RV trip from Orange County, CA to Seattle, WA
Hello folks, Looking for some advice. We will be taking a three week trip from So Cal to Seattle, WA leaving around June 17. We will stop in Bend, OR. We have never been in No CA, Oregon, or WA....
Forum Discussion
First, we've traveled the Oregon coast during the summer without reservations and got into state parks with our 40' motorhome so it can be done. I'm sure you could find spots and get reservations. Don't rely on comments that 'you'll never find a site'. Not true.
From southern California I would suggest you get on Hwy 395 in California. It's a beautiful drive rather than I-5. You could even stay in Lee Vining and do a day trip to Yosemite via a gorgeous Hwy 120.
Near to Lee Vining is also Bodie State Park (no camping) but a wonderful ghost town.
Further north is Lake Tahoe and continuing north you could get to Lassen Volcanic Nat'l Park and further north at Alturas pick up 139 to take you to Lava Beds Nat'l Monument. Continue on 139 into Oregon to Hwy 97. We've driven all these roads with our 40' motorhome.
Stay at Collier Memorial State Park and day trip to Crater Lake Nat'l Park. Continue north on 97 to Bend which you stated you want to go. From Bend you could stay on 97 into Washington picking up Hwy 12 west to Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park area or take Hwy 20/22 to I-5 straight to Seattle. The Seattle Aquarium is very nice. Continue north to Anacortes and then drive down to Oak Harbor where you could get on a short ferry with your RV to the Olympic Peninsula to Port Townsend, WA.
Fort Worden State Park at Port Townsend is awesome for a stay. Get on 101 and visit Olympic Nat'l Park at Hurricane Ridge. Continue west on 101 and follow it around the Peninsula and then taking it south into Oregon and the coastline of Oregon. You could stay on 101 down into California (a very good highway for RVers and not to be confused with CA 1, which is not RV-friendly in spots). 101 will take you through the redwood areas of northern California.
If you don't want to drive around San Francisco stay on 101 until Willits and pick up Hwy 20 which will take you to I-5.
Have a great trip!
From southern California I would suggest you get on Hwy 395 in California. It's a beautiful drive rather than I-5. You could even stay in Lee Vining and do a day trip to Yosemite via a gorgeous Hwy 120.
Near to Lee Vining is also Bodie State Park (no camping) but a wonderful ghost town.
Further north is Lake Tahoe and continuing north you could get to Lassen Volcanic Nat'l Park and further north at Alturas pick up 139 to take you to Lava Beds Nat'l Monument. Continue on 139 into Oregon to Hwy 97. We've driven all these roads with our 40' motorhome.
Stay at Collier Memorial State Park and day trip to Crater Lake Nat'l Park. Continue north on 97 to Bend which you stated you want to go. From Bend you could stay on 97 into Washington picking up Hwy 12 west to Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park area or take Hwy 20/22 to I-5 straight to Seattle. The Seattle Aquarium is very nice. Continue north to Anacortes and then drive down to Oak Harbor where you could get on a short ferry with your RV to the Olympic Peninsula to Port Townsend, WA.
Fort Worden State Park at Port Townsend is awesome for a stay. Get on 101 and visit Olympic Nat'l Park at Hurricane Ridge. Continue west on 101 and follow it around the Peninsula and then taking it south into Oregon and the coastline of Oregon. You could stay on 101 down into California (a very good highway for RVers and not to be confused with CA 1, which is not RV-friendly in spots). 101 will take you through the redwood areas of northern California.
If you don't want to drive around San Francisco stay on 101 until Willits and pick up Hwy 20 which will take you to I-5.
Have a great trip!
