Trip Planning: Pacific Coast Highway from Canadian border to San Francisco

[shields]

Greetings everybody,

We are planning a trip south from Port Angeles, WA to San Francisco, CA along Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 101). Our schedule allows about a week for the trip (roughly July 1 to 7). We drive a 40' diesel pusher with a full size Ford Bronco dinghy.

If anyone has information about good camping spots, road concerns, bridge weight limits, local attractions, etc., it will be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

Tim

[shields]

Thanks so much to all of you. We are laying out the maps and starting to plan -- with your advice in mind. We've tentatively decided to spend extra time along the Oregon coast, and in northern CA. I'll let you all know how it goes. Thanks again.

Tim

[desertdeals69]

At some point in northern Ca you will want to head inland.

[kingfr]

At some point in northern Ca you will want to head inland.

As long as you stay on 101 you will be fine. You actually have to leave US101 in Northern CA and take CA 1 to ride the coast down to San Francisco. CA 1 is not a fun highway in a 40 ft caoch towing...

[campcop]

As long as you stay on 101 you will be fine. You actually have to leave US101 in Northern CA and take CA 1 to ride the coast down to San Francisco. CA 1 is not a fun highway in a 40 ft caoch towing...

Hmmm... we are planning a trip this summer that is a little opposite ,planning on heading west from NM to visit some friends in Oxnard and then heading up the coast to Washington. Been told to stay inland and do day trips to the coast with the toad....

[rbasner65]

Watch out and beware if you try going over the Golden Gate Bridge.

In 1983, in a 34' Pace Arrow the cross-wind pushed me over two lanes dispite all my best efforts!

My heart was up in my throat and if there had been any cars next to me they would have been pushed into the bay!

If it's a windy day, I'd op to go around SF on the Oakland side!

rbasner65

2008 40' Phaeton Diesel

[kingfr]

Just be aware that 101 is not the Coastal Highway in California, it is the Coastal Highway in Oregon and Washington. CA1 is the Coastal Highway in California, from Northern CA all the way to the Los Angeles area. We drove the section of CA 1 from San Francisco north to where it intersects US 101 in Northern CA in a 31 foot Gasser towing a Jeep several years ago. It was an OK drive, a few tight places for the coach. We drove the section of CA 1 from San Francisco down to LA in our 40 footer towing a Jeep last year, It was not an OK drive, but we made it without incident. Many sections of CA 1 are restricted to RV's 40 feet or less. US 101 has no such restrictions.

[desertdeals69]

As long as you stay on 101 you will be fine. You actually have to leave US101 in Northern CA and take CA 1 to ride the coast down to San Francisco. CA 1 is not a fun highway in a 40 ft caoch towing...

We stayed on 101 where 1 started because I thought it wouldn't be as safe and I have a 32 foot diesel pusher with a Silverado toad.

[shields]

Thanks for the input. We are definitely staying on 101 (not CA 1) south of San Francisco. However, we were thinking of trying CA 1 (Pacific Coast Hwy) north of San Francisco up to Leggett. Has anyone driven that leg in a coach our size?

If the coast road north of San Francisco is anything like PCH south through Big Sur, count us out. On the other hand, we love driving along the ocean and will try it if its a decent drive.

Has anybody taken a MH on CA 1 from Leggett to San Francisco? Also, does anybody have recommendations along the Oregon coastline for campsites, food or other "don't miss" opportunities?

Once again, thanks SO much for the advice.

Tim

[desertdeals69]

Thanks for the input. We are definitely staying on 101 (not CA 1) south of San Francisco. However, we were thinking of trying CA 1 (Pacific Coast Hwy) north of San Francisco up to Leggett. Has anyone driven that leg in a coach our size?

If the coast road north of San Francisco is anything like PCH south through Big Sur, count us out. On the other hand, we love driving along the ocean and will try it if its a decent drive.

Has anybody taken a MH on CA 1 from Leggett to San Francisco? Also, does anybody have recommendations along the Oregon coastline for campsites, food or other "don't miss" opportunities?

Once again, thanks SO much for the advice.

Tim

We always use the Thousand Trails campgrounds on the Or and Wa coasts. There are four in Or and two in Wa. Going to spend this summer at all of them.

[bobndorine2]

Highway 20 Willits to Ft. Bragg is OK, but don't take the Highway #1 from Leggett.

In Oregon the coast highway is great all the way with beautiful scenery and great RV parks and State parks. Stop at several of the little towns and enjoy things.

[JimPeoria]

Oregon's coast hiway is easy enough but in a 40 footer with a toad it is slow and nerve wracking in places. Lots of really tight curves and very slow traffic around Newport/Lincoln City, but you can get through it, but I suspect it may take longer than a week to make the full trip if you do any sightseeing along the way. A lot of the northern section is really not very close to the coast. Lots of beautiful sights along the way.

Would be better to take an extra week and take it easy and get to enjoy some of the shopping and fun stuff to do along the way.

Be sure and stop in just south of the bridge in Newport and see the aquarium which is also right by a nice RV park that is right in the bay. I have been the full length of Oregon with my 40 foot pusher with a toad and it can be done just takes a while. Not something you want to do all in one day unless you have to. Just to many things to do and see along the way. Also make sure you have everything strapped down because lots of rocking roads side to side and some really narrow spots.

Good luck.

[srfridley]

The MIll Casino RV park in North Bend Oregon is a really great place. In Northern CA the Benbow RV park just south of Garberville is a nice park near many redwoods national parks. I have made that trip numerous times with a 36' MH towing an Acura MDX without problems, if you take your time. I would avoid Hwy 1 in CA, it,s just not suitable for a rig of any size. I would also suggest taking Hwy 20 east through lake county to I-5 avoiding the SF Bay Area.

[Larry196]

RED FLAG !!!

going south on 101 you will find a section around mile marker 71 that washed out last summer, and the summer before that, has been some what repaired with loose gravel-this year it took 16 trucks full of gravel and rock to fill the hole-it still is not paved and they have a speed limit of 25 mph through the area. plus the road narrows a great deal.

I have 40 foot and would be hard pressed to go through the area. on the canyon side it slants to the right and drops.

Other than that it is a slow wonderful trip I make quite often