We are heading to Redwoods in July. What the easiest route to Eureka from I5? We are towing an enclosed trailer and are 64' overall. Don't want to get stuck on a real twisty road crossing over from the interstate. Should we head over to the coast in Oregon and go south from there? Heard some of these roads are motorcycle heaven. I can drive our rig in just about anything but I'll save the twisty roads for when we get there as we are bringing our VW Golf R.

I like to plan routes using the Motor Carriers Atlas. Usually, if it's a good road for the truckers it's good for me. Routes can then be verified for road type using Google Maps. I've used the Street View to get down on the road to see what it really looks like.

2oldman wrote:299 is fine.Are you sure? My bro says it's rated one of the top 5 motorcycle roads in the U.S.

They are all twisty and windy. But they all have semi's traveling them every day so you will be fine on any of them. You can certainly go over from Portland or Salem and have the least windy roads but you will be a long time going down 101 that far as it will be very slow. You will also see the most beautiful scenery in the world--OR on 101 going south is spectacular.

Easiest route to the redwoods from the north with trailer

cpaulsen
Explorer
Jun 29, 2016
smlranger wrote:
We are planning to be in Grant's Pass in late September, early October and want to head over to the CA coast and down thru the redwoods. I had planned to take 199 from Grant's Pass over to 101. I don't mind twisty roads unless others advise to avoid that road.

199 is a very good road also.....a few slow corners but trucks use the road all the time. There are some sections of 4 lane and a lot of pull-outs to let people pass.
paulj
Explorer II
Jun 28, 2016
In my limited experience, the best part of the Redwoods is between 199 and 299.

There's a coastal canyon (Fern) in Prairie Creek State Park that would take you back north to coastal Vancouver Island, with ferns and large Sitka Spruce. The big Redwoods are a bit further inland (e.g. Lady Bird Johnson Grove).

South of Eureka is the Avenue of the Giants, which has a more commercialized feel.
katoomer
Explorer
Jun 28, 2016
Thanks for all the replies. Had a look from sat view for 299 and 199. Either road looks fine for us.
Looking forward to the trip
nevadanick
Explorer
Jun 28, 2016
299 is the way i went with 40ft mh and 20ft enclosed trlr. No issue whatsoever. Towed crewcab pickup the same route and wished i had more power and fixed that by buying a new MH.
RedRocket204
Explorer
Jun 28, 2016
Yep, 199 is not that bad so long as you are not in a race. I have a truck/TT combo at 55' and no problem on 199.
korbe
Explorer
Jun 28, 2016
smlranger wrote:
We are planning to be in Grant's Pass in late September, early October and want to head over to the CA coast and down thru the redwoods. I had planned to take 199 from Grant's Pass over to 101. I don't mind twisty roads unless others advise to avoid that road.

West of the tunnel has a couple of slow curvy sections. We enjoy the route, but take it slow and not push it.
smlranger
Explorer
Jun 28, 2016
We are planning to be in Grant's Pass in late September, early October and want to head over to the CA coast and down thru the redwoods. I had planned to take 199 from Grant's Pass over to 101. I don't mind twisty roads unless others advise to avoid that road.
korbe
Explorer
Jun 28, 2016
Any route that I can think of is going to include some curves. Some of the curves on 199 are tight without shoulders. 299 has curves but not nearly as tight as 199. We enjoy both routes but for you I would recommend 299. 299 also has a bunch of paved turnouts with advanced notice so the faster vehicles can easily get by.
cpaulsen
Explorer
Jun 28, 2016
J-Rooster wrote:
I can't remember the Hwy. (Someone Please Help Me Out, I can't find my Atlas tonight), but I followed the Trinity River to the Ocean. Fuel up at I-5 before you head toward the Ocean and my coach was a 36' and I was towing a car and had no troubles with the road. Very beautiful drive.

That road was/is 299 and is a good road. Towed my 5th wheel over to the coast many times when I lived in Redding. The road to avoid is Hwy.36.
J-Rooster
Explorer
Jun 28, 2016
I can't remember the Hwy. (Someone Please Help Me Out, I can't find my Atlas tonight), but I followed the Trinity River to the Ocean. Fuel up at I-5 before you head toward the Ocean and my coach was a 36' and I was towing a car and had no troubles with the road. Very beautiful drive.