Phoenix to Fresno

[wsaHarem]

Doing a very long 4 day trip from Austin to Truckee CA. Day 3 is Phoenix to Fresno. I can do either I10 to I5 through CA traffic (not first choice), or the back route through Barstow either through Needles, Palm Springs or Palm Springs/Victorville.

Through Victorville seems to give me more charging stations, but Palm Springs to Barstow seems to be a better route?

Any thoughts on people that have traveled this route?

Thanks!

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[Hawkjody]

Along your choosen route there is a Rivian Outpost and charging in Joshua Tree / near one of the tesla stops o=you have plotted -

 

[Hawkjody]

Time of day and day of week will matter - “IF” NO ACCIDENTS. Would be quicker 10 - to the 210 to the 5. That is a big if!

 

[SANZC02]

I agree with @Hawkjody time of day makes a difference. If you can get to the 5 on the 210 before 2:30 pm, that is the best route, if it looks like after 2:30 you would hit a lot of traffic on the 210, would be faster going through Palm Springs/Barstow.

Charging stops either route would be fine.

 

[wsaHarem]

Along your choosen route there is a Rivian Outpost and charging in Joshua Tree / near one of the tesla stops o=you have plotted -

When Rivian gives me a discount for being a loyal customer, I'll change my route

 

[wsaHarem]

I agree with @Hawkjody time of day makes a difference. If you can get to the 5 on the 210 before 2:30 pm, that is the best route, if it looks like after 2:30 you would hit a lot of traffic on the 210, would be faster going through Palm Springs/Barstow.

Charging stops either route would be fine.

Palm Springs it is. 2:30 puts me smack dab in West Covina.

 

[CharonPDX]

Through Barstow is just a better drive.

 

[Quadsquad]

Through Barstow is just a better drive.

I did a similar drive back in March, Bay Area to Phoenix and back.
In Quartzite on I-10 it looks like you have a Tesla stop plotted. There is also a RAN, and across the road from the RAN is a giant wholesale rock shop. We enjoyed browsing the stacks and piles while we waited to charge.
I wholeheartedly agree with prior post, through Barstow is a nicer drive. If you can spare a little time, you might consider to cut through Joshua Tree to get to your 29 Palms stop. Slower speed limit but great scenery right at the edge of the road.
And after you pass through Barstow, keep an eye out for the Mojave Air and Space port. Fancy name but it’s an airplane graveyard. Dozens and dozens of parked jets painted in 20+ year old airline livery, all lined up. You’ll see it from 58.
Enjoy the trip!

 

[Duckman]

I live in PHX and travel to Washington and back for the summers. Avoid I-10 past Quartzite. The trip around Palm Springs and LA can take hours longer than projected due to traffic, construction, accidents weather etc. Quartzite to Needles to Barstow is best route to I-5. Easy drive, much less traffic.

 

[SANZC02]

I live in PHX and travel to Washington and back for the summers. Avoid I-10 past Quartzite. The trip around Palm Springs and LA can take hours longer than projected due to traffic, construction, accidents weather etc. Quartzite to Needles to Barstow is best route to I-5. Easy drive, much less traffic.

I have a place in Coachella Valley, the cutoff for Joshua Tree is before the climb out of the valley going through Whitewater. I’ve rarely had any issues with traffic in that area on the 10. It occasionally gets heavy in Cabazon with the outlet malls and casino but they cutoff before that. It also gets heavy during the music festivals (Coachella and Stagecoach) but those were a few weeks ago so should not be an issue.

That being said, Barstow through Needles or Coachella Valley from Quartzite in my opinion is a coin flip from Quartzite.

 

[defcon888]

Time of day and day of week will matter - “IF” NO ACCIDENTS. Would be quicker 10 - to the 210 to the 5. That is a big if!

I am a native Californian and we never give a time. If someone asks me "How long does it take to go from point A to point B?". I ask "what time of the day are you doing this?".


A 10 mile trip in the Bay area at 4 am will take you 10 minutes. That same trip at 6am or 4pm will be at a minimum 20 to 30 mins.

I drive a long want to get to work. On the way to work....2-1/2 hours, same trip on the way home.......3-1/2 to 4 hours.

 

[CharonPDX]

A 10 mile trip in the Bay area at 4 am will take you 10 minutes. That same trip at 6am or 4pm will be at a minimum 20 to 30 mins.

I refuse to believe that any 10-mile trip anywhere in the Bay Area would *EVER* take only 10 minutes.

 

[HaveBlue]

I agree on time 230 in the afternoon in Covina going west isn't to bad. I live in Pasadena.

The 247 from Palm springs to Victorville Barstow is just a 2 lane in the middle of nowhere. The 40/58 is a freeway and you can visit Hinkley, say hi to Erin brockovich and have some water if you are thirsty. The 215/15/395 North to VV mid day is ok. I'd probably opt for that as the 5 will be rush hour.

 

[malditofman]

Doing a very long 4 day trip from Austin to Truckee CA. Day 3 is Phoenix to Fresno. I can do either I10 to I5 through CA traffic (not first choice), or the back route through Barstow either through Needles, Palm Springs or Palm Springs/Victorville.

Through Victorville seems to give me more charging stations, but Palm Springs to Barstow seems to be a better route?

Any thoughts on people that have traveled this route?

Thanks!

Go North, young man. Rivian chargers in Phoenix and Barstow. Less traffic through desert and more scenic. No need to use Tesla chargers for most of the trip. I have driven all over California and Arizona and never had to use a Musk product yet. Drive well.

 

[drivetorun]

I refuse to believe that any 10-mile trip anywhere in the Bay Area would *EVER* take only 10 minutes.

Have you ever traveled on 280 along the Peninsula (between 85 & 380)...flow of traffic outside of commute hours is ~75mph, and you can usually travel 80 without much problem. If your start/end is within a mile or two of the freeway, a 10-mile trip easily only takes 10min.

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