Hello Fellow Travelers:We are traveling southbound from Eureka,California down the coast in our 45' motor home. Is it advisable to drive on route 1 along the coast? Are there any sections we should avoid?All advice would be greatly appreciated.Thanks.Leslie & Stuart

It would be a challenge. We drove from Fort Bragg, North to the 101, about 40 miles, took us about an hour and a half in our 40ft coach. Beautiful drive but boy, I had to work for it.

It's an absolutely stunning drive..especially going south. But, (there is always a, but)It's narrow, curvy and very slow going. Many parts you are on the very edge of a 1000 drop to the sea and rocks below.45 footer with a toad?....very slow going.My wife white knuckled it in many sections...but, it was a great adventure and in my mind well worth it.

Can be done but is slow and you need to watch for rocks plus idiots pulling out from side roads or roadside businesses. South of Carmel, we were turned back during a storm due to a mudslide. Had to go back about 30 miles to get to 101. I remember another time sitting for hours while the road was cleared due to a rock slide.

Heading south? I can only speak for the stretch between Leggett and Fort Bragg, but as I remember:The passenger will have a lovely view. Why, in many places it will seem as if the rig is floating in the air! This because the shoulder's so nonexistent as to render the road invisible- nothing visible but a sheer drop to the crashing surf below! :)The driver on the other hand will see nothing but the road/curves ahead and (in the rear views) the cars piling up behind the rig. If anything is visible at all through the sweat that will be streaming down into his terrified eyes. :E

Here is a link to the CA laws:http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/engineering/bus-motorhome/45-motorhomes.htmLink to the map of restricted routes:http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/engineering/bus-motorhome/45-bus-map.htmhttp://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/engineering/bus-motorhome/bus-maps/busmap-d01.pdf This map shows that a 45' Motor Home is not allowed on Hwy 1 except for a short section around Fort Bragg. But in typical CA fashion, there is no state Highway to get to Fort Bragg.

California Coast - Route 1 | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

the_bear_II
Explorer
Sep 30, 2014
Can be done but is slow and you need to watch for rocks plus idiots pulling out from side roads or roadside businesses.

South of Carmel, we were turned back during a storm due to a mudslide. Had to go back about 30 miles to get to 101. I remember another time sitting for hours while the road was cleared due to a rock slide.
downtheroad
Explorer
Sep 30, 2014
It's an absolutely stunning drive..especially going south.
But, (there is always a, but)
It's narrow, curvy and very slow going. Many parts you are on the very edge of a 1000 drop to the sea and rocks below.
45 footer with a toad?....very slow going.

My wife white knuckled it in many sections...but, it was a great adventure and in my mind well worth it.
jlabr2
Explorer
Sep 30, 2014
It would be a challenge. We drove from Fort Bragg, North to the 101, about 40 miles, took us about an hour and a half in our 40ft coach. Beautiful drive but boy, I had to work for it.

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California Coast - Route 1

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