What would you advise for driving? Hwy.5 to 152/156 then 101 or Hwy 5 to 580 to 101? What is 152 like? Slow, scenic? Is there a better way to get between the two towns? Is traffic bad going via San Jose? Thanks for any help you can give. I did do a map-it, but I don't think they always give the best routes.

I would do the route through Hwy 152 and avoid the SF Bay Area altogether - depending on your timing, the Bay Area highways can be very clogged and I find it best to avoid the whole thing if I can so I don't have to worry about timing. I have driven between Watsonville (not too far from Seaside) and Sacramento many times and I always take 152.

Hwy 152 between I5 and Gilroy is reasonably scenic. Nothing that will knock your socks off, but it is ok. You will go over Pacheco Pass and past San Luis reservoir. This section is a 4 lane highway and goes pretty fast - regular highway speeds. The route gets prettier as you near Gilroy - small farms, rolling hills with oak trees, etc. For awhile the road goes down to 2 lanes - maybe 10 miles or so - before you hit Hwy 101.

Hwy 5 to 580 to 680 to 101.

When 101 merges with 280/680, there is a confluence which causes traffic to slow or crawl. It picks up again after Capitol Expwy heading South. There is a carpool lane on most of 101 through San Jose.

Call 511 to learn of traffic condition updates when you get near the Bay Area.

http://www.mtc.ca.gov/news/transactions/ta0203/511.htm

TripleSec - what about the whole 205/580/680 traffic mess? If the OP is travelling during a peak time for that area, the traffic will be murderous. I'd avoid the whole issue.

Really appreciate the replies. J_Correa I assume I would pick up 101 just west of Hollister. I notice it is l56 for a short way. We don't especially need a lot of sights along the way. Was just wondering if it was 20 miles an hour or such. Sounds like it is a good road. May also consider TripleSecDelay's route depending upon time of day. Not liking too heavy of traffic when I am going through a strange city, I may stick to the "countryside".

If you do take 156, you may want to do a short stop in San Juan Bautista. Check out the mission, shops, grab a bite.

San Juan Bautista is a cool little town. I like it out there.

The route through the Bay Area is not particularly confusing, it just tends to get clogged, esspecially with more people moving out to Tracy, Livermore, and so on.

Thanks for the information MichelleY, and J_Correa, we will check out San Juan Bautista.