Hotel between LA and Tahoe- thoughts?
 

Hi- we are driving from Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe this weekend with our 3 year old and 1 year old and don't want to push to do the whole thing in a day. I know the 5 is fastest, but I just can't seem to locate any hotel other than a roadside motel on the way.

Anyone have any recommendations?
Also, how are the roads up there this week?

thanks for any input!

"<i>I just can't seem to locate any hotel other than a roadside motel on the way.</i>"

That is all you'll find along I-5. I-5 isn't a scenic byway so no reason for 'destination' hotels. If speed is important, you really can't take a different route since it would be much slower.

Your main choices would be just drive as far as you can up I-5 and then take one of the usual suspects along the highway -- or -- Go up 395 instead and book a place in Bishop or Lee Vining.

I'm sure there are a few real hotels in Stockton or Sacramento before you switch over to US50 or I-80. [CA88 is chains-only right now, so I doubt you're going over that route to Tahoe].

Lone Pine has some decent mom & pop motels.

I would take 99 rather than 5. We have driven both and we really can't say that 5 is measurably shorter to drive.

The kids prefer 99 and will choose that rather than 5. I know everyone has their own preference for their own reasons.

If you take 99 you will find lodging the entire length of your drive.

janisj had a good idea, take the 395, we have done that route and it is very scenic.

99 and 5 are about the same distance (with CA99 about 4 miles longer), but 99 has more towns, more truck traffic, rougher pavement, slower speed.

"<i>I'm sure there are a few real hotels in Stockton or Sacramento before you switch over to US50 or I-80. [CA88 is chains-only right now, so I doubt you're going over that route to Tahoe].</i>"

Yes, there are hotels in Sacramento and Stockton. But stopping there really doesn't make sense. You'd be more than 3/4 of the way to Tahoe and might as well just press on. And no matter which highway you'd take over the hill (I-80, 50, 88) you'll need to carry chains unless you are in a 4wd w/ snow tires.

"<i>99 has more towns, more truck traffic, rougher pavement, slower speed.</i>"

I agree. I'd personally avoid 99 like the plague. You'd have to deal w/ local traffic and too many trucks. (There are PLENTY of trucks on 5 of course, but it is a wide open freeway so they aren't as much of a problem)

I would not drive on 395 during the winter. The wind blows snow over the road in some areas so even when it's not snowing it's a very scary drive between Mammoth and Bridgeport.

The best route for you would I-5, as the others have suggested.

You might want to go north as far as Sacramento and then head east on I-80 and stop off before the higher elevations, such as at Auburn, which would place you about 1 1/2 - 2 hours from Lake Tahoe.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g2...ia-Hotels.html

At this time of year, you are going to need chains. We've just had a huge amount of snowfall up there and more is due this week.

We don't avoid 99 like the plague. We alternate driving to and from southern CA between 99 and 5. Since we drive it frequently we don't have the same opinion as those who seldom drive it or who haven't driven it regularly in recent years. When you have kids it's just more convenient to have more choices in stopping so 99 has been good for us. Don't know if you are going to north (80) or south (50) but snow is in the forecast for this weekend so make sure you are prepared.

There is lots of lodging in Modesto. That would put you about 90 minutes to Sacramento and another 90 minutes to 2 hours (in good weather) to Tahoe. It just depends on how you want to break up the drive.

It can feel like a really long drive when you have kids in the car. Best of luck to you.

It depends if you are going to south or north Tahoe.

For south Tahoe you take 50 and north Tahoe you take 80.

I would be very cautious in recommending someone drive up Highway 395. Winter driving conditions. Make sure you have chains and know how to put them on. Carry water, warm clothing, food, flashlight, cell phone. Try to avoid driving after sundown, as that's when the roads get icy.

Thank you all for your help- we are actually going to be on the west side of the lake (Meeks Bay) -so do you recommend 80 or 50? We'll have chains, but with two tiny kids, whichever is the least treacherous route is the one I want...

50 from Sacramento to So. Lake Tahoe is a more difficult drive than 80 from Sacramento to No. Lake Tahoe (which is all freeway). I don't know the time difference coming from SoCal, but time being equal, I'd take 80 to Truckee, then 89 south to Tahoe City, then along the lake to Meeks Bay.

If you're coming from LA, Modesto is too far north, you would want to stay around Merced. There are quite a number of major hotel chains in Merced, I like the Holiday Inn Express but you'll find others.

If taking "the 5" there are hotels around Los Banos but I'd probably just cut over there and go to Merced. Although I'd just take 99.

Oops Modesto is fine, for some reason I blanked and though you were going to Yosemite! Although Merced is still a good spot it might not be far enough along.

The drive from Los Angeles to Sacramento is about 6 hours, I think (LA to Napa is 6 hrs, so I'm thinking it might be about the same). With 2 little kids, I'd stop in Sacramento. I'd much prefer to go over the pass to Tahoe during daylight hours. I-80 would be an easier route to navigate, then Truckee to Tahoe City to Meeks Bay. If you felt like pressing on a bit further than Sacramento, Auburn is a pleasant plcae to stop with numerous motel and restaurant options - and it is generally below the snow line.

Oops. I meant to say the drive on I-5 from LA is about 6 hrs. to Sacramento.

"LA to Sacramento is 6 hours" is a huge assumption. Mostly depends on where one is starting from -- could take more than an hour just to get out of the LA basin . . .

But yes - basically 6 hours w/o stops from LA to the I-5/50 or I-5/80 junctions.