Great drives across California... in August... | FerrariChat
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Great drives across California... in August...

Discussion in 'California & Nevada (Northern)' started by Brian C. Stradale, Jun 21, 2004.

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  1. Brian C. Stradale

    Brian C. Stradale F1 Rookie
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    #1 Brian C. Stradale, Jun 21, 2004
    With many of us driving Ferraris into California in August, we need to do some route planning. The goal is to find roads that are fun to drive, but still get us across California with reasonable efficiency... to find that, we need some local expertise on California...

    How is I80 down to Sacremento?
    How is US50 across to Sacremento?
    Is there a side-trip around Tahoe that is efficient and fun?
    What's the most enjoyable trek from Tahoe or Sacramento to Monterey?
    How is US395? Any good way to make the east-west trek through Yosemite? How is the drive through Yosemite if you're just breezing thru? And what is the most enjoyable trek from Yosemite to Monterey?
    How about CA1 or US101 or I5 to approach Monterey from the south? Are any of those worth the trip through Los Angeles?
    How is I40? Looks as straight and boring as AZ and NM. I40 to Monterey?
    How is I10? Looks even more boring than I40. Is it?
    Suggestions?


    Thanks!
    (BTW, this is related to this larger thread in General.)
     
  2. Erich

    Erich Formula 3

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    #2 Erich, Jun 21, 2004
     
  3. vincent355

    vincent355 F1 Veteran
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    #3 vincent355, Jun 21, 2004
    I've done them all and 40 and 10 are really boring. 40 a little less so. My favorite way across though not the most convenient from where you are is 70 through colorado and then 50 through Utah and Nevada. This stretch of 50 is absolutely one of the best scenic HWYs it is known as the loneliest road in America. Then 395 to mono lake and then through Yosemite. After that just get to Monterrey there is not a real pleasant way through the central valley.
     
  4. Brian C. Stradale

    Brian C. Stradale F1 Rookie
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    #4 Brian C. Stradale, Jun 21, 2004
    Thanks.


    Okay, so what's the fastest, least painful way?


    Or do both... maybe come in the southern route and try to hit you guys on the way to Carmel Thurs morning... and then return the northern route.

    Thanks for the suggestions, Brian
     
  5. PeterS

    PeterS Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 PeterS, Jun 21, 2004
    If you will be driving through Tahoe or Sacramento, make sure you take an extra day and drive south on Hwy 49 to Sonora and pay me a visit! 49 is a FUN road. If here Thursday night, I just may buz down early AM to Monterey on Friday.
     
  6. Erich

    Erich Formula 3

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    #6 Erich, Jun 21, 2004
    I will defer to people who live in NorCal to answer this one.


    Mmmmmmmmmm both. I like your thinking.

    I will keep you informed of our plans as they firm up.

    Erich
     
  7. xs10shl

    xs10shl Formula 3

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    #7 xs10shl, Jun 21, 2004
    The best roads I know of are all north of Marin County, which is North of San Francisco. If you have the time, you might consider powering through to Napa Valley (hwy 29 - 3 1/2 hours from Tahoe) and westward to Santa Rosa (hwy 12), and then taking Highway 1 all the way down to Monterey. (Directions are by no means complete, but it'll give you the general idea.)

    Highway 1 north of Marin and south of Half Moon Bay is great on the weekdays (slightly sucky around San Francisco), and you'll have reverse commute most of the way. The scenery is so unbelievable that you'll have trouble keeping your eyes on the road. You'll want to time your trip so that you cross the Golden Gate Bridge between 10AM and 1:30PM on a weekday, and everything else will fall into place trafficwise.

    If this is at all interesting, I can post roads and travel times later.
     
  8. GoFerrari28

    GoFerrari28 Formula 3

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    #8 GoFerrari28, Jun 22, 2004
    Brian:

    First, Love your CS. Trying to find the same wheels for my 00 360.

    Second: If you decide to take Interstate 80 west from Truckee to Sacramento, beware the CHP; they have enacted a zero-tolerance policy for speeders from Truckee down to Roseville. Used to be fun; there is one curve with a combination flashing speed limit sign and "you are going X miles per hour"; Speed limit around the corner is 50, the flashing sign said I was doing 90.

    There is a very nice drive along Lake Tahoe from 50 to 80, winding roads and absolutely beautiful during the morning, but all the granola munchers don't appreciate the rumble of my Tubis first thing in the morning. Heathens
     
  9. Brian C. Stradale

    Brian C. Stradale F1 Rookie
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    #9 Brian C. Stradale, Jun 22, 2004
    Yes, interesting idea... I could spend Wednesday night somewhere in Napa rather than in Tahoe, and then do the drive you describe Thursday morning. If I hit GG bridge at 10am, would that get me to Carmel by noon? If not, would trying to hit GG bridge enough earlier doom me to ugly traffic?

    If so, maybe I do this drive on the exit... would going in the opposite direction get me into ugly traffic?

    Thanks!!!
     
  10. xs10shl

    xs10shl Formula 3

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    #10 xs10shl, Jun 22, 2004
    You need to budget about 3 hours from the bridge to Carmel, 4 if you stop for lunch. It really doesn't take that long, but that will give you plenty of time to relax and enjoy the ride.

    A day's driving could work as follows:
    9:30 AM out the door in Calistoga (Just north of Napa)
    10:15AM On Highway 1
    11:45AM Golden Gate Bridge
    12:45PM Lunch at the Ritz Carton Half Moon Bay
    2:45PM Passing Santa Cruz
    3:45PM Monterey
    4:00PM Carmel

    Going North works OK, but you may run into trouble in SF and Marin in the mid-afternoons. My advice would be to head South on 1 after the event, to Santa Barbara, and head home from there. Dunno how congested 1 gets after Concours, tho...
     
  11. vincent355

    vincent355 F1 Veteran
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    #11 vincent355, Jun 22, 2004
    Brian,

    If you come by the Napa Valley make sure and look me up.
     
  12. Erich

    Erich Formula 3

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    #12 Erich, Jun 22, 2004
    Is there a side-trip around Tahoe that is efficient and fun?Yes.
    I was up there last summer with the Tiger club, we ran a rally on some neat side roads. I'll check my package of papers and see if I can get the list of roads.

    Okay, here it goes.

    Assume you are on the state line on US 50 in South Lake Tahoe. This trip makes a counterclockwise loop around the mountains south of Lake Tahoe

    Go West on US50.
    Turn Left on Pioneer Trail. This is a nice bypass of the congestion on 50.
    Turn Left on US 50. Go a short distance and
    Turn Left on CA 89 This goes up an over a nice pass.
    Turn Left on CA 88
    Turn Left on NV 206
    Turn Left on NV 207 and go up and over the Kingsbury grade.
    Turn Left on US 50 and return to start.

    Enjoy the ride,
    Erich
     
  13. Brian C. Stradale

    Brian C. Stradale F1 Rookie
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    #13 Brian C. Stradale, Aug 7, 2004
    Interesting. How does that loop compare to the loop around the lake?
     
  14. Brian C. Stradale

    Brian C. Stradale F1 Rookie
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    #14 Brian C. Stradale, Aug 7, 2004
    I'm now thinking of doing that in reverse, upon departure. If I want to reach Napa/Sonoma early enough in the afternoon to visit some of my favorite wineries, how early would I need to leave Monterey?
    When is the "rush hours" along highway 1 on a Friday?

    Then Sat morning we could get up and tour that area a bit more, and then head out to Truckee, jump down one side or the other of Lake Tahoe, and then proceed out highway 50 through Nevada back to home.

    Suggestions?
    Given that schedule, what's the best of the best to do in Sonoma/Napa area?

    Is the drive along Lake Tahoe worth it? Or too darn slow?
    Which side of Lake Tahoe is the better one to drive? (The east is much shorter.)

    What's the best route from Napa to Truckee? Anything other than just I80?
     
  15. Brian C. Stradale

    Brian C. Stradale F1 Rookie
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    #15 Brian C. Stradale, Aug 7, 2004
    If you could only do one IN YOUR FERRARI (you'll come back later for the other in a rental car), which would you do:

    Yosemite or Napa/Sonoma area?

    Which is more special in a Ferrari?
     
  16. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #16 Rifledriver, Aug 7, 2004
    Napa/Sonoma is beautiful and will remind you of Italy. Yosemite is breathtaking and some great roads. I live near Napa valley so maybe it just doesn't seem as special, but you never know when you will be back and Yosemite just makes people stop and stare. You can burn a lot of film there. There are also some pretty cool trips from Vegas to Yosemite if you have any desire to go that way. Let me know and I'll give you specifics.
     

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