So...we've decided to drive vs fly and here's the question

[DLRfan31]

Even after finding a killer deal on airfare with Jetblue, we've decided to drive to DLR in October instead. For two reasons: We can stay longer if we can't tear ourselves away after our planned visit, and we love road trips and taking a little time to see new things. Last year we drove about this same time of year and stopped in San Francisco and among other cool places, we visited the Disney Family Museum...loved it!

So here's my question.

We will leave Seattle on Sunday and stay that night in Medford. That will be about an 8 hour drive. Monday we figure on Stockton. Six hour (more or less) from Medford to Stockton, then Tuesday about six more hours to Anaheim.

I 'm checking sites like hotels.com for a place to stay the nite in Stockton and find some pretty good deals. Like $59 at the Best Western Heritage Inn. When I go on tripadvisor, some previous visitors talk about areas close to the freeway being unsafe with vagrants and hookers and all kinds of fun things.

Does anyone have any experience with driving I-5 and staying in Stockton? Are people exaggerating? Or is this really something to be concerned with.

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

 

[DisneyIsMagical]

Just my two cents....and I'm not trying to be negative but, the news stations here in Sacramento cover the Stockton/ Modesto areas as well. From what I hear on the news every evening I would not want to stay in Stockton if I had the choice. Of course living in the Sacramento area, I do know that every city has "good" and "bad" parts of town, just my opinion. I would suggest staying in Manteca.

 

[Here4mydisneyfix]

yikes! I would avoid Stockton too!

 

[kylie71]

I would pick another city. Maybe Santa Nella, or even Sacramento.....
Stockton has filed bankruptcy, and I do not like even getting gas there.

Lots of choices along the I-5....

http://www.allstays.com/Special/exits-I5-ca-map.htm


Lori

 

[CamoMama]

I prefer Modesto to Stockton. The last time I stayed there overnight was probably 20 years ago, but it has stuck with me. I was with a church group and we were staying in one of the larger churches in supposedly nice part of town, but at about 2am we were all sleeping in the church gym and were woken by automatic gunfire. Apparently there was a gang turf war going on outside. So I have avoided Stockton since. Of course when I lived in Modesto I was stuck inside of the McDonald's on McHenry for several hours while a random crazy guy had a shootout with police outside, but that was on Graffiti weekend, which invites weird stuff.

Santa Nella is lovely, and you've got Andersen's Pea Soup there as well.

 

[DLRfan31]

Well, the 4 of you leave no doubt! We will definitely avoid Stockton, even for a pit stop.
Looks like tripadvisor is on the money with this one.

Thats why I love DIS...you guys rock! Thanks

 

[mama2dutchies]

Even after finding a killer deal on airfare with Jetblue, we've decided to drive to DLR in October instead. For two reasons: We can stay longer if we can't tear ourselves away after our planned visit, and we love road trips and taking a little time to see new things. Last year we drove about this same time of year and stopped in San Francisco and among other cool places, we visited the Disney Family Museum...loved it!

So here's my question.

We will leave Seattle on Sunday and stay that night in Medford. That will be about an 8 hour drive. Monday we figure on Stockton. Six hour (more or less) from Medford to Stockton, then Tuesday about six more hours to Anaheim.

I 'm checking sites like hotels.com for a place to stay the nite in Stockton and find some pretty good deals. Like $59 at the Best Western Heritage Inn. When I go on tripadvisor, some previous visitors talk about areas close to the freeway being unsafe with vagrants and hookers and all kinds of fun things.

Does anyone have any experience with driving I-5 and staying in Stockton? Are people exaggerating? Or is this really something to be concerned with.

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

DO NOT STAY IN STOCKTON!!!! if you need to stop, stay in Sacramento.. DOn't let the VA on the left fool you, I lived in SActo from 6/03-6/12 I JUST moved here.. if you need some places to stay in Sac.. PLEASE contact me I'd be happy to help you.

 

[DLRfan31]

DO NOT STAY IN STOCKTON!!!! if you need to stop, stay in Sacramento.. DOn't let the VA on the left fool you, I lived in SActo from 6/03-6/12 I JUST moved here.. if you need some places to stay in Sac.. PLEASE contact me I'd be happy to help you.

You just moved to Stockton and you highly discourage people from stopping there? Wow it must be bad. Hope you don't have to stay real long.

Right now I am checking out places in Manteca and Santa Nella per the other girls' suggestions. We'd like to drive at least halfway between Medford and Anaheim on our second night....even farther than half if there's a good place to stay. I haven't seen anything that might work on the map...anything maybe an hour farther down from Stockton. The close we get to DLR on Monday the better!

 

[wbl2745]

I'd try Modesto or Turlock. There are a lot of new hotels around Turlock. My son-in-law is from there and we stayed there during the wedding. Turlock was very nice.

 

[Malcon10t]

Check out the Hampton Inn or Days inn in Lathrop (a couple mins north of Manteca, south of Stockton.)

As with any town, there are good and bad for areas. I'm in Modesto, and there are areas I would avoid, but we also have several nice hotels also.

 

[T0rrent]

I live near there and my supervisor lives in Stockton, and honestly it's not the greatest place to be. If you can tough it out, i'd highly suggest getting down to Santa Nella and if you get there early enough have a dinner at Anderson's Split Pea Soup

 

[Malcon10t]

Right now I am checking out places in Manteca and Santa Nella per the other girls' suggestions. We'd like to drive at least halfway between Medford and Anaheim on our second night....even farther than half if there's a good place to stay. I haven't seen anything that might work on the map...anything maybe an hour farther down from Stockton. The close we get to DLR on Monday the better!

In Santa Nella, there are a couple. I'd probably go with Holiday Inn Express, stayed there once before and liked it.

Again, Lathrop. But that is before Santa Nella. After Santa Nella, you might look at Firebaugh or Coalinga. These are all along I-5.

Others have mentioned Modesto and Turlock, but it should be noted they are on 99, not I-5.

 

[disneychrista]

In Santa Nella, there are a couple. I'd probably go with Holiday Inn Express, stayed there once before and liked it.

We have stayed at the HIExpress twice. Stayed the second time, just for the breakfast. The cinnamon rolls are to die for.

 

[CamoMama]

There's also a Best Western which is attached to Andersen's Pea Soup (It's actually Andersen's BW). A quick check on weekday rates in October makes it about $85 a night with tax, $30 less than the HII.

I haven't stayed there, but I can't imagine it not being great since the restaurant is so awesome. I figure it should be on a par with Granzella's in Williams, and the prices are about the same. I'd fully recommend Granzella's, but it's about 2 hours north of Santa Nella, so probably not close enough to DLR for you.

If you want another option though, you can check it out here. I love sending business their way, they are amazing folks. A few years ago I was on a charter bus on the way south for annual training with my Guard unit and we saw smoke coming from a building just off the 5. I remember saying "Oh please don't let that be Granzella's!" But we found out later that it was. The entire restaurant burned to the ground that day (although a firewall saved the sports bar and the big polar bear). Because they cared about their employees and their families, the Granzella family gave their employees two months pay, even though the building was a total loss and had to be completely rebuilt.

 

[ociana]

I lived in Stockton for a few years in high school and I wouldn't recommend anyone staying there. If you do decide to, stay on the north end of town only...nowhere south of March Lane.

I also recommend Granzellas in Williams. (I had no idea they had a fire, that is terrible.) It's our favorite stop on the drive down I5!

 

[KerBear]

I accidentally stayed in stockton on one trip. I'd already paid for the room and really couldn't drive anymore by the time I realized how bad it was (it was 3am). Never again.


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[limace]

We stopped at Granzella's yesterday-food was ok, cute place. Stayed at the HI Express last night in Santa Nella and it was great! Clean, friendly, pretty courtyard with a nice pool. Totally recommend.

 

[sasywtch]

Another Sacramento person. Keep on going past Stockton. I wouldn't stay there. It use to be our first stop at 7-11 to get coffee but no more. It's a long trip from Medford so if you do get tired around Sacramento, there is a Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Inn on Del Paso Rd just 2 miles south of the airport on I-5. Lots of eateries there including In N Out and a grocery store (Safeway) across the street. If you still have energy, motels/hotels past Stockton would be fine. Stockton is an hour south of Sacramento.

 

[sechelt]

We've driven from B.C. many times and last trip we stayed in Sacramento at the Ramada on Bercut Drive. It was recommended to us by a local. Nothing fancy but clean, reasonably priced, and it's just off I-5. This was two years ago so maybe someone has a more recent idea of it.

If this is your first time driving, make sure you leave really early on your last day, before sun-up if possible, and carry lots of water. It can get pretty hot going through the desert.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

I grew up in Stockton and lived there until I was 20 and I would recommend not staying there as well. I would stay in Sac (Natomas)/Elk Grove or power on down to Santa Nella.