California National Parks Trip

[Brother Les]

If anyone qualifies for the National Parks Senior Pass, I would suggest getting it. With Half price camping cost, the Pass card more than paid for my card on the first trip.
How to Get the National Parks Senior Pass (Benefits, List of Parks) [2022] - UponArriving

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by mekkerlc

The biggest benefit seems to be getting a chance to see the Redwood trees in Muir NM.

You're going to California and NOT going to the Redwoods National and State Parks area? That was one of the highlights of our trip to California. Of course, we were coming south from Washington and Oregon.

I'm with simiHal. The coast is much more impressive than the central valley and we've done both.
If it were me, I'd plan the Redwoods National Park and Death Valley since that's one of your goals, and find a quick way between the two.

One caviate.... You have no idea what the roads will be like since California is alternately covered by snow or water. So check with the Highway Department to see current road conditions. Freeways will more likely to be passable than state road.

Good luck from a former Rochestarian.

[mekkerlc]

Believe me! I sooo wish we could work in Redwoods NP/SP on this trip...it is just too far north for the 4-wk window we have. And unfortunately, there is no way to expand it.

I think we'll stick with the current route, and make a game-time-decision if we want to drive the ~2hrs from Moss Landing to visit SF for the day. Or, just use that day to see Monterey Bay and the surrounding areas.

And we really want to see the coast of California...so sticking with the current route gives us more opportunity for that. Just wonder if we should break up the drive from Moss Landing to Ventura.

Debating taking the Big Sur drive with the camper...stop at Hearst Castle...stop in San Luis Obispo...eventually getting to our Hobson Beach destination...all in one day seems more rushed than we like.

[bikendan]

The Sequoia Redwoods are more spectacular than the Coastal Redwoods, IMHO. And I grew up in the Coastal Redwoods.

[aircommuter]

Just in case you are going to be in the Moss Landing area there is Phil’s Fish market/restaurant which was on the island across from the power plant now relocated 3 miles in Castroville. Also in Watsonville nearby is a hidden place called the Wooden Nickel for breakfast lunch and dinner. My construction yard was next to the Watsonville Airport for 10 years where I commuted home from. Those were my favorite restaurants.

[simiHal]

Originally Posted by mekkerlc

Believe me! I sooo wish we could work in Redwoods NP/SP on this trip...it is just too far north for the 4-wk window we have. And unfortunately, there is no way to expand it.

I think we'll stick with the current route, and make a game-time-decision if we want to drive the ~2hrs from Moss Landing to visit SF for the day. Or, just use that day to see Monterey Bay and the surrounding areas.

And we really want to see the coast of California...so sticking with the current route gives us more opportunity for that. Just wonder if we should break up the drive from Moss Landing to Ventura.

Debating taking the Big Sur drive with the camper...stop at Hearst Castle...stop in San Luis Obispo...eventually getting to our Hobson Beach destination...all in one day seems more rushed than we like.

If you can actually make it out to Channel Islands NP and that will satisfy your California coast fix then the route you’ve shown via US-101 will suffice. There is relatively very little coastline in that route. If you’re unsure of the timing to make it out to the islands then you may want to check with CalTrans to see if CA1 south past Big Sur is open at the time of your trip. If it is, that is a WAY more scenic route but will add hours to the drive (if your rig can handle it) as it is a much slower. Hopefully you already made your reservation for Hobson as it is a very small, compact, popular campground with very few sites that can handle your size rig.

[simiHal]

Originally Posted by bikendan

The Sequoia Redwoods are more spectacular than the Coastal Redwoods, IMHO. And I grew up in the Coastal Redwoods.

If you grew up near the coastal redwoods then I can see why you would have that opinion. As not living relatively close to either but having visited & backpacked in both Redwood NP and Sequoia NP I’d say they both are to be revered, but for different reasons. The Sequoias for their girth and the Redwoods for their height.

[KSH]

No reason to see san Francisco,, or is nothing like it use to be even 10 years ago.
I agree on the red woods, general Sherman, totally worth seeing.
General Sherman Tree
(559) 565-3341
https://maps.app.goo.gl/LpoQQHpDnJ9qXN8UA

The rivers campground is good as well.

[ppine]

The and cool and moist coast north of San Francisco in the redwoods is exactly where you want to be in the heat of summer.

[aircommuter]

Originally Posted by ppine

The and cool and moist coast north of San Francisco in the redwoods is exactly where you want to be in the heat of summer.

San Francisco is cool in the summer too but you need poop maps which the city does issue. Go north and you won’t need one. I was born and raised in Santa Cruz and it WAS a nice little town.

[mekkerlc]

So we leave in a few weeks!
We decided on NO San Francisco visit
Here is the route we landed on:

• Lake Tahoe (Meeks Bay...2-nights, 1-full day)
• Yosemite NP (Yosemite Lakes RV Park...3-nights, 2-full days)
• Kings Canyon & Sequoia (Sequoia RV Park...3-nights, 2-full days)
• Moss Landing (Moss Landing KOA...3-nights, 2-full days...1 @ Big Sur Drive, 1 @ Santa Cruz Redwoods)
• San Simeon (San Simeon SP...1-ngt...stop at Pinnacles NP on way from Moss Landing)
• Channel Islands NP (Hobson Beach SP...2-nights, 1-full day)
• San Diego (San Diego Metro KOA...3-nights, 2-full days)

• Following Sand Diego, we'll have 4-nights to visit Joshua Tree NP, Death Valley NP, and Las Vegas. Leaving these stops flexible to see what the weather and temps are like when we are there.

Then heading home to NY from Las Vegas, we hope to make a stop at Hot Springs NP in Arkansas.

[purduepete97]

Sounds like an amazing trip - enjoy and be safe! Re: Hot Springs NP, it's an atypical NP with relatively little nature. Still worth a stop if you're going that way, but it was a "once and done" for us.
Pete

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by mekkerlc

So we leave in a few weeks!
We decided on NO San Francisco visit
Here is the route we landed on:

• Lake Tahoe (Meeks Bay...2-nights, 1-full day)
• Yosemite NP (Yosemite Lakes RV Park...3-nights, 2-full days)
• Kings Canyon & Sequoia (Sequoia RV Park...3-nights, 2-full days)
• Moss Landing (Moss Landing KOA...3-nights, 2-full days...1 @ Big Sur Drive, 1 @ Santa Cruz Redwoods)
• San Simeon (San Simeon SP...1-ngt...stop at Pinnacles NP on way from Moss Landing)
• Channel Islands NP (Hobson Beach SP...2-nights, 1-full day)
• San Diego (San Diego Metro KOA...3-nights, 2-full days)

• Following Sand Diego, we'll have 4-nights to visit Joshua Tree NP, Death Valley NP, and Las Vegas. Leaving these stops flexible to see what the weather and temps are like when we are there.

Then heading home to NY from Las Vegas, we hope to make a stop at Hot Springs NP in Arkansas.

I'm jealous. Safe journey!

[ppine]

Next week Palm Springs and Joshua Tree NP will be around 120.
Death Valley will be 130 with a low temp over 90.

[n1acguy]

Originally Posted by mekkerlc

So we leave in a few weeks!
We decided on NO San Francisco visit
Here is the route we landed on:

• Lake Tahoe (Meeks Bay...2-nights, 1-full day)
• Yosemite NP (Yosemite Lakes RV Park...3-nights, 2-full days)
• Kings Canyon & Sequoia (Sequoia RV Park...3-nights, 2-full days)
• Moss Landing (Moss Landing KOA...3-nights, 2-full days...1 @ Big Sur Drive, 1 @ Santa Cruz Redwoods)
• San Simeon (San Simeon SP...1-ngt...stop at Pinnacles NP on way from Moss Landing)
• Channel Islands NP (Hobson Beach SP...2-nights, 1-full day)
• San Diego (San Diego Metro KOA...3-nights, 2-full days)

• Following Sand Diego, we'll have 4-nights to visit Joshua Tree NP, Death Valley NP, and Las Vegas. Leaving these stops flexible to see what the weather and temps are like when we are there.

Then heading home to NY from Las Vegas, we hope to make a stop at Hot Springs NP in Arkansas.

I'll second that it will still be very hot in Joshua and DV NPs at least through the end of September.
Since you mentioned going through Arkansas, I would highly recommend you stay a couple days at the Tom Sawyer RV park on the Mississippi River.
One of the most unique parks we stayed at. I find the amount of commerce and the way they haul it up and down that river to be quite fascinating. It's popular, so you need reservations. It's seems to be a safe place if you just go from the highway to the park, but I wouldn't venture out into the neighborhoods around there.
I don't recommend you cross the river into Memphis either. Beale street isn't all that interesting and there's too much crime over there. The RV park itself is perfectly safe, and you won't forget it.

[KSH]

Crossed through Memphis many times, no issues. Just don't get off the freeway..

[mekkerlc]

Yeah, I'm thinking we won't get to see DVNP -- but I think JTNP is doable.
We'll make the decision a few days before and see how the family is feeling. I know both parks are high on all our lists to see...even if its at 5am or 8pm when its 'slightly' less hot!

Originally Posted by ppine

Next week Palm Springs and Joshua Tree NP will be around 120.
Death Valley will be 130 with a low temp over 90.

[mekkerlc]

For the Mississippi River / Tom Sawyer RV recommendation -- thank you!
If we end up bypassing Death Valley and/or Joshua Tree...that will open up a few more days to fill...so this could be a possibility.

Although...since we are driving 3,000 miles to get out to California, our stance has been to try and use every day possible out there.
The Hot Springs NP stop is more of a one-nighter to beak up the drive home...and to check off another national park.

Hoping this trip shakes down to a great one!
We leave next week!

[ppine]

Spend more time on the Coast. Forget the deserts.