zulakaye

Landing in Fresno at 3:45 PM on Saturday, September 17. Picking up a rental car. Need help planning the best route to get us to Monteray Bay for our 2 day stay. We will explore the Bay area and south of the Bay area on Sunday . Visiting the aquarium on Monday and possible Big Basin Redwood before heading back to Fresno for business meetings on Tuesday. Are there better routes than others? .

joannay

I suggest you go south from Fresno on Hwy 41 to 198, then west on 198 to 101, north on 101 to Salinas and follow the signs to Monterey. Hwy 198 is a beautiful and lonely road through the hills that I drove for the first time about a year ago. There is virtually no traffic. The other possibility is north to 152, the Pacheco Pass, which last time I drove it was crowded with trucks, a nightmare. The 2 routes could not have been more different. Maybe 152 has improved in the last while and, if so, someone here will tell us. Otherwise, I recommend the southerly route on 198.

janisj

The 198/101 route is nicer -- but it would take at least an hour longer than the 152 route, and very possibly more. By the time you get the rental car sorted out, it will be close to 5PM. Stopping to eat and such -- that extra hour will have you into Monterey pretty late.

If you had more time I'd take 198. But you will be pretty rushed as it is. I'd take the faster route.

Do you have to be back in Fresno by Monday night? That cuts your time even more.

joannay

We can't really resolve this for you as we simply disagree, janisj and I. The last time I drove on 152 was about 25 years ago because it was SO bad I vowed to never use it again under any circumstances. So, I suspect because it hasn't been stated that the road is better, it might still be bad. I refer to the part between I-5 and 101. And if that's the case then I'd personally much prefer arriving at my destination a bit later than driving on a winding road congested with trucks. A Saturday is no guarantee that they won't be on the road and weekend traffic can be as bad as a weekday. The 198 route is farther but if the traffic on 152 is bad it's debatable which would take longer.

janisj

Of course it is your choice.

My suggestion is 155 miles and approx 2 hours 45 mins - 3 hours tops. The road has been significantly upgraded since since she drove it 25 years ago.

joanay's route is only about 35 miles farther but is slower driving and will take about 4 hours.

Both are totally doable -- but if you are coming off a long flight, I'd choose the fastest/easiest drive myself.

lynni

From Fresno, go North on 99 to the 152 and over the Pacheco Pass. 101 South and then to the Highway 1 West. That is the simplest, most direct route. (There is absolutely NO need to drive over on 41 and through SLO and there is no reason to drive at all on Interstate 5.)

In fact, you cannot go 41 to 198 to get to the coast... 198 east will get you to Visalia and 198 east will get you to Coalinga...the 41 goes to the 46 and that goes to the 101... but it will take an hour to Kettleman City, and hour to Paso Robles, an hour to King City and another hour to Monterey. Thats if you go the 101. If you are taking the Highway 1 through Big Sur, it will add another few hours.

The route from Fresno, through Los Banos and over Pacheco Pass will be 3 hours. As janisj states, the road is sificantly improved from 25 years ago.

Truthfully, the 41/46 route is MUCH more dangerous, as much of it is two lane....sometimes four. Also, right now they are doing significant road work just this side of Kettleman City and traffic delays can be from 30 min to 1 hour.

(Hope this helps... I grew up in Salinas, lived in Fresno for 20 year and have spent the last 15 on the Central Coast... I drive these roads often.)

easytraveler

Route 152 has improved quite a bit in the last 25 years. Much of it is now 4-lane, instead of the old 2-lane all the way.

It is, however, mountainous in some parts with very curvy roads. If you drive in the slow lane, you should be fine.

Route 198 is 2-lane all the way and will take you way out of the way but it's mostly flat land through dry desert with scrub oak or oak trees - that's California as it once was. Not much traffic, even today.

Your choice. But if you do go on 152: take Highway 99 to 152, then take 156 through Hollister and San Juan Bautista to Highway 101 which will take you to Monterey. Near Monterey and from 101, the signs will say something like "Monterey, Highway 1", take that exit and you'll be on your way into central Monterey.

I have a friend who lives in Monterey and had to go to Fresno to work for several months there. She used the 152/156 route.

Have a safe trip, whichever route you decide to take!

joannay

Not 46, not 5, not Paso Robles or SLO or Kettleman City. Hwy 41 & 198 intersect at Lemoore about 30 miles so. of Fresno. Turn west (right) onto 198 and drive a lovely country road until it hits 101. Etc. Look at the map.

I take 46 when coming from Bakersfield and like that road too, have lived to tell the tale.

joannay

Sorry easytraveler, I wasn't snapping at you. It was aimed at the previous post. I was hoping that someone would update the 152 situation. You must have known the old road, just awful, and I assumed something must have been done about it. But I did want to include my new favorite road (198) through the hills as, if the complete lack of traffic is any indication, not many people know it or use it. I'm from N. CA, living at the moment in AZ, so try to find interesting ways to get to the coast and family.

easytraveler

Hi, joannay! no need to apologize. We're all just trying to offer information for the OP, so that he/she can get from Fresno to Monterey.

You're correct about the old 152 - it WAS horrible to drive. Nowadays, I drive over the much-improved 152 at least half a dozen times a year getting from 101 to 5 on the way from the Bay Area to Southern California. The new San Luis Reservoir has changed things quite a bit. Los Banos used to have a dusty main street with one gas station which was also the local grocery store. You will not recognize Los Banos today.

152 IS very curvy in parts - almost as bad as 17 over to Santa Cruz, so if the OP wants to have a more leisurely drive over a flatter road, then 198 is a good option.

The other consideration is the amount of daylight the OP will have for this drive. If they start out too late, then the flatter road, even if it takes longer, might be a better option.

Certainly, 152 is faster. Oh, and watch out for the highway patrol on 152. It's easy to go over the speed limit as you're zooming downhill.

Underhill

just out of curiosity, why did you choose to fly into Fresno?

zulakaye

I decided the 152 route would be best for the Saturday trip to Monterey Bay. Sunday we planned on the getting up early and traveling towards Big Basin Redwoods and possibly Santa Cruz. If we don't do the Santa Cruz trip, we would return early enough to go to the aquarium and finish the day exploring Cannery Row. Since we will be traveling South along the coast on Monday and going as far as Julie Pfeifer State Park, would anyone suggest continuing along Hwy 1 to Morro Bay and then taking 41 into Fresno. This may be way too much driving. I could flip flop Sunday and Monday which would allow me to go back the same way we came along 152

november_moon

Hwy 152 isn't a bad road, not to worry. We take that route between 101 and I5 or Hwy 99 on a fairly regular basis.

A quick clarification - you have Sunday and Monday in the Monterey area, then you are driving back to Fresno on Tuesday, right? Or are you driving back Monday for meetings on Tuesday?

sf7307

>>

Presumably because, "heading back to Fresno for business meetings on Tuesday"

zulakaye

We had to fly into Fresno because of scheduled business meetings on Tuesday. Thought we would go a little early for some sight seeing. We will have to start heading back toward Fresno sometime Monday, but it can be late when we get back. Returning the rental car by 10:00 PM at the airport. Any comments on the return route from my previous post?

joannay

If you need a pit stop along 152 there's the touristy but useful Casa de Fruta which my son used to refer to as Casa de Peepee for obvious reasons: http://www.casadefruta.com/casa-de-fruta-directions.php

janisj

You picked the best route to Monterey -- but now, Monterey to Big Basin is a long drive. It will take nearly 2 hours to the park. Even if you only spend 2 hours in the park, Big Basin + Santa Cruz would be a 10+ hour day.

You really are planning on a LOT of driving in 2.5 days

I'd stick close to Monterey/Carmel/Pacific Grove/Point Lobos on Sunday.

zulakaye

I didn't realize it was that long to Big Basin. Now I will have to think about it again. Maybe we should just enjoy Monterey all day Monday until it's time to leave for Fresno.

MichelleY

I grew up in Los Banos. The Hwy. 152/156 option is the best way to go. Because of all the growth in Los Banos and the SJ Valley, these roads have been vastly improved over the last 5-10 years. It is a beautiful drive and alot of 4 lane/divided road.

Stop at Casa de Fruta for a break and check out the fruit for sale.

easytraveler

It'll be a pity for you to come all this way and miss Big Sur. I'd suggest the following drive for Monday:

If your purpose in going to Big Basin is to see the redwoods, then you can do just as well, or even better, by heading out early Monday south towards Cambria. Stop off at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, where there are a number of hikes among the redwoods. The easiest one will still take you through some nice redwoods. Just ask at the ranger station.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=570

After your hike, continue on down Highway 1 to Nepenthe. It's not far, something like 3-5 miles further along. On a clear day, the view from here is gorgeous and the food isn't all that bad either. You could have lunch here.

http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/

After lunch, continue on southbound. If you have the time stop at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, the hike to and from the falls shouldn't take you more than an hour and the trail is wheelchair friendly, so super easy. At this time of year, the falls will not have much water, so don't expect a Niagara.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=578

Continue to Cambria. Just before Cambria, turn off the road and just park. It'll say "Beach Access" in several places. This is for viewing of the elephant seals. There are usually volunteers on the beach who are willing to tell you all about these huge creatures.

Have dinner in Cambria or in Paso Robles. Then take Highway 41 to Fresno. It should take you about 2 hours to drive from Paso Robles to Fresno.