Fastest way from San Francisco to Fresno and back?

[yesthattom]

I have to be in Fresno for a 1-hour speeking gig on Saturday.

I wish there was a way I could just "zap" over there like in the movies.

Comments

[gerardp.livejournal.com]

(Insert your favorite map site here) would probably send you across the Bay Bridge to 580 to 205 to 5 to 152 East to 99 South into Fresno. The worst part of that could be the last two highways (152 and 99) and then returning it'll be tough cross the Bay Bridge back into SF.

Are you literally going from SF to Fresno or are you headed from MV? If you're starting in the South Bay, then it might be quicker to head south on 101 and pick a route to cut east from there. Alternatively you can also pick up the San Mateo Bridge (Hwy 92) to 238 to 580 and then out to 205 to 5 to 152 to 99.

If you need any advice, feel free to send me any form of message.

[mtnvwpilot.livejournal.com]

Yeah, if you're headed out from Mountain View, your best bet (as long as it's not Friday afternoon/evening) is 101 south to 152, then across on that to 99. You'll miss the I-5 Experience, which might be a good thing or a bad thing...

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

I enjoy driving the 152... it's really scenic, unlike the 580. Well, unless you groove on windmills.

Places to stop along the way: Casa De Fruta, off of the 152, is a fun place to get inexpensive dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, and garlic. There are also some garlic themed stores near 101 and 152. And if you like split pea soup and/or little dutch-themed restaurants, swing by Pea Soup Andersons on I-5 in Santa Nella, 4 miles north of the 152. Get the traveller's special and ask for some of their onion-cheese rolls.

[mtnvwpilot.livejournal.com]

Not much choice but to drive. Google Maps' directions (I-80 to I-580 to I-5 to CA-152 to CA-99) are about right.

Sucks that you've got a 3-hour drive (each way) for a 1-hour talk, but that's what you get for thinking like an East Coaster, that something in the same state must be close enough to just bop over for a quick talk... ;-) Good thing that you didn't agree to do a talk in Arcata, or Arcadia!

[kimuchi.livejournal.com]

I haven't been to Fresno yet, but I'm guessing Arcata's at least a whole lot nicer...too bad about the being practically in Oregon part.

[sfo2lhr.livejournal.com]

Well, if you can get to Emeryville by 7:30 AM, you can take the train, which gets you in at 11:30 AM, time for lunch and your speaking engagement, then return train at 5:50 PM, gets in at 9:48 PM. There's probably an Amtrak connector bus from SF (Embarcadero, next to the Ferry Building) for both legs, but I didn't check.

http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak (http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak)

[sierra-nevada.livejournal.com]

Fastest way would be air taxi.

[cpj.livejournal.com]

1-hour speeking gig

Good thing it isn't a spelling gig. :)

Oh, and transportation-wise, you're probably SOL on anything easy. Or quick. Or cheap for that matter.