Bay Area to LA via 101S

[evergreen96]

I have alway gone to LA via I-5 and 152, but one of my crazy friends wants to drive to LA using 101S. I know for a fact that drive I 5 is boring and is pretty much simple straight line. He think his van (late 90 model ) Madza MPV v6 wont make it up the mountains at San Lubsio and grapevine just outside of LA where you climb that high mountain before u get to Magic Mountain.


So where you stop for gas on 101S when going to LA (how far are gas station on the freeway ? where the best place to get cheap gas? All i Know it its a long route but i don;t know where to tell him to get gas.

FYI he can't rent a car he under 18. and claims that the car has trouble going over speed bumbs (where the car will roll down speed bumps unless you give it gas) and that why he taking 101 instead of I 5

Has anyone driven to LA via 101 from Northern CA. What was your experinece and would you do it again or just take I 5 down next time.

 

[Francodman]

greenfield lol

 

[KLin]

eek, ~429 miles, that's a looong road trip. I'd recommend stopping somewhere around Pismo to refill, and take a break from driving.

 

[warcrow]

There are gas stations everywhere, they're just spread out. Santa Maria to Buellton (which is roughly a 30 mins drive). Buellton has gas. Then from there, Santa Barbara is next has gas....(another 30 mins), and the Ventura/Oxnard/Camarillo aera has gas everywhere (another 45 mins).


101S is a nice drive, because once you pass Bulleton, about 15 mins you'll be drving by the ocean for hours. Very nice, especially at sunset. Enjoy

 

[sygyzy]

There is a gas station at the 246 mile mark and another at 255. The cheapest gas is Joe's Gas and Auto at Exit 72. Good luck.

 

[shopbruin]

it takes FOREVER on 101. just stop wherever you can and make note of the signs.

how bad is his car?! my dinky honda (98 civic) has made the trek several times from san jose to LA and LA to san jose. only have a slight bit of trouble in the grapevine because the mountains are tough on my little car, but otherwise its smooth as heck.

 

[puffpio]

He needs to first fix his car if the darn thing can't make it over speed bumps!!

 

[calboy98]

look out for cops on the 101

 

[NumbaJuan]

where the best place to get cheap gas? All i Know it its a long route but i don;t know where to tell him to get gas.


there is no such thing as cheap gas on the central coast

 

[brtspears2]

All the same to me, 101 or 5. The gas stops are spaced out well.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Originally posted by: NumbaJuan
where the best place to get cheap gas? All i Know it its a long route but i don;t know where to tell him to get gas.


there is no such thing as cheap gas on the central coast

True that. It's actually cheaper in SB than it is up here in San Luis - Santa Maria. It's not hard to find gas stations at all, lol. You think the 101 is underpopulated or something? You sure as hell won't think so if you plan to be anywhere on it at 9am or 4pm