Last minute question:I-5 drive and where to stay

[limace]

We leave tomorrow morning and still haven't quite figured out where to stay-we're coming from Eugene, OR. We've thought about Vacaville or somewhere around there-about 9 hours down the road, leaving us only 5 hours or so on Thursday. Thoughts? Any updated fun and funky places to stop on the drive down? We love quirky food and whacky roadside attractions. DH is lobbying to spend the night in the Bay Area but that feels too out of the way and too expensive to me for just a few hours.

 

[DarthMole]

The Bay Area would add quite a bit of time to your trip. Vacaville is also out of the way as you'd have to manage your way back over to I-5. Vacaville to Anaheim is certainly not 5 hours, more like 7 or more depending on traffic. Maps can be deceiving. We drive to the Bay Area all the time to visit family and it feels like we're heading south and that it would be on our way to So Cal but it's a major diversion.

There's not much along I-5 from Sacramento/Stockton so if you plan on using that route you may want to stay around Sacramento for the night. There are some quirky towns along 99 but we've never stopped since we're so close. Others may be able to point you in the right direction if you're willing to take 99 rather than I-5.

 

[kylie71]

It's kinda quirky! It's Andersons Pea Soup.. Yummy food, nice enough motel, and a cool gift shop!
It's 2 hours on the south side of Sac...

http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwes...en-s-Inn/Hotel-Overview.do?propertyCode=05271

 

[ParkHopper1]

The most direct place would to stay in Sacramento and visit Old Town Sacramento...right on I-5, right on the river waterfront, very cool old town area with great shops and restaurants...anything else is gonna be several hours on your trip and not all the great.

 

[nicolispicoli]

The most direct place would to stay in Sacramento and visit Old Town Sacramento...right on I-5, right on the river waterfront, very cool old town area with great shops and restaurants...anything else is gonna be several hours on your trip and not all the great.

I'll agree. I live in Sacramento and it's a great halfway point between Eugene and DLR. Old Sacramento is right off the freeway and there are hotels all around it, some even walking distance. From Old Sac, you can also walk to the State Capitol if you haven't been, it's pretty cool inside.

 

[usnuzuloose]

The most direct place would to stay in Sacramento and visit Old Town Sacramento...right on I-5, right on the river waterfront, very cool old town area with great shops and restaurants...anything else is gonna be several hours on your trip and not all the great.

There is also the railroad museum.

 

[CamoMama]

San Jose isn't on the 5, but it's about 9 hours south of Eugene and about 6 hours from Disneyland and the Winchester Mystery House is there.

 

[limace]

Cool! I was considering Old Sacramento-nice to hear the recs. Any specific hotels you all can suggest? We just need clean and inexpensive and a pool .

Someone had suggested Vacaville because we want to stop at the Jelly Belly Factory, but I see that's actually in Fairfield. Man, I'm so unfamiliar with this part of the world.

 

[jessicaerv]

There's an Embassy Suites right smack dab next to Old Town, and almost immediately off the I-5. I don't know the rates, but it looks nice (I've eaten in the restaurant). There's a Sheraton Grand, a Hyatt, and other boutiquey type hotels. These tend to be a bit on the expensive side.

A little bit north of downtown is Natomas. There are a few places to stay right off the I-5 at Del Paso Road (Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn & Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites). These would be a little cheaper than those in the downtown district.

There are also a few motels off the I-5 at Richards Blvd (Governors Inn and a couple others I can't remember). I absolutely do not recommend these motels because the area...... shall we say..... attracts those who are monetarily challenged. I don't think its an attractive area, nor do I feel it to be very safe.

HTH!

 

[KZEE965]

Answering your question about I 5 from Eugene. We live in Salem and we are leaving here on Sept. 5th. We just go as far as Santa Nella and stay at the Holiday Inn. Very easy to get there. About the wackiest eating we get there is In&Out Burger. Don't get any better than that for burgers. Takes us about 5hrs from there to DLR. Have a safe trip and enjoy.

 

[pixiewings71]

Cool! I was considering Old Sacramento-nice to hear the recs. Any specific hotels you all can suggest? We just need clean and inexpensive and a pool .

Someone had suggested Vacaville because we want to stop at the Jelly Belly Factory, but I see that's actually in Fairfield. Man, I'm so unfamiliar with this part of the world.

The Jelly Belly tour is free. I live 15 minutes from it and one of my best friends works there. Just so ya know. It takes us 6-7 hours depending on traffic and how many times we stop, our average is 6 hours. It's very easy to get onto 5 from Fairfield/Suisun (I live in Suisun, work in Fairfield, I work around the corner from JB and it seriously takes me 15 minutes to get to work and to get back home), just take 12 West to 5 South and follow 5 all the way from there. If you want to do the JB tour then I recommend you stay in Suisun actually, there is a nice Hampton Inn right off of 12, very easy to get to and JB. Here's a link. If you do end up staying here let me know, I'd be happy to help you find some places to eat if you'd like.
http://www.hotelsone.com/suisun-city-hotels-us/hampton-inn-and-suites-suisun-city-waterfront.html?as=g&aid=9836486918&dsti=327359&dstt=8&label=ggehoeu-bh327359&akw=hampton%20inn%20and%20suites%20suisun%20city%20waterfront&asrc=Search&ast=&gclid=CO3usrnkxLECFYio4AodChsAyg

 

[limace]

Thanks! Any idea how long the JB will take? Wondering if it would work to take a break, do the tour, then head on down to Santa Nella. ....

 

[DarthMole]

Thanks! Any idea how long the JB will take? Wondering if it would work to take a break, do the tour, then head on down to Santa Nella. ....

Hmm, I stand corrected. That only adds about 30 minutes to the drive. I thought a detour to the Vacaville area would take longer (drive time).

I stand by the Bay Area comment. That's at least an hour addition to your drive plus dealing with BA traffic could push that up quite a bit depending on when you arrive and leave.

The JB tour sounds like a nice break. Have a fun trip.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

From Sacramento, I-5 to Fairfield will take 45 minutes (my commute is Elk Grove to Vacaville every day). From Fairfield back to I-5 via 12 will take 45-60 minutes, one lane most of the way, lots of trucks, not the best paved road.

Jelly Belly is cute but not worth a 2-3 hour side trip, I would stick to Old Sac or Santa Nella. I would suggest Old Sac, quite a bit to see there actually, most of it touristy, but not too bad. Many better food choices too.

 

[BELLEDOZER]

When we are driving down to DL, we always stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Santa Nella. It's small, but they've got a really good continental hot breakfast in the mornings. It's a 4 to 5 hr drive from there to DL, depending on traffic. If we leave there around 9am, we are usually at the hotel around 1 to 1:30pm, depending on traffic in LA.

 

[TheZue]

I love Holiday Inn Expresses. They always let us grab some extra cinnamon buns and snacks for the road. They are clean. I find them reasonably priced. And their beds are decent.

 

[DarthMole]

From Sacramento, I-5 to Fairfield will take 45 minutes (my commute is Elk Grove to Vacaville every day). From Fairfield back to I-5 via 12 will take 45-60 minutes, one lane most of the way, lots of trucks, not the best paved road.

Jelly Belly is cute but not worth a 2-3 hour side trip, I would stick to Old Sac or Santa Nella. I would suggest Old Sac, quite a bit to see there actually, most of it touristy, but not too bad. Many better food choices too.

I think you mean I-80 (from Sac to Fairfield), which is irrelevant since they are coming down I-5. It's not the same as starting in Sac since there's a pretty direct route to the Vacaville/Fairfield area via 505. 12 can be hit or miss but this is certainly not a 2-3 hour side trip.

Personally I'd pick Old Sac too, but it sounds like they really want to do the JB tour.

 

[Momrow]

We stayed in the Holiday Inn Express in Elk Grove when we last drove in 2009. It was very nice. On the same trip we ended up in a Fairfield Inn in San Jose. We thought the quality of th HIE was much higher. Enjoy the drive!

 

[pixiewings71]

Thanks! Any idea how long the JB will take? Wondering if it would work to take a break, do the tour, then head on down to Santa Nella. ....

The JB tour is 60-90 minutes IIRC, its been a while since I've done it. It is fun and you do get a small bag of beans when you're done, the tour ends in the gift shop area so you can buy more if you like and they sell the Belly Flops there too. There's also a restaurant on-site, I've never eaten there but I know they used to make JB shaped hamburgers. LOL But, there are plenty of other places to eat so if you decide to go and want something else let me know, as I said, I'm happy to help. In theory you could do this, but it would depend on when you came in, you could also stay at the hotel I linked to and then do the JB tour in the morning and head to DL after that.

From Sacramento, I-5 to Fairfield will take 45 minutes (my commute is Elk Grove to Vacaville every day). From Fairfield back to I-5 via 12 will take 45-60 minutes, one lane most of the way, lots of trucks, not the best paved road.

Jelly Belly is cute but not worth a 2-3 hour side trip, I would stick to Old Sac or Santa Nella. I would suggest Old Sac, quite a bit to see there actually, most of it touristy, but not too bad. Many better food choices too.

I think you mean I-80 (from Sac to Fairfield), which is irrelevant since they are coming down I-5. It's not the same as starting in Sac since there's a pretty direct route to the Vacaville/Fairfield area via 505. 12 can be hit or miss but this is certainly not a 2-3 hour side trip.

Personally I'd pick Old Sac too, but it sounds like they really want to do the JB tour.

Like I said before, I live 15 min from JB (drive by it almost daily) and we take 12-5 to go to DL, it doesn't take an hour, it takes 30-45 min, so if you add the 15 min it takes me to drive from my house to JB then it's safe to say it's about 45-60 min to get to 5 down 12. I would definitely give myself 3-5 hours for the driving time and the tour time. Also, OP, the Budweiser plant is next to the JB and they do tours as well, if your DH (or you) enjoy beer it might be fun to do that tour as well. Kids are allowed, they get soda when the adults get to taste the beer.