Highway 5

Most people I talk to consider the inland Interstate Highway I-5 route to be boring.  Though it certainly can be, this freeway has many scenic stretches and many interesting stops.

Highway 5 viewed from inside a car
Highway 5 viewed from inside a car

When you’re driving north, don’t drive straight through.  Make a point of stopping to explore this freeway’s wonders.  I’ve driven this route  countless times and still have a lengthy list of where I want to stop and explore next.  If you have the time, plan an overnight somewhere along the way, and take time to get to know that area better.

When driving I-5 south,  many people think that the only thing to be said in its favor is that it’s fast.   “I hate it,” they say.  “It’s hot, flat, and boring.”  At times I have to agree, though I have grown to enjoy the spring and fall, when the terrain seems to be most interesting.  Did you know that the river running beside the highway is actually the California Aqueduct?

In this section, I  use the San Francisco Bay Area as the starting point.  It covers Highway 5 north to Oregon–beginning off I-80 along the time-saving I-505, which completely bypasses big and busy Sacramento–and then continues through Oregon in another section.  Though Highway 5 continues north through Washington state to the Canadian border, I do not cover that. 

This section also covers Highway 5 south into Southern California.  It ends where Highway 5 starts entering well-known areas with plenty of facilities–Los Angeles, Disneyland, the beach cities, and San Diego.  Did you know that Highway 5 continues on down through Mexico to the tip of South America?

“You learn a lot about someone during a road trip.”
                                                                 –Kermit the Frog

These listings are just a taste of each area.. They offer an introductory taste, so that you arrive with a few good leads on things to do and places to eat and spend the night. You’ll make many more discoveries as you explore on your own.

Highway 5 North

Highway 5 South

From San Francisco Bay Area north to Oregon

Woodland

Introduction and Hotels
Attractions
antiques stores
California Agriculture Museum
First Friday Art Walk
Matchbook Winery
Uvaggio tasting room
Restaurants
The Burger Saloon
Kitchen 428 + Mojo’s Lounge Bar
Ludy’s Main St. BBQ
Savory Cafe

Winters

Attracctions
Cloth Carousel
Rotary Park
Turkovich Family Wines and Winters Cheese Co.

Williams

Restaurant/Hotel
Granzella’s

Willows

Attractions
Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Chico

Introduction
Attractions
Restaurants
Hotels

Corning

Attracctions
Olive Pit

Red Bluff

Annual Events
Honey Bee Festival
Salmon Festival
Attractions
Coleman National Fish Hatchery

Lassen Volcanic N.P. and area

Introduction
Attractions
Hotels

Lava Beds National Monument

Introduction
Attractions

Redding

Introduction
Attractions
Restaurants
Hotels

Trinity Alps

Introduction

Shasta Lake Area

Introduction
Attractions
Restaurant
Hotel

Dunsmuir

Introduction
Attractions
Restaurants
Hotels

McCloud

Introduction
Hotels
The Guest House
McCloud Hotel Bed & Breakfast

Mount Shasta City

Introduction
Attractions
Restaurants
Hotels

Yreka

Introduction
Attractions
Siskiyou County Museum
West Miner Street Historic District

Highway 5 through Oregon

Highway 5 South

From San Francisco Bay Area south to Los Angeles and San Diego

Santa Nella

In-N-Out Burger
Pea Soup Andersen’s

Los Banos

Introduction
Attractions
Restaurants

Coalinga

Restaurant
Harris Ranch Restaurant

Kettleman City

Restaurant
In-N-Out Burger

Buttonwillow

Exit 257.  A complex of services appears here after
a particularly desolate stretch of road heading south. 

Tejon Ranch

Restaurant
In-N-Out Burger

Mettler

Attraction/Shop
Murray Family Farms

The Grapevine
Tejon Pass/Lebec

Attractions
The Grapevine
Fort Tejon State Historic Park

Santa Clarita

ARTICLE-Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival

Los Angeles

here and there

Anaheim

Attraction
Disneyland Resort

San Diego

here and there