Driving up west coast, California North

We're going to be passing through the Bodega Bay area. Did you see any areas to pull over and get a night's rest anywhere or is it posted "no overnight parking" everywhere?

Thanks,

Rex

Highway 1 is doable unless you're a flatlander and afraid of heights and curves. The section of Highway 1 between Morro Bay and Monterey is easier than the northern section. At 40 feet on the 5er you are pushing the edge of the legal limit for the road as over 40 feet is prohibited. I probably would not do the northern section of Highway 1 with your rig as big as it is, but there are lots of things to see and do on the northern section of 101, where as the southern section of 101 is farmland and bugs.

The only recommendation I'd make if you do decide to take 1, is it is better to go from north to south on it. You'll be on the ocean side of the road, but that is where all the pullouts are. There are very few pullouts on the mountain side of the road and when you do find one you have to cross the highway to get to the ocean and you are often on steep curves to do that with nut balls driving way too fast around the curves. If you're going in the summer months, I would avoid highway 1 completely on the weekends. There will be a lot of traffic on summer weekends and I wouldn't want to deal with that pulling a 40 footer.

the bear II wrote:
Definitely Hwy 101 from Los Angeles on up to Oregon.

Day trips to sections of CA-1 to see some of the highlights in your tow vehicle. Morro Rock, Hearst Castle, Big Sur, Monterey, Bodega Bay and others.

You can get off 101 in SLO and camp a few days in Morro Bay or Cayucos (one small park in Cayucos) State Parks in San Simeon with no hookups,to see Morro Rock, Hearst Castle and a day trip to Big Sur, then back track to 46 east and get back to 101 in Paso Robles.

Google earth Hwy. 1 and "drive" it from Cambria north. The road is narrow in spots and lots of curves. The final decision is you and your comfort level driving your rig. A friend drove concrete deliverly trucks for years to the bridge workers with no problems.

From San Diego to Malibu is mostly city driving with lots of traffic depending on the time, day of the week and how nice the weather is. In Oxnard Hwy 1 and 101 merge and it is freeway Gaviota where you turn off 101 for Lonpoc and Vandenberg AFB. 1 rejoins 101 in Santa Maria.

In San Luis Obispo 1 branches off to Morro Bay. Good two lanes in each direction from SLO to the north end of Cayucos where it changes to one lane in each direction. No issues with the road to just past San Simeon (actually just south of Ragged Point). That is where the switchbacks and the several hundred foot drop offs start. Most of the turnouts are on the ocean side (left) when going north. Make sure you fuel up in SLO or Morro Bay as gas/diesel is VERY high north of Morro Bay.

Depending on the time of year fog can be an issue north of Morro Bay. Late spring and summer are the worst when the heat in the valley is high.

thanks all....we will enjoy the trip.

the bear II wrote:
Definitely Hwy 101 from Los Angeles on up to Oregon.

Day trips to sections of CA-1 to see some of the highlights in your tow vehicle. Morro Rock, Hearst Castle, Big Sur, Monterey, Bodega Bay and others.

Agree.

We took our small 5er on Hwy 1 between San Luis and Monterey, but would not have fun with a 40 footer.

Definitely Hwy 101 from Los Angeles on up to Oregon.

Day trips to sections of CA-1 to see some of the highlights in your tow vehicle. Morro Rock, Hearst Castle, Big Sur, Monterey, Bodega Bay and others.

I can't speak for Califonia but you'll love Oregon Coast Now if I were driving, I would avoid Portland and Seattle completely but I just hate the traffic so I would head up the WA coast and if you want to do the 101 loop, going up along the coast and then back down along the Sound. You could take Hwy 3 to Tacoma and deal with the Narrows Bridge ($$) or just keep going around to Olympia and hook up with I5 there. Continue past Fort Lewis and turn off I 5 on Hwy 512 Puyallup, and continue to Hwy 167 Seattle (Not Tacoma) and in Auburn take Hwy 18 to I90
But if traffic doesn't bother you and you really want to see something more than and Interstate, take Hwy 12, or Hwy 2 over the Cascades.

US101 is fine. Slow, but totally doable. CA1 is not really recomended.