Northwest coast of U.S.

[RicB]

Making plans to spend a month (late Aug/Sept) traveling from the far Northwest of Washington state down the coast to the Napa Valley, CA area. Any suggestions on route, what to see, where to stay etc.? Thank you.

[Durb]

On the Washington coast Grayland Beach SP and Cape Disappointment SP are very nice and can accommodate your rig. A couple of worthy commercial campgrounds in Oregon are Cannon Beach RV and Winchester Bay RV Park.

If you are an Elks member, there is a nice campground south of Tillamook that will hold you easily. A short drive to Cape Meares.

I love driving through Nevada; hundreds of miles of uncluttered serene natural beauty.

[Janss]

Nevada..."bleak desert landscapes"...I think of it as seeing the earth naked 🙂 which I enjoy once in awhile!

[dedmiston]

obgraham wrote:
What's not to like?

Nevada.

I don't mind the beauty of bleak desert landscapes, but nature took it a little too far with Nevada.

[obgraham]

Nothing wrong with traversing Nevada on your way back to MI. Different scenery, little traffic, good road surfaces, adequate stopping places.
What's not to like?

[teejaywhy]

I can recommend the Oregon state parks. We stayed in three coastal parks on our visit in September 2021, Fort Stevens, Washburn and Bullard Beach. Would return.

[CA_Traveler]

Veebyes wrote:
Done all of 101 & 1 towing a 34' 5er with the exception of one short bit of 1 at the N end that has a size restriction as far as SFO.

All of 1 from Leggett to SF except Bodega Bay is prohibited for the OPs 42' MH.

See the CA Bus and MH maps.

[rhagfo]

Veebyes wrote:
Done all of 101 & 1 towing a 34' 5er with the exception of one short bit of 1 at the N end that has a size restriction as far as SFO.

Not saying it is all easy, but it is doable. My rule of thumb, if a semi can do it, so can I

This, you wanted to have a big rig, get comfortable with it size and enjoy.

[Veebyes]

Done all of 101 & 1 towing a 34' 5er with the exception of one short bit of 1 at the N end that has a size restriction as far as SFO.

Not saying it is all easy, but it is doable. My rule of thumb, if a semi can do it, so can I

[shelbyfv]

We've always enjoyed Kalaloch campground, part of Olympic Nat'l Park. The Hoh Rainforest is worth a visit as well. Unless it's dried up in the past few years.

[StarkNaked]

One important note if you take the ferry to Port Townsend.

Hwy 101 on the Olympic peninsula can be very confusing because it does almost a complete loop. Hwy 101 goes completely around the West side, the North side and the East side of the peninsula.

So, when someone tells you to go South on Hwy 101, you have to ask; Southbound on the West side (Pacific Ocean side) or Southbound on the East side (Puget Sound side).

If you want to go Southbound on the West side (Pacific Ocean side) from Port Townsend, you need to go Northbound first, then Westbound, and then you can go Southbound.

[aerbus32]

Looking at your rig, you’ll want to pretty much so stay on 101 & access the coast with your dinghy. Even at that time of year you will need reservations. Case in point. Bandon, in Oregon, is super packed with crabbers (if I remember correctly). We stayed at Seven Feathers, arguably the best on the west coast, then day tripped to the coast. As long as you are there, hit Crater Lake. The park in Prospect is outstanding. Many day trip it from 7 Feathers.

[Tom_Barb]

RicB wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:
The hidden special places that we enjoyed are the northwest Cascade highway 20. continue
to the Baker Lake area north of Concrete a. see the giant trees of the Sentinels.
Continued on Highway 20 west, Thru Deception Pass, and the ferry ride to Port Townsend.
Then south on 101 and west again to the coast.. then south
This way you miss Seattle, Portland, and the I-5 mess.

Taking the ferry interests me. Can you tell me more...did you keep coach and toad hooked up, any special instructions for big vehicles, just show up and get in line, etc.? Thanks.

It's an easy do,, make reservations, for the KEYSTONE to PORT TOWNSEND run, know when you will depart, arrive, pay, board, enjoy 🙂
The Ferry is a 350 car ferry, so there is not need to unhook. bigger units will be loaded on the center deck, Large Tractor trailers will be loaded as directed. Our 40' motorhome with a 20' trailer is an easy do. ($110.00)
There is a great Camp ground at Fort Casey, Do your home work, it is pretty full (always)..there is a a large parking lot at the ferry (free)
The route is, Oak Harbor, to Coupeville, right at the light. direct Fort Casey. and the ferry dock.
It's 10 miles shorter that the highway 20

[RicB]

Tom/Barb wrote:
The hidden special places that we enjoyed are the northwest Cascade highway 20. continue
to the Baker Lake area north of Concrete a. see the giant trees of the Sentinels.
Continued on Highway 20 west, Thru Deception Pass, and the ferry ride to Port Townsend.
Then south on 101 and west again to the coast.. then south
This way you miss Seattle, Portland, and the I-5 mess.

Taking the ferry interests me. Can you tell me more...did you keep coach and toad hooked up, any special instructions for big vehicles, just show up and get in line, etc.? Thanks.

[Geo_Boy]

If you haven’t been to West Glacier, I would start there, then onto the Cascades NP’s, then to Olympic, and then down the Pacific coast.