To phx

March 18, 2016 3:44 PM

I'm driving from Sacramento to Phoenix for a quasi-family emergency. I'm two hours from Bakersfield, when I will have to make a decision: Take I-40 out of Barstow, or go further south to I-10. Will stop somewhere tonight. Which is the least bad drive, given traffic, construction, etc. I'm on 99 now, North of Fresno. Thanks!
posted by mudpuppie to Travel & Transportation (9 answers total)

The Goog says it's 12 minutes longer to take the 58/40 route than through LA to the 10. That seems like a reasonable cost to hedge navigating Friday traffic in LA.
posted by hwyengr at 3:48 PM on March 18, 2016 [2 favorites]

If your car is unreliable, know that breaking down on rural I-40 is just the worst.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 3:54 PM on March 18, 2016 [4 favorites]

I second hwyengr.
posted by notned at 4:28 PM on March 18, 2016

40, for sure.
posted by Dashy at 4:33 PM on March 18, 2016

If I am correct, the I-10 plan would put you driving east in LA around 7pm - which is an avoid avoid avoid situation. Right now, taking the 10 from Santa Monica to San Bernardino-ish (75 miles) would take almost 3hrs according to Google maps. It's likely to be better in a couple hours, but the traffic won't be gone and there's a reasonable chance it could be worse.

I am not familiar with the 40, but LA traffic on a Friday night is never a good idea.
posted by insectosaurus at 5:01 PM on March 18, 2016 [1 favorite]

Out of habit I avoid L.A by scooting thru Palmdale to San Bernardino. 138 from I-10 to I-14 is a mindless straight road but is posted 55 mph.
posted by tinker at 5:41 PM on March 18, 2016 [1 favorite]

I drive the roundtrip from Phoenix to Fresno multiple times a year. I ALWAYS take the following route. It's proved to be the fastest, even with the two lane highway thru the desert.
From Bakersfield:
The 58 to the 395 to the 15/215 to the 10.

If you can't figure out the route on a map, then memail me and I can explain.

I do everything I can to avoid LA.
posted by TurquoiseZebra at 5:52 PM on March 18, 2016 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: TurqoiseZebra, how much faster? I'm in Bakersfield for the night and will head out in the morning. The traffic around San Bernardino/Redlands doesn't slow things down? (It'll be Saturday morning, but still.)
posted by mudpuppie at 7:59 PM on March 18, 2016

The good thing about going through LA early in the morning is that you can usually run flat out the entire way- easily 70+. But you have to go early. The desert routes are great but you can end up being stuck going 55-60 for significant distances. Plus it f you're early enough you can go to the Pantry for breakfast downtown LA at 9 & Fig- eat at the counter.
posted by mrzz at 7:37 AM on March 19, 2016 [1 favorite]