Road
Traveling in 36foot motor home with a toad.Need suggestion from Red bluff to grass valley, on to JACKSON than to Tahoe? Any ideas?
Forum Discussion
From Red Bluff, take CA99 south to Yuba City and pick up CA20 there. Take CA20 east to Grass Valley. There is decent camping at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.
From Grass Valley, take CA49 South all the way to Jackson. You'll be traveling through gold country so plan on stopping along the way. There's a good campground, Ponderosa RV Resort, in Lotus, right on the American river. Be sure to ASK for a river front site if available. They will pick you up there for a white water rafting trip. It's a fun and easy trip down the American River. Click on the YouTube below. Sutter's Mill, where gold was first discovered is a short drive, just a few miles south of the campground. Take a picnic lunch.
Stay on Hwy 49 through Placerville and on to Jackson. Understand, Ca49 has lots of twists and turns..It's not a FAST road, but with a 36' you'll be ok. Max coach length is 40'.
In Jackson, turn off CA49 onto CA88 East. Stay at the Jackson Rancheria RV Park. Ask for Space 57 if available. If gambling is your thing, shuttles arrive every 15 min for the 2 mile trip to the casino. The tribe leveled the top of a mountain and created the campground. You will not believe how many stars you'll see at night. FACTOID: Only 1 in 4 Americans have ever seen the Milky Way. At the campground you'll feel like you can reach up and touch it. They have a general store/fuel station there, easy in and out, along with a drive through car wash for your RV. Be sure to ask for discount tickets when you check in. A side trip while in Jackson is the Black Chasm Cave tour.
When you leave the Rancheria, take Dalton Street south, back to CA88 East. That will take you on a winding trip through the back country, thru towns like Volcano and Pioneer. Stay on CA88, it's a slow drive and you'll be climbing, but it's an easier drive than CA49. Turn left onto CA89, Pickett's Junction, which tees at US50 just outside South Lake Tahoe. Stay in the right lane in South Lake Tahoe and continue on US50 into Lake Tahoe. There's two places to stay in Lake Tahoe. For in town convenience the City owned campground, Campground by the Lake is one of our favorites. From there you can take a cruise all around the Lake. Try the sunset cruise if you're a romantic. You can see a penny 50' down, the water is that clear. If you want to go over to the Nevada side of Tahoe, look at Zephyr Cove Campground. You won't be disappointed in either. Be sure to take a day trip and drive completely around the Lake. It's a worthwhile trip. Also, if the snow hasn't arrived, take the ski lift up to Heavenly Valley. Grab a Subway sandwich or similar and have a picnic halfway up. The lift will drop you off, have your picnic, take tons of pictures, then continue to the top. Lots of hiking trails if you like doing that, then get back on the lift for the exciting trip down. I guarantee you'll love it. The views are stunning!
Now a caveat: if you decide to follow the above posters directions, you will NOT want to take the LATROBE exit south. It's an ugly road for any type of camper. Narrow, lots of turns, mostly 25mph. It's designed for cars nothing more IMHO.....Dennis
Ponderosa YouTube Video
From Grass Valley, take CA49 South all the way to Jackson. You'll be traveling through gold country so plan on stopping along the way. There's a good campground, Ponderosa RV Resort, in Lotus, right on the American river. Be sure to ASK for a river front site if available. They will pick you up there for a white water rafting trip. It's a fun and easy trip down the American River. Click on the YouTube below. Sutter's Mill, where gold was first discovered is a short drive, just a few miles south of the campground. Take a picnic lunch.
Stay on Hwy 49 through Placerville and on to Jackson. Understand, Ca49 has lots of twists and turns..It's not a FAST road, but with a 36' you'll be ok. Max coach length is 40'.
In Jackson, turn off CA49 onto CA88 East. Stay at the Jackson Rancheria RV Park. Ask for Space 57 if available. If gambling is your thing, shuttles arrive every 15 min for the 2 mile trip to the casino. The tribe leveled the top of a mountain and created the campground. You will not believe how many stars you'll see at night. FACTOID: Only 1 in 4 Americans have ever seen the Milky Way. At the campground you'll feel like you can reach up and touch it. They have a general store/fuel station there, easy in and out, along with a drive through car wash for your RV. Be sure to ask for discount tickets when you check in. A side trip while in Jackson is the Black Chasm Cave tour.
When you leave the Rancheria, take Dalton Street south, back to CA88 East. That will take you on a winding trip through the back country, thru towns like Volcano and Pioneer. Stay on CA88, it's a slow drive and you'll be climbing, but it's an easier drive than CA49. Turn left onto CA89, Pickett's Junction, which tees at US50 just outside South Lake Tahoe. Stay in the right lane in South Lake Tahoe and continue on US50 into Lake Tahoe. There's two places to stay in Lake Tahoe. For in town convenience the City owned campground, Campground by the Lake is one of our favorites. From there you can take a cruise all around the Lake. Try the sunset cruise if you're a romantic. You can see a penny 50' down, the water is that clear. If you want to go over to the Nevada side of Tahoe, look at Zephyr Cove Campground. You won't be disappointed in either. Be sure to take a day trip and drive completely around the Lake. It's a worthwhile trip. Also, if the snow hasn't arrived, take the ski lift up to Heavenly Valley. Grab a Subway sandwich or similar and have a picnic halfway up. The lift will drop you off, have your picnic, take tons of pictures, then continue to the top. Lots of hiking trails if you like doing that, then get back on the lift for the exciting trip down. I guarantee you'll love it. The views are stunning!
Now a caveat: if you decide to follow the above posters directions, you will NOT want to take the LATROBE exit south. It's an ugly road for any type of camper. Narrow, lots of turns, mostly 25mph. It's designed for cars nothing more IMHO.....Dennis
Ponderosa YouTube Video
