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Interstate 5 North - San Joaquin County

Interstate 5 north
	Immediately upon entering San Joaquin County, Interstate 580 and Interstate 5 separate. While Interstate 580 continues northwest toward Oakland and San Francisco, Interstate 5 will curve north toward Tracy, Stockton, and Sacramento. Stay right for Interstate 5 north. Interstate 580 is the most direct route from Interstate 5 into the San Francisco Bay Area (including Dublin/Pleasanton, Walnut Creek, Oakland, Berkeley, Hayward, San Francisco, and all west bayshore cities). Interstate 5, meanwhile, continues north toward Manteca, Stockton, and Sacramento. This marks the eastern terminus of Interstate 580. Photo taken 11/25/10.
	This view looks northeast as Interstate 5 pulls away from Interstate 580. While quite a bit of traffic departs for the San Francisco Bay Area via Interstate 580 west, plenty still continues north on Interstate 5 toward Stockton and Sacramento. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Interstate 5 proceeds northeast between Interstate 580 and California 132. Photo taken 04/06/12.

The first San Joaquin County exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 449A, California 132 east to Modesto and Exit 449B, California 132 west to Interstate 580 en route to San Francisco (in case you missed the ramp at Exit 446). California 132 is a major east-west connector from Interstate 5 and Interstate 580 to the city of Modesto along the California 99 corridor. Photos taken 04/06/12 and 07/02/04.

	The right lane is dedicated for eastbound California 132 (Exit 449A) along Interstate 5. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 449A, California 132 east to Vernalis and Modesto; the following ramp is for Exit 449B, California 132 west to Interstate 580. In case you missed the exit to Interstate 580 west to the San Francisco Bay Area, this is your change to connect to that route. There is no access to westbound Interstate 205, so this is the last direct connection to Interstate 580 west. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 449B, California 132 west to Interstate 580 west to San Francisco. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	This Interstate 5 north reassurance shield is posted shortly after the on-ramp from California 132. Photo taken 04/06/12.

		The next exit along northbound is Exit 452, California 33 (one mile). This is the final time Interstate 5 will intersect California 33 (prior interchanges between Interstate 5 and California 33 include Exits 337, 349, and 407). Photos taken 04/06/12 and 07/02/04.
		At Exit 452, California 33 will reach its northern terminus. At its longest extent, California 33 used to continues a bit further north to end at Old U.S. 50 near Tracy. However, when Interstate 5 opened in the 1970s, plans were made to decommission the segment of California 33 between Interstate 5 and its former northern terminus at what is now Business Loop I-205 (Eleventh Street) (Old U.S. 50) in Banta. Signs for California 33 between Interstate 5 and Business Loop I-205 were removed in 1976 in accordance with state law mandating the route be decommissioned once the Interstate 5 freeway opened to traffic. Photos taken 04/06/12 and 07/02/04.
		Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 452, California 33 south and Ahern Road northwest to Tracy (the connection to Business Loop I-205 via Old California 33 includes Ahern Road northwest and Bird Road north). Photos taken 04/06/12 and 07/02/04.

	This mileage sign provides the distance to Stockton (22 miles) and Sacramento (64 miles). Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Interstate 5 proceeds north between California 33 and Kasson Road. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 457, Kasson Road west to Business Loop I-205 (Eleventh Street) en route to Tracy. Kasson Road also serves the small unincorporated community of Deuel. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Use Kasson Road east to Business Loop I-205 west to Tracy. There is no direct access to Business Loop I-205 west from Interstate 5, so use Exit 457 instead. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 457, Kasson Road to Business Loop I-205 (Eleventh Street) west. For some reason, Exit 457 was erroneously signed as Exit 457A here. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	The gore point correctly shows this off-ramp as Exit 457. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	A short distance ahead, Interstate 5 passes through the Kasson Road interchange. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Interstate 5 proceeds north between Kasson Road and the Eleventh Street (Business Loop I-205) separation. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Northbound Interstate 5 does not have an off-ramp for Business Loop I-205 (Old U.S. 50)/11th Street. The overpass carries the business loop over Interstate 5, and the business route comes to its eastern end. Photo taken 07/02/04.

This Interstate 5 reassurance shield is posted after traffic from Business Loop I-205 merges onto the northbound freeway. By 2012, the shield had changed, and two additional signs (one dynamic message sign and the other a distant guide sign for the California 120 interchange) are in view that weren't there in 2004. Photos taken 04/06/12 and 07/02/04.

	The next two exits along Interstate 5 north are Exit 460, Mossdale Road and Exit 461, California 120 east to Manteca, Oakdale, and Sonora. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	A wind advisory is in place for the next three miles as Interstate 5 meets Interstate 205 and California 120 in Lathrop. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The next overpass carries Interstate 205 over Interstate 5. Again, there is no access from northbound Interstate 5 to westbound Interstate 205. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Interstate 5 enters the city of Lathrop. The city of Lathrop is located at the crossroads of Interstate 5, California 120, and Interstate 205. A transportation center and bedroom community, Lathrop has grown in the same manner as neighboring Stockton to the north. The population of the 2000 Census was 10,445 people and consists of 16.7 square miles. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Traffic from eastbound Interstate 205 merges onto northbound Interstate 5 at this point. Interstate 5 widens to over four lanes along northbound. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 460, Mossdale Road, one-half mile. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaches Exit 460/Mossdale Road and Exit 461/California 120 east. California 120 provides a direct freeway connection to California 99, and then it continues into the Sierra foothills en route to Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 460, Mossdale Road. The next exit is Exit 461, California 120 east. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound motorists are advised to take California 120 to reach Yosemite National Park. This sign would likely be larger and brown in other states, but it is green here. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Since it is a freeway, California 120 is a good route to reach Modesto via Southbound California 99. Photo taken 07/02/04.

Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 461, California 120 east. This sign assembly was completely replaced between 2004 and 2012. Photos taken 04/06/12 and 07/02/04.

	Heavy traffic ensues as Interstate 5 proceeds north through the California 120 interchange. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 462, Louise Avenue, 0.75 mile. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Use Exit 462, Louise Avenue, to reach the city of Lathrop. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Use Louise Avenue west to reach Mossdale Crossing County Park. At the park, several old bridges that used to carry U.S. 50 over the San Joaquin River may be seen and inspected. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 462, Louise Avenue. Photo taken 07/02/04.
	The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 463, Lathrop Avenue to Dos Reis County Park. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 463, Lathrop Avenue. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	This Interstate 5 north reassurance shield is posted after the on-ramp from Lathrop Avenue. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 465, Roth Road. Use Roth Road east to the Defense Depot San Joaquin Sharpe. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 465, Roth Road. This is the final interchange to serve the city of Lathrop. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 467A, El Dorado Street. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The next 12 exits along Interstate 5 north will serve the city of Stockton: Exit 467A, El Dorado Street to French Camp; Exit 467B, Mathews Road; Exit 468, San Joaquin County J-9 (French Camp Road); Exit 469, Downing Avenue; Exit 470, Eighth Street; Exit 471, California 4/Charter Way west and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard; Exit 472, California 4/Stockton Crosstown Freeway east and Fresno Avenue; Exit 473, Pershing Avenue; Exit 474A, Monte Diablo; Exit 474B, Country Club Boulevard and Alpine Avenue; Exit 476, March Lane; and Exit 477, Benjamin Holt Drive. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	An Interstate 5 north reassurance shield is posted after the on-ramp from Roth Road. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The next three exits along Interstate 5 north serve the unincorporated of French Camp: Exit 467A, El Dorado Street; Exit 467B, Mathews Road; and Exit 468, San Joaquin County J-9 (French Camp Road). Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Use Exit 467A to Stockton Metropolitan Airport. This interchange, which is only accessible from northbound Interstate 5, might have been intended at one time as a business route for Interstate 5, but to the best of our knowledge, there was never a Business Loop I-5 in Stockton. It would have been a bit unusual considering that this section of Interstate 5 did not directly replace any former U.S. highway (Old U.S. 50-99 stayed closer to the California 99 corridor). El Dorado Street travels north directly into downtown Stockton, connecting to Hammer Lane at its northern end. There is no similar high-speed ramp at the other end of El Dorado Street, since the return connection is via east-west Hammer Lane. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 467A, El Dorado Street. This high-speed ramp only connects northbound Interstate 5 to northbound El Dorado Street. Exiting motorists may return to Interstate 5 via Exit 467B, Mathews Road. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 467B, Mathews Road (diamond interchange). Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 467B, Mathews Road in French Camp. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 468, San Joaquin County J-9 (French Camp Road). Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 468, San Joaquin County J-9 (French Camp Road). J-9 is a major east-west highway that begins here at Exit 468 and extends east to connect French Camp, southern Stockton, and California 99 before passing through Oakdale, Waterford, and Hickman. J-9 reaches its eastern terminus at County Route J-17/East Avenue. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	While passing over French Camp Road, this sign points the way to the next interchange along Interstate 5 north: Exit 469, Downing Avenue east and Carolyn Weston Boulevard west (one mile). Photo taken 04/06/12.
	French Camp Road serves as the city limits of Stockton, the seat of San Joaquin County and a major deep-water port as well as a regional agricultural center. The city is located about 40 miles south of Sacramento and about 80 miles east of San Francisco. With its location on Interstate 5 and proximity to the Bay Area and Central Valley job centers, Stockton has grown substantially. The city consists of 62.1 square miles of land (of which 1.02 square miles are water). Stockton had a population of 291,707 as of the 2010 Census and 243,771 as of the 2000 Census. An older city in the northern San Joaquin Valley, Stockton incorporated on July 23, 1850, as a charter city. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	As traffic from French Camp Road merges onto Interstate 5 north, we find this reassurance shield for Interstate 5. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Northbound Interstate 5 meets Exit 469, Downing Avenue east and Carolyn Weston Boulevard west. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	While passing over Downing Avenue, we see this sign for the next exit along Interstate 5 north: Exit 470, Eighth Street (0.75 mile). Photo taken 04/06/12.
	This interchange sequence sign along Interstate 5 north indicates the next three exits: Exit 470, Eighth Street; Exit 471, California 4/Charter Way west and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard; and Exit 472, California 4/Stockton Crosstown Freeway east and Fresno Avenue. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 470, Eighth Street. Take Eighth Street east to McKinley Park and El Dorado Street south of downtown. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 471, California 4/Charter Way west and Former California 4 Business/Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard east. Follow California 4 west to the Port of Stockton, which features a deep water port adjacent to the freeway. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The right lane of Interstate 5 north becomes exit only for Exit 471, California 4/Charter Way west and Former California 4 Business/Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard east. The second exit will be Exit 472, California 4 (Crosstown Freeway) east and Crosstown Freeway west to Fresno Avenue north/south. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 471, California 4/Charter Way west and Former California 4 Business/Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard east. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The signs on the off-ramp to Exit 471 point the way to California 4 west to Antioch or former California 4 Business/Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard east to Angels Camp. The business route was deemphasized in recent years, and all remnant signs were gone by 2010. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	California State University Stanislaus has a downtown Stockton campus located north of the California 4 freeway along California Street. Take California 4 east to connect to the university campus. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Use the California 4 east transition ramp to the Downtown Stockton off-ramp. The downtown exit will connect to Lafayette Street, an east-west city street that parallels California 4 on the south side of the freeway. Access from Lafayette Street connects to major north-south arterials such as Center Street, El Dorado Street, San Joaquin Street, and California Street. Downtown Stockton features a convention center and transit station. The downtown area is focused on the one-way couplet of Center Street (southbound) and El Dorado Street (northbound). Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 472, California 4/Crosstown (Ort J. Lofthus) Freeway east and Crosstown (Ort J. Lofthus) Freeway west to Fresno Avenue north/south. This old, porcelain enamel sign is posted on the Charter Way overpass. Ahead, traffic from California 4 east will merge onto Interstate 5 for a very brief moment, then depart immediately onto the Crosstown Freeway. Photo taken 04/06/12.
Interstate 5 north and California 4 east
	Northbound Interstate 5 meets Exit 472, California 4/Crosstown (Ort J. Lofthus) Freeway east and Crosstown (Ort J. Lofthus) Freeway west to Fresno Avenue north/south. The right two lanes will connect to Exit 472. The shared alignment between Interstate 5 and California 4 is so short that there are no reassurance shield assemblies showing both routes along northbound. Photo taken 04/06/12.
Interstate 5 north
	Upon departing Interstate 5 at Exit 472, use the left lane of the transition ramp to connect to Crosstown Freeway west to Fresno Avenue to the Port of Stockton and Rough & Ready Island. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The ramp from Interstate 5 north to California 4 east splits, with the left lane connecting to Crosstown Freeway west and the right two lanes linking to California 4 (Crosstown Freeway) east and Downtown Stockton (Lafayette Street east to Center Street south and El Dorado Street north). The interchange between Interstate 5 and California 4 is a symmetrical stack. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Looking ahead, the next three exits along Interstate 5 north are Exit 473, Pershing Avenue north; Exit 474A, Monte Diablo; and Exit 474B, Country Club Boulevard and Alpine Avenue. Use Exit 473, Pershing Avenue north to University of the Pacific (UOP). Photo taken 04/06/12.
	A flyover ramp connecting Interstate 5 south to California 4 east cruises over the mainline Interstate 5 north freeway. Interstate 5 itself is well above ground level via a viaduct that makes a turn toward the northwest as we pass over McLeod Lake, which is attached to the deep water channel that connects the Port of Stockton with the San Francisco/San Pablo Bays (via the Carquinez Straits). Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Still above McLeod Lake, traffic merges onto Interstate 5 north from the Crosstown Freeway. The right lane of Interstate 5 north becomes exit only for Exit 473, Pershing Avenue north. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 473, Pershing Avenue north to the University of the Pacific, Victory Park, and the Haggin Museum. The off-ramp departs the Interstate 5 viaduct and eventually merges onto Pershing Avenue north. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 474A, Monte Diablo Avenue (0.50 mile). Use Monte Diablo Avenue east to Victory Park and west to Louis Park and Pixie Woods. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next three exits along Interstate 5 north: Exit 474A, Monte Diablo Avenue; Exit 474B, Country Club Boulevard and Alpine Avenue; and Exit 476, March Lane. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 474A, Monte Diablo Avenue. The next interchange will be Exit 474B, Country Club Boulevard and Alpine Avenue. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next three exits along Interstate 5 north: Exit 474B, Country Club Boulevard and Alpine Avenue; Exit 476, March Lane; and Exit 477, Benjamin Holt Drive. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Curving to the north again, northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 474B, Country Club Boulevard and Alpine Avenue. The following interchange will be Exit 476, March Lane. Construction was underway to improve the freeway in 2012. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The three northbound lanes were in the process of being widened in 2012. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 476, March Lane (0.75 mile). Use March Lane west to Brookside and Buckley Cove. To the east, March Lane travels east to San Joaquin Delta College. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 476, March Lane. Use the middle lane of the off-ramp for the connection to Quail Lakes Drive. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	A mile north, northbound Interstate 5 next reaches Exit 477, Benjamin Holt Drive. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The off-ramp for Exit 477 has specific lane allocations for Benjamin Holt Drive east/west. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 478, Hammer Lane (one mile). This busy arterial travels east-west between Interstate 5 Exit 478 and California 99 Exit 258. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Construction continued along this stretch of Interstate 5 between Monte Diablo Avenue and Hammer Lane in 2012. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Northbound Interstate 5 meets Exit 478, Hammer Lane. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The off-ramp to Hammer Lane includes signage for Hammer Lane west/east plus Kelley Drive north/south. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	After passing through the Hammer Lane interchange, Interstate 5 reverts to its originally constructed six-lane alignment in northern Stockton. Residential development lessens, and the city begins to gradually shift into rural/agricultural lands once again. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	This mileage sign provides the distance to Sacramento (39 miles) and Redding (198 miles), making this the first northbound sign on Interstate 5 to refer to the mileage to Redding as a control city. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Interstate 5 proceeds north through northern Stockton. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 481, Eight Mile Road (0.75 mile). Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The right two lanes become exit only for Exit 481, Eight Mile Road. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 481, Eight Mile Road. Use Eight Mile Road east to Oak Grove Regional Park. Photo taken 04/06/12.

Several power lines come into view along Interstate 5 north at the Eight Mile Road interchange. The lines carried by the shorter towers travel from the Tracy East Substation, which is operated by the Western Area Power Administration, and they will proceed northeast parallel to Interstate 5. Photos taken 04/06/12.

	The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 485, California 12 east to Lodi and west to Fairfield. This major interchange connects Interstate 5 to Rio Vista in the California Delta and the city of Fairfield to the west of the freeway. To the east, California 12 to the city of Lodi, where California 12 follows Kettleman Lane to the junction with California 99 at Exit 264B. Photo taken 04/06/12
	California 12 is a major east-west corridor across northern California. The state route begins in Sebastopol at California 116, extends east through Santa Rosa into the Sonoma Valley (Valley of the Moon), then aims toward the city of Napa at the southern end of world-famous Napa Valley. Leaving Napa, California 12 merges with Interstate 80 prior to entering the city of Fairfield. East of Fairfield, California 12 passes through the California Delta, connecting Rio Vista and Terminous. After crossing Interstate 5 at this interchange, California 12 continues east to Lodi. From Lodi, California 12 passes through Lockeford (along with California 88) before ending at California 49 near San Andreas (California 49). Photo taken 04/06/12
	Northbound Interstate 5 meets Exit 485, California 12 east to Lodi and west to Fairfield and Napa. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	Interstate 5 crosses over California 12. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	This Interstate 5 reassurance shield is posted after the on-ramp from California 12. Photo taken 04/06/12.
	The aforementioned set of powerlines crosses over Interstate 5. This section of Interstate 5, from California 12 north to Twin Cities Road, was among the last sections of the freeway to be constructed (built in 1979). Photo taken 04/02/05.
	A mileage sign for Sacramento (32 miles) and Portland (628 miles) appears. This is the first northbound appearance of Portland as a control city, and it is a long way from here to there. Photo taken 04/02/05.

		The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 487, Turner Road east to the city of Lodi and California 99 at Exit 266. Photos taken 04/06/12 and 04/02/05.
		Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 487, Turner Road. Photos taken 04/06/12 and 04/02/05.
	Continuing through farms and ranches, the next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 490, San Joaquin County J-12 (Peltier Road). This county route provides farm to market access across northern San Joaquin County, connecting with California 99 at Exit 270 and ending at California 88 in Dogtown. Photo taken 04/02/05.
		Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 490, San Joaquin County J-12 (Peltier Road). Photos taken 04/06/12 and 04/02/05.
	The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 493, San Joaquin County J-11/Walnut Grove Road to Thornton Road. To the east, San Joaquin County J-11 ends at north-south San Joaquin County J-8 (Thornton Road). Use Thornton Road north to New Hope Road east to the city of Galt in Sacramento County. Use Thornton Road south into the unincorporated community of Thornton. San Joaquin County J-8 continues south toward Peltier Road and north across the Mokelumne River into Sacramento County. Sacramento County J-8 (Franklin Boulevard) leads north through the Cosumnes River Preserve into the city of Elk Grove and ultimately the city of Sacramento. The signed county route ends at the intersection of Franklin Boulevard and Broadway in the shadow of the Business 80, U.S. 50, and California 99 interchange southeast of downtown Sacramento. Photo taken 04/02/05.
		Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 493, San Joaquin County J-11, Walnut Grove Road to Thornton Road. Walnut Grove Road leads west to Walnut Grove in Sacramento County and east to Thornton. This was one of the first exits to be numbered in the Central Valley. Photos taken 04/06/12 and 04/02/05.
	This reassurance shield for Interstate 5 is posted after the on-ramp from Exit 493, Walnut Grove Road. The next exit is five miles ahead, after the freeway crosses into Sacramento County. Photo taken 04/02/05.
		Interstate 5 leaves San Joaquin County and enters Sacramento County upon crossing the Mokelumne River. Photos taken 04/02/05 and 04/06/12.

   

Page Updated September 19, 2012.