Recommendations for trip CA heading anywhere 5 days

Don't forget that during the summer most of the popular spots are going to be crowded and you may have difficult time getting reservations - especially during weekends.

Thanks for all the replies, I think we are going to start researching the Lassen, crater lake and the pin hit redwoods on the return. Hoping to be able to land spots everywhere. Kids will get bored driving all day I'll bet, not like when I used to travel for 3 week trips with the travel trailer, no tech back then just grabbed Archie comic books at every stop and passed them around the van.

Do pose everyone Pre-book each stop? I've heard sometimes you just pull up at checkin time at some places.

Malster1 wrote:
Lessen and crater lake and the redwoods sounds like a great idea for me. Yosemite is too crowded. We live in the coast for new scenery sounds great.

X2 This is the a great trip for the family, all will love it.

Did this trip with our family...30 years later, son and daughter still talk about it. Enjoy!

Travelon

Maybe Pomo RV in Ft. Bragg. Cool, nearby, nice park, lots and lots to do nearby. With small kids, I would advise minimizing the driving times. Don't ask how I learned this.

And if you want something even closer, Olema near Pt. Reyes?

First two nights at Wright's Beach Campground two nights to either Patrick Point State Park or Harris Beach State Park and the kids would love all that Willits KOA has to offer for the last two days. IMHO better to go to three places and take the time to enjoy them than rushing from place to place trying to just see a lot.

Lessen and crater lake and the redwoods sounds like a great idea for me. Yosemite is too crowded. We live in the coast for new scenery sounds great.

Redwoods and volcanoes and coast sound great, and cool. For me, I would either go up to Portland OR check out Lassen or crater lake, but not all of those, not in 5 days. Depends on how much your family likes driving.

Living in the Bay Area, you can go to Yosemite anytime -- pick a warm stretch in the off season and go when it's half empty!

We do this trip in the High Sierra's and we hit the wine country on our way home to Southern Calif.
We hit Twin Lakes in Bridgeport.
Lee Vinning RV Park in Lee Vinning.
Nevada State Beach in Tahoe
Granite Flats in Truckee

rbrand wrote:
22' C with 3 kids!!
Some parents deserve a medal.

I agree. They are 3, 8, and 10.

cmeade wrote:

MarkTwain wrote:

NCWriter wrote:
I'd second the Oregon coast, which is really beautiful. Beaches, lighthouses, many pull-offs to see great scenery, fun small towns, fresh seafood. We spent a week there in early June and really loved it.

Another relaxing option is just go up to the redwoods. Lots of campgrounds, natural beauty, easy walks. We stayed at Ancient Redwoods RV, right on the Avenue of the Giants. I would not recommend CA's coastal road (1) in an RV, even a small one, and I speak from experience. 101 is much more sane.

I wouldn't go to Yosemite, myself, because it is packed full of people, and even the free park shuttle buses are filled with lines to get on.

X1, totally agree.
From the Bay Area head north on 101 as far as Astoria Oregon or as many days as you have time for. You will enjoy the the much cooler weather.
An alternative RV trip that would better fit your 5 day limitation would be to head south on 101 over to the coast all the way down to Santa Barbara. Places I have visited, San Juan Bautista Mission, bakery, Dona Ester restaurant for mexican food then on to Camberia, then Morrow Bay, then Pismo Beach(stay at the state park for a couple of days right next to the Ocean, Then down to Santa Barbara and stay in Refugio State park right on the ocean. I would not go any further south as you are moving towards congested towns/people. Depending on your time schedule, just repeat the trip going back north to your home.

If in Pismo Beach plan on a meal at McClintocks. Best bar-b-que!!!!

Don't miss the "splash restaurant" for claim chowder down on the pier:)