Driving Directions from Various Starting Points
From Los Angeles (about 100 miles):
For the gentlest drive (less mountain climbing and fewer hairpin curves), take east-bound Hwy 60; go past Hwy 215 and take the Gilman Springs/San Jacinto/Hemet exit; follow Gilman Springs south-easterly and merge onto Sanderson/CA-79 South toward Hemet for 1.5 miles. Turn left onto the Ramona Expressway (after a little more than 5 miles Ramona Expressway becomes Mountain Ave but after another 1.8 miles becomes Ramona Expressway again – just stay the course) to SR 74/Florida Ave at SR 74 turn left (east toward the San Jacinto Mountains) and stay on SR 74 to Mountain Center (approximately 20 minutes or 14.4 miles) at which point you’ll bear left onto SR 243 to Idyllwild. Stay on SR 243 approximately 10 minutes and refer to your emailed directions.
Mountain Road Conditions:
SR243, to Idyllwild from Banning or Mountain Center:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/sr243
If you don’t mind mountain driving and like dramatic views take Hwy 60 to I-10 or start on I-10 east to Banning and exit at Highway 243 to Idyllwild (8th Street); follow the signs to SR 243, which leads up the mountain; you’ll go through Pine Cove and then Idyllwild. Please refer to your emailed directions.You’ll see views to Lake Elsinore and most of Riverside County to the west and mountain peaks and valleys en route.
Mountain Road Conditions:
SR74, to Mountain Center from Hemet or Palm Desert:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/sr74
SR243, to Idyllwild from Banning or Mountain Center:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/sr243
From Orange County (about 93 miles):
You’ll have the same two choices as above (same road conditions apply) but you’ll start on Hwy 91 and go northeasterly to either Hwy 60 east or I-10 east depending on which of the routes above you prefer (through Hemet or Banning).
From Palm Springs (about 47 miles):
Take I-10 west to Banning and exit to Highway 243 to Idyllwild (Hargrove Street); follow the signs to SR 243, which leads up the mountain; you’ll go through Pine Cove and then down to Idyllwild; please refer to your emailed directions.
Mountain Road Conditions:
SR243, to Idyllwild from Banning or Mountain Center:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/sr243
From Palm Desert (about 47 miles):
Take SR 111 to SR 74 and continue on SR 74 through Garner Valley to Mountain Center. At Mountain Center bear right and take SR 243 to Idyllwild. Stay on SR 243 approximately 10 minutes until you reach the village of Idyllwild and then refer to your emailed directions.
Mountain Road Conditions:
SR74, to Mountain Center from Hemet or Palm Desert:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/sr74
SR243, to Idyllwild from Banning or Mountain Center:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/sr243
From San Diego (about 114 miles):
Take I-15 north to SR79 South (first off ramp in Temecula); go east for 20-minutes or so to a stop sign (not a light) and turn left onto SR 371 toward Anza; follow SR 371 another 20-minutes to the ridge and turn left onto SR 74 at Paradise Corner (stop sign) toward Idyllwild; continue through Garner Valley and to Idyllwild as described for Palm Desert above.
Mountain Road Conditions:
SR 79, to SR371, below Anza from Temecula:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/sr79
SR 371, to Garner Valley from SR79 through Anza:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/sr371
SR74, to Mountain Center from Hemet or Palm Desert:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/sr74
SR243, to Idyllwild from Banning or Mountain Center:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/sr243
From Ventura, Santa Barbara and points north:
To bypass LA traffic there’s a route through Palmdale that will drop you in above San Bernardino. From Palmdale (via highway 126 from Ventura & Santa Barbara and via I-5 and Hwy 138 east at Gorman for those farther north) take Hwy 138 east to I-15; go south to I-215. At this point you need to refer to the route from LA and decide if you want the prettier but mountainous route via I-10 and Banning or the less mountainous route via Hwy 60 and Hemet. For Banning, take I-215 south to I-10 east to Banning and follow the Los Angeles directions above. For Hemet, take I-215 south to Hwy 60 east to Gilman Springs exit and follow the Los Angeles directions above.
From Las Vegas and points northeast:
Take I-15 south through Barstow to the I-215 split. At this point you need to refer to the route from LA and decide if you want the prettier but mountainous route via I-10 and Banning or the less mountainous route via Hwy 60 and Hemet. For Banning, take I-215 south to I-10 east to Banning and follow the instructions above under Los Angeles. For Hemet, take I-215 south to Hwy 60 east to Gilman Springs exit and follow the Los Angeles directions above.
From Phoenix and points east:
Take the I-10 west through Blythe and Indio and then follow the Palm Springs directions above, exiting at Hargrove.
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