Google is predicting 14.5 hours for that 12 hour Sunday drive tomorrow, I guess they take weather into consideration. Maybe you can make it as far as Flagstaff tonight.

We made it to Holbrook tonight. I am thinking we need to stop Sunday night to break that up, especially with the predicted rain. Is our best bet to stay in Bakersfield? There doesn't look to be many other options along 5 ?

Bakersfield is as good as any. I've stayed there several times driving from AZ to the Bay Area. I suggest you book tonight to find a good rate and to know where you'll be going.

The whole length of I-5 there are all the usual suspects -- every national chain.

This site lists hotels off every exit the length of I-5 http://www.americansouthwest.net/cal...erstate-5.html

Bakersfield, Buttonwillow, Lost Hills, Kettleman City, Coalinga and so on.

Buttonwillow has the biggest choice

Ah, but do all chains take pets?

They need pet friendly. Motel 6, Vagabond Inns, La Quinta, some Best Westerns. On booking.com, once it brings up availability for the night, you can sort on the lower left to select only "pet friendly" accommodation.

Heavy rains predicted Sunday night so yes, sounds best to settle in for the night as Monday looks better for the final few hours of your drive. Flood watches are in effect so continue to pay attention to the forecasts.

I Know Motel6.com is pretty good for Pets, and they have generous cancel policies (6PM) Book directly with them and don't use a 3rd party (e.g. Expedia)

>>Ah, but do all chains take pets?

Stay at Harris Ranch and have a great meal. Or stay in Santa Nella and have soup at Andersen's Split Pea Soup.

Assuming you have already left. If you want to try for a bit farther along than Bakersfield, there is a Motel6 AT Coaling, which should still be just moderate and not torrential rain according to this morning's forecast.

It looks like one of the remodeled ones

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Check the maps to see where to expect heavy rain, flooding and feet of snow. http://www.accuweather.com/en/weathe...ornia/70000496
Could this be an end to the California drought?

No -- because it is rain. To end the drought we need to build up the snow pack. These storms are too warm -- though the snow level is supposed to come down tomorrow.

We made it to Palo Alto tonight after12.5 hours of driving. We had good weather until north of Kettleman City. I have to say that driving 152 from I 5 over to 101 in the dark, pouring rain, fog, with rock slides took a few years off of my life but otherwise we are unscathed. The cats did great and my daughter drove many hours giving me a breather. Thank you all for the fantastic advice and support.

Great -- tonight was not a night to be out. Up here it has been full on sideways sheets of water for nearly 24 hours . . .

We need to build more water storage, also.

That's the truth!

"Driving 152 from I 5 over to 101 in the dark, pouring rain, fog, with rock slides took a few years off of my life but otherwise we are unscathed."

You're braver than I am. I would have stopped in Los Baños/ Santa Nella.

The front hit down south about 3am with thunder and bucketing rain but seems to have abated. The weather stories in today's paper are amazing. Good thing you didn't try for Donner Pass!

>>Good thing you didn't try for Donner Pass!