Easiest Drive to Clear Lake from Oakland?

Polebrother · Post by **Polebrother** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 9:32 am

Trailoring boat to Clear Lake this week in search of big bluegill...third visit to lake. For the two previous trips (bass & crappie last Feb) I followed a Mapquest route, i.e., Hwy 29 to 175 to 29, finishing in Kelseyville and didn't care much for all the curvy roads. Is there an easier route to take from Oakland? Doesn't have to be faster...just easier if it doesn't take me too far out of the way. As an aside, I'd also be interested in any tips about where to find BIG bluegill and how best to catch them. Thanks!

Mark Langner · Post by **Mark Langner** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 10:45 am

and tried the mapquest route you mentioned a few times...didn't like it either. Cooch got me on a route that's a great deal more pleasant and pretty traffic free too......

From Oakland, head east on 24, then take 680 north, go over the bridge (think the toll is 4 bucks with a boat), and go east on 80....take the 505 "shortcut" north....

Now, on 505 go PAST the berryessa cutoff (past 128)...I mention this only as a landmark....and VERY soon you'll see hwy 16 "Esparta"....take the 16 exit. When you take the exit, you'll come to a stop sign, turn left (west) which brings you over the freeway and follow the signs to esparta....just stay on 16 all the way (town names keep changing)....you'll run into HWY 20....turn left on 20 and proceed into Clearlake.

You'll see this on a map...go to mapquest, put in vacaville california...and scroll upward and you'll see the 16 esparta hwy....

This is much faster than taking 505 to I5 to 20...and less hills.

You also avoide all that nasty napa traffic.

Hitman · Post by **Hitman** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 12:50 pm

80 to 505 to 16 to 20 west is a good route...sometimes you get stuck behind some of the CacheCreek Casino traffic. I usually stay north on 505 to 5 and then get on 20 at Williams. You've got freeway speeds all the way and dont have to worry about casino traffic and the twisty/windy road (hwy 16). I find 505 to 5 to 20 is a faster route and easier towing route.

Hitman

troutnut · Post by **troutnut** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 5:34 pm

I live in fairfield and also go 80/505/5/20.

Going over St Helena grade thru Calistoga/Middletown is a sure way to get your co-pilot carsick, and is very hard on the brakes, either direction.

Hwy 16 has too many Cache Creek casino bozos for me, and the CHP LOVES to work that piece of road. It is very popular with the canyon racer motorcycle crowds and I have met several motorcycles/sportscars cutting across the corners.

I like to stop in Williams on the way home and get a icecream at BASKIN-ROBBINS at the Texaco station too. Williams has all the good junk food chains plus Ganzellas and a couple of hole in the wall burrito joint (right next to Napa Auto Parts) so I can "gas up" the front of the boat. (You don't want to be the am in my boat).

Sometimes the extra 5 minutes you save getting where you are going isn't worth the 5 minutes saved.

Polebrother · Post by **Polebrother** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 8:44 am

I appreciate all of your responses and will apply what I've learned from you this weekend. Think I'll try the less curvy route first (80-505-5-20), even if travel time is a bit longer. Again, big thanks to all! P.S. Junk food works for me, too.

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