Trip to California wine country

If you're first leaving in October I would suggest heading west first rather than Florida. You don't want to get stuck in bad weather. September would be even better.

From Ohio take I-80 which will put you into the Napa/Sonoma areas of 'wine country' - just north of San Francisco. Also, for both Napa/Sonoma there's Napa Valley Expo RV park which would be a very good stopping point or...pick out a RV park along Hwy 101 (NOT Hwy 1 for your first time). Make a reservation now as that's a popular time of year.

If that area and amount of time for touring is enough for you then return via I-80 to Hwy 395 at Lake Tahoe/Reno area. Take 395 south to I-40 (you'll miss a lot of Los Angeles/San Francisco traffic by the very scenic Hwy 395 (We just drove that way, once again). Then take I-40 east to connect to I-10. (Between CA 395 and Lake Havasu, AZ there are very few RV parks so when you find one closer to the 395 end you'd better take it for a night.) Lone Pine along 395 is a neat place to explore (lots of westerns made here) and has a nice RV park - Boulder Creek. You could even check out Death Valley from Lone Pine with your vehicles if you don't want to take your RVs there.

You can get off I-40 at the CA/AZ border on AZ Hwy 95 (a very good highway) and head along the Colorado River through Lake Havasu (a good stop - nice state parks) on to Parker to the 'famous' Quartzsite - which will not have thousands of RVers until January :) - and then to I-10 east to Florida by Nov/Dec.

Have a fun trip but don't rush it...lots to see along the way!

Save the gas money and just go see the 'wine country' in Florida!

http://www.mostinterestingdestinations.com/attractions/florida-wine-country-florida/
"San Sebastian Winery is located in America’s oldest city, St.Augustine, Florida. Here is the home of the first wines ever grown and produced in the United States".

I'm sure the OP knows how far things are.

That said, if going from Ft. Walton Beach to say Santa Barbara, I'd use I-10 (not I-40).

The Wine Country in Santa Barbara is kind of neat. Then go up the coast toward Napa Valley, etc.

Even if you skip Santa Barbara & go to Napa. Google maps has via I-10: 2,512 mi, 36 hours.
Via I-20 to Dallas to I-40: 2,440 mi, 37 hours.
Via I-20 W & I-10: 2,530 mi, 37 hours.
Except for I-10, one would have to cut up to reach I-20 from FL.

With leaving in Oct, I-10 route would be warmer: Old Post On Much of the Area TX, NM, AZ. Not all along I-10, some I-20 & I-40.

Maybe some new in this one I-10 In AZ & Carlsbad, NM?

More Misc. Texas & New Mexico links.

Link for California: In Los Angles Area One would take US 101 to go north to Santa Barbara & Napa. I'd use the 210 freeway from I-10 in San Bernardino which will change into the 101 by keeping on the 210 (around Pasadena one has to get off the 210 to stay on the 210; by just staying put, not turning off, it'll soon be the 101 with another number change in between). Not too difficult of a drive when not in rush hour traffic....good to go between 9 am & 3:30/4 pm. Normally.

If wanting to bypass Santa Barbara, take the turn to get back on the 210 in Pasadena, take 210 to the I-5 N. But this is an inland route, where as the 101 does follow the coast for much of the way or is nearer the coast, to be able to cut over to it. CA 1 is a neat drive, but can have lots of curves & some hills. Not too bad from Monterey to Half Moon Bay.

Texas Hill County Vineyards --- Texas Wine

New Mexico Vinyards -- Ditto But by Region One in Deming just off I-10. The 81 Palms (55 RV Park) is next to Luna Rossa Winery in Deming. http://www.lunarossawinery.com/

Some in Las Cruces as well. Cruces Wineries --- http://www.lunarossawinery.com/contact

Arizona Vineyards There is at least one in Wilcox. AZ Wine

CA Vineyards -- Santa Barbara Wine Country --- Map CA Wine Country

I have done I-20 from back east (years ago) to New Mexico. It wasn't too bad a route back then. Only done I-10 in LA from somewhere east of Lake Charles (long ago). It was somewhat rough getting to Lake Charles in some places back then (had a long stretch of bridges & causeways getting across a bayou or bayous I remember with not much if any sides to pull over if needing to).

We use I-10 from Cruces to Tucson every other month or so. Not a bad drive. Over the years we have used I-10 to Los Angles Area hundreds of time. Not bad at all.

Have used I-40 a few times, seems to be a little more truck traffic at times, more hills to scale (nothing too major, but more than I-10). Higher Elevations along it.

Must repeat this: If you haven't gone to see "Hearst Castle". "Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument" is a must see. And San Simeon State Park is just south of the Monument.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey is really great. North of Monterey at Moss Landing is a great sea food place over by the docks, called Phil's Fish Market & Eatery.
Monterey Wine Tasting

I have driven to Columbus from New Mexico (late 90s) using I-40 to OK City, I-44 to St Louis, 1-70 to Columbus. Drove back the same way. My daughter did an internship some summer at the Hyatt Regency. I helped drive her out, then drive back at end of the summer. I-40 would be following the old Route 66 route. An easy drive.
Happy Travels!

what donn0128 says is great. remember that california and the pacific northwest wine country is huge! depends on where you enter cal. the central coast of cal is also wonderful, we are leaving 6/23 with a first stop in paso robles rv wine park! haven't been there, but the region is incredible (zins rule here), from there we are inching to willamette valley in oregon (excellent pinot noir)and ending in the washington area. take the tours offered, that way you can enjoy w/out driving.

We,re heading that way tomorrow! We'll be staying in Bodega Bay and then taking side trips to Napa and wine country. As mentioned earlier, Florida to California by any route is a very big trip. There are many great wineries all the way from The Okanogan in BC to southern California - way too many for one trip. Have fun!

The wine country and the Pacific ocean north of San Francisco are very close to each other. Also, travel north a few miles and see the giant redwoods. If you are traveling from Florida the very few extra miles to see the ocean and the redwoods will be well worth the extra time. On your way stop for a day or two at Lake Tahoe.

I hope there are shorter shakedown trips before taking off for thousands of miles. Do you realize how far California is from Florida? It's 1 - 2 weeks of DRIVING!

Not in a hurry? Make FL your last stop. Maybe leave a bit earlier and visit the wineries in the okanogan valley of British Columbia, then head for the Willamette valley wine country and finish in Napa valley. Three distinctly different wine regions all with some great places to see and visit. And some interesting wines to sample.