Best Route from Fresno to Oregon

[bradrm]

Hi!

We are planning a trip from Visalia, CA to the Oregon coast and am looking for the best route through or around the San Francisco Bay area. We plan to go up Hwy 101 north of the bay area and possibly returning on I-5. Do you have a favorite route that avoids the east bay traffic? I am thinking that it would be better to avoid having to cross the Carquinez or Benicia bridges. Can you use either of these bridges in a 38 ft motorhome + toad? I know it can be rather windy on these bridges at times.

Would Route 12 between Lodi and Fairfield be a better way to go?

Also, do you have any favorite Rv parks along 101 in N. CA or OR?

Thanks in advance!

[bobndorine2]

I would drive #99 to Stockton, take crossover freeway to I-5, I-5 to #12, #12 to #101. At Sutherland, OR, go west to Coos Bay where you'll fine Midway RV park west of town.

Midway RV Park

91403 Kellogg Ln,
Coos Bay, OR
97420

» Map

(541) 888-9300

[bobndorine2]

I meant to say that if you should stay on I-5 to Oregon, then go west from Sutherland to Coos Bay. If you go up #101, you'll go right into Coos Bay. We've never found a bad RV or State Park in Oregon, If you fish, Winchester Bay just north of Coos Bay is nice.

[srfridley]

I would take hwy 99 to Stockton, then connect with I-5 North to Williams. Take hwy 20 east through lake county and connect with hwy 101 north. I have driven this route in my 36' MH towing an Acura MDX several times. If you are hesitant to drive on twisty, two lane roads, avoid 101 in Northern California, there are numerous slow, narrow spots, but this road is much more RV friendly in Oregon.

[bradrm]

Thanks Bob and srfridley for the info. I was thinking that CA12 would be the best route to get to Hwy 101 north of the bay area. We want to see the redwoods and the coastal towns along the N. CA coast on our way up to Oregon. We are looking at staying in Cloverdale, Fortuna and maybe Crescent City on the way up. Midway RV Park looks good, Bob. We will probably choose 2 or 3 places to stay on the OR coast and then come back down through Salem, Corvalis, Coberg, Roseburg and then maybe a couple more places along I-5 before dropping down back into CA.

Bob - Are there any steep mountain roads coming back down I-5 through N. CA?

Thanks again!

[bobndorine2]

There are mountains south of Ashland to Weed, but nothing to worry about. The climb out of Ashland heading south is the only "climb" but you'll just go slower. I drive a 36' diesel pusher pulling a Ford Explorer and have never had a problem pulling a hill.

On your trip north the drive on #20 from I-5 to #101 would be your best way past Clear Lake as there really isn't any tourist attractions south of Ukiah......just traffic.

[ingell@verizon.net]

Bradrm,

We just got back from the OR coast last week. We live in Ripon, just north of Modesto. We have a 40’ DP with a toad. First a couple of local road warnings. Try to avoid Hwy. 99 between Manteca and Stockton, it is under widening construction and has lots of concrete barriers and narrow lanes currently. The 120 bypass south of Manteca over to I 5 is the way to go. There is also construction in Stockton on I 5 but there are 3 lanes open.

I do not recommend Hwy 12 west through the delta. It is not very smooth or very level. Very rolling. It will shake your back teeth loose and rearrange every cabinet in your coach no matter how well packed. Hwy 20 from Williams over to 101 is nice but a little slow. You pass through many small towns around the lakes.

There is a very nice RV park near Scotia on 101, The Ancient Redwoods RV Park. North from Klamath 101 is pretty twisty but doable, just not very fast. Once you get to OR it improves. Brookings has several nice parks. The Mill Casino in Coos Bay is very nice as is Winchester Bay. Pacific Shores in Newport is one of our favorites.

Hwy 38 from Westport over to I 5 north of Roseburg is probably the nicest of the highways back to I 5.

Heading south on I 5 check out Seven Feathers RV in Canyonville. The Blue Heron just across the border into CA in Hornbrook is a nice stop. JGW’s in Redding and The Durango in Red Bluff have very nice riverside sites.

The grade over the Siskiyou’s just North of Yreka is probably the worst and of course it is under construction right now. It is down to one lane each way. So you only go as fast as the slowest truck in the line.

Have a great trip, be prepared for some Oregon liquid sunshine this time of year.

[barberbus]

Hi Bradrm,

This past Memorial weekend my wife and I made the drive to the coast by way of 299 West toward Eureka and then North on 101. With the construction, tight turns, and many grades, some reaching as steep as 9%, it was very slow. On the upside, it’s a beautiful drive and we got to see a lot of Bigfoot paraphernalia.

If you’re not opposed to boondocking, 299 has a rest area with a dump station about 3 miles east of Slayer. We were one of two vehicles that stayed the night. The place was quiet with very little traffic. No Verizon or ATT cell service though.

I second the Mill Casino RV Park in Coos Bay. Free internet, nice folks and an enclosed pet area. Pacific Shores Motorcoach Resort in Newport ranks as one of the most beautiful spots we’ve ever parked. Perched on a peak overlooking the Pacific, the views are breathtaking and our dogs loved the almost private beach a short 5-minute walk down from our site.

We stayed two nights in a Premier Resort in Salem - another very friendly and clean place to stop with nice sized back-ins and pull-throughs. They also have parks on the coast in Wilson City, as well as Eugene and Redding, CA.

The Northern California and Oregon coast is an amazing drive. If you have the time, we enjoyed our tourist-trap stops at the Trees of Mystery in Klamath, Prehistoric Gardens (a short, educational walk around life size dinosaurs) in Gold Beach and the Sea Lion Caves in Florence.

Just be sure to mind the grades, gear down and be under the curve speed limits. After all that, I-5 South will be a cake walk.

Safe travels.