Two Hands wrote:
From a point just north of San Simeon to a point just south of Monterey SR 1 (the Pacific Coast Highway) is definitely not recommended for large motor homes. Immediately north of the Golden Gate Bridge is a short stretch that is also not recommended. It is a beautiful drive, just not in a big rv.
I drove my Ford Edge from Monterrey to Cresent City and then on to Grants Pass, then to Portland OR. This was May 2013. It was a fun trip, in a powerful car, not being towed by my motorhome. In the motorhome, I did take it and a car in tow from Grants Pass south to Napa, then east to I5, and south to my home in Garden Grove. It was a great drive.
I was thinking about the bad part of highway 1 between San Francisco and going north. I guess the white knuckle part IS San Francisco. I went through there around 1pm - 2pm, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge around 2. In a 6' wide car, it was no problem, but thinking back, I probably would not want to do it in my 8.5' wide RV.
Once north of San Francisco, I wanted to see Avenue of the Giants during the day, and I was getting tired, so stopped for the night. Next day I did see Avenue of the Giants, I can highly recommend that. The freeway is normally called "101" while the two lane sections that have homes and other access roads connecting to the highway is typically called highway 1. While at Avenue of the Giants, it is the old 1930's roadway Highway 1, and the modern limited access 101 runs right through the center of that section of Redwoods.
One trip that I took, I went from Garden Grove to Napa along I5, then toured that area, all the way north to Ferndale - great lumbermill factory tour there. Then back south to San Francisco, and home. I had heard how poor the road conditions where between Hearst Castle and Monterrey, so I have always avoided that area.
In Grants Pass, try to stay at Schroder Park, a small county park along the Rouge river. Also in town, you can buy tickets on a Jet Boat ride.
Hellgate.comHave a great trip!
Fred.
