Best Sacramento Area Driving Routes

It is starting to get crowded around Sacramento. Where are you starting? How long do you want be gone? And will you have a woman on board or going stag?

valid questions.


Pm me or post here.

Jay

 

A number of us (Miatas, S2000s, Corvette, Boxster) like to make an early morning drive to Napa and back via SR128/SR121 to and from Winters. That's up arounf Lake Berryessa. We often make a detour through Angwin and come back through Pope Valley. Traffic is light this time of year, it gets heavy with lake and boat traffic when it gets warmer. Just watch out for bicycles and debris on some parts after a rain. But all in all, we've been doing this for years with no mishaps. We usually meet at the Chevron station off I505 in Winters. Hope to see you some time.

Ron

 

Both routes are likely closed in winter:


Sacramento to Placerville, take Pleasant Valley Road to Sly Park, Mormon Imigrant Trail to Hwy 88, Hwy 88 to 49, 49 to E16, E16 back to Sac.
Above route is big sweepers and very scenic.

Sac through Placerville via Hwy 50 to IceHouse Road Ice House Road to Wentworth Springs Road, Wentworth to Georgetown, turn left on 193 to Placerville, 193 joins hwy 49 just in Placerville. Repeat
much tighter route.


MANY others.


the best answer is to subscribe to Pashnit.com for the best routes in the area. The site concentrates on motorcycle rides, but in general a good motorcycle road makes for a good exotic car road.

 

Some others open in winter:

from Placerville:

Hwy 49 through town to Pleasant Valley Road, turn left, turn right on Bucks Bar Road (about 5 miles), turn left on Mt. Aukum Road.
this will lead you back to Pleasant Valley Road. you can turn right and go towards Pollack Pines, or turn left and head back towards Placerville. either way is a good drive.

If you turn left, take the next major left on Leisure Lane and go to Sierra Vista Winery, and worthy detour and some VERY good wine.

if you skip the winery, turn right on Newtown Road and follow it all the way back to Placerville.


can you tell I grew up in the area?

Many other nice little side roads in the area... Cedar Ravine between Placerville and Pleasant Valley Road, 193 Between Placerville and Georgetown, Hwy 49 between Plymouth and Diamond Springs...

 

I've done the Sly Park drive a few times, it's definitely closed for the winter. Can't wait for it to re-open, it's a terrific way to spend the day.

 

Had a good run with the MR2 folks today - Latrobe Road, down to Highway 16, Willow Creek Road (loved the elevation changes), 124 back up to 16/49, then 49 towards Jackson, 88 East through Pine Grove and Pioneer. Sharp left onto (and here was the crazy/fun part) Fiddletown/Silver Lake Road. It's two-lane, but the snow plows were lazy, and so it was really only about 1.5 lanes. Caught 49 north back to Shingle Springs, then 50 back to Sacramento. The meet started at 50 and Latrobe at 10, left there around 10:20, and was back in my driveway around 1:10, with a stop or two to take pics in the picturesque, snowy landscape.

I had to be home by 1-ish, so no Mormon Emigrant Trail/Sly Park Road, and besides, they're too high up for this time of year (I don't enjoy snow driving, call me crazy!). Can't wait for Fiddletown/Silver Lake Road after the snow melts - I've GOTTA take the 355 up there.

Looking forward to Spring and to discovering more local roads... The guys I drove with today, didn't know the roads they knew about, and we're planning a run up to Hwy 36 eventually. Lots of fun to be had!!!

Orrie

 

This run has a bit of everything turns, straights, vistas and freeway.

Take 50 to Eldorado hills blvd
left on green valley
Right on Salmon falls road
Salmon falls road will climb all the way up to HWY 49
Right on HWY 49 passing Lotus, head to Placerville all the way to 50
Right on 50 and after 10-15 miles you are back were you started................

 

I agree, Very pretty this time of year with all the greenery- lots of switch/backs and elevation change. no snow (lately) and not cold enough for black-ice hazards, just wildlife to watch out for. Plus there are some SRA parking lots to stop and rest or meet along salmon falls rd.
Great route...
just watch your speed. They are patroling Salmon Falls by helo/planes on nice weekends, i see and hear skyking-its my hood.

Btw, EDH blvd ends at Green Valley and once you cross over Green Valley it turns into Salmon Falls.
And if you turn left on HWY 49 it will take you to past town of Cool then to Auburn (cool town) then you can hop on 80 west toward Roseville/Sac.

good luck and have fun

 

If I'm doing Salmon Falls, I tend to go up it, make the left, and at Cool, go down 193 into Georgetown, then continue on Wentworth and Icehouse back to 50. Yet to take the 355 up there, but soon! Weather's been fantastic!

Orrie

 

We took a drive to Volcano on Sunday, starting from Rancho Murieta. We went east on 16, tool a left at Latrobe, right on Old sacramento Road to Plymouth, across 49, and kept to the right at the fork up Fiddletown Road. At the stop sign we went right on Shake Ridge Road to Dafodil Hill, and straight onto Ram's Horn Grade down into Volcano. No traffic to speak of, and there are a couple of coffee shops open early in the morning in Volcano. There are a number of ways to get back, but we retraced our steps. But you can also take Charleston-Volcano Road or Sutter Creek-Volcano Road. Both will get you back to Sutter Creek. Have fun.

Ron

 

One of my favorite local drives! Great route

LS

 

the BEST places to drive near SacTown?

Thunderhill
Infineon
Laguna Seca


NO cops, no pot holes, no traffic.

 

Still have not been other than as a very occasional spectator. Keep saying I am going to, but never have made the time...for either the car or bike!

 

Also, what are you wearing?
QUOTE=jm3;137451619]It is starting to get crowded around Sacramento. Where are you starting? How long do you want be gone? And will you have a woman on board or going stag?

valid questions.


Pm me or post here.

Jay[/QUOTE]

 

do it on the bike first.

once you've done motorcycle trackdays or racing, car trackdays are a breeze. Slightly different lines and you'll want to open the drivers door and drag a knee

Check out the ZoomZoom Trackdays calendar. A well run trackday if I do say so myself.

 

SWEET..bike first. BTW, I'm bringing the K12S to the Plus event on Sunday...want to see mine parked next to the scooter gang If you are in town Alan...bring your vintage BMW! I do plan on doing that Volcano drive just mentioned after Plus and having lunch there before heading home.

 

sold it at the Mid-America auction in Vegas in Jan.

Someone made an offer I couldnt refuse .