Help with driving directions in Northern California
Mar 15th, 2003, 06:16 AM
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Help with driving directions in Northern California
We will be driving from Santa Cruz to Hearst Castle and then on to Bakersfield to see relatives. Mapquest shows the way to get to the Castle via HWY 1. We have already done the coast route. Would 101 be better? We plan to leave San Jose in the AM, see the castle in the PM and then drive to Bakersfield. Is that doable if we get an early start on a weekday or would we be better to wait until after traffic in the Santa Cruz area to leave? Any help in the planning would be great. Thanks
Diane
Diane
Mar 15th, 2003, 07:04 AM
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Hwy 1 is beautiful but if you've been there, done that and aren't interested (and given the curves I can understand), take 101 to San Luis Obispo, and then backtrack on 1. It's not that big of a backtrack.
In my opinion, it's far too much to do it all in one day. The drive is a good 3-4 hours, the tour 3-4 hours. I would think you'd be exhausted by the time you have to drive to Bakersfield. If you have the time, stay overnight in Cambria, Morro Bay or San Luis Obispo.
In my opinion, it's far too much to do it all in one day. The drive is a good 3-4 hours, the tour 3-4 hours. I would think you'd be exhausted by the time you have to drive to Bakersfield. If you have the time, stay overnight in Cambria, Morro Bay or San Luis Obispo.
Mar 15th, 2003, 07:13 AM
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If you are going to take 101, you don't have to go to San Luis Obispo to turn over to Cambria. The turn is around Paso Robles. Once in Cambria, just head north to San Simeon 9 miles.
Agree with Grasshopper regarding spending the night around Cambria. Too much driving otherwise.
Curious
Agree with Grasshopper regarding spending the night around Cambria. Too much driving otherwise.
Curious
Mar 15th, 2003, 07:58 AM
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I agree with the previous posters: take 101 to route 1 and stay the night in Cambria. The next morning you can tour Hearst Castle and then leave for Bakersfield. As far as the traffic, leaving San Jose early in the morning on a weekday should not be too much of a problem since most of the commute traffic is heading into the city.
Mar 15th, 2003, 10:31 AM
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I agree with taking Hwy 101 if you've already done the coast route and want to get so much done in 1 day.
Are you leaving from San Jose or Santa Cruz that morning?
If you are leaving from San Jose, just head down Hwy 101 - not much traffic going south on a weekday morning. The commute is the other direction.
If you are leaving from Santa Cruz, don't head over to San Jose to pick up Hwy 101. You will hit commute traffic and its out of your way anyway. Head south from Santa Cruz on Hwy 1, then east on Hwy 129 in Watsonville, which will connect you with Hwy 101 south of Gilroy. Another choice would be to take Hwy 156 east from Hwy 1 near Castroville. This also connects up with Hwy 101.
Are you leaving from San Jose or Santa Cruz that morning?
If you are leaving from San Jose, just head down Hwy 101 - not much traffic going south on a weekday morning. The commute is the other direction.
If you are leaving from Santa Cruz, don't head over to San Jose to pick up Hwy 101. You will hit commute traffic and its out of your way anyway. Head south from Santa Cruz on Hwy 1, then east on Hwy 129 in Watsonville, which will connect you with Hwy 101 south of Gilroy. Another choice would be to take Hwy 156 east from Hwy 1 near Castroville. This also connects up with Hwy 101.
Mar 15th, 2003, 10:41 AM
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Definitely much faster 101 to 46-West (just south of Paso Robles). I would estimate around 3:15 for each driving leg, definitely doable with an early start. Traffic shouldn't be bad heading south on a weekday. Heading south on 101, you come to 46-East first (which is your route to Bakesfield), 46-West is about 5 miles farther south.
