traffic question.....

We are heading to your fair city in a couple of weeks and will be staying near Fishermans Wharf. We%26#39;ll be staying there for the weekend and then plan to drive to Lake Tahoe for a few days. We%26#39;d like to leave for Tahoe on a sunday. What kind of traffic can we expect on a sunday morning........thanks early........Tolter

traffic question.....

Sunday mornings are generally pretty quiet. You might consider exiting town via the Golden Gate Bridge to Hwy 37, thence east to Hwy 80. Traffic is often a bit heavy as you go through Sacramento, but should thin out as you go into the mountains. On a Sunday, most folks will be headed back to the Valley and Bay Area. Sunday is a good day to head to Tahoe.

traffic question.....

Where in Tahoe are you heading? If you are heading to South Lake Tahoe, here is an alternative and what I consider a more scenic route...

Head across the Bay Bridge to I-580 towards Stockton. From Stockton, take highway 88. This will take you up the back way through Jackson, Pine Grove, and Kirkwood. This will connect you onto highway 89 and into S. Lake Tahoe. Quicker, no, but definitely more scenic, IMO.

Of course, in a few weeks you may need to be conscious of the weather. They just had their first light snow on Friday, so weather may be changeable towards the end of the month. Always check for road conditions in case of early snow.

Yes, we are headed to South Lake Tahoe. Thanks for all the suggestions and I will keep track of the weather. I%26#39;m keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn%26#39;t snow. We see plenty of it back in the northeast and would prefer a few more months on not having to drive in it, especially on your mountain roads.

I advise against the Golden Gate Bridge route. I think it%26#39;s somewhat longer and the traffic difference is minimal.

Take the San Francisco Bay Bridge and follow the signs to Sacramento. In West Sacramento is a split, one way to Reno, that you don%26#39;t want, the other to Placerville and/or Tahoe, that you do. It%26#39;s a bit fewer than two hundred miles.

The other route suggested is lovely but longer in distance and time.

sunday morning no traffic. I%26#39;d look into a four wheel drive rental for your trip as if it even sprinkles in the bay area, it might have a dusting of the white stuff where you want to go.

I suggested the GG bridge because you are staying near Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf. Rather than drive across town to the freeway entrance for Hwy80, you could go west on Bay St, to Marina Blvd, then onto Doyle Drive and the bridge. It%26#39;s pretty quick, and a scenic way to exit the city. It%26#39;s a few more miles, but so much prettier than a trip through the East Bay. You also avoid $4 in toll on the Carquinez Bridge. Either way, traffic should be pretty light.

That makes sense as we are staying very close to the Golden Gate bridge. I would vote for the scenic route, but my husband who%26#39;ll be doing most of the driving will vote for the shortest and the fastest. I%26#39;ve heard so many different opinions on possible snow on the way to Tahoe, I don%26#39;t know what to think. I hate to pay for a four wheel if I don%26#39;t have too.........at least twice the money!!!

Personally, I find that route relaxing and not appreciably longer, but understand the desire for expediency. As to snow, remember that you have to cross Echo Summit to get into the Tahoe Basin. The elevation is over 7700%26#39;, so if there is precip in the forecast, you might want to upgrade to a 4 wheel drive. Rain often turns to snow in the high country. It%26#39;s always recommended that you carry chains in the mountains, if no 4 wheel. Conditions can change rapidly. That said, you%26#39;re going to love Tahoe.

I wouldn%26#39;t worry too much about snow, nor would I be so quick to upgrade to 4WD. Just watch the weather and road conditions. Chances are slim of a snowstorm this early that would warrant 4WD. The difference between US50 and CA88 is not that much different in time, but very much different in scenery.

[The following also appears under the Subject: The Road: November 1-6, MMVII]

swirlinabc... suggested 芦heading to South Lake Tahoe, here is an alternative and what I consider a more scenic route...

芦From Stockton, take highway 88. This will take you up the back way through Jackson, Pine Grove, and Kirkwood. This will connect you onto highway 89 and into S. Lake Tahoe. Quicker, no, but definitely more scenic, IMO.禄

Came home that way this spectacularly clear and, in The Valley, warm (78掳F) day. Yes, the first part was a beautiful trip but it took me 6.9 hours to cover the 230 miles. Yes, I stopt a lot to look at dis %26#39;n%26#39; dat but those stops were brief, perhaps half an hour making the driving time about 6.4. Although there was traffic all the way, more oten than not we were moving faster than the posted limit.

Last year%26#39;s round trip was 404.8 miles, going on Highway 40 and returning on Highway 50, 197.1 miles in 4.4 hours to come home. This year, returning by the Alpine Highway, it was thrity-three miles and 1.9 hours longer.

I said that the first part was beautiful and, indeed, it was. But rollilng down the foothills was a descent into Ugly. Only the vineyards and orchards weren%26#39;t, all bathed in ugly air. I welcomed the setting of our Sun, in Stockton, thus obscuring the rest of the ugly.

Was the Alpine Highway (88) worth the additional distance and time? No, I don%26#39;t think so. However, it would be were one to leave it in Jackson to travel on Highway 49. I would certainly not go up that way. It%26#39;s quite a climb.