Restaurants on the way from No Cal to So Cal on 5?

[JennCa]

I am driving on Highway 5 and usually don't stop much for food, but since I am preggers and will be travelling with 2 kids I know I will. Is there any place that lists restaurants and where the exits are? I know there is a dead zone that food is difficult to get and I need to figure it out since we will be stopping often. Any ideas? Where do you like to stop with kiddos?

Jenn

 

[GrandBob]

DW & I always love Pea Soup Anderson's in Santa Nella. Right off I-5. Not explicitly kid-oriented, but they should cater to the kids just fine.

 

[LuLusApple]

I tried I find something like that last year when DD21 was preggers LOL
Couldn't find a thing. But there are many food establishments close to the freeway, about 35-50 miles apart. She made it fine without too many sugar drops
Just be sure to pack some high protein snacks and juices incase your sugar crashes during the dead zone on 5

 

[DizneyMommy]

Do you have a GPS? I know mine has a setting we used on a road trip once where it will put little knife and fork symbols next to every restaurant you are passing and you can click on it to see what it is. Or, as you are getting hungry, just click on the Food button most have and let it show you the next 10 or 20 places to dine that are coming up. It will keep updating as you drive and when you see something you like, pull over.

 

[pixiewings71]

We like to stop in Santa Nella, it's a couple hours after we start so it's a good place to stop. Anderson's is good but there are also fast food places to grab something or convenience stores if that's what you need. We also like to stop in Lost Hills, it's just over halfway for us so we get gas, potty break, and grab snack or go to Denny's to eat. That Denny's is good, they are very fast and the food/service is good. Before you get to Lost Hills tho you will see signs for Harris Ranch, if you've got a hankering for a good steak, stop in. OMG, YUM!!!! LOL Don't stop at the Foster's Freeze for ANYthing, not even to use the bathroom....seriously, dirty bathrooms, dirty restaurant, and my burger was RAW in the middle....gross!!!!!!

 

[PinkBudgie]

We like Pea Soup Anderson's too. But on the way down we get there around 10am so too early for lunch. If we stop there it is on the way back. We always bring a picnic lunch and eat at the rest stop right by the grapevine on the way down. There are rest stops about every 60-90 miles down 5 so we just stop there. By Buttonwillow we need gas so we get gas there.

Oh, there is Harris Ranch. We have never been there but they have a place to eat there. However, that is a pretty smelly area. If I was pregnant, I know I wouldn't want to stay there long!

 

[got2travel]

Actually you don't smell the cows at Harris Ranch. They are a few miles north of the ranch and the wind usually travels north. You won't mind when you are eating the steaks though, YUMMY. We always stop here on the way home, sometimes for a meal but always for some meat to take home: a tri-tip or 2, corned beef hash and a few ball steaks. If it's near Christmas time we'll get a prime rib too.

I think you'll be fine. There are long stretches of no food, but they aren't more than an hour long. Pay attention to the freeway signs, they will tell you how many miles until the next stop with services. That way you can decide whether or not you need to stop.

 

[JennCa]

Thanks! I've never even known aobut those places to stop, I used to just drive and drive... We went to San Fran last weekend and even with a 2 hour drive I had to stop, love that preggie side effects : )

I will avoid Foster's Freeze, thanks for letting me know since we would have likely stopped by to cool off. I'll check out Anderson's and Harris Ranch. I've seen them but never eaten there.

Anyone know of anyplace that has kiddie playgrounds in that area or a place for kiddos to run and stretch legs? I feel stopping for myself all the time and not letting them run arouond.

I don't have GPS, but I imagine it would be handy.

Jenn

 

[pixiewings71]

We don't really stop much so I can't think of any that do have kid playgrounds, most of these places are tiny little stopping points and don't have much. I want to say there is a Del Taco on the way and it has a play area but I can't remember which exit it is....oh wait, I think it's Santa Nella which is where Anderson's is. You can ice cream anywhere else, just not at that Fosters...OMG, I'm surprised I didn't get sick from my burger. LOL As for the cow smell, you hit that well before you get to Harris Ranch, by the time you exit at HR you can't smell it anymore.

 

[got2travel]

I know I've seen a few McDonald's with play structures but I can't tell you what stops they are. I avoid McD's, my stomach can't handle it.

All the rest stops have big grassy areas though. When DS was little I used to let him run off some steam while we made a potty break.

 

[LittleBoPeep]

The last two times my family and I have stopped at Andersons, at least one of us has gotten sick after eating there. Not a pleasant car trip after that.

However we all give a unanimous for Harris Ranch!

 

[kaoden39]

There are so many places along the route. I-5 is a treasure trove of places to stop. There are In n Outs and Starbucks galore.

 

[bzkds]

We drove down and back from San Jose 7 times during the past year (ds goes to college near Disneyland). I have the trip broken into 1.5 hr increments. You didn't mention where you are driving from.

We stop at Firebaugh exit for the rest stop, but no food. Coalinga isn't too far from there and it has restaurants.

Next we stop at the Kettleman City exit. They have In-n-Out, Starbucks and Quiznos, plus McD's and a few others.

3rd stop is either Lost Hills, Buttonwillow, or Ft. Tejon (rest stop) depending on if we need to eat or just stretch.

From there over the Grapevine, there is Castaic or Valencia if you need to stop again.. and then plenty of places on into Anaheim.

 

[caligirl stuck in va]

Where are you starting from on I5?

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

My only advice is do NOT go to Perko's Cafe in Delano, CA - it was HORRIBLE & it took 2 days for our systems to get back to normal. It was like the crackhouse twin to Denny's - NOT good.

Stick to what you know - Subways, McD's....they may not be great....but you know what you're getting!

 

[Huff]

Almost every 40 miles or so there is a nearly identicle town with a Denny's, McDonalds, Gas station and motel.

I remember years ago there was a sign heading northbound from Grapevine that said "Next Services 175 miles". Boring drive but theres plenty of small places to stop now.

 

[JennCa]

I will be starting in Sacramento area so it's a drive : )



Jenn

 

[DizMe]

Slight thread hijack, but which of those places is good for an overnighter? We will be driving down from Chico on Sunday, but we aren't leaving until evening so we are trying to figure out a good stopping point. I've stayed at the Holiday Inn in Santa Nella but dh would like to go farther. He's thinking Kettleman City but the ratings for the 2 motels there are pretty dismal. We're considering going down 99 instead but it's been a long time since I took that route. The kids and I are meeting dh in Roseville at 7. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[aliceindisneyland]

We usually get off on Laval Rd (I think it's west--the 2nd Laval exit) before we hit the Grapevine. Clean w/a McDonald's and Starbucks -- expensive gas tho.
I don't get out of the car in Delano (wait for Bakersfield) or Castaic (wait for Lyons exit after Magic Mtn) if I can avoid it. McDonald's in Gorman is filthy.

 

[amyamya]

Slight thread hijack, but which of those places is good for an overnighter? We will be driving down from Chico on Sunday, but we aren't leaving until evening so we are trying to figure out a good stopping point. I've stayed at the Holiday Inn in Santa Nella but dh would like to go farther. He's thinking Kettleman City but the ratings for the 2 motels there are pretty dismal. We're considering going down 99 instead but it's been a long time since I took that route. The kids and I are meeting dh in Roseville at 7. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Hotels are way better on 99. I like 99 better but my husband doesn't. There are tons of hotels in Fresno, Selma, Visalia, Bakersfield.... you could easily drive until you get tired and find something decent on 99. Not the case on 5. I think with kids and potty stops 99 is easier, but 5 is faster.