Need off freeway directions from 33/166 to Compton CA

Question

we will be pulling a very old trailer (still street legal), but want to avoid high speeds on the grapevine. we would prefer to take side streets, time is not the matter. we will be coming from the 33/166 and our destination is Compton, CA. anyone have side road tips

Answer

If you want to avoid the high speeds and steep grades of the Grapevine on I-5 when traveling from the Bakersfield area (via Highways 33/166) to Compton, CA, you can take a series of side roads and smaller highways. This route will be longer but more manageable for towing an older trailer and staying at lower speeds.

Here’s a detailed off-freeway route option:

From the intersection of Highway 33 and 166 near Maricopa, head south on Highway 33 through Oildale and toward McKittrick. This is a rural two-lane road, so traffic will be lighter.
Continue on Highway 33 south through McKittrick, past Buttonwillow, and toward Lost Hills. This road is mostly flat with some rolling hills and is trailer-friendly.
From Lost Hills, take Highway 58 east toward Bakersfield if you want to bypass I-5. Once you reach Bakersfield, you can skirt the city using local streets or Highway 43 south.
Head south on Highway 43 through small towns like Wasco and Shafter to stay off the freeway.
Once you reach the southern Kern County area, you can connect to Highway 99 south toward the Los Angeles area. Highway 99 is a slower freeway than I-5’s Grapevine and may be easier for towing, though it is still a highway.
As you approach the Los Angeles area, you can exit onto side streets through cities like Lancaster, Palmdale, or smaller eastside routes to continue toward Compton. Using local surface streets in the LA metro area will help you avoid steep freeway grades.

Other considerations:

Carry updated maps or a GPS that allows avoiding freeways, as some smaller roads may have weight or length restrictions.
Plan fuel stops in advance, as rural stretches along Highway 33/166 can be long between stations.
Check weather conditions before departure, especially in the Tehachapi Mountains region, as even side roads can have sharp grades or curves.
Consider driving during daylight hours for better visibility and safer handling of the trailer on rural roads.

This side-road approach will significantly reduce exposure to steep freeway grades and heavy trucks on the Grapevine, but expect your travel time to be much longer than the freeway route.

Need off freeway directions from 33/166 to Compton CA

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