Planning 2016 Summer trip to North CA & OR

[danoren]

We love nature,hikes,waterfalls,natural hot springs,musi and history.
Our next RV summer trip (from July-October) will start from LA and ends near Portland.
There is so much to see in a short time (4 Months only) so please help me out and suggest based on our interests what to see,where to camp (no boondocking).
Thank you

[atperci]

From LA there are two great ways to go North. Coast or Mountains. Unfortunately the state is sooo tall that only one is really possible. So you'll have to choose, unless you'll be coming back toward SoCal in the fall, then take the other route.

If you want to try a little of both, the best scenery would be to head up US-395 to the East of the Sierra's (Gorgeous!) then at Yosemite or Lake Tahoe turn left and head toward the coast at or near San Francisco. While the Central Coast is beautiful, the North Coast is awe-inspiring. In July, it will be hot getting to the Sierras, while the coast will be chilly,

One thing is almost no California State Parks have hook-ups, so be prepared to dry camp. On the other hand almost all Oregon State parks have at least electric and water. Of course, no national parks have hook-ups.

Here are some places to see if you do go up US-395, Convict Lake, Mt. Whitney, Manzanar Internment Camp, Ancient Bristle Cone Forest, Mammoth Hot Springs, Devil's Postpile NM, June Lake, Mono Lake. If you choose to go by way of Lake Tahoe, at least make a day trip up into the Yosemite High Country from US-395 in your Tow Vehicle up CA-120 through Tioga Pass. Bodie SP(ghost town), either take US-50 West from South Lake Tahoe or drive around the lake and take I-80 toward SF. US-50 is good if you want to see where gold was found near Placerville (lots of Apple Orchards at Apple Hill just east of Placerville, we go every year.)

Check out Old Town Sacramento (CA Railroad Museum, if interested), Napa and Sonoma Valleys, San Francisco, take US-101 North, Humboldt Redwood SP (drive along Avenue of the Giants), Redwood NP. In Oregon, near Port Orford check out Prehistoric Gardens, a tourist trap for sure, but you would swear you are in a scene from Jurassic Park. Our favorite State Parks have been, Sunset Bay SP, Beverly Beach, Fort Stephen's. Also check out either the Hatfield Marine Science Center or Oregon Coast Aquarium, both in Newport. The Tillamook Cheese Factory (to die for grilled cheese and tomato soup.) See as many lighthouses as possible. Eat lots of fresh seafood. The Astoria Column, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park.

If you do go inland at some point Mt. Lassen back in Northern California is beautiful, certainly go see Crater Lake, and once to Portland make the 1.5 hour trip to see Mt. St. Helens at the Johnston Ridge Observatory. Also, the Columbia River Gorge. I'm sure I missed a thousand other things, but that should get you started!

Enjoy the trip!
Tom

[leesan]

In Crescent City in northern Ca we stayed at The Redwoods RV Resort .Nice park with full hookups Another park is Klamath River RV park also with full hookups in the northern part of Ca.Check them out . Both are private parks

[Wavesprite]

Silver Falls State Park in Oregon is really nice. There is a 8 mile (you can make it really short or not) loop hike with 10 (I think) waterfalls on it. The elevation gain is not high.

Collier Memorial state park is a good place for the logging museum and access to Crater Lake. LaPine is great for access to some great fly fishing and also Bend, Oregon (lots of fun stuff there).

We love the Oregon Coast. We love crabbing in Bandon!!!

[Pogoil]

Yosemite is a must. Call now and stay in the park in the valley.

Get reservations on the Oregon coast as it was packed this year.

Pogoil.

[2gypsies1]

...and another opinion...we've traveled the Oregon coast a few times and didn't make reservations using the state parks, national forest, casinos and a few RV parks thrown in. Not all parks reserve every single site and there are always cancellations. Just pull in to your new spot early morning when folks are leaving - don't wait until 4pm. But that's just us. We could never have traveled 16 years of full-timing and make constant reservations. There are always spots to be had.

[RVcrazy]

Oregon State parks book 9 months out. Book now for next summer!

[bikendan]

Sounds like you would prefer state/national parks.
If so, you'll need to make reservations for both states, especially California.
If you want coastal sites, you'll have to reserve them at least 6 months in advance.

My advice, if possible, is to do your trip in spring or fall. The competition for summer campsites, in both states, is extremely fierce.

One of our favorite Oregon SPs, is Silver Falls SP. I believe it has 12 different waterfalls.
One of our favorite California SPs is Prairie Creek SP or Jedediah Smith SP.

[donn0128]

Any and all Oregon State Parks will be great. Sadly you will want reservations anywhere at Weed, I would head north on US97 to the Columbia river, west on I84 and US30 to Astoria, US101 south. As an alternative, head east and take US395 north thru eastern Oregon. Around Bend you could spend a week and not spend more than an hour in Bend proper. Sunriver, high desert museum, lava cast forest, Newberry caldera, century drive, fort rock are only a few ideas. The coast, almost anyplace will have great views.
Personally coming north on 97 my first night would be collier state park. Tour their great logging museum. Next stop would be lapine state park. Stop and ask me in June and I can offer you a weeks worth of sites. Columbia river gorge and all the wayer falls is another great stop. Tons of wineries south of portland easy access from champoeg state park. The coast, astoria, ft stevens state park. From there south are lots of easy beach access points.