Interstate 5 - California Travel Information

Northbound Interstate 5 in Kern County

At Exit 207 (Lebec), this trailblazer shield points the way to Interstate 5/Golden Freeway north on the Lebec Service Road (on the east side of the freeway; Old U.S. 99 is located on the west side of Interstate 5 at Exit 207). Photo taken 09/25/05.

Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway north
	Now leaving Los Angeles County, Interstate 5 enters Kern County. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Exit 206 is the first rest area along northbound since the Camp Pendleton rest located midway between San Diego and Santa Ana. There are no rest areas in Los Angeles County. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Now Interstate 5 is slowly descending from its prior heights of Tejon Pass (elevation 4,183 feet), but it remains fairly level between Frazier Park Road and Lebec. The next exit along Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway north is Exit 207, Lebec. Photo taken 09/25/05.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 207, Lebec. The unincorporated community of Lebec is located mostly on the west side of the freeway, including an antique store and post office. Photo taken 09/25/05.
	View of the area along northbound Interstate 5 between Lebec and Fort Tejon. The old alignment of U.S. 99 provides local access through this area. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Mileage sign for Bakersfield, Sacramento, and San Francisco. Interstate 5 itself only serves Sacramento, but it connects to Bakersfield via California 99 and San Francisco via Interstate 580 and Interstate 80. Photo taken 09/25/05.
	Upon passing Lebec, Interstate 5 begins its descent from the 4,183-foot Tejon Pass into the nearly sea level Central Valley in earnest. This warning sign indicates that trucks should be mindful of a 6% grade on the downslope along Interstate 5 into the Central Valley. Photo taken 09/25/05.
	Northbound Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway approaches Exit 210, Junction Historic U.S. 99/Fort Tejon, one mile. Photo taken 09/25/05.
	These power lines, which connect Kern River Canyon and Los Angeles, are among the oldest tranmission lines still in service in the Golden State. They connect hydroelectric facilities along Kern Canyon with the megalopolis to the south, and they were constructed in 1909. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaches Exit 210, Junction Historic U.S. 99/Fort Tejon, next right. The extant portions of U.S. 99 that are not buried under Pyramid Lake or underneath the freeway are still accessible by many of the exits between Castaic and Fort Tejon, including Lebec, Frazier Park, and Smokey Bear Road. Photo taken 09/25/05.
	Use Exit 210 to Fort Tejon State Historical Park. Photo taken 09/25/05.
	The downslope to the Central Valley begins here at Exit 210 and extends north until Exit 215, Grapevine. Photo taken 09/25/05.
	Northbound Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway reaches Exit 210, Fort Tejon. Exit 210 is the last exit on northbound before descending the Grapevine grade into the Central Valley, with five miles of a six percent downgrade. Note that there is no alternate route through the Grapevine; old U.S. 99 was directly replaced by the freeway. Photo taken 09/25/05.

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	Upon reaching the Fort Tejon overcrossing, the right lane of Interstate 5 northbound becomes a truck-only lane with a 35 miles-per-hour speed limit. This is designed to keep slower traffic to the right as the freeway descends from the 4,000-foot plus Tejon Pass to the floor of the Central Valley, which is only slightly above sea level in elevation. Most of the downgrades are at six percent, as noted in the previous sign. For a comparable descent, see Interstate 70 in Colorado Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Each of the destinations as well as the control city listed on this mileage sign are directly accessible via California 99, while only Sacramento may be reached via Interstate 5. Through the Central Valley, California 99 serves most of the large population centers, while Interstate 5 prefers to remain on the west side of the valley, avoiding most metropolitan areas until reaching the Tracy-Manteca area. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	This Adopt a Highway sign just after Exit 210/Fort Tejon was adopted for litter pick-up by none other than Mr. Ridge Route, Mike Ballard. Photo taken 02/15/04.


	After passing Fort Tejon, northbound Interstate 5 descends into the Central Valley. These pictures chronicle the descent of the freeway, which features a lane dedicated to trucks so that they can maintain a slower speed limit than passenger vehicles might be traveling. This grade, commonly known as the Grapevine, can be treacherous in wet or foggy weather, but it also affords spectacular views of the mammoth Central Valley sprawling in the distance. The fact that the mountains end here and the valley begins is no accident; this is close to where the infamous San Andreas Fault passes Interstate 5. Julian Balgobin writes that the San Andreas Fault actually meets up with the highway just south of Gorman and runs parallel to the freeway. Interstate 5 then crosses the fault at Tejon Pass, where the fault then trends in a westerly direction through Cuddy Valley, while Interstate 5 makes a sharp right hand turn to heads toward for Lake Castac. The San Andreas Fault, meanwhile, heads northwesterly parallel to the coast en route to San Francisco and easterly toward the Salton Sea basin, which is the southern end of the San Andreas Fault. These mountains, and the valley below, are all the result of the earth's constant motion and development, including plate tectonics, earthquakes, and uplift. Photos taken 02/15/04.

Interstate 5/Westside Highway north
	The next exit along northbound is Exit 215, Grapevine. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	The Central Valley comes into view along northbound as the freeway approaches the Grapevine exit. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	At the bottom of the grade along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 215, Grapevine. It can be tricky to reach this exit because motorists much cross the slow-moving truck lane to make the exit. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	The next interchange on Interstate 5 north is Exits 219A-B, Laval Road. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 219A, Eastbound Laval Road; the following ramp connects to Exit 219B, westbound Laval Road. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 219B, Westbound Laval Road. The next exit is the Interstate 5/California 99 split (Exit 221). Compare the picture from November 2002 to the picture from January 2002. The shields on the original overhead signs were probably the largest on any overhead sign in California. Now the signs have been replaced with reflective signage, and shields have been reduced in size (and exit numbers have been added, making this the first instance we've seen of an exit number on a freeway-to-freeway connection). California 99 serves the more populated east side of the Central Valley and foothills, while Interstate 5 follows the west side of the valley. Technically, the Golden State Freeway continues north along California 99, while the Westside Highway follows Interstate 5 northbound. By this point, most travelers refer to this as Interstate 5 or "the 5," not the Golden State Freeway or Westside Highway. Photos taken 02/15/04 and 10/22/01.

	The next exit on Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway north is Exit 221, Junction California 99/Golden State Freeway north. California 99 is the original route of U.S. 99 through the Central Valley, and it serves cities such as Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Stockton, and Sacramento. It is only a few miles longer than Interstate 5, but it passes through many cities, making it more congested than Interstate 5. Through traffic is recommended to use Interstate 5, as is traffic headed for the San Francisco Bay Area. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 221, Junction California 99/Golden State Freeway north. As shown by comparing the November 2002 pictures with the January 2002 pictures, all original signage at this interchange has been replaced. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	After splitting with California 99, Interstate 5 continues to have two lanes that swing around the interchange and then crosses over California 99. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	This is a view of the bridge that carries Interstate 5 over California 99. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	After California 99 splits away from northbound Interstate 5, the freeway becomes a four-lane (two lanes each way) highway for the first time on its northbound journey. It will remain this way until reaching Interstate 205 near Tracy. This mileage sign is located along northbound immediately after Exit 221, Junction California 99. Even though this is the southern end of the Central Valley, agriculture is not as prominent as it is farther north due to the lack of rainfall and lower quality soil. It is interesting to see how the valley changes from arid/semi-desert into a fertile growing region as Interstate 5 continues northward. However, as evidenced by the oil rig, there is some oil to be found in this region. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 225, Junction California 166, one mile. California 166 east connects to California 99 and ends. However, westbound California 166 links to California 166 near Maricopa, then continues east to meet U.S. 101 at Santa Maria and California 1 near the coast at Guadalupe. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Use California 166 west to reach the California Aqueduct pumping stations just west of Wheeler Ridge. The California Aqueduct parallels Interstate 5 from Los Angeles north through the Central Valley to the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta. To pump the water up and over the 4,000 foot mountains that divide the Central Valley from Los Angeles, massive pumping stations push the water uphill to ensure water is received by the megalopolis. These pumping stations use so much power that their usage had to be curtailed during the power crisis of the summer of 2001. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 approaches Exit 225, Junction California 166, next right. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 225, Junction California 166. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 approaches Exit 228, Copus Road, one mile. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 225, Copus Road. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	In an adjustment from the urban driving conditions of Interstate 5, the feel of the freeway is vastly different as drivers become accustomed to a wide, expansive valley with little or no development. Mileage signs such as this one usually point to the next major highway interchange (usually a state route) and (along northbound) the control points of Sacramento and San Francisco. This remains the case through Kern, King, and Fresno Counties. However, the control cities on these signs only indicate San Francisco in Merced and Stanislaus Counties. Also of interest in this picture is the first of many locally-placed signs that remind motorists of the value of water in the rural farming communities, especially in arid locations such as the south end of the Central Valley. A "water war" between the urban and rural regions has been brewing for years, and with the federally mandated reduction in the availability of Colorado River water, the remaining water is hotly contested, including water previously allocated to farm interests. This debate is by no means over. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 239, Junction California 223, Bear Mountain Boulevard, one mile. California 223 leads east to meet California 99 south of Bakersfield and California 58 east of Arvin. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Use Exit 225, Junction California 223/Bear Mountain Boulevard to reach Buena Vista Recreation Area. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 239, Junction California 223, Bear Mountain Boulevard. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 244, Junction California 119, two miles. It is interesting to note that there is only a one mile difference in the distance to Sacramento and San Francisco. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 244, Junction California 119, one mile. Photo taken 07/20/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 244, Junction California 119, next right. The poles behind this sign are for the replacement reflective sign that will feature an exit number. It is likely that by now this new sign has been erected. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 244, Junction California 119. Photo taken 07/20/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 246, Junction California 43, one mile. Photo taken 07/20/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 246, Junction California 43, next right. This kind of sign is reflective, but it is not the standard reflective sheeting featuring the brighter green that is becoming more and more prominent on California's highways. Photo taken 07/20/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 246, Junction California 43. Photo taken 07/20/04.
	This mileage sign provides the distance to Lost Hills (Junction California 46), San Francisco, and Sacramento. This is the same format used for most mileage signs in Kern County. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 253, Stockdale Highway. Stockdale Highway leads due east into Bakersfield. One of the options being considered for a freeway connection from Bakersfield to Interstate 5 would be to overlay such a route on Stockdale Highway. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Use Exit 253, Stockdale Highway, to reach the Tule Elk Reserve. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 253, Stockdale Highway. Stockdale Highway has been considered at times for an expressway or freeway corridor from Interstate 5 east into Bakersfield. Photo taken 07/20/04.
	This mileage sign provides the distance to Buttonwillow (Junction California 58), San Francisco, and Sacramento. This is the same format used for most mileage signs in Kern County. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	These power lines connect the backbone north-south transmission lines with power generated from the Colorado River dams, the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, power facilities from Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, and even power from fossil fuel generation plants located around the Four Corners region. These particular poles were placed by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E); Interstate 5 has left Southern California Edison territory and is now firmly within PG&E territory. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 257, Junction California 58, Buttonwillow/McKittrick, one mile. California 58 leads east to Bakersfield and west to San Luis Obispo. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Exit 257/California 58 is the first exit with a full array of motorist services since the Grapevine/Wheeler Ridge exit (Exit 215). California 58 is also noteworthy for what it is not: a freeway. In spite of the fact that most of California 58 east of Bakersfield/California 99 is a freeway, this stretch of highway is only two lanes. In fact, the average daily traffic counts are fairly low on this portion of highway, and they get even lower west of California 33. The reason for this is because most east-west traffic uses California 46 (old U.S. 466) to reach the Central Coast rather than California 58. If an extension to the freeway were constructed west to Interstate 5, it is more than likely that it would utilize California 46 rather than California 58 due to traffic counts. However, much depends on the future expansion of the Bakersfield metropolitan area, which is pushing further west. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	The next gas available along northbound (after Exit 257, California 58, Buttonwillow/McKittrick) is the interchange with California 46 at Lost Hills. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 257, Junction California 58, Buttonwillow/McKittrick. The connection between the freeway and California 58 is accessed via a frontage road. This is a very old sign that probably dates to the original construction of the freeway. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	The offramp from northbound Interstate 5 to California 58 makes a sharp, 90-degree turn, then connects to a stop sign at the frontage road (Tracy Avenue) on the east side of the freeway. To reach California 58, traffic must turn right (south) on the frontage road, pass by the various gas stations, restaurants, and other motorist amenities, and then reach a second stop sign at the highway. A left turn at this stop sign is eastbound California 58; a right turn is westbound California 58. Photo taken 01/21/04.
	The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is a rest area at Milepost 259. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 259, Rest Area. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 5 for the next major exit after Exit 257 (Junction California 58). The next major exit is Exit 278, Junction California 46 (former U.S. 466) in Lost Hills. This mileage sign is one of the few remaining in the Central Valley segment of Interstate 5 to feature distance in kilometers. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 262, 7th Standard Road/Rowlee Road, one mile. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 262, 7th Standard Road/Rowlee Road. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 268, Lerdo Highway. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	These power lines provide the primary electricity transmission corridor between southern and northern California. They cross the freeway multiple times between here and Redding. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 268, Lerdo Highway. Photo taken 12/22/02.
	The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 278, Junction California 46/Lost Hills, one mile. Westbound California 46 follows historic U.S. 466 west toward Lost Hills and Paso Robles (although U.S. 466 used to follow California 41 southwest to Atascadero and Morro Bay). Photo taken 11/28/02.
	Use Exit 278 to reach the Kern National Wildlife Refuge. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 278, Junction California 46/Lost Hills, next right. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	The next gas on the freeway (along northbound) is 32 miles ahead at Exit 309, Junction California 41. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 278, Junction California 46/Lost Hills. Eastbound California 46 leads to Wasco before culminating at California 99. At a seemingly arbitrary point north of California 46 and south of Utica Avenue, northbound Interstate 5 crosses from Kern County into Kings County. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	This mileage sign along northbound Interstate 5 provides the distance to California 41, San Francisco, and Sacramento. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 288, Twisselman Road. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 288, Twisselman Road. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	After the Twissleman Road interchange, this mileage sign along northbound Interstate 5 provides the distance to California 41, San Francisco, and Sacramento. From here, Interstate 5 departs Kern County and enters Kings County around Milepost 292. Photo taken 07/02/04.

Page Updated October 16, 2007.