Norcal -> Socal jockeys: I-5/101 route advice pls

[MikeDeuce]

I'm driving from San Mateo to Costa Mesa tomorrow night... Normally I would always take I-5 down south but due to my current situation I am considering taking 101.

I'll be towing a car, and my truck has a towing break in period for the rear diff. I will be limited to 50mph for 500 miles. I hate driving in fog... when I went down south last month, the entire stretch of 5 was covered in dense fog. And I would prefer not to tow/drive through snow... if that is still an issue on the grapevine.

Mapping San Mateo -> Costa Mesa tells me to go down 101. Distance: 454.5 miles.

Mapping it through I-5... Distance: 424.3.

Would anyone recommend 101 over 5? How is the fog / weather conditions on 101 down there lately?

Basically I don't mind driving 30 more miles if it means less of a chance of fog and or snow.

Thanks
-mike

[Andrew Bohan]

101 takes all day. it's not even freeway in some places. oh and there was a mudslide near santa barbara yesterday. on the plus side, it actually goes though some towns and cities so it's waaaaaaay more interesting than 5.

[tew photy]

101 isn't that bad, except with the current weather in socal, it might be tough around santa barbara and ventura. on the other hand, i'm not sure of the condition of Tejon pass, which 5 goes over into the LA basin. the pass is closed sometimes because of weather, and with the rains they are having down there now, i dunno. if you have to go 50mph anyways, you might just wanna take 101, as the limit there is 55-65, not 70 like 5 is. either way, it's gonna be a bitch cuz of weather. good luck...

[fastbacchris]

i say take the 5 because of the weather

[S14DriftR]

Dude, stay the fuck away from the 101 untill its all cleared up. 101 was complety shut down both directions just south of santa barbara, the whole area is a mess.
http://www.opl.ucsb.edu/grace/lc/lc12.jpg
that was the 101 as of yesterday, still closed as of this morning, no eta when its gonna be cleared up.
and the slide thats been on the news:
http://http://members.cox.net/batdog/images/cid_image001.jpg

[ghostuss]

why you want to beat urself up going 101? 5 is all ez and stuff. I don't see no fog on 5... I drove from San Francisco to San Diego on 5 within 9 hours with breaks for gas and I think that's pretty good.

[MikeDeuce]

Some of my coworkers scared me off of 101 too... I didn't realize it's basically 1 for a lot of parts down there. I really don't want to tow on 1, so I guess its 5 for me.

Thanks much, all

[thx247]

I would only tow 101 if I knew I was going to break down and be close to parts stores. 5 can be pretty empty at times.

But yeh...101 right now is fscked. So 5 it is!

[S14Crossovr]

yeah the 101 probably wont be opened up till thursday or friday. This weather has kicked Santa Barbara Countys ass

[nistech]

take the 5 that is hella cool :)

[idlafie]

Road Conditions..
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/

Weather and fog...
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/

You might want to check these both before you leave...

ID