Forum Discussion

sarahsgonervn12's avatar
sarahsgonervn12
Explorer
Jan 30, 2015

Traveling 101 want to skirt around Redwoods

I'm traveling south on the coast hwy (have done it many times) and this time, want to skirt around the Redwoods in Northern California.

My plan so far is to leave 101So. at Coos Bay, travel East on 42 to I-5 S, then cut back West to 101 someplace below the Redwoods.

I'd like to be back on 101 to go through Ft. Bragg. Which of the E-W from I-5S to the coast hwy S would you recommend?

Driving a 26' Lazy Daze, towing a Suzuki. Not afraid of mountain driving, but some of those cross roads are reeeeeeaaaaalllly slow.

I know it's almost unAmerican to want to avoid the Redwoods, but I just don't want to go that slow that far again on this trip. Can do, but if a work around is doable, I'll take it this time.

TIA, Sarah B
Roads and Routes
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Jan 31, 2015
    Lot of extra miles to skirt maybe 50 miles of redwoods. But if thats your desire, cut back on 20
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Jan 31, 2015
    donn0128 wrote:
    Lot of extra miles to skirt maybe 50 miles of redwoods. But if thats your desire, cut back on 20
    X2
  • korbe's avatar
    korbe
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2015
    sarahsgonervn12 wrote:
    ..........I know it's almost unAmerican to want to avoid the Redwoods, but I just don't want to go that slow that far again on this trip. Can do, but if a work around is doable, I'll take it this time. TIA, Sarah B

    Slow? Hwy 101 down through that section is 55 or 65 mph. What exactly are you trying to avoid?
  • Ed_Gee's avatar
    Ed_Gee
    Explorer II
    Jan 31, 2015
    Highway 20 out of Willits would without any doubt be your best bet to cut back west towards Fort Bragg, but I really question if that route would save any time over just staying southbound on 101.
  • paulj's avatar
    paulj
    Explorer II
    Jan 31, 2015
    On Google maps it adds 150-200 miles and a couple of hours.
  • othertonka's avatar
    othertonka
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2015
    The best way to skirt the redwoods is stay on 101 and don't take the" Avenue of the giants". The traffic on 101 moves right along. And Fort Bragg is not on 101, it is about 1 and a 1/4 hours drive west on hwy 20 from willits. If you go over to I 5 first it is then many miles and hours to get back to 101 which to me is a waste of gas of time. But if that is what you want, hwy 20 is the best route from Williams to Ukiah at 101. Then north on 101 back to Willits and then west on 20 to Ft Bragg. Give your route some serious second thoughts
  • Golden_HVAC's avatar
    Golden_HVAC
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2015
    Once you see how slow the roads are from 101 to I5, you will look at the trip through the Redwoods as 'at least 55 MPH+ and much faster'.

    I would rather stay on 101, then try to get from 101 to I5. Unless you are going all the way south to San Francisco, I would just take 101.

    Good luck!

    Fred.
  • msmith1199's avatar
    msmith1199
    Explorer II
    Jan 31, 2015
    paulj wrote:
    On Google maps it adds 150-200 miles and a couple of hours.


    What he ^ said. And that 150 to 200 extra miles is all windy mountain roads. Your plan makes little sense at all, but go for it if that's what you want to do.

    Also, 101 is not the Coast Highway. That is Highway 1. But 1 and 101 do merge in many areas.
  • msmith1199's avatar
    msmith1199
    Explorer II
    Jan 31, 2015
    Per Google:

    Coos Bay to Fort Bragg on Highway 101 and 1: 6 hours 53 minutes and 351 miles.

    Coos Bay to Fort Bragg going around to 5 and coming back on 20 (which is the closest route to avoid Redwood NP: 9 hours 48 minutes and 546 miles.
  • sarahsgonervn12's avatar
    sarahsgonervn12
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2015
    Well, you folks all made mighty fine observations and recommendations. Yup, it's just the Avenue of the Giants that I wanted to 'skirt around', but I certainly was not clear on that point. So I'll just follow the advice given, and thanks.

    Re calling it the 'coast highway'; you're certainly correct that only Hwy 1 is the PCH. I just got sloppy and called the whole darned thing the coast hwy.

    Happy trails, and happier now.

    Sarah

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