Traveling from San Diego to Sacramento

jeddy lee

Wife and I are going on a trip to comic-con, then heading north afterwords to visit my grandparents. What is the best/cheapest/easiest way of doing this? (You "Lower 48'ers" have a lot more transportation options than us Alaskan's)

Bus? Rental Car? Is there a train?

If it matters, we are 23 each and are planning on heading up on Monday the 27th.

rfalias

Keep in mind that a lot of car rental companies won't rent to anyone under 25.
Make sure to check ahead of time before getting set on a travel option.

Lewisham

I was going to say aeroplane, as Virgin flies SFO to San Diego for 60 bucks each way, but Expedia is quoting me at least $200 to get to Sac, then when you *2 it might end up that getting a rental car is better instead. But you are in for a looooooonnnnnnngggggggg drive.

I do not believe there is any viable train route, and a bus will take eons.

starmanbrand

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage Could check out that.

witch_ie

Well just checking it, Southwest has flights from San Diego to Sacramento for $103 one way. I would say flying would be your cheapest and easiest way to go, but it does prevent you from seenig a lot of the California scenery. Depending on how much time you have and if there's anything you'd like to see (and how fast you drive), it could take you anywhere from 16 hours (exceding the speed limit) to 3 days (with stops) to drive from San Diego to Sacramento. On average, I would allow 2 days of moderate driving. With food, lodging, vehicle rental and fuel, that adds up, but could also be a great trip.

If you do decide to drive and want to avoid LA and its traffic, take interstate 15 out of San Diego. The scenery isn't as interesting, but usually it's quicker than driving through LA itself.

Feral

On a good day, Amtrak is going to take eight hours (it could be more like 12 depending on the schedule). And it's no cheaper than driving.

Yeah, you don't have to sit in a car the whole time, leaving you free to read or play DS or whatever, but that's pretty much the only benefit.

If you don't have a car when you get to Sacramento, you'll probably want one. Sac has a decent bus/light-rail system for commuters near the center of town, but the suburbs are pretty underserved by public transit.

I would just fly and rent a car when you get there. As others have said, call ahead of time to make sure the rental company will rent to a 23-year-old. I know Enterprise will, but they're a little expensive and their customer service isn't that great, so you'll still want to check around.

the wook

witch_ie wrote: »

Well just checking it, Southwest has flights from San Diego to Sacramento for $103 one way. I would say flying would be your cheapest and easiest way to go, but it does prevent you from seenig a lot of the California scenery. Depending on how much time you have and if there's anything you'd like to see (and how fast you drive), it could take you anywhere from 16 hours (exceding the speed limit) to 3 days (with stops) to drive from San Diego to Sacramento. On average, I would allow 2 days of moderate driving. With food, lodging, vehicle rental and fuel, that adds up, but could also be a great trip.

If you do decide to drive and want to avoid LA and its traffic, take interstate 15 out of San Diego. The scenery isn't as interesting, but usually it's quicker than driving through LA itself.

that would have to be one absurdly slow speed limit. by my math, that's barely over 30 MPH.

you can drive from San Diego to Sacramento in 8-10 hours without seriously abusing the speed limit. The slowest part of the drive is going to be from San Diego through LA. Timing the drive to avoid rush hour would probably save you 30 minutes to an hour. In my experience, the fastest route from San Diego to north of LA is the 5 to the 73 (toll road: $5) to the 405 (only major N-S freeway through LA with a carpool lane), meeting back up with the 5 north of LA proper.

that said, driving is probably going to be pretty expensive. even if you're planning on renting a car in Sacramento, renting one in San Diego to drive up is going to add significant cost. There's the basic cost of another day of rental, plus the cost of the additional fee you'll probably have to pay for renting under the age of 25, plus the possible extra cost associated with dropping the car off at a different location than at which you picked it up, plus gas for a 500 mile trip.

Dark_Side

Yeah, flying or driving are going to be your two best options. Southwest has a flight every hour to Sacramento on the weekends, so it's extremely easy to catch a quick 1.5 hour flight up there. The drive, depending on when you leave and how bad LA gets is likely 7-8 hours, I think I usually averaged 9-10 hours in my Wrangler, which is slow as balls. The big decision when driving is choosing whether or not you want to take the 99 or continue on the 5 North. The 99 Splits off just after the grapevine, and by most accounts is quicker, as well as cheaper since it's more populated and the gas is cheaper. The 5 North is a little more barren, but way less populated so it's easy to hit a groove and just zen for awhile. (Until a semi truck tries to pass two other semi's and slows down the entire interstate in that direction for 20 minutes).

Honestly I'd just fly and rent a car, as you will be completely ruined after 9 hours of driving, especially once you hit the boring central valley, compared to a quick flight replete with drink service.

Thanatos

the wook wrote: »

witch_ie wrote: »

Well just checking it, Southwest has flights from San Diego to Sacramento for $103 one way. I would say flying would be your cheapest and easiest way to go, but it does prevent you from seenig a lot of the California scenery. Depending on how much time you have and if there's anything you'd like to see (and how fast you drive), it could take you anywhere from 16 hours (exceding the speed limit) to 3 days (with stops) to drive from San Diego to Sacramento. On average, I would allow 2 days of moderate driving. With food, lodging, vehicle rental and fuel, that adds up, but could also be a great trip.

If you do decide to drive and want to avoid LA and its traffic, take interstate 15 out of San Diego. The scenery isn't as interesting, but usually it's quicker than driving through LA itself.

that would have to be one absurdly slow speed limit. by my math, that's barely over 30 MPH.

you can drive from San Diego to Sacramento in 8-10 hours without seriously abusing the speed limit. The slowest part of the drive is going to be from San Diego through LA. Timing the drive to avoid rush hour would probably save you 30 minutes to an hour. In my experience, the fastest route from San Diego to north of LA is the 5 to the 73 (toll road: $5) to the 405 (only major N-S freeway through LA with a carpool lane), meeting back up with the 5 north of LA proper.

that said, driving is probably going to be pretty expensive. even if you're planning on renting a car in Sacramento, renting one in San Diego to drive up is going to add significant cost. There's the basic cost of another day of rental, plus the cost of the additional fee you'll probably have to pay for renting under the age of 25, plus the possible extra cost associated with dropping the car off at a different location than at which you picked it up, plus gas for a 500 mile trip.

Given he mentioned California scenery, he had to be talking about taking the 101, which might actually take that long. Because there sure as fuck isn't any scenery on the 5, and if you're not exceeding the speed limit, you're going to get run over by a big rig going 105mph.

NotYou

It takes me 5 and a half hours on the 5 to get from LA to sacramento going 83ish with one gas/fast food stop.

jeddy lee

Ok, so virgin has flights at $59.00 a piece on Tuesday 28th from San Diego to San Francisco which my grandparents can pick us up from. The problem with this is we wanted to stop by Disneyland for a while, and our hotel is only booked to the 27th. Is there a viable way of getting some cheap transport from San Diego to Disney Land (anaheim, correct?) then back to the San Diego airport the night of the 27th, then stay at the airport till our 6:30 am flight, should we take that route?

Thanatos

jack eddy wrote: »

Ok, so virgin has flights at $59.00 a piece on Tuesday 28th from San Diego to San Francisco which my grandparents can pick us up from. The problem with this is we wanted to stop by Disneyland for a while, and our hotel is only booked to the 27th. Is there a viable way of getting some cheap transport from San Diego to Disney Land (anaheim, correct?) then back to the San Diego airport the night of the 27th, then stay at the airport till our 6:30 am flight, should we take that route?

Why not fly out of Orange County?

Dark_Side

jack eddy wrote: »

Ok, so virgin has flights at $59.00 a piece on Tuesday 28th from San Diego to San Francisco which my grandparents can pick us up from. The problem with this is we wanted to stop by Disneyland for a while, and our hotel is only booked to the 27th. Is there a viable way of getting some cheap transport from San Diego to Disney Land (anaheim, correct?) then back to the San Diego airport the night of the 27th, then stay at the airport till our 6:30 am flight, should we take that route?

Uh, you might just have to pick and choose what you really want to do. In this case, I would probably take the Amtrack up to Orange county for the Disneyland trip, and then catch a flight out of John Wayne airport in Orange County, much like Thanatos recommended. It sounds like you're trying to sleep in the SD airport, and I'm almost positive that's not going to happen in San Diego. It's a strange airport in that there are no flights at night, there's a curfew on the airlines with heavy fines for breaking it. So I'm pretty sure they would kick you out if you tried it.

The Trolley will take you straight from downtown to the Old Town station where you can book an Amtrak ticket to Orange. I've never had to go to John Wayne so I'm not sure the easiest way to get there from Disney Land, I'm assuming taxi or some sort of shuttle.

Lewisham

Dark_Side wrote: »

. It's a strange airport in that there are no flights at night, there's a curfew on the airlines with heavy fines for breaking it. So I'm pretty sure they would kick you out if you tried it.

It's not that strange at all, it's a small airport. I would also expect that the airport "closes" (like for an hour) overnight, in order to kick out people trying to sleep there.

Now that the OP is adding all these things he wants to do, I can see no reasonable solution without renting a car, and then you may as well just drive to Sac in it.

jeddy lee

Hmm... I suppose I'm very used to Anchorage's "Ted Stevens "Rips the State Off" International Airport" which is pretty bustling and open 24/7.

In that case... Maybe flying out of orange county would be best.

Iceman.USAF

rfalias wrote: »

Keep in mind that a lot of car rental companies won't rent to anyone under 25.
Make sure to check ahead of time before getting set on a travel option.

Not so true anymore. I've rented from the following places and never had an issue

Budget
Enterprise
Avis
Hertz

You might pay a higher rate, but I believe most places will rent to you.

Dark_Side

It's usually a pretty ridiculous bump, most of the time like 25 bucks a day, but yeah, most rent to under 25's now.

kaliyama

NotYou wrote: »

It takes me 5 and a half hours on the 5 to get from LA to sacramento going 83ish with one gas/fast food stop.

Two problems with this statement. 1) They're driving from san diego, another 120 miles south of Los Angeles, and 2) you're making a lot of assumptions about the commute.

To wit: you're assuming no traffic on A) the 405, the 101, C) the grapevine, and D) the 5, and you know what you're doing driving that route, and you drive like a Californian. I usually take the thing at 90-100 if i'm feeling invincible to the cops. But I wouldn't recommend that to people who don't want tickets or don't want to get in an accident, especially pre-5. even then, i've seen things happen b/c the 5 is only two lanes and people are stupid.
You're also assuming a pretty short food/bathroom/gas break, and that's assuming you stop for food the same place you stop for gas.

Navigating the 405 could easily tack another 2-4 hours if they go before 10 AM or after 3-4 PM. Even then, i'd think the trip is going to be 8 hours.

jeddy lee

So, then if we do take the long drive, which is looking the route we'll probably be going for various reasons, what highway do we take from SD to OC (disney land), and then OC to Sacramento?

kaliyama

The 5. The 5 splits into the 405 when you hit LA county, and if you were going straight to Sacto you should stay on the 405. But if you're going to d-land. Google maps (maps.google.com) is pretty good for this stuff - just type in "San Diego, CA" as your starting location, then make the ending location be "Disneyland."

Pellaeon

I-5 all the way from san diego to sacramento. Disneyland is off of I-5. You don't NEED any other highways, though it's kind of ass when the freeway convienently gets cut down to 3 lanes heading through downtown LA.