My husband, our 2-year-old and I are driving from San Francisco to Palm Springs. We're starting the drive at night so the kiddo can sleep in the car, and we're looking for a halfway point to stop and sleep. We'll finish the drive the next day. Any suggestions for a clean, safe place to stop at about midnight? Harris Ranch is too pricey, we're looking for a Comfort Inn kind of place. Any recommendations would be welcome. Thanks!

Just across I-5 from the Harris Ranch is a Best Western. It's behind the Chevron station and next to Denny's. I think there is also something like a Motel 6 right there.

Curious

I wouldn't stop anywhere if it was me. What I'd do so the little one could sleep in the car, is to leave VERY early in the AM - like 0400. You could get to Palm Springs in one drive (w/ rest stops of course), sleep part of the night in your own beds, and save a nights lodging.

But if you really want to stop somewhere - There are several roadside motels at/near Buttonwillow (Red Roof, Super 8, Rodeway - those sorts)

We got a good price at Thanksgiving at the Embassy Suites right across from Magic Mountain in Valencia. Includes breakfast. That’s over 5 hours from SF though.

I also like the accommodations at Harris Ranch. It’s a little over 3 hours from SF. If the little one is asleep you may want to get more of the drive out of the way.

Thanks, those are all good recommendations. If I can handle the smell around Harris Ranch I think we'll go that route. janisj - for reasons too boring to get into, we can't make the whole drive the next day, but I appreciate the idea! Thank you everyone.

There is a spanking new Holiday Inn Express near Frazier Park you may wish to consider: http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/...s-_-ex-_-bkrfr

I recommend you take Ca-99 instead of I-5. It has dozens, maybe scores, of hotels and restaurants in real towns like Fresno, Visalia, Delano, and Bakersfield. and so far as I know, smell is not an issue. I-5 is designed for truckers who want to go non-stop if possible. It is not a people friendly route.

Google maps shows that Ca-99 is only 22 miles further for you than I-5, and about 1/2 an hour longer. It's freeway all the way except for a short divided highway section between Merced and Chowchilla. Before I-5 was built, Ca-99 was US-99 and was the major north-south route through the central valley.

Finally, I would much rather be on Ca-99 in the event of car trouble or illness of myself or one of my passengers. Especially at night. Think about it.

We took 99 to southern CA for Thanksgiving and, I kid you not, the entire way the smell was overwhelming. To the point my DD said "How do these people live here!" She kept putting potion on her clothes and covering her nose with them. DS who doesn't care about anything finally looked up and said "Now this is really bad." It wasn't like I5 where it's just around the Harris Ranch feed lot but it was the entire trip. Gawd Awful. I think maybe it had to do with the warmer than usual weather and feedlots that have been located more recently near the freeway. There were many.