Expert: Steve Summers - 3/7/2010

Question
i will make my first RV trip, with my wife and two kids (7%264 years old) i am planning to drive from San Diego to Bakersfield (2 nights) then to Mammoth (2 or 3 nights).
Any suggestion to go from there, i have to be in Oxnard the 7th day of the trip.
should i avoid some routes?

Answer
Hi Arturo,

Bakersfield? What's in Bakersfield? My guess is that you have family there, because I truly cannot think of a reason to stay there, especially as you get towards summer. No disrespect towards family intended, but if it was me, I'd probably just go up 15 to 395 (via 58, actually, since the Adelanto area is a very slow drive), spend a night in Bishop (grabbing some goodies at Schatt's Bakery), then going to Mammoth. Or just going straight through to Mammoth.

Mammoth is a great choice. I've stayed at Mammoth RV Park, and enjoyed it quite a bit. My daughter and I enjoyed a bit of trail riding around the campground. If you're going in the summer, taking bikes to the top of the mountain and riding down can't be beat! Be sure to stop in at Grumpy's for some good grub.

If you're going in the summer, I HIGHLY recommend going through Yosemite. Tioga Pass usually opens up in May or June, and it's a beautiful drive. You should try to book a site in the valley, since it's SO beautiful there. If you don't bring bikes, you can rent them there. We have many happy memories of riding the miles of bike paths in Yosemite Valley. It's a soul-satisfying experience. It takes about 3 hours from the intersection of 395 and 120, including a stop at Olmstead Point.

2 nights in Mammoth, and at least 3 days in Yosemite, you might have to drive through to Oxnard. If you skip Bakersfield, that gives you a day. It takes us about 8-9 hours to get from Yosemite to Los Angeles, so it will probably take about 8 hours to get to Oxnard. Take 41 south through Fresno, then follow it all the way to Kettleman City. Stay on 41 until it merges with 46 (pausing respectfully at the intersection of 41 & 46-- this is where James Dean was killed), then taking 46 into Paso Robles. If you have an extra night because you skipped Bakersfield, this is a really great area to spend a night. There are some nice RV parks in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, or Pismo Beach. From there, it's an easy drive to Oxnard.

Places worth stoppping include Solvang (cute little Danish Town), Lake Cachuma (nice RV sites here), or Santa Barbara. Driving down the coast is quite beautiful. Like Yosemite, it's a bit hard to keep your eyes on the road. You want to see the scenery.

Have fun!