Advice Needed for West Coast Trip

I am chiming in because I live in the North Bay area and am quite familiar with the 101 route. First, driving the 101 through SF is not all that scary. Big rigs go through that route. Plus, if you are driving North, you won't pay the GG Bridge toll. Driving 101 through Paso Robles and North is a really pleasant route. If you like wine country Paso Robles is a good area to spend some time. If you want to visit SF, your campground options are limited. I would suggest staying in the North Bay. In Novato there is a small RV park that may have room for you. Otherwise, there is a KOA in Petaluma that is quite nice. From those places you can make day trips into SF. I would recommend the ferry out of Corte Madera. You are also on the doorstep of the Napa/Sonoma wine country

If you would like to visit the Sonoma coast, there are camping options North of Bodega Bay in some State parks, which do not accept reservations. If you visit weekdays your chances are pretty good. I would not recommend RVing North of the Russian River at Jenner unless you have solid reservations in one of the few campgrounds on that section of coast. If you choose to go there, it is quite scenic and there is camping in Gualala (County and private), Manchester (KOA), Van Damme State Park and maybe Ft Bragg. From Ft Bragg you will be driving inland back to 101, so, depending on your schedule, you may as well stay on 101.

Two years back, I made the drive up 101 all the way to Port Angeles. There is a really nice RV park there and you can take the ferry across to Victoria, really worthwhile. Travelling up the Oregon coast (I drove it both directions) was not a problem. The left turns are only bad in the tourist areas. We made the trip in July during the drought. It was very hot inland and it seemed everyone in Oregon was on the coast. We were travelling without reservations and were able to find stops every night in private campgrounds and two State Parks, some right on the beach. Of course, it is always advisable on travel days to get an early start and then stop before 3 or 4 at the latest.

Driving the WA coast is not really scenic and I would recommend the West side of the Hood Canal, much nicer.

I am sure you will have a very nice trip and the kids will love it. If you would like more info you can PM me

buc1980 wrote:
I too plan to take a trip TO Oregon and Washington in the summer.According with the people here is better to stay home.I don't think that will be that bad some where I will find a spot to accommodate me.Mountains side are too very busy?

GO! Go! Start making as many reservations along your RV route TODAY! Trying to fly by the seat of your pants to make reservations as you travel is an invitation for frustration and disaster:(:(:(

fj12ryder wrote:
No one said it's better to stay home.

The OP asked for advice on his upcoming trip, advice has been forthcoming based on experience from the people who have done it. Most of the advice has been that it will be crowded and busy, which it will be. I'm sure you've noticed on your previous trips that the PCR is busy as heck in the summer. If the summer is the only time there is available so be it.

Of course if I lived in Texas I'd be anxious to leave too. :)

Do it! It is a great trip!. Yes summer is the high season for both states but START MAKING YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW!!!

No one said it's better to stay home.

The OP asked for advice on his upcoming trip, advice has been forthcoming based on experience from the people who have done it. Most of the advice has been that it will be crowded and busy, which it will be. I'm sure you've noticed on your previous trips that the PCR is busy as heck in the summer. If the summer is the only time there is available so be it.

Of course if I lived in Texas I'd be anxious to leave too. :)

I too plan to take a trip TO Oregon and Washington in the summer.According with the people here is better to stay home.I don't think that will be that bad some where I will find a spot to accommodate me.Mountains side are too very busy?

In Florence, try Harbor Vista County Park. Availability and reservations at http://reservations.lanecounty.org/

The Sun Rise RV Park in Santa Barbara is a good example of why one should use the Good Sam RV Parks web site or their Book version to look at the ratings and the general information for each park. This RV Park is right next to the 101 Freeway which is constantly loud with traffic. The park sites are small. I was going to stay there once when all the ocean state parks were full but changed my mind after looking.

i first said "state beaches", not inland RV parks. yes, they will probably find some private parks in from the beach. but they still need to make reservations now.

my definition of coastal camping is on a state beach, not an RV park inland. someone else may define it differently.

bikendan wrote:
I can guarantee that you won't get anything on the SoCal Coast.
We are heading down there tomorrow and every SoCal state Beach is already booked solid til September.

You might find a single night here or there.

Don't think you realize how bad it is out here, ESPECIALLY in the summer. Coastal sites are gone 6-7 months in advance.
And popular inland places will also booked up already.

We always avoid camping in the summertime but now, even off-season camping is being impacted.

Your hopes of doing any coastal camping during that time, will be severely dashed to pieces.

I know nothing about this RV park. I just picked one randomly to show that indeed, there are spots available and 'everything' is not booked up already. This is in Santa Barbara.

This park has openings mid-July. I plugged in July 17.

https://www.superinn.com/copy1/res_avail.asp?crypt=%BF%7Fp%5B%98%BB%B4%B2%A6%98%60%7Do%60p%AD%AA%93%C9%ADoh%98%BC%C6%B6%AF%A3%93

Dude.I have sent you a pm....


Gary Haupt