Larry

I’m planning a Road Trip -- just me and my 928. YYYYEAH, BABY!

I have 2 weeks. I could do the Interstates. They’d be more direct and faster. And boring. I’m looking for back roads though UT, into AZ to Flagstaff, & AZ-to-San Diego -- 928-style!!

I’ll be leaving Seattle Monday and need to be in Flagstaff by Thur. Stay a couple days, and then San Diego by Tue or Wed. Stay a couple days, and then take the coastline back home.

I know. I could plan a trip through AAA, but they just don’t understand. I’m not just driving a Suburban. This is a me-and-my-928 experience!

Those of you in UT, AZ & So. Cal – any favorite back roads semi-close to my route? All ideas most appreciated!

SharkSkin

You didn't specifically ask about NorCal, but here goes anyway. If you're taking the coast, highway 1 gets a little bleak north of Monterey, until you get past Santa Cruz. At Santa Cruz, I'd say make a right on highway 9, then a left on 35. 35 follows the ridgeline along the peninsula for quite a few miles -- great road, wonderful views. Almost any road to your left will take you back to the coast, or you can continue to highway 92, hang a right then left(North) on 280 for a short sprint to SF. 35 splits off 280 again a few miles north of 92, and you can follow that out past the Battery along the coast to eventually meet up with 101 over the GG. After that, if you have a few hours drive up to the top of Mt. Tamalpias and have a look around. The view from there is awesome, sometimes the fog looks like a huge wave crashing over the peninsula...

Ron_H

If you're coming up Hwy. 1, plan to stop at Big Sur. If I were doing it I would camp the night there. My shark swallows my camping equipment and then some, and that's another reason I like it. When I'm not in jail, I like to do what you'er planning :

Ron_H

If you take Dave's route, be cool along Hwy. 35 (bear haven); they are all waiting to catch Dave someday, I think. Bring a radar detector.

Be careful coming into Santa Barbara and around Goleta, CA. Speed trap city there.

Hwy 1, just North of the Golden Gate Bridge, is accessible from Mill Valley and is a nice drive, but really slow and winding. I would stay on 101 until you are just about parallel to Sea Ranch and then take the road to the coast for a faster run up to the California border. Keith has posted about this road, which he really likes.

I hear the Oregon State Police are worse than they have ever been and getting worse, particularly on roads other than I-5. But some of the roads along that Oregon coast are nice if the fog is not present.

I thought of another place to stay if you're camping. Stop outside Monterey at Laguna Seca. County campground at the track with hot showers and great sites with good facilities. There is usually something interesting happening at the track now that Spring has sprung.

alex70

Hey Larry-

I have had the fortune of driving the route you are looking at, at least the part from So Cal desert (Palm Springs/Palm Desert) to the coast.

I would take the 40 west, to 95 south, to the 10 west. Lots of woop-tee-doos (spell check) on the 95, alot of fun , and almost made my ex wife sick (jeez and she was in the Navy too) you know flash flood areas. Nice 2 lane road. Then progress to the straight part of the 10 west to the 74 west. This takes you through the Anza borego desert, Cahuilla and Aguanga area, and you proceed through desert to high mountain pine area and back to swisties on the way past Lake Elsinore. No guard rails on the part of the trip from Palm Desert to Lake Elsinore so dont look at the map while navigating or your on the side of the road! Very nice ride and scenery though. Stop and take some pictures.

So from there stop at Mugs Away on Camino Capistrano (bar - for one beer though) after you get off the 74 and head north, stop at Avery Pkwy, go left, turn north on Cam Capistrano, ond about 4 blocks away is Mugs this is the historic site that has the mooning of the Amtrak train in July. Good people and great bartenders.

Thats my spin on the trip from AZ - best of luck.

I have other trips from parts of No cal too.

Rich

SharkSkin

Bears? What bears? The only bears I ever see are always occupied talking to this one guy in a Meteor Metallic 928.... no threat to me...

Rich9928p

Here are some AZ ideas.

From Flagstaff, go south a bit on I17 then take ALT 89 through Oak Creek, Sedona, Cottonwood and then to Jerome, Prescott and over Yarnell hill down to Congress. From there you can go soutwest on 71 to 60 and intersect I10 west. Rather then just take I10 to LA, you can cut down along the 78 just west of Blythe to Brawley, take 111 south to I8 and then head west into San Diego.

An alternative route in CA is to take I10 west to Indio, then head to 111 West then turn south on 74 to 371 and then 79 until you get near Temecula and then take I15 south into San Diego.

You'll have plenty of back roads, see fewer county mounties (though especially on weekends they will be looking for sports cars on the Yarnell to Congress section of the route).

Ron_H

I heard from a little bird that there is an intense speed trap effort in and around San Diego currently. Be cool.

goldknight

once your heading back to CA from flagstaff, From hyw 40 take US 66 from seligman to Kingman. Great drive not much traffic. Pay attention to the signs you do go through a few 3 towns and they love to ticket in there towns. Not a big deal. One of the last places you will see before hitting kingman and hwy 40 again is the town of Hackberry. One you left will be a small store with a 56 corvett in front of it Stop in and say Hi to my parents for me... John (Dad) can give you many fun roads to hit on your way back to cali.

Thruston.

IcemanG17

Bring your V1 with you!

Ketchmi

Drop by our shop in Salt Lake City and we'll clue you into quite a few nice drives in the area. This is one of the few areas that you can let the 2.20 rear gears do their job.

BC

I think there has been some sort of increased effort. 56 is a new east west, and can be 90mph sometimes. I think they are not pacing as much as usuing radar. Certain other areas may also be affected more heavily, such as parts of the south county highways, but I am still watching intently for the pacing since I do not have a detector, and have not had one for 4 years since the last one was stolen.

163, 15, and 5 all still seem quite normal.

Can you be more specific?

BC

Tell me when you will be in in SOUTH Socal, meaning San Diego.

BC

I see tue or wed, but just turning around, or staying somewhere?

928ntslow

I am surprised no one told him about this thread...
Best Roads in America for the 928