San Jose, CA to Seattle, WA drive

[The Barvarian]

My wife's grandfather is checking out. We are going to drive up to Seattle to see him one last time. Not sure when we are leaving but I am interested in any must see sites, good eats places, etc. along the way up. Where are the speed traps? Are radar detectors cool up there?

Google says 13 hours but that must be at warp speed?

[Jon325i]

Assuming you take I-505 north and merge with I-5, you'll be just south of Dunnigan which has a rest stop - good spot to answer nature if you must. Once back on I-5 I would advise watching your speed at all times, but be particularly cautious when you're in Glenn county and Tehama county (the latter immediately north of Glenn county). In Glenn county you have the town of Willows which is where Thunderhill Raceway is (Hwy 162 exit). There's also a CHP station at this exit so there's plenty of cops in the vacinity. Continuing north you will enter Tehama county and I've heard many tales about the CHP and Sheriff having little tolerance for excess speed. If you keep it around 70-75 you should be ok, but do keep your eyes peeled. Beyond that, I can't tell you much since I don't travel that far north by car much. If you're into 420, be sure to stop by the town of Weed near Mt. Shasta :-P

At the California/Oregon stateline I would be careful about state troopers looking to give any non-local folk a "welcome to our state you tourist" flyer.....these look remarkably like speeding tickets by the way. The Siskiyou mountains are at the stateline too with several uphill and downhill grades which will surely be a favorite hang out for law enforcement.

Last two pieces of advice: 1) you'll be in a car with California plates....just cool your jets when not in your home state, and 2) go buy (or borrow) a V1 radar detector before you leave.

Jon

[Danny]

I made it from Vacaville CA to Vancouver WA in 8 hours.

[Danny]

How many deers?

:D

Only 3.

No cops though :razz:

[Erik]

Assuming you take I-505 north and merge with I-5, you'll be just south of Dunnigan which has a rest stop - good spot to answer nature if you must. Once back on I-5 I would advise watching your speed at all times, but be particularly cautious when you're in Glenn county and Tehama county (the latter immediately north of Glenn county). In Glenn county you have the town of Willows which is where Thunderhill Raceway is (Hwy 162 exit). There's also a CHP station at this exit so there's plenty of cops in the vacinity. Continuing north you will enter Tehama county and I've heard many tales about the CHP and Sheriff having little tolerance for excess speed. If you keep it around 70-75 you should be ok, but do keep your eyes peeled. Beyond that, I can't tell you much since I don't travel that far north by car much. If you're into 420, be sure to stop by the town of Weed near Mt. Shasta :-P

At the California/Oregon stateline I would be careful about state troopers looking to give any non-local folk a "welcome to our state you tourist" flyer.....these look remarkably like speeding tickets by the way. The Siskiyou mountains are at the stateline too with several uphill and downhill grades which will surely be a favorite hang out for law enforcement.

Last two pieces of advice: 1) you'll be in a car with California plates....just cool your jets when not in your home state, and 2) go buy (or borrow) a V1 radar detector before you leave.

Jon

/thread

+1 to the V1

[The Barvarian]

I will run with my V1 for sure....

[BMW_TUNER]

My 67 year old father say if it akes morethan 12 hours your are a sissy.

Seriously it is not that bad. Beware of the Oregon Cops and the shasta county cops.

[The Barvarian]

Here is a stop.

http://www.burgerville.com/#page:/Our-Food/Menu-And-Nutrition.aspx|secNum:1|subSecNum:0

[Kruzen]

Don't go more than 70 once you hit washington unless you want to be spanked, if you see a cop, slow your ass down to 55.

[KenC]

V1 is good driving through town, or for when the police are driving around. Pretty much every statie on the west coast uses the pop laser though...

[Hallen]

Go by Shasta, turn left. When you see the ocean, turn right... you can't miss it.
Keep the water on your left.
Enjoy.

[Black_E30]

I have little advice as regards to ballin’ up the I-5, if you are looking to do a “nearly non-stop get here as fast as you can” kind of trip. But if you can squeeze in a few side trips:

Crater Lake will add a little time, either coming or on the drive back, but it is well, well worth it! This is definitely on my must see at least once list, up there with Yosemite.

If you are even remotely into windsurfing and you have time on the return trip, go to the Columbia River Gorge for a day. Wow.
Drive up mount hood, check out the Timberline Lodge if you have even more time. Out towards the coast, the sand dunes are pretty cool.

Also not really part of you original question, but 20 minutes North of Seattle, the Boeing factory tour is worthwhile. Reserve a day beforehand or more on weekends or holidays. But then again there are so many R3V’ers from the Seattle area that you can easily get tons more advice for local stuff there.

Oh yeah, about the WA constabulary: Heed the warnings from the folks above. Mi amigo got a ticket for doing 67 or 68 in a 65 zone in his e30 touring just north of Seattle. No joke.

[smonkbmw]

XXX in Issaquah outside seattle. site of the e30 picnic every year.