I’m doing this drive and trying to figure out which is the quickest route to get from SF to PS. I was trying to do this via mapquest but it gave me the same results…about a 7 hour drive. And as many of us know…Mapquest doesn’t give us the shortcut directions…it gives us the “L-O-N-G” directions.
I was planning to go 101 south then the 46 all the way 99 via Bakersfield then taking the 58 and then to 15 to the 10 then the 111.
Someone at work suggested i take that 101 to 46 to the 5…but i hate the freakin’ “grapevine” on this route. but if i have to i’ll do it.
I drive to Barstow (an hour north of PS) all the time, so I do know the quickest route, and the 101 ain’t it.
Take 101 to Gilroy, then head over the Pacheco Pass to Fresno (too many numbers, look at map). Take 99 down to Bakersfield, then 58 to Barstow, then Barstow Road/SR 247 to Palm Springs. Not only do you avoid the Grapevine, but you get to see some spectacular desert scenery. If you’re slighly brave/slighly foolish, stop at Slash X Ranch for a cold one. It’s an offroader’s bar, and you’ll never see the likes of it again.
I would take 101 to Gilroy and then 152 East to I-5 South (unless you can take the 580 East out of Oakland to I-5 South if possible). Then take either the 46 East (or Shafter Road or 58 East towards B-Field/Hwy 99). Take the 58 East to Mojave and then Four Corners (Kramer Jct.).
You’ll save another 32 miles if you take the 395 south from the 58 (Kramer Junction) to the I-15 (Hesperia)…this is “My neck of the Joshuas”.
Don’t take the 18 East to the 247 South to the 62 West unless you want to add 30 minutes to your drive time…it’s single lane from Apple Valley all the way to Yucca Valley…pretty drive and the road is less used, but it’s the same mileage as taking the 395 South to the I-15 South to I-215 South to the I-10 East (or 30 East to the I-10 East) to P.S. Traffic will be heavier here, but not like downtown LA traffic…unless your there during rush hour. Otherwise take the Yucca Valley route.
Also, Highway 138 (From Palmdale to the Cajon Pass) is known as “Deathtrap Highway”, and for good reason. Not a good pick…Just sayin’.
Seven to eight hours on a good day. Ten or more on a crappy day. Have fun.
My folks live out in Barstow. So gonna take mojave66’s instructions, especially since it takes about an hour to get to PS from Barstow. The quickest and fastest route possible is what I need.
