Pacific Coast Hwy

I would head inland on Hwy 20 from Fort Bragg to Willits and then North on Highway 101. I have driven the stretch from Fort Bragg to Leggett many times in a car, in a truck towing a TT and in a 30' motorhome. No way would I attempt it in a 40' with a toad. If you do decide to go that route, allow at least two hours to travel approximately 45 miles. You'll spend a lot of time pulled over to let other vehicles pass. It will be a very unenjoyable drive for the person driving.

You can do it, lots of logging trucks still make the run, but it will have a couple sections of 20 MPH turns. To me it is well worth that minor problem for what is as beautiful a coastal area as you will find anywhere in the world. Only Big Sur to San Simeon comes close and the Sonoma and Mendocino coast is more open and more spectacular.

Hwy 1 goes through a long valley to Leggett at Hwy 101. With a 40' MH I would plan on an average speed of 30 MPH for the drive and plan on making lots of stops at the small towns along the route and to enjoy the scenary.

Life is too short to spend it on the easiest routes that are the most boring and least worth the effort and expense.

Jones714 wrote:
Thanks to all. I will attempt it north of Bodega Bay. Very helpful as usual. Special thanks to haddy1 (you da man!) 19th ave was crazy but loved crossing the GGB

As I recall, the worst part of your route will be just north of Bodega Bay. Don't turn around. It will get better shortly.

Take your time and enjoy the scenery.

Thanks to all. I will attempt it north of Bodega Bay. Very helpful as usual. Special thanks to haddy1 (you da man!) 19th ave was crazy but loved crossing the GGB

Although the Cal Trans Map (in the link above) states that you would NOT be illegal with your 40' motorhome (it says "greater than 40'" so 40' is, indeed, legal), personally we would not take our 40' on it and we absolutely love driving mountainous roads and dropoffs don't bother us. But remember, motorhomes do not bend in the middle like a 5th wheel does. From south to north you'd be close to rock outcroppings on a narrow road with oncoming traffic. The turns are tight and many times, one after another. At times you'd need to move over into the oncoming lane to make some of those turns. Definitely not a good idea in our opinion, but there are others that will say 'not a problem'. I guess what I'm saying is that I would not take the added risks involved. Yes, you could do it. It depends on YOU, not anyone else's opinion.

I would say no way with a 40 footer from bodega bay all the way up to the junction of hwy 1 and Hwy 101 at Legget. And the Cal Trans map has most of hwy 1 as a RED Route which means Motor homes over 40 feet are prohibited on that route. It is narrow, tight turns and no shoulder, and you will meet oncoming traffic like logging trucks probably in one of those tight turns and you will have no place to go. I drove it in my 32 ft southwind and will never do it again all though I was legal at 32 feet, but you will be illegal at 40 ft. Here is a link to the Cal Trans Map, when it comes up click on the number 4 and 1 on the map and observe the RED route on Hwy 1.

Cal Trans Map

missourijan wrote:
No, no and no. I say that because we did it by accident, just after we got on Hwy 1 out of San Fran there is a sign that says over 35 ft not recommended. We went on and the tight turns are indeed tight, we had a 38 ft 5'r, a big MH would be worse. As you make the turns you are way over in the other lane. We had many vehicles honking and giving us the 1 finger salute, stay on 101, PCH north of San Fran is a no go white knuckler for bigger rigs.

The OP is already in Petaluma. Therefore, he has no need to drive the portion just north of SF (Marin County).

If you guys reread my post, you will see that I told the OP that north of Bodega Bay should be OK. I don't like to drive the Marin County portion even in my Jeep.

I agree that PCH north of SF is not good for large rigs. Plus, northbound your views of the ocean are very limited, and the passenger's views are even more so. Congested, slow, twisty. Bicyclists on the shoulder. Fog.

No, no and no. I say that because we did it by accident, just after we got on Hwy 1 out of San Fran there is a sign that says over 35 ft not recommended. We went on and the tight turns are indeed tight, we had a 38 ft 5'r, a big MH would be worse. As you make the turns you are way over in the other lane. We had many vehicles honking and giving us the 1 finger salute, stay on 101, PCH north of San Fran is a no go white knuckler for bigger rigs.

If you head over to Bodega Bay from Petaluma, you should be ok. There will be a few tight spots north of there, but for the most part Hwy 1 is not a bad road. Remember that logging trucks have used it for years.

You've already done the hard part (19th. Ave).