trip planning help to yosemite & redwoods!!

[AZ_Campers1]

We are planning a trip to Yosemite & then up to the Redwoods from Phoenix, AZ. This will be the first long trip we will be making pulling our 33 ft 5th wheel. If you have any suggestions on best route, placese to stay along the way, etc., it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

[lmsteck]

We go to Yosemite NP annually and recommend staying in the valley if possible, there are campgrounds outside the gate on HWY 140 & HWY 120 if you can't get reservations in the park.

We just did our first trip to Redwood NP this June. It was pretty awesome! I posted about our trip and an RV.net member, sdianel made this comment...

"While in Crescent City: Most beautiful drive!!
Howland Hill Road
Mostly unpaved; Motorhomes/RVs and trailers not advised.

Distance & Duration: 10 miles, one way (from Crescent City, Calif. to junction with U.S. 199 near Hiouchi, Calif.); 45 minutes.

Directions: From Crescent City, Calif.: drive south 1 mile on U.S. 101 and turn left (east-northeast) onto Elk Valley Road; continue 1 mile and turn right (east) onto Howland Hill Road; after ~1½ miles the road becomes unpaved as it enters Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park; continue another 5½ miles on Howland Hill Road until it becomes Douglas Park Road (paved); after ~1½ miles turn left onto South Fork Road; after ½ mile South Fork Road junctions with U.S. 199 just east of Hiouchi, Calif.

Description: Just a couple miles west of Crescent City, an unpaved stretch of Howland Hill Road offers motorists an intimate encounter with the towering old-growth redwoods in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Numerous pull-outs and trailheads along the way, including the Boy Scout Tree Trail and Stout Grove. "

I HIGHLY recommend the Howland Hill Road drive. It is absolutely breathtaking! When it turns into a dirt road it gets narrow, but there are a lot of turnouts. We drove our TV and had no issues. Also, we stayed at Crescent City KOA. It was fabulous! Great customer service, small campground, simple, well kept, beautiful walks through the Redwoods on the property. We had a great pull-thru site, FHU.

We also went to Gold Bluffs Beach in Prairie Creek Redwoods SP. You have to drive another dirt road to get there, pretty drive, but not as pretty as Howland Hill Rd., we enjoyed the beach.

We also enjoyed a drive up through the southern Oregon coast. Beautiful drive, more great beaches.

[MPond]

leesan wrote:
Two years ago we stayed at Klamath River RV park in Klamath. They have clean showers ,laundry room and Wi Fi (small charge).Nice campground with full hookups. Check their website.

Stayed there a couple weeks ago - nice place!

[Monaco_Montclai]

To many barbecues out west for us, happy-camping

[leesan]

Two years ago we stayed at Klamath River RV park in Klamath. They have clean showers ,laundry room and Wi Fi (small charge).Nice campground with full hookups. Check their website.

[Ron_Butler]

We did a lot of the "Gold Trail" highway 49 several years ago coming north from AZ. as we visited Yosemite and Sequoia NPs. Nice road, 2 lanes, lots of history and great scenery.

[WishWeWereCampi]

fireman93514 wrote:
There is fuel at crane flat just before you head down into the valley but it is VERY expensive in the park. As CarlGeo says fuel up before going in.

To clarify, there is no gas in the Yosemite Valley. It's pretty expensive in Mariposa, too, but we filled up there anyway. Heck, we were in the Prius, usual fill-up is about 8 gallons ;). I think we put in less than 4. We were tent camping.

[fireman93514]

There is fuel at crane flat just before you head down into the valley but it is VERY expensive in the park. As CarlGeo says fuel up before going in.

[CarlGeo]

clubhouse wrote:

bikendan wrote:
yep, time of year is a biggy.
also, are you wanting hookups or is dry camping fine?

as far as route, I40 to highway 58 to Bakersfield. then take 99 north to 140.
leave out of 120 back to 99 north. from there, you have a number of choices to the Redwoods.

Replace 99 North to 140 witeh 99 North to 41 North and you be in good shape. 41 is the South interance to Yosemite, very easy road too. THe I agree with leaving via 120 and heading west to 101 north for the redwoods.

Definitely agree. Do not stay on Hwy 99 to Hwy 140. Take Hwy 41 off of Hwy 99 in Fresno, and it will save you many miles. Hwy 41 is a freeway all the way thru Fresno and to the north side. Afterwards it is a very good two lane hwy all the way into Yosemite Park. Be sure to fuel up in Oakhurst because there is no fuel in Yosemite Valley.

[clubhouse]

bikendan wrote:
yep, time of year is a biggy.
also, are you wanting hookups or is dry camping fine?

as far as route, I40 to highway 58 to Bakersfield. then take 99 north to 140.
leave out of 120 back to 99 north. from there, you have a number of choices to the Redwoods.

Replace 99 North to 140 witeh 99 North to 41 North and you be in good shape. 41 is the South interance to Yosemite, very easy road too. THe I agree with leaving via 120 and heading west to 101 north for the redwoods.

[WishWeWereCampi]

Highway 140 is limited to 45' total length. From the Caltrans website:



Slow for the Cone Zone

This highway information is the latest reported as of Monday, August 19, 2013 at 06:20 .

SR 140
[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]
THE EASTBOUND CONNECTOR TO NORTHBOUND SR 99 /IN MERCED/ (MERCED CO)
IS CLOSED 24 HRS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK THRU 0900 HRS ON 5/5/14 - DUE TO
CONSTRUCTION - A DETOUR IS AVAILABLE

VEHICLES OVER 45 FEET ARE PROHIBITED & 1-WAY CONTROLLED TRAFFIC FOR ALL
OTHER VEHICLES 20 MI EAST OF MARIPOSA (MARIPOSA CO) 24 HRS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK
- DUE TO SLIDE REPAIRS

[YOSEMITE NAT'L PARK]
FOR YOSEMITE NAT'L PARK ROAD INFORMATION CALL 209-372-0200

[bikendan]

yep, time of year is a biggy.
also, are you wanting hookups or is dry camping fine?

as far as route, I40 to highway 58 to Bakersfield. then take 99 north to 140.
leave out of 120 back to 99 north. from there, you have a number of choices to the Redwoods.

[rightlaneonly]

When are planning on going? Makes a difference.