I-5 Traffic Advice???

[GATOR MOM]

I've been reading posts that talk re I-5 traffic...sounds lovely. I'm in Florida & know little re the traffic out West. All I know is that it is bad...as bad as Spring Breakers heading to Disney?

 

I plan to fly to San Francisco, visit family & then drive to Seattle to meet the Golden Princess in May. Map Quest tells me it's a 14 hour drive & I plan to do it in 2 days. For those that know the area...plan to drive to Canyonville, Or...gamble:confused: & spend the night. Then drive from Canyonville to Seattle.

 

Is Map Quest right on this...or will I end up stuck in terrible traffic on I-5? Thx for any advice:)

[Toyz711]

from olympia to seattle, around the airport..you can get some traffic. just take your time, sooner or later it will move. my SIL lives in lacey, east of olympia..she hates going to the airport. her daughter lives in north seattle, they are always cutting their visits to avoid the traffic. my BIL learned all the alternate routes to get up to his office..avoids I-5 whenever possible.

[gambit57]

Err, the I-5 is pretty far from SF. Then again, if you're driving all the way to Seattle, what's a couple of hours? From SF, if you take the 80 across to the 5, you might run into a couple of traffic spots on the 80, even on a weekend.

 

Traffic out into the Sacramento area and up isn't bad at all. However, I wouldn't go more than 10 mph over the speed limit. Cops in the Sacramento area are much stricter than down in Southern California. Once you hit Oregon, make sure you do NOT go over the speed limit. Oregon cops love to nail people coming from CA because we routinely go past the speed limit (in various amounts, depending on the region). You go the speed limit in Oregon (at least near the border of CA). Not sure about Washington.

[GATOR MOM]

Thx for the advice & I will watch my speed...that's the great thing about cruise control...I set it & then I just sit ..go...when I can.

 

I have already been in the San Fran area...went from city to Yosemite...had no major problem getting East...took the Oakland Bay Bridge...etc. I'm originally a New Yorker...can't be worse then there!!!

 

Thx again...I'll be patient if I hit traffic...not patient if I hit cops!!!

[stired]

We live in S.F. and have traveled to Seattle and back several times on I-5. Once you get off 80 and on to I-5, you shouldn't have much trouble until you get close to Seattle. Perhaps a hot spot here and there.

[Crazy Coug]

Don't speed in Washington either. Maybe 5 mph over the speed limit at best but no more or they'll definitely ticket you. I grew up in Washington before moving to San Diego and that's the hardest thing about going back up there, driving the speed limit. The traffic on I-5 between Tacoma and Seattle really all depends on the time of day. Obviously if you hit it during rush hour you won't be going anywhere fast, but any other time it's usually moving, you just have a lot of company.

[mbisson]

As said above, depends on the time of day. I'd compare rush hour on I-5 (Tacoma to Seattle) to the way traffic is from Orlando to Kissimmee when the theme parks close :eek: . Took forever last time there to get from Universal to our condo in Lake Buena Vista (especially bad at the Sea World exits). Can't wait to do it again this summer :D

 

Traffic around Olympia can get conjested as well.

 

Why do they call it "rush hour" when nothing is moving?

 

-Monte

[cyscopup]

Not to change the subject but how is the drive from Seattle to Vancouver? We are doing it the last of May. Thanks for the info.

[mbisson]

Not to change the subject but how is the drive from Seattle to Vancouver? We are doing it the last of May. Thanks for the info.

 

In my experience, as said, it can be bad in Seattle (IMO-especially around the Univ W district) and lines possible at the border, but other than that it usually is fine!

 

-Monte

[gambit57]

Thx for the advice & I will watch my speed...that's the great thing about cruise control...I set it & then I just sit ..go...when I can.

 

I have already been in the San Fran area...went from city to Yosemite...had no major problem getting East...took the Oakland Bay Bridge...etc. I'm originally a New Yorker...can't be worse then there!!!

 

Thx again...I'll be patient if I hit traffic...not patient if I hit cops!!!

 

You're from New York? You're fine then. The Bay Bridge and I-80/I-5 Interchange are the most likely spots for "bad" traffic while in NorCal. On a weekend leaving SF, they won't be that bad. Certainly not compared to New York traffic. That stuff's as bad as LA traffic.

[jadejay2]

In my experience, as said, it can be bad in Seattle (IMO-especially around the Univ W district) and lines possible at the border, but other than that it usually is fine!

 

-Monte

 

Hi Monte,

 

We will have to drive from Vancouver to Seattle on a Sunday in early June, no choice. Should I try to cross the border early in the morning, like 8-9 am, or later in the afternoon, like 3-4 pm, in order to avoid the traffic? Or is it just a chance of luck and doesn't really matter?

 

Thanks!

[mbisson]

Howdy Jay

 

Gardyloo talked of an option in post #2 of this thread, I couldn't improve on her answer.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=527143

 

I'm guessing that on a Sunday there will probably be several ship loads of people crossing the border to get to Seattle. I imagine it could be bad for much of the day at the I-5 crossing. The truck crossing could (should?) be much better

 

-Monte

[jadejay2]

Howdy Jay

 

Gardyloo talked of an option in post #2 of this thread, I couldn't improve on her answer.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=527143

 

I'm guessing that on a Sunday there will probably be several ship loads of people crossing the border to get to Seattle. I imagine it could be bad for much of the day at the I-5 crossing. The truck crossing could (should?) be much better

 

-Monte

 

Thanks Monte! I guess I will have to pack lots of patience with me.

[Gardyloo]

Gardyloo talked of an option in post #2 of this thread, I couldn't improve on her answer.

My wife will be stunned at this news.

 

On the original topic, I've made the drive between the Bay area and Seattle umpteump times (50? 60?) and try not to use I-5 at all if I can help it.

 

In total driving time, I measured it once and concluded that it's around 4, maybe 5 hours longer, tops, to take US 101 instead, especially if leaving SF itself (not Oakland or somewhere in the East Bay or the Peninsula) in the morning.

 

In terms of driving pleasure, well, as far as I'm concerned, there's no comparison. Sacramento Valley heat, boredom and trucks, vs. the Golden Gate, then Marin and Sonoma Co. hills and vineyards giving way to golden valleys, then the Redwoods, then the southern Oregon coast... shoot, no contest.

 

An early getaway from SF can get you to Coos Bay (OR) by dinnertime. The Mill Casino (downtown CB) has a very acceptable hotel attached to it. Coos Bay is no tourist mecca to be sure, but it's fine for an overnight. If you don't need casino action, then stopping in Bandon (a little south of Coos Bay) is ideal - beautiful scenery, cute old downtown area, some excellent restaurants, etc.

 

The next day you can head up the coast as far as Tillamook or Lincoln City, then cut over to I-5, or, better, you can avoid Portland traffic (yes, there is plenty) by continuing up 101 all the way to Olympia, then join I-5 for the last 60 miles into Seattle.

 

If you want to speed things up, and have had enough coastal majesty, you can also cut over to I-5 in central Oregon - Oregon 38 between Reedsport and Drain is drop-dead gorgeous as it parallels the Umpqua River through a wee gorge, then through lovely countryside until it joins the freeway.

[mbisson]

My wife will be stunned at this news.

 

Sorry to have called you "her". I can never tell on these message boards.

 

I agree with taking the coast road if time allows. It's beautiful! But I'd only follow 101 to Astoria, then cut over to Rainier and cross the bridge to Longview & I-5 (still allows avoiding Portland). :D

 

-Monte

[OldCodger73]

I can't comment on traffic on I-5 in California, but in Oregon it's often heavy from Eugene to Portland, stop-and-go in Portland, I-205 is a better choice to bypass the city, heavy but moving in Olympia, clearing north of Olympia until you get to Ft. Lewis, then heavy from there until Seattle, where it can be stop-and-go depending on the time of day. There is a 2-person minimum HOV lanes south of Seattle that help somewhat. The speed limit drops in the Chelalis-Centralia and is vigorously enforced. As someone else mentioned, I would not recommend US 101 in Washington.

[GATOR MOM]

Thx so much for all this info!!! I love the comment "why call it rush hour when nothing is moving" !!

 

Also agreed...if I could deal with NY & Orlando traffic...the drive from San Fran to Seattle should be a breeze.

 

I would LOVE to go up the Coast Highway as suggested....but the hubby is an Interstate person...maybe next time...when I cruise again out of Seattle??

 

Keep ideas coming....& thx so much all...these boards are SO USEFUL!!!