Forum Discussion

realladyat57's avatar
realladyat57
Explorer
Sep 18, 2015

Crater Lake, OR to Redwoods NP, CA

What is the quickest route from Crater Lake, OR to the Redwoods NP in California? We are hitting a time crunch so we are not looking necessarily for the most scenic route (i.e. Interstates are OK. We are towing a 26' TT. Thanks.
  • Thanks for all your suggestions. Hwy 199 was no problem and the scenery was beautiful. We are currently staying in Klamath Falls and have already started exploring.
  • Have done 199 several times with a Suburban and 27' TT, Excursion and 35' Cougar TT and the 40'Tradewinds DP and a Trailblazer toad. Not a bit of trouble.
  • realladyat57 wrote:
    My trucker's atlas doesn't show route 199 as a "truck route." We're towing a 27'TT with a GMC Sierra 1500 (with a towing package.) Will this route be okay for us? Thanks.


    It was a good many years ago, but we did 199 in a 27' Class C. I remember nothing problematic. Just slow. No passes of any concern show up on the 'Mountain Directory'. I will repeat . . . Slow. Not freeway.
  • korbe wrote:
    I would take 62, 234, I-5, 199, 101


    Totally agree!! Fastest and most direct route.
  • 199 is the most direct route. We were at the Redwoods earlier this summer. Even though the Avenue of the Giants have the biggest and most impressive trees, we enjoyed the northern Redwoods the best. Elk Prairie campground was our favorite campground because there are good trails through big trees that start right from the campground. Elk Prairie only had a couple sites that would fit a large rig. We're pulling a 18' TT so it wasn't an issue for us. We really enjoyed driving the truck through Howland Hill Road (Gravel, single lane in places not suitable for trailers)

    My inlaws live in Klamath Falls. I really enjoy the scenery around Fort Klamath. If go around the back side of Klamath Lake it would only be 15 or 20 mins longer than taking Hwy 62.
  • 199 has a tunnel under the highest part, just south of the state line. I'm pretty sure clearances are fine for the typical 18 wheeler. After that it follows the Smith River. As is typical for river roads it can be curvy, but it relatively level.

    Another route is 138 west from the Crater Lake area, and 42 to 101 on the coast. The would be a bit longer, but overall flatter.

    A previous thread that discusses 199 (another other north coast routes)
    http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28497690/
  • My trucker's atlas doesn't show route 199 as a "truck route." We're towing a 27'TT with a GMC Sierra 1500 (with a towing package.) Will this route be okay for us? Thanks.
  • You need to go SW - OR62 and US199 to US101 is the most direct. Then south through the Redwoods on US101, exiting back to the interstate on CA20.