avoiding LA

[Lesell]

we will be travelling down Highway 1 from SF to Vegas & want to go as far as Santa Barbara but avoid LA. Looking for best route, any advice?

[Mark Sedenquist]

Sorry, just had to say that. There are several routes for you to consider.

The road around Lake Casitas is a little bit hilly, (county road 150) but lovely views and you could stop for a coffee or tea or whatever in Ojai. The only down side is that the area has grown population-wise with outsufficient growth of infrastructure and so the traffic might be a bit tough.

In any case, eventually you will reach CA-126 at Santa Paula and I would proceed to the east on CA-126 until you reach Castiac Junction at I-5. Your route east from there really depends upon how much time you have. If you have time, you might consider driving some of the <a href = "http://www.roadtripamerica.com/read/ridgeroute.htm">Ridge Route<a/> or take the Lake Hughes Rd and visit <a href = "http://www.roadtripamerica.com/eats/rockinn.htm">the Rock Inn<a/>. Eventually you will reach CA-14 (see below).

Or you could take the Magic Mountain parkway and join CA-14 headed east, pick up Pearlblossom Highway (CA-138) and proceed to I-15 and then north to Las Vegas. <a href = "http://www.meganedwards.com/">Click here for some ideas<a/>.

[Lesell]

without driving like Nigel Mansell, how long would you give yourself to do this section?