Driving from San Fran to Disney-good place to stay over?

[KCSunshine60]

Hi - My two boys and I have driven from San Francisco to Disneyland and have done the trip in one day. This time, my husband is going with us and he wants to "take our time" and not try to rush through. He'd like to find a place to stay over.

Can anyone who makes the I5 trip down recomend a good place to stay over? The only place I know with a lot of hotels would be the Santa Clarita area but if you're that far, you might as well keep going!

Thanks!
KC

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Given the length of the drive from SF to Disneyland, I think it's crazy to break it up over two days. I live in the Bay Area and can make the drive in 5 1/2 to 6 hours depending on traffic. Does your DH realize how "short" the drive really is?

The only way it's worth "breaking up" is if you're spending time in Yosemite or something like that.

 

[bumbershoot]

So....I'm from San Jose. My dad lives in Santa Cruz. I know, my dad knows, everyone one of my friends knows...that the drive is a short one.

So I need SOMEONE to explain to me why the drive from Aptos to Anaheim took over 12 hours!!!!

And the drive up got so dark so early, and we were so tired, that we had to stop for the night.


I don't know a good place to stop, but a BAD place to stop is the Travelodge in Coalinga. Actually the hotel, for a Travelodge, isn't bad at all. But the smell in the morning as the wind blows the feedlot stench and the feedlot FLIES, in your direction, is ghastly. HUGE flies covering the car. BLEAH.


On our way down we did go down 101, but everyone, including my dad who drove for Greyhound when it was Union and good, told us it was six of one, half dozen of the other.

Therefore, if you're going down 101, stop at Andersen's split pea soup restaurant, and stay at the hotel there (I think it's a Best Western?). They do have more than just split pea soup.

 

[grizbuzz]

Harris Ranch in Coalinga is a nice place to stop and they have an inn if you want to stay over. We did stop here driving from SF East Bay (near Pleasanton) when our youngest was just shy of a year, as we didn't think he could handle more than 3 hours in the car. We got to Coalinga and were still ready to drive more, but we did stay as we had our room booked.

I do think that Harris Ranch is worth a visit and if your DH is determined to break up this drive into two days, this is an option.

 

[RudemanRB]

Harris Ranch in Coalinga is a nice place to stop and they have an inn if you want to stay over. We did stop here driving from SF East Bay (near Pleasanton) when our youngest was just shy of a year, as we didn't think he could handle more than 3 hours in the car. We got to Coalinga and were still ready to drive more, but we did stay as we had our room booked.

I do think that Harris Ranch is worth a visit and if your DH is determined to break up this drive into two days, this is an option.

Harris Ranch is a good stop on the way back so you can take home some stakes

oh and get some BBQ sauce.


Realistically, you can do the drive from SF in 6hrs. I can understand wanting to stop because with any kids in the car it could feel like a 3 day tour.

I would say leave early (1-2 am) get down there. maybe stay at the Hyatt or some other hotel, you'll get many recomendations from this group. spend the night and take your time driving back the next morning.

or if you're like my family we'd go the night before as well.


Good Luck

Rudy

 

[CalGal]

I would agree that Harris Ranch is probably the best bet if you want to stay over midway between SF and DL along 5. You probably won't want to spend a lot of time outdoors, especially in the summer, because it can be hot and, well, a little fragrant. I've driven down from the Bay Area several times and have never stopped over along 5. But a number of times I've gone down 101 one way for a little variety and have stayed over in Pismo Beach, Santa Maria, or Solvang. Of course, 101 takes much longer but is a more pleasant drive and you can stop at a beach or two along the way.

 

[RudemanRB]

a little fragrant.

that's putting it mildly.

Rudy

 

[Jenn1116]

I live an hour inland from SF. In Feb I made the drive down with three 4 yr olds and two other moms. We left at 4:00am and arrived before noon giving us a whole extra half-day in the park. (The kids slept til 8am!... except for mine but she was amazingly silent)

I guess I just can't imagine holding on to all my excitement for longer than I have to! If I was half way there and stuck in some hotel, I'd pace all night and not get a wink of sleep!!

Please let us know how it goes!!!

 

[AmericanItGirl]

I'd reccommend SLO (San Louis Obispo). It's got a cute little downtown to walk around.

If you're up to it, it might be fun to do a 5-ish hour trip and stay in Burbank (I like the kitchy Safari Inn). From there you can drive by Disney Studios marvel at the Mickey heads atop the gate and go over the hill to th El Capitan for a movie or just ice cream.

 

[moniquem]

We always drive straight through, if you travel down I 5 there isn;t much of anything worth holding up your trip. However if you decide to go down 101, there is so much to stop and see, but the trip itself will take quite a bit longer. WE always leave about 2 -3 am - it takes us about 6-7 hours down I 5, the kids sleep, dh & i take turns driving and when we arrive to anaheim, we check our bags in & wait for us to call us that our room is ready. So, we get there at about 10 am and just head into the park. We usually leave the park for a while around 3 o'clock anyways, so it's not too hard to do. I couldn't stay someplace on I 5 - I am too darn excited to get there all the time! LOL!!!

 

[kaoden39]

We live in Fairfield and when we drive down we usually leave at around 7:30 at night after my husband gets off work and by the time I am at about Buttonwillow I am beat because I can't nap from excitement. And we stay at the Motel 6, not fancy but a bed to lay my head. But the thing is I usually lay in bed wide awake excited about going so I end up dozing off about an hour before the alarm goes off and I am more tired because we stopped. Now when it is just DH and I we stop at Buttonwillow for gas and push the rest of the way through, amazingly it is much more relaxing without kids. There are also Starbucks all the way down for that caffeine rush. Whichever way you decide to go have fun, and enjoy your trip.

 

[tlovesdis]

The Super 8 in Buttonwillow is good too. It's right off the freeway and was pretty inexpensive.

 

[Brenda in CA]

We live about 90 miles inland from SF and we usually leave the evening before our vacation "officially" begins. We drive to Bakersfield and stay at the Holiday Inn Express. Then we get up early, have breakfast at the hotel, and drive the rest of the way to Disneyland. This way we get to Disneyland early in the morning and have the whole day at the park and we're well-rested.

If we leave home early in the morning (like 4am), we get to Disneyland around 11am or noon and we are tired by the evening. I feel like we wasted time and don't enjoy our first day as much.

 

[PinkBudgie]

We are in the North Bay above SF. We have always driven straight down but a must stop for us either on the way down or up is Pea Soup Andersons in Santa Nella. It if works out time wise we eat lunch there. Usually on the way back up. I think there is a place to stay there too but never did that so can't say how it is.

When the boys were little we would also stop near our destination at a fast food place with a climbing area for kids.

We don't go to Disneyland the same day we drove there.

 

[got2travel]

The Super 8 in Buttonwillow is good too. It's right off the freeway and was pretty inexpensive.

I've stayed there a few times. It's a decent place and has a minimal breakfast. Plus there's Starbucks right next door.

Avoid the Homeland Inn though. I was afraid to take my shoes off in there.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

We live just north of San Francisco and like others have said, we drive straight through when we go. But if your husband is insistant that you stop, you might want to take 101 instead and enjoy the drive. My husband just stayed at the Courtyard Marriott in San Luis Obispo and said it was really nice.

 

[tlovesdis]

We are in the North Bay above SF. We have always driven straight down but a must stop for us either on the way down or up is Pea Soup Andersons in Santa Nella. It if works out time wise we eat lunch there. Usually on the way back up. I think there is a place to stay there too but never did that so can't say how it is.

When the boys were little we would also stop near our destination at a fast food place with a climbing area for kids.

We don't go to Disneyland the same day we drove there.

Ahhhhhhhh, our favorite place to eat! Maybe because we are Danish and they serve a few Danish items and their bakery items are to die for!

My niece and I had breakfast there last week on our way down to Disneyland!

 

[kaoden39]

I've stayed there a few times. It's a decent place and has a minimal breakfast. Plus there's Starbucks right next door.

Avoid the Homeland Inn though. I was afraid to take my shoes off in there.

Scary!

 

[jlmarr]

I'm with those who say if you're going the I-5 you might as well blow through, since the I-5 is built for speed and is not scenic. If you want scenic go down US 101 and stop overnight in Solvang. Great Danish there, I guarantee. Also between the freeway and Solvang you'll drive by the Hitching Post restaurant that was used in the movie "Sideways". Great steak and probably great wine, can't say for sure.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Ahhhhhhhh, our favorite place to eat! Maybe because we are Danish and they serve a few Danish items and their bakery items are to die for!

My niece and I had breakfast there last week on our way down to Disneyland!

Yes, I forgot to add that sometimes we just pick up something from the bakery. And once we bought a game there.