Morro Bay to Monterey

[dmcgiffin]

We would love to drive up Hwy 1 this winter - we have a 36' MH with a toad, good route or not?

[msmith1199]

I know you live in Monterey, but I'd much rather stay at one of the RV parks there versus one of the $75 hotels. There are only a couple of choices of parks and the only ones I've stayed at is Marina Dunes and the KOA down at Moss Landing. Both are just fine and both are a very short walk to the beach.

[wintersun]

By the way we live in north Monterey county and go down to the Morro Bay area to stay at a motel or camp on average once a month throughout the year.

[wintersun]

Just plan on averaging 25 MPH and avoiding weekend or holiday traffic and you will be fine. There are likely to be no large commercial trucks on the route and there are places to pull off without a lot of difficulty along the way. Most of the cars are driving slowly as well which helps a great deal.

The number of places where you can easily pull over with as long a tow rig as you have will be limited so if you find a place that works take it and don't think that there will be another one 10 mile further down the road.

There are no RV parks in the Monterey area where I would want to stay. In your situation I would leave the MH in Morro Bay and drive the toad up the coast and stay in motels. A motel room in the Monterey area can be had for about the same cost as a RV campsite space at the private RV parks ($75 a night). Check the RV parks before you head out or do too much in the way of planning.

[DaveG39]

I have done it several times from Goleta to Monterey. Very scenic. Slow and curves but not a problem if you have time to enjoy the scenery.

[msmith1199]

Ignore the naysayers. It can be done and it's done all the time. It's all about how comfortable you are with driving your motorhome. Yes it's a windy road, but it's mostly at or just above sea level so there aren't any bad grades, and when there are grades they only climb a few hundred feet. Just take your time and use the turnouts to let traffic pass. Who cares if you hold them up a little, they'll get over it.

If you want to see what the road looks like just go to Google maps and do the street view. You can see the entire road if you want to click through the entire length.

The only bad thing about going south to north is most of the turnouts are on the ocean side of the road. I've actually never done it south to north. I always go north to south and then take 101 back home. There will still be turnouts going north, but not as many and you may see things you want to stop and look at but won't find a place to park.

[korbe]

I would take that route and have a blast - if the weather isn't too bad.

[Marv_Hoag]

I'd do it in a heartbeat with your 36' motorhome. Yes, some turns will be slow and somewhere along the way you'll kick up some dirt. A weekday might have less traffic than the weekend. I did it when I had my 36' Bounder DP. The Morro Bay to Monterey section can not be compared to the Ft Bragg to Leggett on route 1 (I've done both). I would not recommend the Ft Bragg to Leggett, too many narrow, sharp turns, and not the great ocean scenery like the MB to Monterey stretch. You are going the best direction, south to north.

[Desert_Captain]

NO! You will be over the double yellow line in the tight corners and switchbacks. You will block and or hold up traffic repeatedly and there are few pull/turn outs to allow the folks stuck behind you to pass. We drove Highway One from Fort Bragg north to leggett - very similar road and every RV the size of yours (or larger), was in big trouble and a hazard to everyone else on the road.

It is a spectacular drive but do it in your Toad, isn't that why you pull it?

[SteveRuff]

That includes some of the most notorious parts of the 1. Possible? Of course and going south to north puts you on the inside which is good. For us, we were coming north to south so we opted to use the 101 instead and drove the 1 in our toad for the views and the thrills.