Forum Discussion

tennisgal33's avatar
tennisgal33
Explorer
Aug 15, 2014

Traveling from Brookings OR to Fairfield CA

What is the best route from Brookings OR to Fairfield CA in a 42' Motorhome? I've heard horror stories about the steep, winding, no guardrail highways in CA. I prefer to take the safe non-treacherous roads in the RV.and drive the car to tourist attractions. Is there a GOOD road to drive RV from Eureka or Fort Bragg CA to Interstate? Is 101 to Fort Bragg a good road? Also, what is the best road to take to cross over to I-5? I've heard that 128 is not a good RV road. How is 20. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
  • People often confuse CA 1 (PCH 1) with 101. There are horror stories (again, overblown) about PCH 1 which has some narrow, cliff side, no guard rail portions of road. None of this applies to 101.
    I LOVE Brookings, OR so my advice is to stay where you are and eat some more Dungeness crab! :B
  • tennisgal33 wrote:
    What is the best route from Brookings OR to Fairfield CA in a 42' Motorhome? I've heard horror stories about the steep, winding, no guardrail highways in CA. I prefer to take the safe non-treacherous roads in the RV.and drive the car to tourist attractions. Is there a GOOD road to drive RV from Eureka or Fort Bragg CA to Interstate? Is 101 to Fort Bragg a good road? Also, what is the best road to take to cross over to I-5? I've heard that 128 is not a good RV road. How is 20. Any suggestions will be appreciated.


    Horror stories? I do see you are from Florida so yeah, maybe any hill can seem bad, but most of the horror stories you hear are overblown. Yeah we have mountains and we have steep grades and there are some high cliffs. But that is what most people come to California to see. Hard to see those things if you stick to the flat roads in the Central Valley. May as well go tour Nebraska.
  • Posted By wrote:
    Or take the Skunk Train from Willits to Ft Bragg it's a great nostalgic way to see the forest and travel.


    The only way you can ride the Skunk train from Willits to Fort Bragg is if you stay overnight in Fort Bragg. They only do half day rides to the half way point at North Spur from either Willits or Fort Bragg.
  • Personally I would stay on Hwy 101 all the way to Petaluma, then take Hwy 116 > Hwy 12 > I-80 to Fairfield. As others have said, if you want to visit Ft Bragg then stop in Willits and drive the towed or take the Skunk train.
  • You cannot take your RV to Fort Bragg. Many portions of Hwy 1 are restricted to 40' or less and the CHP does enforce it. Your tag axle is the easiest giveaway. Check the clicky below. US 101 is a good road all the way down the coast. Use the toad to explore.....Dennis

    Motor Home Restricted Routes
  • "If you want to visit Fort Bragg you will have to stay in Willits and drive your toad over to the coast."

    Or take the Skunk Train from Willits to Ft Bragg it's a great nostalgic way to see the forest and travel.
  • For me the best choice would be Hwy 101 south to Hwy 20 east to I-5 to I-80. This is a very scenic and easily driveable route. Hwy 20 from Willits to Fort Bragg is designated a "red" route by Caltrans (motorhomes over 40' are prohibited) as is Hwy 128. If you want to visit Fort Bragg you will have to stay in Willits and drive your toad over to the coast.
  • Hwy 101 is fine for RV's. Use the toad to places west while heading south.
  • 101 does not go to Fort Bragg, we drove route 20 in the jeep form Willits to explore the Fort Bragg area. Although we saw big rigs on that road, I am glad I did not drive it in my 37 footer.

    You want to avoid HW 1 at all costs - we drove it again in the Jeep from Leggett south and it was horrible.

    We spent 28 days this past winter exploring the area between Brookings and Cloverdale Ca.
  • Fastest is south about 20 miles and head NE toward Grants Pass. Personally i would do 101 south to 20 and over to I5