SF to LA in a Honda GX - route and refueling tips?

[shepsite]

Planning a drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles in a Honda GX. Assuming 220 mile range, looks like I-5 is not an alternative as I will get stuck in the middle of no where.

Anybody already know the best route - or of any refueling stops on the I-5 that are not on the CNG Prices website? If I can't do the 5, I'd prefer the 101 to going inland on the 99.

[freedml]

Re: SF to LA in a Honda GX - route and refueling tips?

I've gone up 5 in my 06 gx (not feasible in earlier GXs). The low fuel light just went on when I got off 5 to fuel at Los Banos. I had a reliable 3600 fill at my house in Sylmar, but you would want to have a fairly full tank and then top it off in Santa Clarita to make this leg. If this is cutting it too close for you, you can fill in Bakersfield then cut across to 5 and Los Banos. With any of these routes, you'll want to have a PGE card Fresno and northwards.

[cquirk]

Re: SF to LA in a Honda GX - route and refueling tips?

Done this trip a number of times in a crown vic. Van Nuys/Sylmar to Bakersfield, Bakersfield to Madera or Fresno, Fresno/Madera to San Ramon UPS (now takes (Master Card or Hayward PGE Must have a PGE card for Bakersfield, Madera takes Master Card from 8 to 5. Fresno is Pinnacle not sure what cards you have. Olympic station in San Fransisco

Last time I rented a car and saved 2 hours driving time

PM me if you want more details

[Curtis]

Re: SF to LA in a Honda GX - route and refueling tips?

A handy tool is the trip planner on www.cngprices.com, assuming you aren't already using it.

[shepsite]

Re: SF to LA in a Honda GX - route and refueling tips?

Thanks to all for the advice. I am picking up the car in SF...don't have a PG&E card yet. Not sure how fast I can get one down here in soCal. Do most of the north of Fresno stations only accept PG&E?

That Los Banos to Santa Clarita run looks like a long one...perhaps the 99 route will lower the stress level.

Anybody done the 101 run? I hear its scenic. Refueling tips on that route?

[freedml]

Re: SF to LA in a Honda GX - route and refueling tips?

Must have a PGE card for Bakersfield

Only for PGE Bakersfield. There is also the School District station which takes MC/Visa (and is easier to find).

Tulare is my fav on 99 -- reliable, credit cards, and almost as low a price as Riverside.

[freedml]

Re: SF to LA in a Honda GX - route and refueling tips?

Anybody done the 101 run? I hear its scenic. Refueling tips on that route?

Yes, fuel at every opportunity north of Santa Barbara.

Getting a PGE card is a PITA.

[Curtis]

Re: SF to LA in a Honda GX - route and refueling tips?

Should have gotten the car from me. I could have saved you all this stress and worry. I still have 5 in stock. I'm just an hour North of you in Palmdale.

[Tom Stoflet]

Re: SF to LA in a Honda GX - route and refueling tips?

Hi Shepsite:

Sorry that I have not been active on CNGChat lately. So I do not know if my advice will be timely.

However, if you are leaving from SF, you do need a PG&E fueling card unfortunatlety becasue their startions do not accept credit cards yet.
Attached is the PG&E form to get it.

As one who routinely drives my CNG Honda down I-5, you should have no problem driving all the way to LA, and much farther, weather permitting.

I do not know where you are leaving from or what kind of CNG vehicle you are driving, but fill up at any local CNG station before you get on I-5, and then fill up at PG&E's CNG station in Los Banos.

Depending on the type of CNG vehicle you have, you shoud make it easy to LA. If in doubt, fill up in Santa Clarita CNG station before you go into LA.

There are many CNG stations in LA. As Curtis mentioned, go on CNGprices.com to plot out all the CNG stations along your trip.

Good luck.

[freedml]

Re: SF to LA in a Honda GX - route and refueling tips?

I've driven from Santa Clarita to Los Banos in my '06 GX and I think it's fairly reliable. But, if you don't get a good fill at either end, you could be in trouble. In an earlier model GX I don't think it's a good idea to even try. If either station is down, or your card doesn't work, or ??? you're S.O.L. Much safer to stop in Bakersfield to or from Los Banos.

As far as PGE is concerned, it's a hassle to get the card because unless you can 'prove' you have formal training on how to use a dispenser they won't give you a card until they 'train' you in person. What BS!

[jeffrey]

Re: SF to LA in a Honda GX - route and refueling tips?

A little late on replying to this thread, but we do the 101 route between the bay area and southern california a couple of times a year.

PG&E alone won't get you through this route. Unless you try to make the 225 mile distance between Santa Barbara (Clean Energy station) and Salinas (PG&E), a stop in San Luis Obispo (Clean Energy) is necessary. Without having a PG&E card, you could make the trip by using Clean Energy stations. You continue past Salinas and head into a southern Bay Area Clean Energy station, San Jose being the closest at about 185 miles distance.

Highway 99 has many more options if you are heading towards the east side of Southern California.

[gringostar]

Re: SF to LA in a Honda GX - route and refueling tips?

I've driven from Santa Clarita to Los Banos in my '06 GX and I think it's fairly reliable. But, if you don't get a good fill at either end, you could be in trouble. In an earlier model GX I don't think it's a good idea to even try. If either station is down, or your card doesn't work, or ??? you're S.O.L. Much safer to stop in Bakersfield to or from Los Banos.

As far as PGE is concerned, it's a hassle to get the card because unless you can 'prove' you have formal training on how to use a dispenser they won't give you a card until they 'train' you in person. What BS!

What does it matter if you're in an early model GX or a later model? I thought all of the GX's had the same range (240 miles). My 1998 GX will do 240 fwy miles.

[Curtis]

Re: SF to LA in a Honda GX - route and refueling tips?

The new body style, '06 and up, gets a little better gas mileage than any of the earlier models. Subsequently it does have a bit more range. An extra 40-50 miles makes a real difference when on a road trip. I can milk an extrs 30 or 40 miles if I use the trick of topping off after the initial fill up cools down. That helps more so if the initial fill is less than optimal. An extra gge (give or take) makes a real difference on a stretch like that. I agree that Bakersfield is the safe bet. Gambleing with running out of fuel isn't a favorite pass time of mine.

[ilovespam]

Re: SF to LA in a Honda GX - route and refueling tips?

Planning a drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles in a Honda GX. Assuming 220 mile range, looks like I-5 is not an alternative as I will get stuck in the middle of no where.

Anybody already know the best route - or of any refueling stops on the I-5 that are not on the CNG Prices website? If I can't do the 5, I'd prefer the 101 to going inland on the 99.

I have taken I-5 many times, fuling in Los Banos and Santa Clarita in my 08 Civic. I did it last month with a 3000 fill in Los Banos; the 3600 pump was down.

[freedml]

Re: SF to LA in a Honda GX - route and refueling tips?

How many bars to you have left when arriving at Los Banos? When arriving at Santa Clarita? Do you make any stops in-between? Do you go 'left lane' speed or 'right lane' speed?