Clean bathrooms down I-5

[jlindley9]

My wife is 4 months pregnant and we are going to be heading down I-5 from Sacramento on Friday. My wife is concerned about finding clean bathrooms along the way. I'd like to avoid any gas station or fast food bathrooms unless someone can tell me they're really clean. I think Harris Ranch will definitely be a target. Any other suggestions? Thanks!

 

[jlmarr]

You might try the Pyramid Lake exit, this side of the Gorman summit of the "Grapevine". As I remember it was part of a museum display about getting water to SoCal. Seemed well maintained.

I'd also recommend the bathrooms at In-N-Out Burger. They tend to run a tight ship. There's one not far from the freeway in Arvin, and another in Kettleman City less than a mile from the freeway.

 

[Shimmer]

They get pretty scarce a few hours beyond Sacramento but rest stops are there. I would recommend stopping when you see one. We did a few truck stops and they were just fine.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

We tend to do Starbucks when we travel... bathrooms are clean, and they are usually close to the highway. I have a friend who maps out her whole trip from Illinois to WDW with stops at Panera the whole way...

 

[pixiewings71]

Santa Nella has a gas station/Jack in the Box with a nice clean bathroom. We also stop in Lost Hills at the Love's and the bathrooms there are usually very clean. Harris Ranch is ok but IME it stinks due to all the cattle out there. to be honest you aren't going to find bathrooms except for fast food restaurants or gas stations really, I mean where else are you going to stop? Last time we drove thru the rest stops were closed too......

 

[cccdisney]

Starbucks!

There is a Starbucks with many stalls in Lebec (I believe that's the town). It's right before you start going over the grapevine. The Starbucks is right next to a McD's and a Panda Express.

There are at least 3 or 4 Starbucks down Int 5 now, even before hitting the grapevine. You also want to make sure you stop before hitting the LA area. We usually stop somewhere in the Santa Clarita area - or just south.

 

[dalepool]

I am sure you have already thought about taking a zip lock bag that would hold items to ensure the rest stop is indeed as germ free as possible.

You can buy toilet seat covers at Drug Stores, you know the paper ones.

spray lysol--make sure to get the one that eliminates bacteria.

Handi Wipes. I like the individually wrapped ones. You can get these at walgreens or rite aid.

A travel size Hand Sanitizer. Bring a few of those to stash in purse, fanny pack, anything you use to carry items in the parks.

Grats on the new addition to your family . I love to see the wonder in a childs' eyes when they first see Mickey Mouse. (Pure JOY and WONDER)

Have a great time,
Patty

 

[blabbermouth]

The few rest stops we stopped at all seemed decent. Or a lot cleaner than I expected at least!

 

[jory29]

I'm a major self-professed germ freak, and as long as your wife washes up very carefully afterwards, as I''m sure she will, and doesn't actually sit on the toilet seat, I'm sure all will be fine no matter where you stop.

If she needs to stop, she'll need to stop, and sometimes the best laid maps won't dictate where you will be able to stop, if she has to go NOW!

I remember months even before our babies were pushing down on my bladder, that there is indeed a sense of urgency, so don't worry about mapping it out, and maybe just play it by ear if you can....

Good luck!!!

 

[94bruin]

We always stop at the In-n-Out a in Kettleman City.

 

[Shakthi]

We've done these already mentioned, In-N-Out in Kettleman City, Starbucks in Stevenson Ranch. They were approved. Whatever you do try to avoid stopping anywhere near the cattle farms. Even non-pregnant people get nauseous there. We had one of those emergency stops once and I regret it to this date. Believe me!

 

[tdashgirl]

We always stop in Buttonwillow. (Long strip of gas stations and dining right off the 5.) The McDonald's there keeps a very clean bathroom as does the Starbucks. Be wary of the Subway bathroom -- it was seriously disgusting a couple of years ago. I haven't dared to try it again.

 

[Leofoenget]

My wife is 4 months pregnant and we are going to be heading down I-5 from Sacramento on Friday. My wife is concerned about finding clean bathrooms along the way. I'd like to avoid any gas station or fast food bathrooms unless someone can tell me they're really clean. I think Harris Ranch will definitely be a target. Any other suggestions? Thanks!

The reststops are slowly opening back up. Go to AAA and get the map "Coast and Valley" it will show you ALL the reststops along the I-5 from Sacramento to San Diego. Kettleman City is open I believe, Buttonwillow just reopened. Grapevine is open. They aren't that bad they keep them pretty clean. I have stopped at them at midnight and such and there are always people milling around, and not creapy people families in cars such. There are many places along the way to "rest"

 

[Gisele]

I am sure you have already thought about taking a zip lock bag that would hold items to ensure the rest stop is indeed as germ free as possible.

You can buy toilet seat covers at Drug Stores, you know the paper ones.

spray lysol--make sure to get the one that eliminates bacteria.

Handi Wipes. I like the individually wrapped ones. You can get these at walgreens or rite aid.

A travel size Hand Sanitizer. Bring a few of those to stash in purse, fanny pack, anything you use to carry items in the parks.

Grats on the new addition to your family . I love to see the wonder in a childs' eyes when they first see Mickey Mouse. (Pure JOY and WONDER)

Have a great time,
Patty

Good advice, but if I did all that, then I might have an accident first!

 

[brergnat]

If your wife is pregnant and needing to pee every 20-30 min, she won't care how clean the bathroom is, trust me!

For the record, I've never been in a dirty McDonald's bathroom, although the food makes me want to puke! I go in just to use the bathrooms...they are always clean!

 

[Kayla's Mom]

For the record, I've never been in a dirty McDonald's bathroom, although the food makes me want to puke! I go in just to use the bathrooms...they are always clean!

Don't visit the McDonalds bathroom in Blythe, CA. then!

 

[cooniez]

This is a great post! I'll have 2 girls with me & I'll be driving by myself up to LA from San Jose...does anyone know if my route would be the same as OP? Sorry, just too brain dead right now to try to google & find out.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Someone else said this and I agree. When I was pregnant that was the time I was the least picky. When I had to go, I had to go!

We usually end up stopping at a Safeway in Marin for our first stop. Not too far from us, but that is when the coffee hits. Then we get off on Lebec ( I think) and stop at the McDonalds. Actually those are before we get over to 5. Once on 5, there are reststops evenly spaced. I have learned to bring tissue with me just in case. Around the Buttonwillow area, we get gas and use the bathrooms at the travel center. There is one last rest area before going over the grapevine and then we go straight through.

Going up, the restroom on the otherside of the grapevine is closed so we stop at the travel center. We always stop at Pea Soup Anderson's in Santa Nella. Nicest bathrooms on the 5!

 

[Leofoenget]

This is a great post! I'll have 2 girls with me & I'll be driving by myself up to LA from San Jose...does anyone know if my route would be the same as OP? Sorry, just too brain dead right now to try to google & find out.

From San Jose you will go through Gilroy, get on the Pacheco Pass then hit
I-5 straight to Anaheim. Yes almost the same once you hit 5. And LA is Down from San Jose it's UP going home

 

[disfan07]

Many of the bathrooms right off the 5 in Santa Clarita/Stevenson Ranch are clean (i've been in many of them...we live in valencia)

The Lyons Ave. exit is the main rest stop are that people stop at because it is right off the 5 and has hotels, gas and fast food restaurants but if you get off at either McBean Parkway exit or Valencia Blvd exit and drive a minute or two you will find places.

If you get off at valencia Blvd and go east on valencia, you will end up right in the middle of town where there is the mall whcih of course has places and right across from there is valencia crossroads which has a corner bakery, starbucks and whole foods as well.

If you stop in the santa clarita/valencia area, ou will have no problem finding a clean bathroom