Interstate 5 is the main highway of America's West Coast, running parallel to the Pacific Ocean and U.S. Route 99, from Mexico to Canada. The major states I-5 goes through include California, Oregon and Washington. It runs through some pretty cool cities too: Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego. It also happens to be the only continuous Interstate highway to touch the borders of both Canada and Mexico. These are a few of the best stops along I-5!
Hemet, California, United States
Apple Valley, California, United States
There's tons of natural beauty along I-5. Between late winter and early spring, Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve explodes with brightly-hued flowers, mostly poppies. Seven miles of trail make for awesome wildflower viewing, or for a good place to stretch your legs after long hours in the car.
Curry Village, California, United States
Whether you're a Johnny Cash fan or not (the singer famously played a show for the prisoners here in Folsom), you're sure to find the Folsom Prison Museum interesting. You can see inside an old cell, and look at handmade weapons crafted by the inmates at one of California's most notorious lockups.
If you keep driving up I-5, you'll reach Chico, home of the National Yo-Yo Museum! Located in a super-cool indie toy store, the Yo-Yo Museum boasts the world's largest yo-yo, 80 years of yo-yo artifacts, and hosts the National Yo-Yo Championship each year. It's a super cute way to kill an hour!
The town of Shasta, which was active during the mid-19th century, is mostly abandoned today. However, the old buildings have been preserved at Shasta State Historic Park. Step back in time at the jail, the store, the church, the museum, the post office, and the school.
The stunning Lake Shasta Caverns, which must be reached via a boat, are one of the coolest attractions in the area. As you traverse the system of caverns, you'll learn about their fascinating history and see all kinds of wild rock formations. It's a bit of a trek, with about 600 stairs total, but it's well worth the effort.
New Idria Ghost Town, built around a former mercury mine, was only abandoned in the 1970's so there are still nearly 100 buildings left, although they've been vandalized quite a bit. It's not as rustic as some ghost towns, but it's a cool place to stop and take some gritty pictures.
Another nice place to stretch your legs is the O'Neill Forebay Wildlife Area in Gustline, CA. It's perfect for camping, or if you pick up some food, for a nice afternoon picnic. If you have time, you can also enjoy the swimming and boating here and at the other nearby reservoirs!
If you're into James Dean, history, pop culture, or offbeat roadside attractions, the Last Place James Dean Stopped in Lost Hills fits the bill quite nicely. James Dean died at the young age of 24 in a car crash while driving in his famed "Little Bastard" Porsche Spyder not far from this gas station. There's a 50's themed diner and general store, all bedecked with the legendarily handsome actor's likeness.
Hemet, California, United States
The best time to road trip down I-5: In the summer there's a significant amount of fog along the northern part of the route. The best weather is generally from September through early October, as well as late April and May. Also keep in mind that the summers are high tourist season, and road conditions in winter can be slightly precarious, especially up north.
