Ortega Highway
 

Thinking of taking the FR-S out on Ortega Highway for a early sunday morning drive out to Pechanga. Anyone driven on this highway? Looks like lots of nice winding roads!

It is fun...provided that you don't get behind someone who is slow and doesn't use the turnouts.

I've driven it both ways in my FR-S between the 5 and 15.:party0030:

It is a fun road, but as mentioned, you can easily get stuck in traffic (especially on the weekends) and many people refuse to use the turnouts. If you're leaving especially early though on Sunday it should be pretty open. Have fun and stay safe! :thumbsup:

its fun, but real danger too.

Wide smooth roads and a beautiful view about 4/5ths way to the top.

I use to drive this highway everyday to and from work every morning.....Man I wish i had my Frs back then. Would have been a real life Takumi Fujiwarain my 86. On this highway you just got to play it safe. Lots of people use it to commute to and from oc. Also on the weekends you got to watch out for the Bikers its very popular with them on the weekend.

i sometimes commute it vs the 76, but bikers and traffic is the problem.... there are much better roads with less traffic, just have to know where

Like some others said, traffic is the problem on this road. I've never had a good traffic-free run on it. The road is generally well-paved, signed, painted, etc. because of all the traffic it gets. It would probably be a really cool road to do late at night when no one is around.

Overall it's a pretty high-speed road compared to most backroads. The views are OK but the problem is all you get to see is Lake Elsinore! If you go further east towards Palomar Mountain State Park there are some really sick mountain roads with very tight turns, plus the views are better.

Happy carving!

sometimes i cant sleep so i will go out east past midnight. im learning there is a LOT of epic roads in east county. out by sycuan there is some real nice canyon roads that put out past alpine. from there you can make a really fun loop through the descanso area which has tons of good roads. Ramona is ok... wildcat canyon road is fun if there is no traffic and its a great mix of curves and high speed straight aways... 2 spots you can easily get over 100 mph if you are on it.

Do it but be safe... I took the BRZ there yesterday and the day before yesterday.

There are one or two turns that are off camber/decreasing radius and can catch you by surprise. If you take a lot of turns near the limit those off camber ones could cause a spin. My dad almost died out there, was thrown out the passenger window. Be safe but that is a great road to have fun on.

Thrown out? wow... no seatbelts? or just.. what happened to be thrown out?

Riding passenger, no seat belt. Car flipped multiple times and landed resting across a gutter with my dads head in the gutter under the tire. A 1/4 inch shallower gutter and his head would have been smashed, oddly no broken bones or deep cuts other than on his scalp cause by either the tire or the curb. Driver was fine, this was before cell phones. Lucky a passing truck with a CB called it in. My dad was loosing blood as fast a his heart could pump (no diastolic pressure) as was in a coma for 2 weeks. Paramedics said it was surprising he did not die. Doc at the hospital said we would likely die. Well anyway have fun but don't go crazy shit happens.

If you start by the freeway, highland valley road is fun too. You can continue on to Julian if you take it all the way down.

If you start at the 125 and take Telegraph canyon road through it becomes Otay Lakes road. That one is fun, lots of sweepers and beautiful lake views.

There's a ton of great canyon roads out here in San Diego. I've only taken them on my bike but I can't imagine they wouldn't be fun in cars as well. Added bonus if we get up early enough and catch breakfast at one of the cafes along the way.

Of course there's Palomar Mtn road (south and east grades) and Mesa Grande as well if you want some really tight corners.