Good routes to San Diego

[awall41]

I'm going to visit some friends down in San Diego in 2 weeks and was wondering if anyone had any exciting ways to get there?  I will be coming from the Santa Clarita area and just don't want to sit on the SLOW-05 the whole way down.  I was going to take the 215 but that's pretty damn boring too  .

[Privateer]

how much time do you want to spend?

[awall41]

Maybe 3 or 4 hours. I figure I can do it in 2.5 if I just shoot down the 5 south or 405 to that toll road. 

[hbliam]

Maybe 3 or 4 hours. I figure I can do it in 2.5 if I just shoot down the 5 south or 405 to that toll road. 

An extra 1.5 hours isn't really enough time to take a decent detour. And "that toll road"... I'm guessing is the 73. Look at a map. All it does it divert you through Newport and back to the 5 in San Juan Capistrano. If you stay on the 405 you get there anyway...for free.

[Speeddog]

A good route is going to be 7 hours, but it'll be worth it.

[awall41]

So if I made a 8 hour day out of it would there be a lot of road worth seeing? Leave my house at 9am be there around 6 or 7 after gas and stretch stops.

[Speeddog]

So if I made a 8 hour day out of it would there be a lot of road worth seeing? Leave my house at 9am be there around 6 or 7 after gas and stretch stops.

Absolutely!

You'll need some warm gear, but it'll be great roads.

[awall41]

What roads would you suggest? 

Off topic but do you have any fender eliminators for a 2010 696 at Valley Ducati or do you strictly just do services?  Also anyone have a decent way of listening to music while riding?

[Speeddog]

East on Soledad Canyon Road
Mount Emma Road
Fort Tejon Road
Big Pines Highway
Join the 2 through Wrightwood, up towards Phelan
join the 138, you may be able to continue past the 15, past Silverwood, up into Crestline and then down the 18 to the 30
Or just jump onto the 15 to the 215 to the 30
Get on the 10 east, or go south through Redlands a bit to join with San Timoteo Canyon then rejoin the 10
At Banning, go south on the 243 through Idyllwild
South on the 74
West on the 371
South on the 79
If you've got time, go east on the S2 to the S22 down through Borrego Springs
Grab the S3 south, join the 78 west, through Julian
Get on the 67 west in Ramona
At that point, you're near San Diego

Inquire locally beforehand along the route to verify road conditions.
Lots of moderate to high altitude along the way, and it's winter....

[orangelion03]

I heartily second Speedog's suggestion of Redlands-Banning-Idyllwild then down to Diego.  Back when I lived in Upland, this was one of my favorite rides.

[Scotzman]

You can cut over at Ortega to the 15 and do De Luz Road to Fallbrook then south one exit you can get on the 76, ride past Lake Henshaw to the 79S than either A: Stay on 79 through Cuyamaca state park which comes out at the 8 or
B: take the 78E past the Wild Animal Park back to the 15.

You could also ride up and over Palomar in the process.

If you do go the Idyllwild route, definetly have layers since I think there's snow up there right now (roads are clear).

[red baron]

Take the Coaster.

[erkishhorde]

I thought I remembered a post about the 2 not going through recently after the road washed out after the fires. Don't remember where I read that though.

edit: found it. Privateer posted this on another forum on 3/13/11

http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/

Angeles Crest Highway (SR-2) closed due to weather damage, is expected to open Spring, 2011. For the most recent closure-related informational notice, please click here. To view the previous informational notice regarding the SR-2 closure, click here.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/sync/pr/ach%20update%20322011.pdf

Due to rains in late December 2010 and early January 2011 a slope approximately 2.5 miles east of La Cañada Flintridge (LCF), was washed away by heavy rains and debris. Due to the damage, the highway is estimated to open Spring 2011. The opening is subject to change.

Currently, SR-2 is closed between LCF and Angeles Forest Highway (AFH). The highway is open from AFH (Clear Creek) to the junction of SR-2 and SR-39 (Islip Saddle). A winter season closure is currently in place at Islip Saddle.