Driving SF to DL.

[DaveNinja]

our tradition is stopping at the Dennys at I-5 and HWY58 (buttonwillow exit, i think). My wife hates it since she sees it as wasting a half hour that could be spent at DL/CA, haha.

Lost Hills exit is HWY46, i think. There is a Dennys there we stopped at before but its not as good as the HWY 58 Dennys and also there is lack of AT&T 3G service.

[yoyoyo]

One place that just dawned on me that we always stop at, is Harris Ranch. We haven't eaten there, but we use it as a potty stop and we buy snacks at the store in the front. They have the best beef jerky!!

Edit: Whoops..didn't see page 1 before I posted. Lots of other peeps mentioned Harris Ranch too

[DaveNinja]

Since there are a number of us that travel the "Stockton to LA" section of I-5, we should create of list of all the exits, their distances and what restaurants they have. Also, the quality of of the bathrooms, haha.

That way before a trip it could be printed out and you would know, when people start getting hungry, if its better to take the next exit or maybe wait for the one after it

[pharmama]

Originally Posted by DaveNinja

Since there are a number of us that travel the "Stockton to LA" section of I-5, we should create of list of all the exits, their distances and what restaurants they have. Also, the quality of of the bathrooms, haha.

That way before a trip it could be printed out and you would know, when people start getting hungry, if its better to take the next exit or maybe wait for the one after it

Good idea!

Here's my tip- do not be tempted to stop at the Baja Fresh at the Jayne Ave exit (partway between Kettleman City/HWY 41 and Harris Ranch). The food is terrible (and we normally really like Baja Fresh), they've been out of key things like, say, rice on several visits and also did not provide items like applesauce and milk that normally come with a kids meal at Baja Fresh (but of course the cost was the same as other Bajas).

There is also limited seating and some of it is IN the convenience store part which is very awkward. (The Baja Fresh is in a gas station/convenience store/travel center type place).

[bcla]

Originally Posted by yoyoyo

One place that just dawned on me that we always stop at, is Harris Ranch. We haven't eaten there, but we use it as a potty stop and we buy snacks at the store in the front. They have the best beef jerky!!

Edit: Whoops..didn't see page 1 before I posted. Lots of other peeps mentioned Harris Ranch too

Harris Ranch Inn is about 3 miles from the feedlot. If I don't plan at stopping at Harris Ranch Inn, I would rather turn the air to recirculate about a good 2 miles before I get there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harris_Ranch

Public reception

The ranch is known to travelers for the "ripe, tangy odor of cow manure", described alternately as a "horrible stench" and "a good, honest, American smell".

In reference to the large number of cattle processed at its facilities, some critics have nicknamed the ranch "Cowschwitz",......

[carisa81]

I agree. The Harris Ranch store has good stuff!!

[DaveNinja]

Originally Posted by pharmama

Good idea!

Here's my tip- do not be tempted to stop at the Baja Fresh at the Jayne Ave exit (partway between Kettleman City/HWY 41 and Harris Ranch). The food is terrible (and we normally really like Baja Fresh), they've been out of key things like, say, rice on several visits and also did not provide items like applesauce and milk that normally come with a kids meal at Baja Fresh (but of course the cost was the same as other Bajas).

There is also limited seating and some of it is IN the convenience store part which is very awkward. (The Baja Fresh is in a gas station/convenience store/travel center type place).

How funny, I stopped there to use the restroom last trip and told me wife to remind me not to stop there next time since it was kind of gross.

[lizziegirl450]

The 5 may bet the fastest, but the 101 is definitely the most interesting and has the most places to stop. If you choose to go on the 101, you should totally stop in SLO for some food. There are multiple good places to eat there. (I just ate at Firestone Grill a few days ago and the tri tip sandwich was delicious!) There's always 17 mile drive in Carmel (out of the way, but worth it for the pictures.) Santa Barbara always has good places to eat.
I recommend leaving around 10 AM maybe? As close to the end of the morning rush hour the better.

[algae]

Originally Posted by bcla

Harris Ranch Inn is about 3 miles from the feedlot. If I don't plan at stopping at Harris Ranch Inn, I would rather turn the air to recirculate about a good 2 miles before I get there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harris_Ranch

Ack, I'm with you. Don't stop at Harris ranch. We also turn on the recirculate button on the car a couple miles before there and leave it on for about 10 miles past. The odors are amazingly noxious. We made the mistake of stopping at the In-n-Out there one year. Couldn't get out of there fast enough.

There used to be 2 spots on 5 with the fumes problem, but it seems that Harris Ranch is the only one now--at least it's the only one that bothers us now.

[Ccihon]

We just did the drive at the beginning of Feb., and it was ok, though it did really bog down around LA.

There's a great pupusa place about halfway down Rte. 5, in Buttonwillow, think it is called Titas Pupuseria (tried to post link to Yelp, but I don't have enough posts yet).

Doesn't look like much, but don't be scared off by the appearance, it's yummy (and cheap). We liked the pork & cheese pupusa, as well as the squash blossom version. There's a Starbucks right there, too, in case you need a caffeine fix.

[pharmama]

Originally Posted by algae

Ack, I'm with you. Don't stop at Harris ranch. We also turn on the recirculate button on the car a couple miles before there and leave it on for about 10 miles past. The odors are amazingly noxious. We made the mistake of stopping at the In-n-Out there one year. Couldn't get out of there fast enough.

There used to be 2 spots on 5 with the fumes problem, but it seems that Harris Ranch is the only one now--at least it's the only one that bothers us now.

There's no In-N-Out at the Harris Ranch exit. There is some other fast food in addition to the Harris Ranch restaurant though.

Depending on the weather and wind, we find we need to turn on the recirc at the south end of the valley now as well (fairly close to the intersection of the 5 and the 99) as quite a few feed lots have popped up down there.

[bcla]

Originally Posted by algae

Ack, I'm with you. Don't stop at Harris ranch. We also turn on the recirculate button on the car a couple miles before there and leave it on for about 10 miles past. The odors are amazingly noxious. We made the mistake of stopping at the In-n-Out there one year. Couldn't get out of there fast enough.

There used to be 2 spots on 5 with the fumes problem, but it seems that Harris Ranch is the only one now--at least it's the only one that bothers us now.

I don't know of any other place on the scale of Harris Ranch. I've driven by dairy farms, hiked among cows, and walked by bison turds. There is nothing I've experienced that compares with Harris Ranch. It's not only that, but the Central Valley heat during the summer that can make the stench unbearable.

Your average field with cows munching on the grass is one thing. The absolute concentration of cows with a lack of any vegetation to absorb the smell is what gives the Harris Ranch feedlot its olfactory rating.

Still - I've dined at the Inn, and the steak was spectacular.

[DaveNinja]

Originally Posted by Ccihon

We just did the drive at the beginning of Feb., and it was ok, though it did really bog down around LA.

There's a great pupusa place about halfway down Rte. 5, in Buttonwillow, think it is called Titas Pupuseria (tried to post link to Yelp, but I don't have enough posts yet).

Doesn't look like much, but don't be scared off by the appearance, it's yummy (and cheap). We liked the pork & cheese pupusa, as well as the squash blossom version. There's a Starbucks right there, too, in case you need a caffeine fix.

I think the Pupusa place is at the HWY58 exit (along with Taste of India). I've never had one but by buddy says they're great

[mmmears]

Originally Posted by bcla

Your average field with cows munching on the grass is one thing. The absolute concentration of cows with a lack of any vegetation to absorb the smell is what gives the Harris Ranch feedlot its olfactory rating.

We've taken photos from the car -- we are always kind of shocked at how we can't even see the ground... just wall-to-wall cattle.

[smiles33]

Originally Posted by Ccihon

We just did the drive at the beginning of Feb., and it was ok, though it did really bog down around LA.

There's a great pupusa place about halfway down Rte. 5, in Buttonwillow, think it is called Titas Pupuseria (tried to post link to Yelp, but I don't have enough posts yet).

Doesn't look like much, but don't be scared off by the appearance, it's yummy (and cheap). We liked the pork & cheese pupusa, as well as the squash blossom version. There's a Starbucks right there, too, in case you need a caffeine fix.

Yes we stopped by Tita's Pupuseria on the way home. Slow service, a hole in the wall in terms of decor, but cheap and tasty. We has Harris Ranch steaks on the way down and they're even slower! So if time is not of the essence (in-n-out is faster than both!) and you're an adventurous eater, try Tita's!