CA 101 again

Ca254 (aka the Avenue of the Giants) IS Hwy 101- or used to be before they opened the straightened out "new, improved" section of Hwy 101 that now bypasses the older route.

That ought to tell you which is the easier drive! ;)

The Avenue is nice as long as you aren't in a hurry. Enjoy.

The Avenue is just a 30 mile stretch near the end of your day's drive (175miles). It will give you a closer view of the big trees, with a chance to stop and do the touristy stuff.

On Google Maps, the part you just drove looks like divided highway with patched concrete. Around Cloverdale it becomes 4 lane, undivided, with newer asphalt. Around Wilts it becomes 2 lane.

In the Humbolt Woods area, 101 is mostly 4 lane (undivided) while the Avenue is a slower 2 lane.

You really don't have an alternative. US101 will always be the fastest straightest choice, with varying pavement quality.

coolbreeze01 wrote:
The Avenue is nice as long as you aren't in a hurry. Enjoy.

X2, and it is a beautiful drive although slow. JMO

101 will calm down after you leave the valley. If you want to drive very slowly and do not care about making time the avenue of the giants is a fun ride but very very very time consuming. I would guess 35mph average at best. 101 after you leave Heidelberg headed north is just fine. When you get to Oregon it actually is a road you can drive on without the jarring. I just think California is so strapped for money and people and income that they just can't come up with the money to fix their roads. Shoot they only ask about 500 bucks a year to register their vehicles each and every year, on that kind of money you can't expect to see very good roads. (that was suppose to be funny)

Almost every road in Calif is in bad shape -- too many folks, too much traffic, not enough money somehow. But one of the reasons there is so much traffic is that there is so much to see and do. If possible, when you drive the Avenue of the Giants, pull over, get out, and take a short hike away from the roadway and just soak up the silence under those amazing trees. If you have time and a toad, I strongly recommend the Rockefeller Grove on Mattole Road, at the north end of the Avenue. Maybe visit or call a ranger station for directions.

By the time you get to the Avenue of the Giants turnoff, you will be most of the way to your campsite south of Scotia. I would suggest just heading straight there and then returning in the tow vehicle to see the trees. Ancient Redwoods RV park has always had strong recommendations and is well situated. If you do the Founders Grove hike, take the short (really bumpy) road to the Rockefeller Grove and enjoy a less crowded area.

If you need fuel along the way, get it in Willits. I always fill at the Safeway on the way north. I can then reach Brookings, Oregon before I have to fill again. Fuel costs will increase as you head north on 101 until you reach Oregon.

Well, here's the story. On our way to Scotia, a wheel sheared off the fiver so we spent a night right along CA 101 about a mile south of where CA 1 meets 101. Didn't really sleep too well since the guy that came out to see what we needed to fix the situation asked us, right before he left, if we had a gun. Oh, that made me feel so safe! Anyway, after a rather uncomfortable night sleeping in the truck with 2 birds, a dog and a cat, we decided to skip the Avenue of the Giants and come on in to camp (Strafford RV Park) to get a good night's rest. I realize the Avenue drive must be spectacular but we saw some absolutely beautiful sights right along 101.

BTW, 101 was a pretty nice drive...until we lost our wheel, lol. I think the twisty, turny sections stressed an over-torqued wheel.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Very helpful and did a lot to put my mind at ease.

PennyPA wrote:
I realize the Avenue drive must be spectacular but we saw some absolutely beautiful sights right along 101.

It is and there are some beautiful trees. If you have the time maybe you could take a day trip down from Scotia to the Avenue of the Giants and drive through it. I myself love taking that stretch and bypassing US101. JMO