Interstate 5

Interstate 5 (I-5) is a United States interstate highway that starts at the border with Mexico in San Ysidro, California and runs 1381 miles (2223 km) north through the states of California, Oregon and Washington to the border with Canada in Blaine, Washington. It serves as an important north-south transportation corridor along the U.S west coast connecting the major cities of San Diego, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle; the three state capitals of California (Sacramento), Oregon (Salem) and Washington (Olympia); and two additional major cities in neighboring countries (Tijuana & Vancouver) just over the international borders.

Understand
Interstate 5 (I-5) replaces the former US Route 99 (Pacific Hwy Auto Trail from before 1926) from Blaine, Washington to Los Angeles, California and the old US Route 101 from Los Angeles to San Diego, California as the main north-south route along the west coast. The old U.S. Highway 99 then continued east along the present Interstate 10 from Los Angeles to Indio CA. From Indio U.S. Highway 99 turns south towards the Mexican border in Calexico, on the present day CA-86, along the western shores of the Salton Sea; and from Brawley to Calexico on CA-111. Prior to 1926, the old Pacific Highway Auto Trail went from Davis, California, along Interstate 80 (formerly US Hwy 40) into San Francisco where it went south towards San Diego along US Highway 101.

After decommissioning in the 1960s segments of the old US Highway 99 have been re-numbered to State Route 99 (SR-99) in Washington, Oregon and California while other sections have been re-assigned different state highway numbers in all three states. Others have been decommissioned altogether as a U.S. and state highway (not numbered) but are still remembered by being named "Pacific Highway" (in OR & WA); "Golden State", "County Rd 99", "Old Highway 101" (in CA); "Old Highway 99" or by a different name (in all three states). The old Highway 99/101 can serve as an alternate scenic drive alongside the present I-5 corridor in rural areas while passing through urban areas (or in small towns) as local surface streets. It is accessible from I-5 through multiple exits in all three states. Because of its continuity and its close proximity to the I-5 corridor, in most places, the old Highway 99/101 can serve as an alternate route around a traffic jam on I-5 if needed. There are other sections of the old Highway 99 that are decommissioned as a road for vehicle travel and are used primarily as walking and bicycling trails.

There are no toll segments on the "Freeway". Plans are underway to upgrade the Interstate Bridge (I-5) and the Glenn Jackson Bridge (I-205), over the Columbia River, between Oregon and Washington. Therefore, tolls will be collected to cross these bridges between the two states to compensate the cost of the upgrades.

Prepare
You'll obviously need a vehicle, but there is nothing really necessary for the route unless you want to eat your own food or you're coming from another country, in which case you might need passports, for example, to get in. Services are generally available and are closer together along I-5.

Traffic on I-5 usually goes on mostly uninterrupted all year round but during winters the sections of I-5 through the Siskiyous between Medford, Oregon and Weed (or even Redding), California can be interrupted prompting the closure of I-5 through the Siskiyous in Southern Oregon and Northern California. This may even prompt authorities to require chains and slower driving or closing the highway in one or both directions. In winter weather it is not recommended for travelers use secondary roads, to get around the closed highway, as they are not usually plowed or sanded. Therefore travelers should plan on using the coastal highway on US 101 before reaching the Siskiyous via CA-36 from Red Bluff to Fortuna or from further south and on US Hwy 199 from Grants Pass to Crescent City or further north. Check the weather and traffic reports before taking alternate routes.

During blizzards, enough snow to get you stuck can fall in very little time. Visibility may also be restricted by falling or blowing snow or by condensation or ice on vehicle windows.

Cold weather is hard work for the car. A weak battery, ice on electrical parts or in fuel, frozen diesel, or a frozen cooling system may cause your car to break down. If you get stuck, you may be at risk for frostbite or hypothermia; see cold weather, snow safety and ice safety for discussion.

Get in
Interstate 5 begins/ends at the US/Mexican border crossing in San Ysidro at south of San Diego. Continuing south the freeway splits up with the right two lanes west towards Las Playas of Tijuana on via Internacional and the left two lanes going straight ahead (south) into Zona Rio as Av Via Rapida. The highway continues as Mexico Federal Hwy 1/D along the Pacific Coast towards Ensenada from Las Playas in Tijuana. In the north, I-5 begins/ends at the US/Canadian border crossing at Peach Arch Park in Blaine, Washington. From the border crossing, the freeway continues the next north to the Oak Street Bridge, over the Fraser River as BC-Hwy 99 where the freeway ends at. From the bridge, BC-Hwy 99 continues towards Vancouver as Granville St through the South Vancouver neighborhood.

Interstate 5 intersects other major US interstate highways diverging to/from different directions such as Interstate 15 and Interstate 8 in San Diego; Interstate 10 in Los Angeles; Interstate 80 in Sacramento; Interstate 84 in Portland; Interstate 90 in Seattle and various three digit interstates (serving as local auxiliary highways), state and U.S highways where travelers can enter and leave I-5.

By plane
The Interstate 5 corridor can be accessed by plane through San Diego, Santa Ana, Burbank, Sacramento, Medford, Portland, Seattle, Everett and Bellingham with airports next to or near the freeway. In other cities, such as Los Angeles and Long Beach the airport can be further away (20-40 mi/32-64 km) from the I-5 corridor on another highway. From outside the U.S. the I-5 corridor is also accessed from Vancouver International Airport and Tijuana's General Abelardo L. Rodríguez International Airport.

By train



 * Amtrak Coast Starlight runs once daily between Los Angeles and Seattle via Portland, Klamath Falls, Redding, Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley and Van Nuys. It shares the same route with the Cascades between Seattle and Eugene, with the same stops (except Tukwila, Vancouver, Washington, and Oregon City); and with the Pacific Surfliner between San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles (see below).
 * Amtrak Cascades runs between Seattle and Portland four times daily serving Tukwila, Tacoma, Lacey (Olympia), Centralia and Kelso in Washington state. They run from Seattle to Vancouver via Everett, Stanwood, Mt Vernon & Bellingham twice daily and from Portland to Eugene via Oregon City, Salem & Albany twice daily. Additional service from Seattle to Vancouver and from Portland to Eugene are provided on the Amtrak Thruway Bus.
 * Pacific Surfliner San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Los Angeles & San Diego. The segment of this route closest or parallel to the I-5 corridor is between Simi Valley and San Diego. Passengers continue south towards the Mexican border in San Ysidro on the SDMTS 'UC San Diego Blue Line' Trolley from the American Plaza Station, across the street the Santa Fe Station.
 * San Joaquins Sacramento, Merced, Stockton, Fresno and Bakersfield. Some trains on this route will go west towards Emeryville and Oakland from Stockton instead of continuing north to Sacramento. This route is then connected to Los Angeles from Bakersfield and from Stockton & Sacramento to Redding by Thruway buses via I-5.

By bus
There are several bus companies operating buses along the I-5/CA-Hwy 99 corridor with Greyhound, Flixbus and Fronteras del Norte serving the entire length while other companies operate buses along certain sections of the I-5 corridor in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon or Washington) or California to make the trip possible without a car: There are additional express and local buses operating as local public transportation along the I-5 corridor at varying distances in different places. These options are generally cheaper than Greyhound or other intercity carriers for the same distances. See "By bus" under "Get in" and "Get around" in the article of a particular city or locale and under "Get around" in a state article for an additional list of other bus companies serving the west coast.

Drive
Mile markers are statewide mileposts, starting with "0" at the south border of each state which increases as you go north and then starts over at "0" when crossing the state line into the next state. Therefore, when going south the numbers on the mileposts will decrease and then start over at the highest number (276 in Washington, 308 in Oregon & 796 in California) when crossing a state line. The exit numbers correspond with the mileposts so some numbers may be skipped if the exits are further apart from one to the next. Other exits that are next to each other or "2 in 1" may have the same exit number followed by an "A", "B" or even a "C" such as "Exit #100A" to get on A St, "Exit #100B" to get on B St and so forth.

California
The maximum speed limit is 70 mph (112 km/h) for cars on rural stretches and 65 mph (104 km/h) in urban areas or lower if posted otherwise. Speed limit for large trucks is 55 mph (88 km/h) in both rural and urban areas.

From its southern end near Wheeler Ridge (Exit 221 of I-5) to its northern end at SR 36 in Red Bluff, State Route (SR) 99 goes through the densely populated eastern parts of the valley. Cities served include Bakersfield, Delano, Tulare, Visalia, Kingsburg, Selma, Fresno, Madera, Yosemite National Park, Merced, Turlock, Modesto, Manteca, Stockton, Sacramento, Yuba City, and Chico. SR 99 replaces US Route 99 between Wheeler Ridge and Sacramento and US Route 99E from Sacramento to Red Bluff (as the Golden State Freeway). Interstate 5 bypasses the Central Valley along its western edge between Wheeler Ridge and Sacramento and replaces US Route 99W between Sacramento and Red Bluff as the Westside Freeway. Historically US Route 99 splits in Sacramento at the present junction of State Route (SR) 99 and US Route 50. US Route 99W goes west from Sacramento to Davis along I-80 (formerly US Hwy 40), from Davis to Woodland on Road 99, and alongside I-5 from Woodland to Red Bluff. The old US Route 99E goes east along I-80/US Route 50 to Roseville. SR-65 from Roseville to Olivehurst; SR-70 from Olivehurst to Yuba City and on the Golden State Freeway (present day CA-99) from Yuba City to Red Bluff. The remaining segments in northern California, to Oregon, have been decommissioned as a US or state highway except SR 273 through Anderson and Redding; SR 263 and a section of SR 96 between Holbrook and Yreka; or as Business Loop (BL) 5 through different towns along the way in northern California. In southern California the old Highway 99 continues east along the present Interstate 10 from Los Angeles to Indio and than SR 86 from Indio to Brawley along the western shores of the Salton Sea. From Brawley to the Mexican border in Calexico the Old Hwy 99 follows SR-111. In everywhere else the Old Hwy 99 exists as local roads/streets named "Old Highway 99", "State Highway 99W", "Golden State", "Road 99" or by a different name from a time before the Golden State Freeway (US Route 99/99E, Los Angeles to Red Bluff) and the Cascade Wonderland Freeway (from Red Bluff to the Oregon border) were built in the 1940s through the 1950s which are described throughout this article in the below:

San Diego area




Orange County and Los Angeles
Past the Camp Pendleton Marine Base the interstate enters the large conurbation of cities in Orange and Los Angeles Counties. This section is multi-lane (3 to 8) in both directions and is busy with traffic at nearly all times of the day. If at all possible avoid driving at peak commuter times. Some drivers may be tempted to take Interstate 405 as an alternate route, but check traffic conditions before doing so as it is often even worse for traffic congestion.









Tehachapi Mountains
The road climbs out of the San Fernando Valley, which although multi-lane will have slow-moving traffic before entering the Santa Clarita Valley. Oddly, at one point the north and south bound carriageways cross and run for a number of miles separate from one another.

Central Valley
Most of this section is two-lane carriageway in both directions, running straight with only small rises though sparsely populated areas. Most of the route here is uninteresting, though in some places small detours reveal points of interest.







Sacramento Valley
The Sacramento Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies north of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and is drained by the Sacramento River. It encompasses all or parts of ten Northern California counties. Although many areas of the Sacramento Valley are rural, it contains several urban areas, including the state capital, Sacramento.





Shasta Cascades Region
The Shasta Cascades region is home to volcanoes, lush forests, high mountains, and clear lakes. California is the most populous state in the US, but you wouldn't suspect it from traveling through most of this region, which is generally wild and remote.







Oregon
The maximum rural speed limit is 70 mph (112 km/h) & 60 mph for large trucks which is more relevant along I-84 between The Dalles & the Snake River (Idaho border). The I-5 corridor remains at 65 mph (104km/h) in rural areas and 55-60 mph in urban areas or lower if posted otherwise. The stretch of I-5 between Portland & Eugene remains at 55-60mph (88-100km/h). The state fully lifted its decades-long ban on self-service gas on August 4, 2023. However, the law does not require any station to offer self-service, and stations in counties along the I-5 corridor must reserve at least half of their pumps for full-service. When you arrive at a filling station that doesn't offer self-service, wait for an attendant to come to your car rather than attempting to get out and fill up your car on your own.

The present State Routes (SR) 99, 99E and 99W and Interstate 5 replace the former US Highway 99 very closely as the Pacific Highway (or by another name), through the entire state. SR 99 runs concurrently with the present I-5 between Eugene and Grants Pass except the stretch through Sutherlin, Roseburg and Winston as the Oakland-Shady Tree Hwy where SR-99 pass through town as a separate road for local access. From Grants Pass (exit 58) to Ashland (exit 14) SR 99 (Rogue Valley Hwy) passes through Grants Pass, Gold Hill, Central Point, Medford, Phoenix, Talent and Ashland pass through continuoisly as a separate road. From Ashland to the border with California the Old Hwy 99 follows SR 66 to the south of Emigrant Lake and as SR 273 from Emigrant Lake to the California border. Going north from Cottage Grove, SR 99 goes through Eugene as a series of local streets and north to Junction City where it splits between OR 99E & OR 99W (formerly US Hwy 99E & 99W), through the Willamette Valley, to Portland where they rejoin before crossing the Columbia River into Washington:
 * OR 99E.svg Junction City, Halsey, Albany, Salem, Woodburn, Canby, Oregon City, Gladstone, Milwaukie, Portland
 * I-5.svg Eugene, Albany, Salem, Wilsonville, Portland
 * OR 99W.svg Junction City, Corvallis, Amity, Monmouth, McMinnville, Newberg, Tigard, Portland

which are described throughout the article in the below:

Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon has become a popular retirement community over the past few decades; what was once a lumber-oriented economy has gradually adapted to service and tourism-based businesses. Like much of Oregon, the outdoors are one of the region's most valued assets, but more visible products include pears, wine, and timber products. The region is primarily composed of mountains and high desert, while the Rogue Valley, Grants Pass, and Klamath regions are home to agricultural, commercial, and industrial enterprises.


 * Accessible from the northbound lanes only.
 * Accessible from the northbound lanes only.
 * Accessible from the northbound lanes only.

Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is centered around the Willamette River, and home to the state's three largest cities and much of the state's agriculture industry and the Oregon Wine Country:






 * There are multiple roads/bridges crossing over I-5 between Hwy 22 at mm 253 and Hwy 99E at mm 258 that are not accessible. This is the only exit to take between Hwy 22 and 99E.
 * There are multiple roads/bridges crossing over I-5 between Hwy 22 at mm 253 and Hwy 99E at mm 258 that are not accessible. This is the only exit to take between Hwy 22 and 99E.
 * There are multiple roads/bridges crossing over I-5 between Hwy 22 at mm 253 and Hwy 99E at mm 258 that are not accessible. This is the only exit to take between Hwy 22 and 99E.
 * There are multiple roads/bridges crossing over I-5 between Hwy 22 at mm 253 and Hwy 99E at mm 258 that are not accessible. This is the only exit to take between Hwy 22 and 99E.
 * There are multiple roads/bridges crossing over I-5 between Hwy 22 at mm 253 and Hwy 99E at mm 258 that are not accessible. This is the only exit to take between Hwy 22 and 99E.

Portland Metropolitan Area
The Portland Metropolitan area is a large conurbation of cities (municipalities) surrounding Portland, Oregon in the northern end of the Willamette Valley and Southwest Washington (Clark County, WA) at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers.







Washington
The maximum speed limit is 70 MPH (112 km/h) for cars & 60 MPH (100 km/h) for large trucks on rural stretches and 60 MPH (100 km/h) in urban areas or lower if posted otherwise. Some of the highway rest stops in Washington are also staffed by volunteers from different local religious and fraternal organizations such as the Lions Club or Elk's Club to offer free coffee, tea, water and cookies to travelers. Some even offer home baked goods such as brownies too. A donation of any amount is appreciated in the can provided on the counter. Rest stops in Washington state do not have exit numbers but rather marked with a blue sign rather than the green sign. Unlike California and Oregon only a short segment of the Old Hwy 99 (( long) between Fife and Everett have been commissioned as State Route (SR) 99. The remaining segments of Old Highway 99 run continuously alongside I-5, as a separate road, between Olympia and Vancouver, Washington; Tacoma through Fife; and from Everett to Bellingham as "Old Pacific Highway", "Old Hwy 99", "Pacific Hwy" or by a local name. Some sections have been re-numbered as a different state highway described throughout the article in the below. There have been different alignments and re-alignments throughout its existence before 1940 which are included in some parts of this article but not all. Most of the segments described in this article are what is/was there as US Highway 99 when Interstate 5 was built in 1964-69:

Seattle Metropolitan Area in The Puget Sound Region
North of Olympia the interstate enters the large conurbation of cities in Thurston, Pierce, King and Snohomish counties. This section is multi-lane (3 to 5) in both directions and is busy with traffic at nearly all times of the day. If at all possible avoid driving at peak commuter times. Some drivers may be tempted to take Interstate 405 through Bellevue as an alternate route, but check traffic conditions before doing so as it is often even worse for traffic congestion than Interstate 5.



Due to long term construction activities along the freeway, through Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), from Center Dr (Exit #118) to Gravelly Lake #134 the speed limit is reduced to 50 mph. Exits into local side streets may of changed so follow signs closely and prepare for heavy traffic of less than 50 mph going through this area. There are limited or no access through JBLM to reach other surface roads in adjacent civilian areas.

Due to long term construction activities along the freeway from S 38th through Fife the I-5/SR-16 interchange, the adjacent exit configurations and the freeway lane alignments between Exits 137A-B through 132 are subject to change. Speed limit through this segment is 50 mph. Follow signs closely and prepare for heavy traffic of less than 50 mph through this area.




 * Serves as the major east-west arterial route through Federal Way.
 * Accessible only to carpools (of 2 or more); buses and mopeds. Exit and merging ramps are on left side in both directions. Yes they do check for violators of the carpool only rule.
 * Serves as the major east-west arterial route through Federal Way.
 * Accessible only to carpools (of 2 or more); buses and mopeds. Exit and merging ramps are on left side in both directions. Yes they do check for violators of the carpool only rule.
 * Accessible only to carpools (of 2 or more); buses and mopeds. Exit and merging ramps are on left side in both directions. Yes they do check for violators of the carpool only rule.









Stay safe
When on the road, most of the journey is straightforward freeway driving. If it is winter, it is wise to check the weather conditions at the Siskiyou pass, between Redding and Grants Pass, before crossing the border from California into Oregon. Snowy conditions are not uncommon, and officials usually close the road if things become too dangerous. A closure can be waited out in the Shasta or Redding area on the California side, or Ashland and Medford on the Oregon side. It is also possible to detour along the coast via US Hwy 199 from Grants Pass to Crescent City or from further north.

Alternative routes
Alternatives for traveling north/south through California include US-Hwy 101, El Camino Real and the Pacific Coast Highway in the west, or US-Hwy 395 along the Eastern Sierra and east of the Cascades in Oregon and Washington. All of these are more scenic and interesting routes but are much longer and slower and are more of a journey to experience than just for getting from A to B. SR-99, US-395, US-Hwy 101 and Old Hwy 99/Pacific Hwy are also local streets/roads at slower speeds through some of the cities and towns they pass through. In some places the de-commissioned "Old Hwy 99" can have a different local street name rather than "Pacific Hwy" or "Old Highway 99". They are all connected to I-5 and each other via various east-west roads in all three states:
 * US 97.svg US 97 begins/ends from I-5 in Weed at the south end of US Hwy 97 on the Volcanic Legacy Byway. US Hwy 97 runs parallel with the I-5 corridor to the Canadian border in Oroville WA through Klamath Falls, Crater Lake National Park, Bend, Redmond, The Dalles in Central Oregon; and Yakima, Ellensburg, Wenatchee and North Cascades National Park in Eastern Washington.
 * US 101.svg California 1.svg US 101 serves as a coastal route along the west coast from I-5 in Olympia, Washington back to I-5 in downtown Los Angeles, California. It goes north around the Olympic Peninsula & Olympic National Park (via Port Townsend & Port Angeles), along SW Washington Coast, through the Oregon Coast, to Eureka, CA (via Redwood National Park) before going inland (parallel with I-5) while CA-Hwy 1 serves as the coastal highway in California between Eureka and Los Angeles via San Francisco, San Jose, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, etc. US Hwy 101 is a freeway between San Francisco and Los Angeles and in certain sections between Arcata and San Francisco. North of Arcata, through Oregon and Washington, US 101 is primarily a 2 lane road except in more busier and populated cities it is a 4 lane road but at slower speeds and without the median barriers.
 * US 395.svg US 395 begins/ends from I-15 in Hesperia, north of San Bernardino. US Hwy 395 runs parallel with the I-5 corridor, through the remote Majave Deserts and the Sierra Nevada, between Sequoia National Forest and Death Valley National Park towards Carson City and Reno in Nevada. It re-enters California north of Reno and passes through Alturas, Susanville and Modoc National Forest, alongside Lassen Volcanic National Park before crossing into Oregon. It enters Oregon through Lakeview, OR and goes up towards Hermiston through John Day and Pendleton. It crosses the Columbia River along I-82 into Washington (state) to Pasco where it splits from I-82 as a separate road towards Ritzville and along I-90 to Spokane. From Spokane it continues north through Colville, WA and Kettle Falls in Northeast Washington to the Canadian border at Laurier, WA.
 * I-405.svg Interstate 405 serves as an auxiliary highway to go around the three major cities of the three states. In California it goes from the San Fernando Valley (north of Los Angeles) through or by Van Nuys, Culver City, West Los Angeles, LAX, Westminster, Torrance, Long Beach, John Wayne Airport, Costa Mesa and Irvine where it rejoins to/splits from I-5. In Washington I-405 spans  around Lake Washington, from Tukwila ( south of Seattle at Exit 154), through Renton, Bellevue, Kirkland, Bothell, Woodinville and Lynnwood where it re-joins to / split from I-5 north of Seattle. In Oregon I-405 splits from I-5, south of downtown Portland, with I-5 going east on the Willamette River on the Marquam Bridge while I-405 goes  around downtown to provide local access into downtown and northwest Portland as well as onward connections to/from US Hwy 26 and 30 west. I-405 crosses the Willamette River via the Fremont Bridge and re-joins into I-5 east of the Willamette River, northeast of downtown Portland.
 * National_Park_to_Park_Highway_sign.svg The old National Park to Park Highway was a pre-1926 circular auto route comprising of various US, interstate and state highways to access several national parks in the western United States. On the west coast the old National Park to Park Auto Trail connected Mt Rainier, Crater Lake, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Yosemite, General Grant National Park, Sequoia National Park and the surrounding national forests from along the present I-5/CA-Hwy 99 in California, Oregon and Washington. Various east-west state highways then connect travelers from I-5/CA-Hwy 99 corridor into the national parks. It then winds around through Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and back into Washington (from the east) to access Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone and Glacier National Park with a branch (I-15 & UT-Hwy 9) of this highway reaching into southern Utah to access Zion National Park. The remainder of the National Park to Park Highway travels along different US, state and intestate highways.

Go next

 * Alaska_7_shield.svg Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is a network of ferry lines connecting destinations along the southeastern coast of Alaska and going all the way down to Bellingham, Washington. It provides a connection to many island and island-like communities, separated by fjords, including the Alaskan state capital Juneau which is accessible only by boat or plane despite being located on the mainland. The AMHS is also an alternative to the long drive through Canada for surface travel between the lower 48 states and Alaska, and can be a more affordable (if decidedly less luxurious) way to witness some of the same rugged coastal scenery that Alaskan cruises take in.
 * I-10.svg Interstate 10 serves as a continuation of the old Hwy 99 from downtown Los Angeles towards Indio through San Gabriel Valley, San Bernardino, Joshua Tree, Palm Springs and Palm Desert. From Indio the old Hwy 99 continues south on CA-Hwy 86, along the western shores of the Salton Sea, to its southern terminus in Calexico via CA-Hwy 111 from Brawley through El Centro. I-10 can also be part of the Pan American journey from the I-5 corridor in Los Angeles to I-35 in San Antonio where travelers can continue south into Mexico.
 * US_66_(CA_historic).svg California_110.svg Route 66 (aka Old US 66) was a highway that extended from Chicago to Los Angeles. It crossed much of the American Midwest, Great Plains, and Southwest. Although Highway 66 is no longer commissioned as a US Highway, it represents a multitude of ideas: freedom, migration West, and the loneliness of the American heartland. More than four-fifths of it remain drivable (though not always well-marked) as a collection of state highways and local roads. Radiator Springs is a fictional village on Route 66, depicted in the 2006 Pixar animated film, Cars with real places along the US Route 66 as the backdrop. It intersects Interstate 5/old Hwy 99 at SR-110 (towards "Pasadena") in Los Angeles.
 * Pan American (PanAm) Highway In the U.S. all interstate highways make up the 'Pan-American' highway which spans from the northern coast of Alaska to the Darien Gap in Panama. In the Lower 48 Interstate 5 is closest to the southern terminus of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek, BC. Travelers, traveling from the Alaska Highway can travel on the Stewart-Cassiar Highway, through British Columbia, to reach the Lower 48 in Blaine, WA.
 * BC-99.svg Vancouver, BC The freeway continues north of the border as BC-Hwy 99 for the next into Vancouver BC. From north of Vancouver, BC Hwy 99 winds its way along the shores of Howe Sound, through Garibaldi Provincial Park, Whistler, to its northern terminus at BC Hwy 97 in Cache Creek (337 km north of Vancouver):
 * BC-99.svg The Sea to Sky region (north of Vancouver) stretches from the North Shore up the east side of Howe Sound to Squamish, the gateway to British Columbia's magnificent alpine country of forests, lakes, and year round world class outdoor activities. The Sea-to-Sky Highway (Highway 99), which gives the region its name, clings to the mountainsides, letting you drive from Vancouver to Whistler, one of North America's top ski resorts, in two hours.


 * Carretera_federal_1.svg Carretera_federal_1D.svgna, BCN. Once south of the Mexican inspection station the road continues west along the (Mexican side of) the border to Las Playas barrio and then along the coast as Mex Hwy 1D as a toll "freeway" while Hwy 1 straddles alongside as a 2 lane road to Ensenada(via Rosarito). Mex Hwy 1 serves as the main north-south road along the Baja California peninsula to its southern terminus in ]] San Jose del Cabo (1654 km south of Tijuana).
 * Carretera_federal_2.svg Carretera_federal_5.svg Mexicali (also known informally as "Chicali") is the capital of the state of Baja California in Mexico, directly across the border from Calexico, California where the old US Hwy 99 (CA Hwy 111) ends/begins at. Its proximity to the United States has made it a very popular tourist destination, especially for day-trippers. Growing violence has curtailed that traffic, although Mexicali remains safer than other large border cities like Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez.