Driving from San Francisco, with a brief stop in Sacramento, before heading north on the 5 to Oregon. I've only been up this way once, about 30 years ago, and don't remember if there might be a convenient and/or interesting place to stop for the night along this route to break up the drive. All suggestions welcome, including the suggestion to plow right through, but I was thinking it must be beautiful up that way and there should be a good place to rest the travel weary bones!

When we drive from Seattle to San Francisco, we spend one night in Ashland and then drive straight through to SF. Over the years we've stopped in various places along the way, but we haven't found any place we want to stay twice.

Even finding a place to eat can be a challenge.

I hope somebody somes up with a hidden treasure for you.

We do this drive every year and lodging along the way is nothing special. If for personal reasons, you must break up the drive, there is the town of Redding. They have recently built a fantastic pedestrian bridge, the Sundial bridge http://www.visitredding.org/sundial.cfm
which is worth a stop. There are probably some B&Bs there, hotels are nothing but chain types.

We make the drive in one shot to Ashland. In fact, I have driven the whole way by myself. It is a pretty drive and not taxing. Can get a bit hot in summer the farther North you go before the mountains, but thats about the only issue.

Somewhere around Shasta Lake would be nice but I dont have a recommendation -
I just drive straight through

I've driven that route often enough that if there was someplace decent to stop I'd know about it by now. I don't. Make for Ashland and push hard on the right pedal.

The entire drive is probably about 5.5 hours. It does get pretty as you head into the mountains, around Shasta,the lake, and Dunsmuir, but that's getting close enough to Ashland that I wouldn't think you'd want to stop.

Going north from Sacramento, the first place I would find worth stopping would be the town of Mt. Shasta, just before Weed. We generally make that a stop when driving from Seattle to SF. From SF to Ashland, an overnight stop would not be necessary. Maybe lunch?

Is there a reason to go to Sactown?
Because if not the 505 to 5 cutoff is a lot closer.
Here are my usual stops-
Williams-Granzella's to Sample olives and other fun foods,
Corning- stop at the Olive Pit to sample olives and other fun foods,
then eat hamburgers at the Corning Bartel's, Fresh and wonderful!
West side of 5, n. exit.
If you like bridges, stop at the glass bridge in Redding.
Head into the Mountains-at Lakehead stop in and see the revitalized Klub Klondike-E side of 5,
then onwards.
If you scroll down in this link, it as lots of stuff about the area, including Castle Crags and more....
http://www.shastalakecabins.com/attractions.html
Lots of cool things happening in Dunsmuir You can stay in a caboose, and eat at Sengthongs, which might be the best Asian Eat spot between SF and Seattle, but it's only open 5 to 8 or 8;30.
Check out the town of Mt. Shasta, then head on to Ashland. Is that your destination? want to raft, eat, sightsee, get cultural? there's some cool local places.
You can take 2 days, or if you leave SF in the morning you can be here(The RV) by 2 in the afternoon.
http://www.southernoregon.org/
http://www.ashlandchamber.com

Surfergirl, As an alternative, consider what I think is one of the most beautiful drives in California
Ca. 3. You would head west on
Ca 299 at Redding, then Weaverville to Yreka on 3.
http://totalescape.com/tripez/trips/3.html
That's worth a day.

When we go up that way, we take 80 to 505 to 5 as well - bypassing Sac unless we are stopping there to see someone. We usually stop in Williams, but the burger place in Corning sounds great.

J Correa, there are 2 more in Redding, but that one is very east to hit and seems to be at the right place for a snack whether you're going North or South.

I was going to say what bbqboy says. Coming all the way to Sactown to pick up 5 is a waste of time, use the 505 cut off. How about lodging for the night near Lake Shasta?

http://www.obrienmountaininn.com/Index.php

I forgot to mention that on our last trip south we stopped for lunch in Williams at a place called Granzella's.

This easy-off-easy-on place is big, popular with locals and open 6am-10pm. The servings were huge, the price was cheap, and the experience was fun.

I'll look at the other route, thanks bbqboy and the rest. The brief stop in Sacramento is because my husband has never been and we wanted to check out the UC Davis campus nearby. This is the ever popular "end of the 11th grade tour of every college and university between L.A. and Portland by car" trip.

Usually we can take 8 hours in the car with relative ease (except for my "rest stop" breaks). My only concern is whether my husband will be able to handle the long drive (recent car accident, lots of bones on the mend). If he can get out and stretch for a bit, we could probably do it.

I will describe the itinerary by separate post if anyone cares to comment, help, or laugh.

Mt. Shasta area sounds wonderful. There are places to fill up with gas and eat along this stretch?

I like the town of Dunsmuir, and the "old railroad" feel of it.

Love "old railroad feel"!

I think you should high tail it up this way, especially if you're checking out SOU.
Hit Chico, Davis on Sacremento on the return trip.
In any case, fill up in Redding before you hit the Wilderness.

If you are going to Davis I'm still going to instruct you to avoid Sactown by using the nearby 113 to cut off the drive into Sacto and then back out to Woodland. If you look at a map you'll see that it's a straight shot from Davis to Woodland which is north of the Sacto airport. You'll cut off lots of traffic and extra driving.

From Davis you'd have to go east on 80 to pick up I5. Then you have to head north on I5 past teh downtown area and the Natomas area and the airport and then you'll hit Woodland which is right on I 5 north of the airport.

Davis to Woodland on 113 is 13 miles. Davis to Sacto is 15 miles and Sacto to Woodland is about 20 miles. Wayyyy out of your way.

Definitely what Suzie said. 113 to I-5 and avoid a MESS in Sacramento.

Places to stop to eat/stretch along the way have mostly been mentioned - depending on what time you are where --

Williams
Redding for the park/bridge (NOT for anything else)
Dunsmuir
Mt Shasta
or push on to Ashland.

If you just decide you are too tired to drive farther there are decent motels in Redding/Mt Shasta/Yreka. But otherwise you can do it in one day.

Copying, pasting, and will probably have a few more questions -- whew, this is great stuff!