Napa to Eureka

Just take CA-12 through Sonoma and Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa will have a little traffic but shouldn't be a problem. Then north on US-101.

Take 101 up to Eureka.

People seem to confuse Hwy 1 with 101. Hwy 1 is the ocean drive with sheer drop-offs and hairpin turns. I wouldn't recommend it with your 35' 5er.

Hwy 101 is a beautiful drive through the giant redwoods. There are no issues for 101.

If you are already near Napa, just catch 101 at Petaluma or Santa Rosa or wherever you can get on 101 and go north all the way to Eureka. No real hard pulls and no need to go over to I5 or Hwy 20 or Hwy 299. That would just add many more miles and time to your trip. I recommend that you stay off of Hwy 1 with your RV combination, it is too narrow and tight turns. Check out the redwoods on your way, but leave the 5er somewhere if you decide to take the Avenue of the giants, just do that drive in your truck.

leaddog wrote:
YC 1,

If someone is leaving Napa for Eureka, why not drop down to Richmond and catch 101 there? Lot of traffic, towns, lights, etc? Just curious since we will be traveling with our 40ft MH and toad from Napa to Eureka in a couple weeks.

No reason, I just added "if you decide to" in case they decided to go to I5.

Janss wrote:
I've driven Petaluma to Eureka on 101 a couple times. Can't think of any reason not to.

101 is are snow route around the Siskiyou's from time to time. Chris

I've driven Petaluma to Eureka on 101 a couple times. Can't think of any reason not to.

The Clear Lake route adds about 68 miles. 299 route adds about 88 miles.

Talk 12 to 101 and head North. 258 miles. Stay off 1! Chris

YC 1,

If someone is leaving Napa for Eureka, why not drop down to Richmond and catch 101 there? Lot of traffic, towns, lights, etc? Just curious since we will be traveling with our 40ft MH and toad from Napa to Eureka in a couple weeks.

If you decide to go back to I5 and up to Williams here are some directions to get you over to 101. I took 299 once years ago. Some say it is fine but I will not do it again. That was 20 yrs ago so I suspect it was improved a lot. The Clear Lake route is fine. If you really want to enjoy the beauty of the area take 20 straight to 101. It is a bit slow and tight but easy enough and you can see Clear Lake. I have traveled this route many times in our 40 footer with a toad. We now live in Florida so won't be back that way for some time.

This question comes up frequently so I saved this. Just reverse the route when going West to east.


Take Highway 20 West out of Williams. 37.1 miles. Williams is at I5 and Highway 20.

Watch for Highway 53 as you drop down a hill after a fairly long climb. Easy climb and multiple lanes.
Turn what would be South onto 53. You will go about 8 miles. Look for the sign to Highway 29 which leads to Kelseyville. This is a nice road and will become freeway in a few miles. Eventually you are back to two lane for a short distance and will come to a stop sign. You are back to Highway 20 again. This leg is about 30 miles. Turn left and enjoy the beautiful drive right to 101

This route will bypass the two lane twisting and winding on the North side of Clear lake. If you want a good view of the lake go ahead and stay on 20 all the way to 101.

From Napa there is a few ways,you can just go over to 101 and take a nice drive up. If you are in a hurry you can go over to I 5 up to Williams then take HWY 20 over to 101, a nice drive with no real hard pulls.

HWY 1 is very crooked not for the faint hearted.