Driving to L.A. – 7 Places to Stop on a Road Trip Down Highway 5 in California

Planning a road trip down I-5 with kids anytime soon? While iPads have eased the burden of road trips on parents — and probably destroyed potential magic moments along the way — long-distance drives with children are still challenging. For a state with so many wondrous features, Highway 5 down the center of California is a fairly joyless journey. My fellow native Southern Californians and I make this drive on a regular basis, so I thought I’d pull together some tips for enduring a day spent in the car.

Best places to stop on I5 with kids

Set the tone for fun: I’m willing to splurge on a stop at a trampoline park on our way out of town. Sky Zone in Dublin is not very far into the mileage count toward Los Angeles, but it puts everyone in a good mood. The first batch of miles after a good session of jumping seem to fly by. Little ones might even fall asleep.

Pea Soup Andersen’s: When I was a kid, my stepmom always made a big deal of pointing out Pea Soup Andersen’s, with its iconic windmill and billboard mascots: Hap-pea and Pea-Wee. I still get a tiny bit excited when we pass by, but I’ve learned from my kids that a) it’s not really worth looking up from a screen for and b) a restaurant specializing in pea soup is not a treat.

Regardless, if you are a collector of kitschy experiences, you’ll enjoy the stop.

In a hurry? If your people like In N Out, make Kettleman City your lunch break. It’s exactly halfway between the Bay Area and LA and most kids like it better than pea soup. Go figure.

Pro tip: Can’t quite make it to the halfway point? The Coalinga/Avenal rest stop is equipped with extremely clean restrooms, vending machines, picnic tables, and an area to run your dog (or toddler).

Not in a hurry? Spend some time at Bravo Farms, located about three hours south of Oakland, and play. If you’re just killing time while your electric car charges, you can walk over to Bravo Farms from either of the Tesla supercharging areas in Kettleman City.

Bravo Farms is a vintage-western-themed complex, featuring a massive gift shop, including an ice cream parlor, a kid-friendly play area, and a miniature town to explore. When we last stopped there, en route to LEGOLAND in Carlsbad (long drive!) running around the little town allowed my 5-year old niece to burn off some energy before we attempted to get her to sit down again for another three-hour leg of the drive.

Harris Ranch and Inn
Before Bravo Farms arrived in the middle of nowhere, Harris Ranch in Coalinga was the go-to pitstop for families. Note: Adjacent to a massive cattle ranching facility, the air outside can be pretty stinky.

The diner is family-friendly with mediocre food. Beef is, of course, the big thing, but picky ones can stick with pasta and veggies. The kids’ menu includes the standard American “kid fare”, plus mazes and coloring. The bathrooms are delightfully clean, and the decor offers retro charm that will remind you of a grandparent’s house in the 1990s.

If you simply cannot press on, Harris Ranch is also a hotel with a giant heated pool and jacuzzis. Not bad at all.

Food with Shopping: Tejon Ranch Outlets
This location for an outlet center is a mystery to me, as not many people can live nearby. It’s right between nothing and nothing. My husband and I concluded that bored travelers must stop along the way for retail therapy. In recent years, the EV chargers may be the thing that makes families stop there. Or maybe, after getting in the car, they realize they didn’t pack swimsuits or pajamas. If you cannot drive another mile without sunglasses or a gift for your dad, you’re in luck.

This is a spot for food as well: In-N-Out, Chipotle, Habit Burger, and more. At this point, you are about 90 minutes from Los Angeles.

Whether your end game is Disneyland, San Diego, or Auntie Hope’s house in Agoura Hills, may your road trip be quick and easy. Read the comments below for more tips.

[Photos by Whitney Moss except as noted]