Long distance drive from Seattle to LA..tips?
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: San Francisco, Ca
I drove from ATL to San Diego no problem. i would also advise taping up the front end. go to home depot and get 3M painter's tape. it will leave no residue and take all the bugs and road debris with no problem!!
What is your time frame to make the trip? If you have time there are some great roads & scenery along the way.
Glad to give you ideas if you have time. But if your blasting through, its I-5 petal to the medal & boring.
Glad to give you ideas if you have time. But if your blasting through, its I-5 petal to the medal & boring.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 45
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From: California
i drive mostly every weekend from san diego -> cerritos
approx. 110mi
yea z is not a very comfortable car to drive long distances lol
make urself comfortable and yea music is a must! o yea and ciggs if u smoke.
approx. 110mi
yea z is not a very comfortable car to drive long distances lol
make urself comfortable and yea music is a must! o yea and ciggs if u smoke.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: California
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Seattle WA
I moved from Tucson to Seattle a few years ago. It was a wonderful drive in my '03 Z. You might want a lower-back pillow. And be prepared for a very dirty car. Also, make sure your tires and brake pads are fresh.
I second the idea of a bra on the front. Not sure I'd want to tape up my car.
I second the idea of a bra on the front. Not sure I'd want to tape up my car.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 241
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From: Hawaii
Good God. There are so many f**king beatiful spots to stop off at it's un-friggin-real. The 5 gets you where you need to be quickly and efficiently, but the 101 and PCH are where it's at if you want to have the drive of a lifetime.
I stayed in Oregon for a month when I was a kid and I still remember Haystack Rock near Ecola State Park in Oregon. Simply beautiful. Beyond that I don't remember much in Oregon as I was just a kid back then. However, once you're in California, the 101 takes you near Humboldt Bay and Eureka, California.
South of that I remember pretty well though as I drove and flew up to Norcal pretty frequently in college to visit or stay with friends during break. When you get close to San Fransisco...ohhhh man. Marin County is simply breathtaking and such a blast to drive in a fun car. If you decide to make the trip, check out Point Reyes. Amazing view of the Bay from there. Mount Tamalpais is another nice spot to check out as are Stinson Beach and Muir Woods. I'm telling you, from a driving enthusiast's standpoint it is so worth the extra mileage and time to go out of your way to check out Marin County. You'll heel and toe downshift your brains out and be amazed at the scenery.
From there you can cruise through down town Frisco and head south again on either the 101 or the 5.
1. If you head down the 101, check out Pacheco Pass along the 152. This will take you along the San Luis Reservoir not to mention Pacheco Pass is filled with Ansel Adamsesque rolling hills for miles. From there you can take the 5 south although it's a snoozefest for a few hours until you're about 2 hours out of LA where you finally start to see mountains and things get a little interesting.
2. If you wanna play explorer you can take the 5 south out of SF and take the 152 West to the coast. From there you can drive through Monterey hitting up Carmel along the PCH. It's a much more interesting drive than the 5. You'll see the Bixby Creek Arch Bridge as you pass through Big Sur. Eventually you'll end up in Ventura County that runs near Point Mugu and by then you'll be close to LA.
If you must drive from Washington to LA, I strongly suggest you make it worth your while. You're gonna rack up the miles anyway, might as well make it memorable. Four years was not enough for me. I love Hawaii, but man if there's one thing I miss about California, it's the fact that there's always a beautiful (and not to mention fun) drive just begging for you to put some miles on your ride.
I stayed in Oregon for a month when I was a kid and I still remember Haystack Rock near Ecola State Park in Oregon. Simply beautiful. Beyond that I don't remember much in Oregon as I was just a kid back then. However, once you're in California, the 101 takes you near Humboldt Bay and Eureka, California.
South of that I remember pretty well though as I drove and flew up to Norcal pretty frequently in college to visit or stay with friends during break. When you get close to San Fransisco...ohhhh man. Marin County is simply breathtaking and such a blast to drive in a fun car. If you decide to make the trip, check out Point Reyes. Amazing view of the Bay from there. Mount Tamalpais is another nice spot to check out as are Stinson Beach and Muir Woods. I'm telling you, from a driving enthusiast's standpoint it is so worth the extra mileage and time to go out of your way to check out Marin County. You'll heel and toe downshift your brains out and be amazed at the scenery.
From there you can cruise through down town Frisco and head south again on either the 101 or the 5.
1. If you head down the 101, check out Pacheco Pass along the 152. This will take you along the San Luis Reservoir not to mention Pacheco Pass is filled with Ansel Adamsesque rolling hills for miles. From there you can take the 5 south although it's a snoozefest for a few hours until you're about 2 hours out of LA where you finally start to see mountains and things get a little interesting.
2. If you wanna play explorer you can take the 5 south out of SF and take the 152 West to the coast. From there you can drive through Monterey hitting up Carmel along the PCH. It's a much more interesting drive than the 5. You'll see the Bixby Creek Arch Bridge as you pass through Big Sur. Eventually you'll end up in Ventura County that runs near Point Mugu and by then you'll be close to LA.
If you must drive from Washington to LA, I strongly suggest you make it worth your while. You're gonna rack up the miles anyway, might as well make it memorable. Four years was not enough for me. I love Hawaii, but man if there's one thing I miss about California, it's the fact that there's always a beautiful (and not to mention fun) drive just begging for you to put some miles on your ride.
Last edited by bruddahmatt; Oct 25, 2008 at 02:26 PM.
Okay, Wild; just sent you a long PM. Let me know if you get it.
By the way, I'm 66 and 300 mile days in the Z are not a problem. Though you might want to get out and stretch every hour or so.
By the way, I'm 66 and 300 mile days in the Z are not a problem. Though you might want to get out and stretch every hour or so.
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 42
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From: So Cal
Hey guy,
I do I-5 to Seattle from LA quite a bit. All the advice is good. Just remember to pull over if you get drowsy. If you ride with the flow of traffic, you should be good.
If you can get off I-5 south of San Francisco and take US 101, it is a bit more scenic. And if you really have some time, continue over to CA1, the Big Sur highway. Your Z was made for this road....
Steve
I do I-5 to Seattle from LA quite a bit. All the advice is good. Just remember to pull over if you get drowsy. If you ride with the flow of traffic, you should be good.
If you can get off I-5 south of San Francisco and take US 101, it is a bit more scenic. And if you really have some time, continue over to CA1, the Big Sur highway. Your Z was made for this road....
Steve
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: So Cal
Good God. There are so many f**king beatiful spots to stop off at it's un-friggin-real. The 5 gets you where you need to be quickly and efficiently, but the 101 and PCH are where it's at if you want to have the drive of a lifetime.
I stayed in Oregon for a month when I was a kid and I still remember Haystack Rock near Ecola State Park in Oregon. Simply beautiful. Beyond that I don't remember much in Oregon as I was just a kid back then. However, once you're in California, the 101 takes you near Humboldt Bay and Eureka, California.
South of that I remember pretty well though as I drove and flew up to Norcal pretty frequently in college to visit or stay with friends during break. When you get close to San Fransisco...ohhhh man. Marin County is simply breathtaking and such a blast to drive in a fun car. If you decide to make the trip, check out Point Reyes. Amazing view of the Bay from there. Mount Tamalpais is another nice spot to check out as are Stinson Beach and Muir Woods. I'm telling you, from a driving enthusiast's standpoint it is so worth the extra mileage and time to go out of your way to check out Marin County. You'll heel and toe downshift your brains out and be amazed at the scenery.
From there you can cruise through down town Frisco and head south again on either the 101 or the 5.
1. If you head down the 101, check out Pacheco Pass along the 152. This will take you along the San Luis Reservoir not to mention Pacheco Pass is filled with Ansel Adamsesque rolling hills for miles. From there you can take the 5 south although it's a snoozefest for a few hours until you're about 2 hours out of LA where you finally start to see mountains and things get a little interesting.
2. If you wanna play explorer you can take the 5 south out of SF and take the 152 West to the coast. From there you can drive through Monterey hitting up Carmel along the PCH. It's a much more interesting drive than the 5. You'll see the Bixby Creek Arch Bridge as you pass through Big Sur. Eventually you'll end up in Ventura County that runs near Point Mugu and by then you'll be close to LA.
If you must drive from Washington to LA, I strongly suggest you make it worth your while. You're gonna rack up the miles anyway, might as well make it memorable. Four years was not enough for me. I love Hawaii, but man if there's one thing I miss about California, it's the fact that there's always a beautiful (and not to mention fun) drive just begging for you to put some miles on your ride.
I stayed in Oregon for a month when I was a kid and I still remember Haystack Rock near Ecola State Park in Oregon. Simply beautiful. Beyond that I don't remember much in Oregon as I was just a kid back then. However, once you're in California, the 101 takes you near Humboldt Bay and Eureka, California.
South of that I remember pretty well though as I drove and flew up to Norcal pretty frequently in college to visit or stay with friends during break. When you get close to San Fransisco...ohhhh man. Marin County is simply breathtaking and such a blast to drive in a fun car. If you decide to make the trip, check out Point Reyes. Amazing view of the Bay from there. Mount Tamalpais is another nice spot to check out as are Stinson Beach and Muir Woods. I'm telling you, from a driving enthusiast's standpoint it is so worth the extra mileage and time to go out of your way to check out Marin County. You'll heel and toe downshift your brains out and be amazed at the scenery.
From there you can cruise through down town Frisco and head south again on either the 101 or the 5.
1. If you head down the 101, check out Pacheco Pass along the 152. This will take you along the San Luis Reservoir not to mention Pacheco Pass is filled with Ansel Adamsesque rolling hills for miles. From there you can take the 5 south although it's a snoozefest for a few hours until you're about 2 hours out of LA where you finally start to see mountains and things get a little interesting.
2. If you wanna play explorer you can take the 5 south out of SF and take the 152 West to the coast. From there you can drive through Monterey hitting up Carmel along the PCH. It's a much more interesting drive than the 5. You'll see the Bixby Creek Arch Bridge as you pass through Big Sur. Eventually you'll end up in Ventura County that runs near Point Mugu and by then you'll be close to LA.
If you must drive from Washington to LA, I strongly suggest you make it worth your while. You're gonna rack up the miles anyway, might as well make it memorable. Four years was not enough for me. I love Hawaii, but man if there's one thing I miss about California, it's the fact that there's always a beautiful (and not to mention fun) drive just begging for you to put some miles on your ride.
Steve
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