Alternatives for driving from LA to north of SF?

[Gold Metal Flake]

So I now have a need to drive up north from LA to the Santa Rosa area several times a year. I am seeking a reliable alternative to the 5/580/101 route that I have taken several times now (last Friday construction and weekend getaway had turned both the 580 and the 101 up to Petaluma into parking lots). Could one expect fewer delays driving the 99 up to Modesto or Manteca and taking the 132 or 120 west?

Any other routes around the bay like the 680/780/37 any good? I'm looking at maps but the truth is on the ground and I have very little travel experience in this part of the state that does not include PCH.

I guess avoiding Oakland would be a priority while still hooking up with the 101 north of the bays. That 101 road widening between Novato and Petaluma will probably not be completed before Thanksgiving, will it? That backup supremely sucked.


(planes, trains and busses are a separate convo)

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Time of day dependent.

680 north is fine except during evening rush (and 680 south is terrible during morning rush.) 37 is horrible during rush hours and whenever Infineon raceway is in operation, although it's beautiful road.

[KamaAina]

2. First of all, north of about Fresno, the highways shed their "the"s

They're just 580, 101, etc.

The weak link in the 680/780/37 route is definitely 37. A similar bypass might be 680/80 west (for about a mile)/12/116, which takes you right into Petaluma and is not a heavy-duty commuter route like 37.

[Sirveri]

3. You could take I-5 to SR-4 in Stockton.

SR-4 @ Stockton is basically a one lane undivided road until you get near the brentwood area. It then begins to widen until you hit 680, you can continue to take it until you hit I-80, then go north into Vallejo and cut across with 37. I'd put it into google maps and see what sort of time you get from that route. 580 isn't typically that bad except during major commute hours, at which point the entire bay area turns into a parking lot.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. SR 4 is a mess in Antioch (west of Brentwood to 680) because of the widening project.

That section of 4 is slow during rush hours and on the weekend.

[Gold Metal Flake]

4. Thanks all! Well, no real good alternatives for swift transport.

Look at all the planned roadwork!
http://www.sctainfo.org/a_vision_for_our_future/highway.htm

I'll just have to rely on early starts to get through without a lot of bumper to bumper.