Take 99 or 395. Either way the time differnce really isn't an issue -- it's pretty much the same.

I hope this helps. Enjoy Tahoe - We go up at least twice a year and are hopelessly in love with the North Shore!

MBnancy

We have gone to Tahoe for years from LA on all routes. Up the 395, home the I-5, etc.

The last couple years our son and dil join us with their two year old for a week in July. They go up the 395 and stay in Bishop, at the Holiday Inn Express. It's very well suited for an infant, room for a pac n'play. They leave LA before noon on a Friday morning, so have the afternoon free for a swim at the hotel, then dinner. It's located across from famous Schats Bakery.

In the morning, it's an easy drive to Tahoe. We stay in Incline Village, so they go up to Hwy. 50 to cross over to the lake, below Carson City.