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mrioux
Junior Nomad
Posts: 25
Registered: 6-3-2017
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Which route from Canada to Baja is best?
Looking to drive from British Columbia to Baja in mid February towing a 5th wheel (24 ft.) trailer.
Google maps suggest 2 routes, one is via I5 thru Washington,Oregon and California and the other is via Washington, Idaho and Nevada.
For those of you who have driven from B.C. to Baja what would you suggest.?
Thanks for your responses.
[Edited on 5-14-2018 by mrioux]
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StuckSucks
Super Nomad
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I have not made the drive from BC to BC, but I know that I-5 will dump you at the border crossing at San Ysidro/Tijuana. Easy.
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bajagrouper
Senior Nomad
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Most Canadian friends I know do the Washington - Idaho - Nevada-Arizona route because of California gas prices being so high.
Might also depend on you destination in Baja, Mexicali crossing would be good if going to San Filipe or down Highway5---Tecate crossing if going down
to Valle Guadalupe or driving down the West Coast via Highway1
I hear the whales song
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BajaMama
Super Nomad
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Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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i-5 is a 4 lane fast interstate, pretty straight through most of California. Probably not as straight through WA & OR. The other route will be
two lane at slower speeds. I know the Nevada route will have significantly less traffic, and would be my choice.
Good luck and have fun.
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RnR
Senior Nomad
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We live in Carson City, NV and have taken US 395 south to Baja every year for more than twenty years.
We have also towed a 24 ft travel trailer for most of those trips. The drive is very scenic and the roads are good.
We have also taken US 395 north to British Columbia and the roads are equally scenic and in good condition.
Your trip is in mid-February. The US 395 parallels the Sierra mountains and is subject to winter snowstorms. The roads are generally clear within a
day or two after the storm ends but, you DO NOT want to travel this hwy during a snow storm.
So, from BC to Bishop, Ca, you will probably need a three day weather window to get south of the snow zone. Check the forecasts carefully. There are
several passes on US 395 that approach 8,000 ft in elevation.
US 95 from BC through Idaho and Nevada to Bishop, Ca. is similiar but farther from the Sierras and isn't affected as much by winter storms. But, it
can still snow on US 95. Here, the passes range up to about 7,000 ft.
I-5 in Oregon and south to about Redding/Mt Shasta area can also be affected by winter storms. South of Redding, Ca it is a flat, boring, valley
bottom, 4 to 6 lane Interstate hwy.
In California, vehicles towing trailers are limited to 55 mph and the right hand truck lanes. You will be surrounded by semis on I-5 and just need to
get in line and join the parade. CHP does enforce the speed and the lane requirements, at times. (Ask me how I know .....?)
Nevada's speed limits are up to 75 mph and it is very easy to tow at 65 -70 mph. The road surfaces are very good.
Your driving preferences and the weather forecast will dictate your route.
One other thought about your trailer and your mid-February trip. It will be cold in Idaho and Nevada. Expect below freezing temperatures every
night. Plug in and run the furnace at night or leave the anti-freeze in the water system until you are south of Bishop, Ca.
Good luck and enjoy the journey.
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AKgringo
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I-5 is the most efficient route, and pulling a fifth wheel, that counts for something. Having said that, I still prefer driving down through Nevada.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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vandenberg
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I5 is the most direct route. When you get to Bakersfield take 52 east to 395 south t0 I 15 to avoid the horrendous LA traffic. Than to Tecate border
on 94.
[Edited on 5-14-2018 by vandenberg]
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HeyMulegeScott
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Quote: Originally posted by vandenberg  | I5 is the most direct route. When you get to Bakersfield take 52 east to 395 south t0 I 15 to avoid the horrendous LA traffic. Than to Tecate border
on 94.
[Edited on 5-14-2018 by vandenberg] |
That's good advice to avoid LA. We have also taken Highway 99 to 58 down instead of I-5 in our RV from Stockton and it was a little less frenetic.
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motoged
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As a fellow BC'er, I have taken a variety of routes to and from Baja. 395 is good and fewer freeway tie-ups (Seattle, Portland, LA/south Cal).
I-5 may be a bit more direct....
It is at least a three day drive to the Mexican border ....take your time and carry state maps....don't rely on a GPS...they take you to nightmare
"shortcuts" 
Don't believe everything you think....
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rts551
Elite Nomad
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What? No map?
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
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Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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If you want scenery, take 395. Eastern Cal around Bishop is as pretty as your Canadian Rockies.
If you want straight and direct, then take I-5.
As to 55 mph speed limit..... if you decide to mind that limit make sure you have big bumpers on the back of your rig, cuz everyone else will run
right up your back. 65 will be very comfy and safe. Anything under 80 without a tow is safe these days.
Beware of our wonderful California freeways, they are really rough in the right lane, thanks no doubt to Gov. Brown devoting all of our outrageous
road taxes to their rightful destination. (NOT!!!)
And the money you save on gas taking the Eastern route might just be enough to buy dinner for everyone at In N Out.
OOOPS no In N Out on that route.
LA basin traffic.... just grit your teeth and ride it out.
And know why many of us live up here in Central Cal where the traffic is not so gnarly (Except on weekends coming out of Yosemite)
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UnoMas
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The last time I drove through L.A. It was the last time I will ever drive through L.A..... ever!Total nightmare no matter what time you pass through.
They will not let you merge if you need to exit. It is like they try to make you miss your exit especially if towing.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
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Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Actually, there are In-N-Out's along US 395 in Reno, Carson City and near where 395 meets the I-15 in Hesperia, then plenty along I-15 south to the
border.
| Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner | If you want scenery, take 395. Eastern Cal around Bishop is as pretty as your Canadian Rockies.
If you want straight and direct, then take I-5.
As to 55 mph speed limit..... if you decide to mind that limit make sure you have big bumpers on the back of your rig, cuz everyone else will run
right up your back. 65 will be very comfy and safe. Anything under 80 without a tow is safe these days.
Beware of our wonderful California freeways, they are really rough in the right lane, thanks no doubt to Gov. Brown devoting all of our outrageous
road taxes to their rightful destination. (NOT!!!)
And the money you save on gas taking the Eastern route might just be enough to buy dinner for everyone at In N Out.
OOOPS no In N Out on that route.
LA basin traffic.... just grit your teeth and ride it out.
And know why many of us live up here in Central Cal where the traffic is not so gnarly (Except on weekends coming out of Yosemite)
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TMW
Select Nomad
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You don't want to hit the I-15 during rush hour. Mid day or late evening OK.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
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Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Also don't want to be on US 395 south of Mammoth Ski Area on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Crazy drivers headed north on Friday and Saturday wanting
to be first on the lift, and everybody headed south on Sunday
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bajabuddha
Banned
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I live by a simple rule: never drive the same road twice. Do 'em all, enjoy the ride, don't push your luck and keep the black side down. 
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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Timo1
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We live in Armstrong BC and have driven to Baja every which way cept sideways.Hands down the only way we will go is thru Twin Falls ID then down thru
Ely NV, Vegas, Yuma and over to Tecate to cross.
Which part of BC are you from ??
Perhaps we could get together and I could give you a list of stops with hotels or campgrounds for your trip south.
sold out and got out !!!
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BajaMama
Super Nomad
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Location: Pleasanton/Punta Chivato
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Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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Well, now that I see you are traveling in February I would recommend staying on I-5, the other routes can be rough with weather. I-5 will have the
most crews keeping clear of snow. I have been on all those routes and 395 is pretty, but if you hit weather, yikes. Especially towing. Yes, LA
traffic sucks but surprisingly is not bad at 4:30 AM. (one of the few hours I will drive through...).
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motoged
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Tim,
Looking forward to your trip report after you and Barb do the trip sideways....I haven't tried that route yet...
Bu when I look at a map looking southwards to Baja....I see that the drive to Armstrong takes me sideways...
Don't believe everything you think....
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daveB
Nomad
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Location: B.C. Canada
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Many of our friends who live in the Interior of B.C. travel through eastern Washington, then through Idaho, Oregon and Nevada; if you are near the
coast as we are, we drive I-5, but always traverse Seattle on a Sunday. If you are on Vancouver Island, and take an American ferry to the mainland,
you can miss most of Seattle. Our best trip through Seattle was on a Monday Holiday, think it was Veterans Day/November 11th. Nobody almost, on the
Seattle roads but of course that is a quirk of the Calendar. I-5 of course has the distinction of having seven mountain passes from southern Oregon
into northern California. Check the passes via the cameras setup when weather is colder. If traveling through Oregon, check the cameras leaving
Pendelton in the winter. We always traveled to the main;and, but even so, traveling east through Baskersfield and doing the Pass and following
Vandenberg"s route gets you past Los Angeles if you think that might bother you. Go through Yuma west, for Tecate or try Mex Hwy 5 to San Felipe if
the newest piece of roadway would be okay.
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