Roadtrip recommendations in CA?
October 19, 2021 8:15 AM Subscribe
Another day another road trip :) Does anyone have any recommendations on sights to see or places to visit (including restaurants, cafes, bars, etc) between Santa Barbara and Las Vegas (not spending any time in LV, just flying from there)?
Is south through Palmdale the way to go or north through Bakersfield (time isn't a factor)? I am definitely planning to drive through Death Valley and would love some good spots to hit there too. Thanks all!
What time of year are you going? Carrizo Plain National Monument is incredible, but mostly during spring.
posted by agentofselection at 9:26 AM on October 19, 2021
posted by agentofselection at 9:26 AM on October 19, 2021
Mono lake is around that travel path and is kind of incredible.
It'd add at least 5 hours to the trip.
Vasquez Rocks is off the 14 southwest of Palmdale - scenic spot that gets used a lot in movies. Also off the 14 is Six Flags Magic Mountain, but that's kind of a whole day thing. Also Red Rock Canyon, which was scenic to drive through but I haven't gotten off the highway there.
Highway 33 north of Ojai is kind of scenic, but take a good close look at it on a map before you commit - it's pretty winding.
posted by LionIndex at 10:14 AM on October 19, 2021
It'd add at least 5 hours to the trip.
Vasquez Rocks is off the 14 southwest of Palmdale - scenic spot that gets used a lot in movies. Also off the 14 is Six Flags Magic Mountain, but that's kind of a whole day thing. Also Red Rock Canyon, which was scenic to drive through but I haven't gotten off the highway there.
Highway 33 north of Ojai is kind of scenic, but take a good close look at it on a map before you commit - it's pretty winding.
posted by LionIndex at 10:14 AM on October 19, 2021
What time of year?
If you're wanting to drive through Death Valley and time really isn't an issue, I'm going to say go up the coast to either Santa Maria or San Luis Obispo, then cut over to Bakersfield and up to Death Valley. (I agree about 33 through Ojai and Los Padres NF, but if I could only pick one route it'd probably be the 101.) Note that both those West-East crossings will be pretty barren; get gas before you leave the 1/101 - I can vouch for 166 that there is basically A gas station in New Cuyama that's a dollar more than anywhere else (plus a little resort that has a restaurant), and nothin' until Maricopa which has I think two gas stations and a Burger King.
Any of your routes across California are going to cross some elevation, and winter is getting more and more unpredictable, and the fires are getting worse. You will need to stay up to date during your drive on road conditions and have a Plan B for your routes.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:39 AM on October 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
If you're wanting to drive through Death Valley and time really isn't an issue, I'm going to say go up the coast to either Santa Maria or San Luis Obispo, then cut over to Bakersfield and up to Death Valley. (I agree about 33 through Ojai and Los Padres NF, but if I could only pick one route it'd probably be the 101.) Note that both those West-East crossings will be pretty barren; get gas before you leave the 1/101 - I can vouch for 166 that there is basically A gas station in New Cuyama that's a dollar more than anywhere else (plus a little resort that has a restaurant), and nothin' until Maricopa which has I think two gas stations and a Burger King.
Any of your routes across California are going to cross some elevation, and winter is getting more and more unpredictable, and the fires are getting worse. You will need to stay up to date during your drive on road conditions and have a Plan B for your routes.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:39 AM on October 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
People love to say how much Bakersfield sucks, but Tiki-Ko is a really great bar and Mama Roomba has delicious tapas (the Skillet Shrimp are amazing). Also, you can visit a historic Woolworth's lunch counter.
Barstow has some really solid antique malls.
If you're doing Joshua Tree, you can take a detour and see Salvation Mountain and Slab City.
posted by annaramma at 9:51 PM on October 19, 2021
Barstow has some really solid antique malls.
If you're doing Joshua Tree, you can take a detour and see Salvation Mountain and Slab City.
posted by annaramma at 9:51 PM on October 19, 2021
Bakersfield , SR178 begins, very scenic Kern river canyon Walker pass and the vast Mojave high desert
follow SR14 north 178 East at Kernville Ridgecrest walmart , good supply depot for whats next, Trona, the Detroit of the desert .local pinnacles a.star trek location,the road is now the trona wildrose road ,proceed over emigrant pass into the pannamint Valley toward Ca. SR 190 either town pass or wild rose canyon rough road paved but, welcome to Death Valley
stovepipe wells has reasonable gas , food lodging , proceed to furnace creek turn right on bad water road, over jubilee pass , SR 178 begins again Shoshone Ca crowbar Inn SR178 then traverses the desolate and remote Chicago Valley Ca178 ends and Pahrump Nevada begins 60 miles to Vegas on Nv 160 . Pahrump is the Bakersfield of Nevada.
BTW I enjoy the 33 out of Ojai ,to access 166. have fun.
posted by hortense at 7:17 PM on October 21, 2021
follow SR14 north 178 East at Kernville Ridgecrest walmart , good supply depot for whats next, Trona, the Detroit of the desert .local pinnacles a.star trek location,the road is now the trona wildrose road ,proceed over emigrant pass into the pannamint Valley toward Ca. SR 190 either town pass or wild rose canyon rough road paved but, welcome to Death Valley
stovepipe wells has reasonable gas , food lodging , proceed to furnace creek turn right on bad water road, over jubilee pass , SR 178 begins again Shoshone Ca crowbar Inn SR178 then traverses the desolate and remote Chicago Valley Ca178 ends and Pahrump Nevada begins 60 miles to Vegas on Nv 160 . Pahrump is the Bakersfield of Nevada.
BTW I enjoy the 33 out of Ojai ,to access 166. have fun.
posted by hortense at 7:17 PM on October 21, 2021
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posted by u2604ab at 9:15 AM on October 19, 2021