Trip to CA..help me plan for TC camping

Monterey Aquarium is like $49 per person. x 5...
17-miles drive next to Monterey is something adults will enjoy, nice sandy beach here and there, but usually too windy for swimming.
But don't count on cheap camping in this area.
I was able to find available campgrounds upper Yosemite valley, it was years ago, but people seem to camp less lately. Just make sure to top off your fuel tank before heading to the Valley.

skipro3 wrote:
From Grass Pants to Bakersfield... hmmm
Lassen National Park is very cool. Take the hike to Bumpass Hell and there are plenty of others too.

Chester, South of Lassen has a nice lake, Almanor. Tons of fish!

There are several passes that may be open by June that cross the Sierras. I took a trip last year to cross every one and camp each night on the summit of each pass. With this much snow, might not be all open, but they are beautiful drives, every one.

Lake Tahoe. Come down from Susanville from Chester and drive the Nevada side to South Shore Tahoe. Beaches, boating, camping, etc.

Bodie Ghost town just North of Lee Vining is pretty cool to visit. It's amazing how well preserved it is.

At Lee Vining, see Mono Lake. Then head West into Yosemite. Don't bother with the valley in June, it's a zoo. But the road from 395 to Maraposa is very nice with lots to see.

Also, If you want to divert from Tahoe, take Hwy 49 through Sierra City all the way down through Placerville and to Yosemite. See all the historic gold rush towns like Coloma, where John Sutter discovered gold and set off the gold rush of 1849. South of Placerville is Plymouth, Ione, Jackson, Angels Camp (where Mark Twain wrote his story on the frog jumping). There are lots of gold rush towns with reenactments of everything from pioneer living to civil war battles. Do your homework to figure what events are taking place on what days so you plan the itinerary.

+1

this is what I was going to post but skipro3 did such a fine job!!!! The coast is the other option Santa Cruz, Monterey bay aquarium, Pismo beach and the dunes. plus the redwoods can take days to really enjoy. Good luck with any rout you choose and safe travels

skipro3 wrote:


At Lee Vining, see Mono Lake. Then head West into Yosemite. Don't bother with the valley in June, it's a zoo. But the road from 395 to Maraposa is very nice with lots to see.

I agree its a zoo, but if you or your kids have never seen Yosemite valley, do a day stop there. You can park the camper and take the buses around the valley. Ideally you would camp in Tuolemne Meadows, drive to the valley early the next day, spend the day there, then drive out 41 to a campground outside. As you drive out, a side trip to Glacier Point. Late in the day, you should be able to park a camper there, and it is quite a view.

Buzzcut1 wrote:
Kern River area above lake Isabella less than an hour from Bakersfield good fishing hiking and dispersed camping

Hwy 88 east of Kirkwood ski area, dispersed camping in hope valley on the west fork of the Carson river

Redwood State or National Park near Orick is good

You can also go over 58 to the east side of the Sierras, tons of free camping, 14,000 foot peaks and drive all the way back up to the Oregon border avoiding the Central Valleys vast flat boredom

The river is a trickle at best.

From Grass Pants to Bakersfield... hmmm
Lassen National Park is very cool. Take the hike to Bumpass Hell and there are plenty of others too.

Chester, South of Lassen has a nice lake, Almanor. Tons of fish!

There are several passes that may be open by June that cross the Sierras. I took a trip last year to cross every one and camp each night on the summit of each pass. With this much snow, might not be all open, but they are beautiful drives, every one.

Lake Tahoe. Come down from Susanville from Chester and drive the Nevada side to South Shore Tahoe. Beaches, boating, camping, etc.

Bodie Ghost town just North of Lee Vining is pretty cool to visit. It's amazing how well preserved it is.

At Lee Vining, see Mono Lake. Then head West into Yosemite. Don't bother with the valley in June, it's a zoo. But the road from 395 to Maraposa is very nice with lots to see.

Also, If you want to divert from Tahoe, take Hwy 49 through Sierra City all the way down through Placerville and to Yosemite. See all the historic gold rush towns like Coloma, where John Sutter discovered gold and set off the gold rush of 1849. South of Placerville is Plymouth, Ione, Jackson, Angels Camp (where Mark Twain wrote his story on the frog jumping). There are lots of gold rush towns with reenactments of everything from pioneer living to civil war battles. Do your homework to figure what events are taking place on what days so you plan the itinerary.

If you are coming down in the summer, you have a choice of the coast range or the Sierra. Coming down 101 there is Humbolt Redwoods, a lot of coastline and beaches if you are willing to take the time on 1. Alternatively go south through Lassen, quite interesting miniature version of Yellowstone in many ways, then through Lake Tahoe to Lee Vining, over Tioga pass through Yosemite and onto Bakersfield. Probably more postcard type shots that way. If you do plan on Yosemite, check Tioga pass (it may not open until July this year). You would need reservations for sure to camp in Yosemite Valley proper, but some of the campgrounds coming over from the east have some first-come sites (Tuolemne Meadows for one), if you plan to arrive there early you can get one.

I would avoid I5 from Redding to Bakersfield like the plague myself, unless speed was all important. Having said that, if you do go through Redding, the Sundial bridge is worth a stop for an hour. I have found nothing of interest between there and Magic Mountain :).

Thanks Buzz,I'll check it out and see if I can fit it in with my plans. I figure with enough planning I can make it "fun"!


Moving in 23 days so I'm busy for the next few months, want to get this trip finalized so its out of the way.

Kern River area above lake Isabella less than an hour from Bakersfield good fishing hiking and dispersed camping

Hwy 88 east of Kirkwood ski area, dispersed camping in hope valley on the west fork of the Carson river

Redwood State or National Park near Orick is good

You can also go over 58 to the east side of the Sierras, tons of free camping, 14,000 foot peaks and drive all the way back up to the Oregon border avoiding the Central Valleys vast flat boredom