Northern CA and Oregon Coasts

[moff34]

We are currently planning an early fall trip up the California and Oregon coast ending up in Seattle, Washington.

We would appreciate any recommendations on great RV parks and "must see" places along the coast north of San Francisco up to Seattle.

Thank you in advance.

[OldGal3]

Originally Posted by moff34

We are currently planning an early fall trip up the California and Oregon coast ending up in Seattle, Washington.

We would appreciate any recommendations on great RV parks and "must see" places along the coast north of San Francisco up to Seattle.

Thank you in advance.

That could take 10 pages.....are you going 101? Starting from where?
For sure stops along the way? Are you going up 101 in Washington?

Give us some hints and I'm sure folks will chime in with their favorite places.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by moff34

We are currently planning an early fall trip up the California and Oregon coast ending up in Seattle, Washington.

We would appreciate any recommendations on great RV parks and "must see" places along the coast north of San Francisco up to Seattle.

Thank you in advance.

We've been camping up and down the West Coast for 30 years.
We don't usually do RV parks, mainly state and national park campgrounds.

Oregon state parks are great to camp in, compared to California state parks.
Most of Oregon's campsites have at least water and electric hookups, while less than 1% of California's have hookups of any kind.

You shouldn't take Highway 1, north of Fort Bragg, if you have a long rig.

[klickitatjim]

Cape Lookout SP Oregon, and go to Pelican Brewing in Pacific City for a late lunch

Cape Disappointment SP Washington

Lopez Island Resort Washington!

[donniedu]

Go to Seattle first. Once you have had your fill of the liberal crud, head south on the coast. 101 and the coast are much better viewed north to south. The views and turn outs will almost all be on your right. No need to cross traffic.
In Oregon any of the state parks, plus Brookings Harbor RV, Salmon Harbor RV at Winchester bay, Netarts Bay RV are all good private parks with spectatular views.

[moff34]

Originally Posted by OldGal3

That could take 10 pages.....are you going 101? Starting from where?
For sure stops along the way? Are you going up 101 in Washington?

Give us some hints and I'm sure folks will chime in with their favorite places.

My apologies if the original post was not clear enough. The plan is to begin in the Pismo Beach area and head up Highway 1. We just found out that Highway 1 in the Big Sur area will open by the end of July. We are very familiar with that stretch, but have never been up beyond San Francisco. We will probably go up Highway 1 as far as Fort Bragg then over to the 101 and make our way up to Seattle.

We are very interested in hearing about the "must see" attractions along the way.

Thank you for those of you that have already left recommendations.

[OldGal3]

Originally Posted by moff34

My apologies if the original post was not clear enough. The plan is to begin in the Pismo Beach area and head up Highway 1. We just found out that Highway 1 in the Big Sur area will open by the end of July. We are very familiar with that stretch, but have never been up beyond San Francisco. We will probably go up Highway 1 as far as Fort Bragg then over to the 101 and make our way up to Seattle.

We are very interested in hearing about the "must see" attractions along the way.

Thank you for those of you that have already left recommendations.

Seems I'm the only one who wanted more info....! After you jump from Fort Bragg over to 101 you'll go thru a lot of little towns, some of which aren't even there anymore. If you like to know some history of the places you visit, give this a read, particularly the California section: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_flood_of_1964
The names of towns like Pepperwood, Rio Dell, Meyers Flat have quite a history and watch for high water markers, although a lot of the road has been changed.

Any time you get to spend in the Redwoods is a treat. A few miles west on 199 from Crescent City is Jedidiah Smith Redwoods. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=413
Even if you don't fit in their campground, stay somewhere else and visit and/or take the Howland Road drive and allow plenty of time. It's a narrow, windy, gorgeous place. The Smith River is beautiful, too.

When you are touring the Olympic Penn in Washington, take the drive (without trailer) up to Hurricane Ridge....then hike up to the top if you enjoy such things. Sol Duc Hot Springs might interest you.

Fall is such a great time to travel - enjoy!

[klickitatjim]

If you are going around the Olympic peninsula, ferry cross to Whidbey Island at Port Townsend, and go up 20 to Anacortes and get on the ferry for Lopez Island. You are going to see all, well most, of the islands that way. Stay at Lopez Island Resort rv park. Very 50s-60s vibe. And travel the islands from there. When you're done you can jump on I5 and hit seattle though I have no clue why anyone would want to [emoji41]

The islands always take 20 points off my BP, while Everett-Seattle-Tacoma-Olympia add at least 20 points

Frankly, I would skip I5 and head east on 20 to 97. Head south via Chelan, Wenatchee, Yakima, Bend, Shasta

[gmeeker]

We just stayed 3 days at Oceanside Beachfront RV Resort in Charleston Oregon. (Basically Coos Bay). Gravel sites recommend #42 or #43. just a short walk (really short) to a nice quiet beach. Nice park and nice people too. We had a great visit there. As far as Jed Smith, OldGal3 is absolutely correct! You will never see a more beautiful place than Jed! There is a nice RV park for larger rigs with full hookups just outside the Park entrance in the town of Hiouchi.

[Puma26RLSS]

Originally Posted by bikendan

We've been camping up and down the West Coast for 30 years.
We don't usually do RV parks, mainly state and national park campgrounds.

Oregon state parks are great to camp in, compared to California state parks.
Most of Oregon's campsites have at least water and electric hookups, while less than 1% of California's have hookups of any kind.

You shouldn't take Highway 1, north of Fort Bragg, if you have a long rig.

We would appreciate your experience in the northern CA and Oregon/Washington area re: Interstate 5. We are heading up Interstate 5 from the Napa area to Seattle area. I would appreciate any guidance about hills or mountains that I might encounter on that route.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Puma26RLSS

We would appreciate your experience in the northern CA and Oregon/Washington area re: Interstate 5. We are heading up Interstate 5 from the Napa area to Seattle area. I would appreciate any guidance about hills or mountains that I might encounter on that route.

Lived in Napa for 12 years before moving to Washington State. If you'd like any suggestions for the Napa area, PM me.

As far as I5N goes, you start climbing in Redding and it pretty much is up and down all the way to to the Oregon border. You're climbing over the Siskiyou mountain range.

The next climb is just north of Grants Pass and is up and down also, just at a lower elevation. It pretty much ends in Canyonville, where Seven Feathers Casino and RV park is.
It's considered one of the best RV parks on the West Coast.

From there, no major climbs or mountains, just the occasional gradual hill.
But compared to Florida, you might consider them mountains.[emoji23]

[Puma26RLSS]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Lived in Napa for 12 years before moving to Washington State. If you'd like any suggestions for the Napa area, PM me.

As far as I5N goes, you start climbing in Redding and it pretty much is up and down all the way to to the Oregon border. You're climbing over the Siskiyou mountain range.

The next climb is just north of Grants Pass and is up and down also, just at a lower elevation. It pretty much ends in Canyonville, where Seven Feathers Casino and RV park is.
It's considered one of the best RV parks on the West Coast.

From there, no major climbs or mountains, just the occasional gradual hill.
But compared to Florida, you might consider them mountains.[emoji23]

Roger that. When faced wit the "grapevine" out of LA area, I found a good workaround with HWY 101 through Santa Barbara. Is there a workaround this area of I5N? Either east or west that has fewer hills or mountains? If not, what is the elevation we are dealing with north of Redding? We did I8W between El Centro and Sand Diego and found the 4,600 ft passes a little daunting (at least for a Floridian)!

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Puma26RLSS

Roger that. When faced wit the "grapevine" out of LA area, I found a good workaround with HWY 101 through Santa Barbara. Is there a workaround this area of I5N? Either east or west that has fewer hills or mountains? If not, what is the elevation we are dealing with north of Redding? We did I8W between El Centro and Sand Diego and found the 4,600 ft passes a little daunting (at least for a Floridian)!

Well, if I8 bothered you, you're not going to like either of the I5 sections I mentioned.

I've driven it so many times, I hardly notice it. But living on the West Coast, we have to deal with the Sierras, Siskiyous, Cascades and Rockies. So something like that I8 section you drove, are just hills to us.

The flattest option would be the coastal route of 101, like the Santa Barbara route.
BUT it will almost double your driving time, especially on the Oregon coast.
But it's beautiful
So if you're in no hurry, it's definitely a must-do.

[Puma26RLSS]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Well, if I8 bothered you, you're not going to like either of the I5 sections I mentioned.

I've driven it so many times, I hardly notice it. But living on the West Coast, we have to deal with the Sierras, Siskiyous, Cascades and Rockies. So something like that I8 section you drove, are just hills to us.

The flattest option would be the coastal route of 101, like the Santa Barbara route.
BUT it will almost double your driving time, especially on the Oregon coast.
But it's beautiful
So if you're in no hurry, it's definitely a must-do.

Roger that. Hwy 101 looks like it is 4 lane/freeway most of the way up. Is that the case?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Puma26RLSS

Roger that. Hwy 101 looks like it is 4 lane/freeway most of the way up. Is that the case?

Maybe 50-50, at best. That's why it takes so much longer, along with slower speed limits and going through towns.

[Puma26RLSS]

Well, after all the angst, I think I will go ahead on I5N, We'll stop over at Redding and do a little boating, hopefully, and then journey on over the mountains. As John Wayne remarked, "Sometimes a man has go to do what a man has got to do!"

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Puma26RLSS

Well, after all the angst, I think I will go ahead on I5N, We'll stop over at Redding and do a little boating, hopefully, and then journey on over the mountains. As John Wayne remarked, "Sometimes a man has go to do what a man has got to do!"

I have a 27' TT and I've pulled it with my F150 3.5 Ecoboost from one end of I5 to the other with not one issue.

My previous truck, an '07 Avalanche with the 5.3, got hot doing some of the long grades but still got it done.

[Puma26RLSS]

Originally Posted by bikendan

I have a 27' TT and I've pulled it with my F150 3.5 Ecoboost from one end of I5 to the other with not one issue.

My previous truck, an '07 Avalanche with the 5.3, got hot doing some of the long grades but still got it done.

Well, after getting all set to head up the I5N, we have decided to follow your and many others' advice not to miss the 101 through this area, so we are going to take the 299 from Redding and check out the 101 as far north as the Eugene area and then get back on the I5N. I appreciated your last comment about your 2007 Avalanche. My Ram is a 2007 so the age issue, even though my mileage (115,000) is low in relation, does enter my thinking.

[Scott V.]

Originally Posted by Puma26RLSS

Well, after getting all set to head up the I5N, we have decided to follow your and many others' advice not to miss the 101 through this area, so we are going to take the 299 from Redding and check out the 101 as far north as the Eugene area and then get back on the I5N. I appreciated your last comment about your 2007 Avalanche. My Ram is a 2007 so the age issue, even though my mileage (115,000) is low in relation, does enter my thinking.

Not sure when your trip is planned, but Redding in the summer is very hot. Make sure you get an early morning start (7-8 am) to head west on 299 to the coast. You will have 4 passes to cross and about 35 miles of river canyon to follow. Expect about 3.5 hrs to go the 140 miles from Redding to the 101/299 junction. Speed limit is 55 mph on a 2 lane road, but pulling the trailer expect to average about 45 mph. We did this route last summer and plan to do it again next month. Some slow hills, but mainly winding mountainous roads.

[Puma26RLSS]

Originally Posted by Scott V.

Not sure when your trip is planned, but Redding in the summer is very hot. Make sure you get an early morning start (7-8 am) to head west on 299 to the coast. You will have 4 passes to cross and about 35 miles of river canyon to follow. Expect about 3.5 hrs to go the 140 miles from Redding to the 101/299 junction. Speed limit is 55 mph on a 2 lane road, but pulling the trailer expect to average about 45 mph. We did this route last summer and plan to do it again next month. Some slow hills, but mainly winding mountainous roads.

Roger that. Heading out tomorrow. Target is Harbor, OR. Thanks for info. You have been very helpful.