Oregon Hwy 101 Coastal Road

just remember to "keep oregon green" bring lots of cash.

From Northern CA headed as far down as Marina Del Rey. Heading home to Disney Land in Orlando via RT 10 east.

Mark,

I'd take that route and see the family in Sac. What do you think of my more northern truck roads route?

OP,

Just over the CA/OR border is a weigh station. Always interesting to check our rig. OR weigh stations are left on for weighting. One time it was open for the truckers and I just waited for them to clear - they are working and I'm on vacation.

Are you going to the Brookings Harbor CG?

Salt Lake Utah to Brookings Oregon--
This the route I have traveled with a 34' 5th. wheel trailer numerous times.
1. Take I-80 west to Sacramento I-5. From Salt Lake to Reno is flat all the way to Reno. from to Sacramento is down hill with 6% grades. The road is good and well maintained. If you have a diesel truck with an exhaust brake you will not have any problems. Just keep your down hill speed below 50 miles per hour. Usually with an exhaust brake you just have to tap the brakes occasionally to keep your speed under 50mph. Without an exhaust brake you just have to keep gearing down until you can keep your speed around 50mph. Try to minimize your use of your brakes so they don't heat up.
2. When you reach I-5 in Sacramento go north about 50 miles until you reach Hwy.20 at Williams.
3. Go west on hwy 20 until you reach Hwy. 101. There is a Casino about 1/2 way to 101 on the right hand side which allows you to park in their hugh parking lot for not cost.
4. From hwy 101 go north until you arrive in Brookings Or. Email me privately if you want more details.

erawlings00 wrote:
We are headed from SLC, Utah to Brookings, Oregon - what is the best route to take. I've heard some say to avoid large inclines especially going down. Any suggestions?

What is a large incline for you? If it's a 10 percent grade then yes probably best to avoid those.

Any reasonably direct route will be up to 6 percent grades. Is your rig, tires, brakes, your driving skill, passengers, etc OK with some mountain driving?

Then Google the route which starts on 80 and takes the various state routes. With one exception MHs over 40' are prohibited on CA 199.

erawlings00 wrote:
We are headed from SLC, Utah to Brookings, Oregon - what is the best route to take. I've heard some say to avoid large inclines especially going down. Any suggestions?

Without going too far out of your way, you're pretty much limited to I80, 140, I5...etc., and until you hit 101 on the coast.
As for mountain driving and especially with going down, I suggest you read the many post about proper braking and gearing down, as you wouldn't want to be boiling your brake fluid. Also change your brake fluid if it's a few years old.

We are headed from SLC, Utah to Brookings, Oregon - what is the best route to take. I've heard some say to avoid large inclines especially going down. Any suggestions?

Lwiddis wrote:
"Once south of the redwoods what is your route?"

I like to cut over to Ft. Bragg via CA Hwy. 20 and then south on CA Hwy. 1.

Bodega Bay is another favorite. Treat yourself to Hog Island Oysters just to the south. Take charcoal, sauce, etc and BBQ there (make reservation) or bring them back to the rig.

It's been a long time since I've been on 1 south of Marshall but it was always a beautiful view and cliff hanger.

DO NOT take 101 through SF. Take 19th Ave, quick second right exit after the GG bridge, stay in the middle lane to 280 unless you want to cut over to 1 and the ocean. DO NOT go through SF in rush hour, mid day is OK. OP if crossing GG south I'll post info on how to pay as there are NO toll collectors.

Central Oregon coast is nice - Lincoln City is a bit congested with a big rig but once you get through, hwy 101 opens up a lot. At the north end of Lincoln City there's a nice free parking lot at the Chinook Winds casino to hang out at (careful though it's pretty sloped). Depoe Bay is about 15 miles south from there and has some decent on street parking for big rigs and a couple nice restaurants - Tidal Raves is amazing.

Heading south from there is Newport in about 15 miles. Between Depoe Bay and Newport is about the prettiest section of driving you'll ever find along an ocean. You're about 40 feet above the waves and almost as close. Lots of good pull off places as well but no real services around (until Newport in another 10 miles). Do be careful though, the roads got real beat up last year and haven't been fixed yet - lots of "patches" and rough spots.

There's a Walmart at the north end of Newport with lots of good parking and a fairly easy in and out if you need some supplies.

Fuel is difficult but not impossible. I'm a 5th wheel guy and just fill up without the trailer. You'll get by but I agree with others that say when you see a good spot fill up.

If you're looking for overnight - Devil's Lake near north end of Lincoln City is great, Premier near the south end is good but kind of tight (great restaurant across the street that overlooks the ocean - Inn at Spanish Head). Mo's restaurant is also great.

The Oregon coast is super seasonal. Summer months will be busy traffic and busy restaurants. Fall/Spring hit or miss. Winter you can pretty much have free run of the place.

CA Traveler wrote:
Once south of the redwoods what is your route?

Trust me. With your coach and towed you don't want to be on any part of Hwy 1, particularly during the summer months. There will be sections where you will have to cross over the center line to make it around the turns.

On a southbound trip it will not be an enjoyable drive for the driver, and the passenger will be spending their time worried about how close the right side of the coach is coming to the edge of the ocean side of the road.