Safe but scenic route

Watch 101 in Oregon during peak times (weekends, etc.) around some of the bigger towns. There are some pretty bad backups and seemingly never ending construction projects.

The most beautiful section of coastal highway I've ever seen is on 101 just a few miles north of Newport, OR. The highway is practically in the ocean :) There are several good spots to pull off if you'd like to explore. Also, there is a nice state park called Beverly Beach.

Highway 101 - Is ZERO problem to drive. There are some slow, hilly and curvy areas in Oregon but the actual drive is not difficult. Traffic can be very slow in the summer months due to volume.

I will tell you that once you leave Oregon headed north, there is little to see of the water on 101. Beautiful scenery but lots of long areas of large evergreen trees....... I prefer to drive the Oregon coast and then cross east over to I-5 headed through Washington.

Alaska route - I suggest you look at where the tour companies such as Adventure Caravans and Fantasy go. They post itineraries online and they will show the areas you might like to see. Once in Alaska, routes are pretty limited that everyone travels. Be sure to get a current Milepost to assist planning. We did an Adventure Caravan and loved the entire trip.

Alaska hint: Plan your fuels stops. Can be MANY miles between fillup possibilities. Some remote fuel stations may not still be open.......

Let me know if you need help with where to stay in WA on the way north. Seattle has almost NO RV parks in the vicinity. Happy travels!! Sounds like a great trip.

Don't know the California section, but 101 through Oregon has many miles of 4-lane roadway. Not a problem for your rig. Once over the Astoria bridge into WA, it's mainly two lanes, but quite manageable. Logging trucks are frequent users.

If you're not planning on sightseeing the Olympia to Burlington area, an option back across to I-5 would be to go off 101 at its junction with SR-20 to Port Townsend and take the ferry to Coupeville, then SR-20 to I-5 at Burlington. You'd save a couple of hundred miles. The only tight spot on SR-20 is the Deception Pass bridge. It was a CCC project and was built to the road width standards of the day. It's used by big trucks every day, but is not very wide.

3 ways, You can fly! Yup 101 is terrific. Drove it in a tractor trailer once.

There are two ways to get to Alaska, the Alaskan Highway and the Cassier Highway. Both are traveled by millions of RVers every summer.

For Alaska, I'd suggest you ask some definite questions on the Alaskan/Canada forum on this site. Lots of good information. Also, at the very top of that forum page is a 'Sticky' for Hints on what to take, what to do, etc.

When are you planning this huge trip? It's getting kind of late in the season to start it now.

Done SF to Oregon/Washington border and it is a gorgeous drive take your time and enjoy it.

Absolutely, done 101 SF to Washington state several times.