California Central Coast - Christmas to New Year's

[MilesandSmiles]

Our family of five (me, my wife, son 17, daughter 17, and daughter 16) along with my son's service dog (Golden Retriever) will be picking up a rental Class A in San Francisco on December 26 and returning the RV on January 2 to the same location. I'm working on an itinerary and would appreciate feedback. So far it looks like this:

Friday, Dec. 26 Pick up RV in the afternoon, drive to Marin and set up camp.

Saturday, December 27 Take the Ferry or Bus into San Fransisco. Our "must do's" are Alcatraz and ride a cable car. Spend some time at Fisherman's Wharf. Maybe some time in Chinatown? Back to Marin for the night.

Sunday, December 28 Sleep in and drive to Santa Cruz KOA and enjoy the park.

Monday, December 29 Head south with a stop at the "Mystery Spot" and a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Drive to Big Sur and stay at the campground.

Tuesday, December 30 Drive Route 1 down to Morro Bay. Perhaps a stop at Hearst Castle (although I'm worried that the teens will find this pretty boring). Stay at Morro Dunes.

Wednesday, December 31
Explore Pismo area. Another night at Morro Dunes.

Thursday, January 1
Drive north to San Jose. Visit the Winchester Mansion.
Stay at Coyote Valley

Friday, January 2
Up early, drive to San Francisco to return RV by 11:00 am. Fly home at 2:00.

Does this seem too ambitious? Is there somewhere you see me budgeting too much time? Too little time?

Are there sights or attractions along the way that I haven't mentioned that we shouldn't miss?

Thanks,
-Jeff

[wintersun]

I would try to find a Class C that will work for your family. A Class A is not something you want to drive down Highway 1 or into Santa Cruz.

In your place I would be renting a hotel room and a car for the time you plan to spend in San Francisco (or using their excellent mass transit and walking which is easy enough to do as parking is terrible in most parts of the city and eats up a lot of time). After your time in San Francisco then rent the MH and drive down Hwy 101 to Monterey.

Problem in general is that most places you will not be able to park the Class A motorhome anywhere near where you want to walk and explore. It is like being on a tour bus but you do not have a driver to drop you off and then pick you all up later. Class A owners for the most part tow a small sedan behind the motorhome and use it to get around.

There are Class C motorhomes with slide-outs that provide additional sleeping area at night or eating space for meals. They are much shorter and so can be parked on the street or in public parking lots like a car.

[MilesandSmiles]

Nunyadamn wrote:
Sounds like a good plan - who are you renting from and have you verified you can rent from one location and return to another? I don't think you can do that with El Monte RV, but maybe Cruise America will allow it.

We are renting from RoadBear, picking up and dropping off at the same location just outside of San Francisco. That's why we are doing a loop - there were not any RVs that we liked that were available for a one-way rental. This looks like a beautiful, 2014 Class A, A.C.E. and will sleep 5 comfortably with a separate bed for each of the teens and still have room for my son's Golden Retriever Service Dog.

I'm already in the "counting the days" mode!

[Paul_Clancy]

We are touring the central coast in May with many of the same destinations. We are basing out of betAbel Rv park in San juan Batista. For sanfrancisco we were there a couple years ago and used the California land Safari for a full tour. Wow what a great way to see the city. There really is so much there.

[JohnG3]

oldchief7155 wrote:
Retired CHP here.

1. Get reservations for Alcatraz tour. It is busy and they only allow so many a day on the "Rock".

2. CA1 is doable provided:
A. Weather cooperates. It can be gorgeous or horrid along CA1 that time of year.

B. Your passengers don't mind being right next to sheer, 500 foot dropoffs WITH OUT guardrails a significant part of the trip.

C. You are patient. You may get behind a slow poke and basically there is no place to pass. Being in a hurry on CA1 will kill you.

D. Fog can be EXTREMELY thick with visibity less than 10 feet.

E. Be flexible. CA1 closes frequently due to landslides. Be prepared to take 101.

Maybe a bit ambitious but surely doable.

Kids will like Hearst Castle. On the bus ride up ask them to look for zebras. There is a herd of them.

You will love it if weather cooperates.

Fog is a possibility more during the spring and summer. Not so much in the winter. Rain and landslides closing SR1 are more likley during the winter. Watch the weather reports and the California Highway Patrol app for road closures and weather conditions on SR1 south of Monterey. If SSR1 is closed south of Monterey you have to go east at Monterey to hit 101 to points south. If the road is closed north of Pfiffer you can take 101 to 46 west just south of Paso Robles, then SR1 north to Pfiffer. Longer and back tracking a bit

[Nunyadamn]

Sounds like a good plan - who are you renting from and have you verified you can rent from one location and return to another? I don't think you can do that with El Monte RV, but maybe Cruise America will allow it.

You will need to leave early as possible to make it from big sur to Hearst Castle. Check the tour times to make sure you will be able to get there. Plan on a couple of hours for Hearst Castle at the least. You will be spent by that time, and I would really think about staying a couple miles south at San Simeon State Park - your choice, but that will be a really long day. Morro Dunes is about 40 minutes south of Hearst Castle.

I highly recommend stopping at Julia Pfeiffer State Beach - Waterfall. Check it out here - http://www.centralcoast-tourism.com/julia-pfeiffer-burns-state-park.htm

If you can't find parking on the road before the waterfall (heading south), there is a decently large place just past it around the corner that should be relatively open on most days. The waterfall is where the McWay Creek crosses the 1.

The only real place to get fuel at a high cost between Big Sur and San Simeon town is a place called Rugged Point Inn and Resort. The pumps aren't the easiest to get into, but not the worst either.

You will be passing a few light houses too. Plan on stopping a few times to take pictures - the best pictures are around every single corner on that road.

I drove my truck down that road one year and stopped too many times to count. Not as easy to stop in a camper or with a trailer. Good luck and keep us updated once you get back.

[MilesandSmiles]

Thanks all.

I've made all of our campground reservations now. Had to go with a few second-choices because some were fully booked already. Hint - this is a busy camping week in California.

Our plan (the basics at least):

December 25 -
Fly & Embassy Suites

Friday, 26 - Pick up RV
San Francisco RV Resort, Pacifica

Saturday, 27
Visit SF
San Francisco RV Resort, Pacifica

Sunday, 28
Mystery Spot
Marina Dunes RV Park

Monday, 29
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Drive to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground



Tuesday, 30
Drive PCH
Hearst Castle
Morro Dunes Campground


Wednesday, 31
Drive inland to Coyote Valley Resort

Thursday, 1
Winchester Mystery Mansion
Outdoor Monopoly Board
Stay at Coyote Valley Resort

Friday, 2 - Return RV & Fly

[oldchief7155]

Retired CHP here.

1. Get reservations for Alcatraz tour. It is busy and they only allow so many a day on the "Rock".

2. CA1 is doable provided:
A. Weather cooperates. It can be gorgeous or horrid along CA1 that time of year.

B. Your passengers don't mind being right next to sheer, 500 foot dropoffs WITH OUT guardrails a significant part of the trip.

C. You are patient. You may get behind a slow poke and basically there is no place to pass. Being in a hurry on CA1 will kill you.

D. Fog can be EXTREMELY thick with visibity less than 10 feet.

E. Be flexible. CA1 closes frequently due to landslides. Be prepared to take 101.

Maybe a bit ambitious but surely doable.

Kids will like Hearst Castle. On the bus ride up ask them to look for zebras. There is a herd of them.

You will love it if weather cooperates.

[Executive45]

A 30' coach will have no problems on Hwy 1. Take your time, enjoy the views and yes, stop at all the overlooks. Lots of Kodak moments.....Dennis

[Nunyadamn]

I towed Camry on a dolly with my 32ft class C from Arizona to Huntington Beach, CA and then all the way up the 1 to Portland and back. I have also towed a 28ft toy hauler bumper pull up the 1 from AZ to Huntington and up to Santa Cruz then back. Don't worry about the 1, just get gas before you leave Morro Bay or Carmel as there are only a couple places to realistically get gas on that road and neither are very fun. Also, don't plan for a quick trip. There is no website that will tell you the actual speed you are going to be going, so they can't calculate the time. For example, Google maps says 123 miles from Monterey to Morro Bay and it takes 3 hours. I would say that it is more like 4.5 hours or more. Average speed if your lucky will be about 25mph - there are a few 15mph turns and there are hills most of the way. Great views and stop at the waterfalls. Also, my kids are 12 and 9 and they like Hearst Castle - we have been on every tour in the last few years. Check out San Simeon State Park campground. One of our favorites.

[Rollnhome]

Coyote RV Park

[MilesandSmiles]

Thanks for the great replies. I think I'm sold on a second day in San Francisco, which will mean some tailoring.

Anyone have feedback on Coyote Valley RV Resort? GS gives it all tens, but folks on TripAdvisor give it so-so reviews.

Thanks!

[newlee]

Don't let all the negative coments stop you from going down hwy1.
It is not that bad of drive with short motorhome and no toad.
You will not regreat it after seeing the view along the way.
Take your time and stop at the many senic pullouts along the way.

[Rollnhome]

I would do two days in San Francisco. Don't wait in the tourist line for the street/trolly cars you can hop on and off anywhere along the route plus you can ring the bell...just ask. Suggests a tour of some sort in San Francisco the first day; then go back and spent time where you want. The kids should like Hearst Castle. Pismo & Morro not a favorite of ours. A day in Monterey waterfront and take Carmel scenic drive at least. Santa Cruz Boardwalk is interesting. Winchester house is pretty cool.
Have a great time.

[MilesandSmiles]

Executive wrote:
How big is the RV? How experienced are you at driving it? You're looking at parts of Hwy 1 which may make you wish you hadn't chosen that route. If you do go along Hwy 1 be sure to include all the lighthouse stops along the way....Dennis

It's a 30ft Class A. I've driven a 29ft Class C several times in the mountains of Arizona with no problem, but I've never driven a Class A before.

What areas do you think would be the most trouble?