driving advice Sacramento to Monterey
 

What is the best (easiest, shortest) way to drive from Sacramento to Monterey? We are only going to be there for one day and night so want to get there fairly quickly.
If we take a more scenic route, will it be very much longer? Leaving later this week (11/8) Thanks!

I drive that route often. To avoid East Bay/South Bay/San Jose traffic, I go:

I-5 South to Santa Nella
152 West to 156 West (Pacheco Pass)
to 101 South to 156 West to Hwy 1

odds are you'll hit traffic if you go:

I-80 West to 680 South to 101....

I would recommend the same route as vegaslover.

This would be the fastest and also the least stressful. And it isn't totally "un-scenic". The I-5 bit is definitely boring -- but after you hit 152 the scenery is pretty good.

lolo: There are not a lot of scenic options that are quick from Sacramento to Monterey. 160 following the Sacramento river is pretty with some good stops, but not at all fast. 5 takes you through some farm land, but, very round-about. 80, which is the most direct, is pretty with the green rolling hills this time of year(as opposed to brown, brown, brown in the summer months). For the fastes trip, take 80 West to Oakland, take 980 briefly to 880 and stay on 880 until it hooks up with 101 in San Jose. Stay on 101 to Prunedale where you get on 156 to the Coast and down 1 to Monterey. There are some options, 17 over the hills to 1 (very scenic) and 152 through Watsonville (gets you to the coast and 1 faster), but both are slower.
If you arrive in the Monterey area near dinner time (or lunch) go to Moss Landing (North on 1 from 156, you will pass it if you took 152) and go to Phils's Fish House for some good (not gourmet) seafood. The portions are large. The place is a kick. Been there forever. Reasonable. All kinds of seafood. Beer and wine, no cocktails. If you want something a little more upscale on your second night, try Monterey Seafood in Monterey. It is bistro style, Italian in flavor, nice casual and very, very good. Have a great trip

lolo: There is one other alternative and as I think about it, probably the one I would take. Take 80 West out of Sacramento as originally indicated, but at Cordellia Junction, take 680 South all the the way to San Jose where you will hook up with 101 South. It is prettier than 80 through the congested East Bay Area as long as you don't travel during commute hours on a week day. In fact, don't take any of these routes during commuter hours on a week day. On a week day, leave Sacramento after 8:30/9:00 AM.

With all due respect, I really think joegri's first itinerary (I-80 to Oakland, 880 south, and 101 from San Jose) is a terrible choice. From Fairfield (half way between Sacramento and Oakland) on, you would be on some of the most congested freeways in all of Northern California.

Sure - if you were doing this drive late on a Saturday Night or some other unusual time it would be the most direct -- but otherwise you would likely be in heavily congested traffic through Fairfield, Cordelia, Vallejo, Oakland, San Leandro, Fremont, San Jose and Gilroy. This would NOT be a fun drive 90% of the time.

joegri's second route (using 680) is slightly better -- but 680 can be awfully congested too.

The I-5 route would be the route recommended by probably 80% or 90% of those who frequently drive sac/monterey.

NOW -- If you had a few days for for Monterey and weren't in such a hurry, I wouldn't take I-5 -- I'd go all the way down the coast on Hwy 1 from Pacifica to Monterey.

But that isn't an option for your limited time -- take I-5 and save a lot of headaches.

As someone who has made this drive MANY times - generally from Watsonville to Sacramento and points north and back again - I would definitely recommend the I5/152/101/156/1 route. This route is a bit longer than going through the Bay Area, but time wise will take less time because you wont have to deal with traffic.

Thanks for all the suggestions. We will be leaving in the morning so rush hour traffic will be a factor. How much time to get from Sacramento to Monterey are we talking about...I know it will vary depending on route and traffic, but I think I read 2 and 1/2, 3 hours?

4 hours, easily.
Try Yahoo! maps or Mapquest and see their time quotes. Come on, lolo, don't make everyone do your work for you, slacker.

I'd plan on about 3 hours of driving, not including stops if you take the I5/152 etc route.

I'd hope for 3 hours and expect about 3 1/2. And it somewhat depends on where in Sacto you are starting from. If out in the Folsom or Rancho Cordova direction or the NE county (Citrus Hgts, Carmichael, Fair Oaks etc.) add at least 30 minutes just to get to I-5. If you are leaving from Elk Grove/Laguna, N/S Natomas or downtown, you are right on I-5.

I live on the Monterey Peninsula my brother lives in Folsom.It usually takes me about 4 hours for the drive with one gas stop included using the 1/156/152/5/99/50 route.

We have a WINNER!!
4 hours ago, I said 4 hours.

Thanks for all the helpful input. I have used Mapquest, Yahoo maps, etc for this kind of information before and their times are not all that accurate (I'm not a slacker, rex skidmore. Weren't you ever taught it's not nice to call people names?). Always better to hear from people who have been there, done that.