Trip to west coast

[LaTriker]

Planning a trip out west in June. Will go through Vegas then Death Valley and up through CA stopping near Sequoia NP and Yosemite NP. Next to San Francisco and up CA and OR coast to Columbia River. Do I need to make Reservations? If yes, how far in advance? Driving a 40’ MH pulling a toad.

[clikrf8]

Nutinelse2do wrote:

LaTriker wrote:
Thanks for the info. I saw a lot of pull-offs along the cost highway in both CA and OR. Can I overnight in those pull-offs?

Nope. Everyone we have seen, from Brookings to Astoria, Or have a “ No overnight camping” sign posted.... Ca, don’t know cause we won’t go there anymore.

There are some free, dry camping spots, but im sorry, I can’t disclose those. :B

Yes, totally agree. Even state and national forest sites can be full. We have traveled up and down the Oregon coast but in the shoulder seasons. More and more viewpoints or wide spots in the road have no overnight parking signs posted. I have also noticed the rise in homeless in the federal and state forest lands.

We also have several places along the Oregon Coast we boondock but we aren't tellin’ either. You may want to consider the casinos. I believe there are a few. Florence and Lincoln City come to mind.

Ditto Las Vegas and Death Valley. Hot! September the temp was 110 at Stovepipe. The dry heat in Vegas will almost overwhelm you.

[Jbrowland]

Most of the National Parks you mentioned (except Death Valley in August) book up in seconds about 6 months in advance. Add the 40 foot RV and you are in for a very hard time.

I wouldn't go to Death Valley in the summer if YOU paid for the trip. Some love it. I get it, but no thanks. I was there a few months ago. Lovely place during the winter time. We barely got a reservation in winter. The "good news" is you can book a spot the day of at Death Valley in August.

As was said, your best options will be private campgrounds that aren't too close to your major destinations and/or far away from the coast. Basically, start planning for next summer. I wish I could help more. My apologies if we seem like Debbie Downers. We just don't want you to drive thousands of miles for nothing.

[jukes]

We just booked yesterday for some campgrounds in June, Van Damm SP near Mendocino, then a private one in Klamath, then a SP near the Sand Dunes in Oregon. some State Parks still have availability BUT finding ones that take a 30ft travel trailer is tough. We also booked a private on outside of Portland and are about to book the rest of the trip ASAP, but there is still some availability, depending...
Oh, we went through Vegas last July and I thought we would die from the heat, it was awful!
Half Moon Bay has a nice campground on the beach nearish to San Francisco by the way. And here in Santa Cruz there's quite a few campgrounds and the one in the Redwoods may have spaces still, the beach SP ones prob full.

[MarkTwain]

bikendan wrote:

Mike Taverniti wrote:
Tough question ! We did a 2 month trip in 2014 and made reservations for every night. Decided it was not needed because every park had empty spaces. Reservations kept us on a schedule that we wished we could have varied a bit. Similar trip in 2017 with no reservations . Had to change route constantly because all parks full !! I would advise make reservations at most popular areas and then wing it. But be prepared. Have a great time. Looking forward to our next western trip in 3 years.

you did this in the summertime and on the West Coast?

X1, Doing a RV trip on the west coast in Calif.,Oregon,Washington without reservations would be like throwing a "hail Mary" pass with 3 seconds left in a football game!!! I am always a little confused when I hear RVers say " but reservations will restrict and lock me into a set schedule which will not allow me to change my plans as I am traveling". Reservations are RV plans to deviate from. Your cell phone is the "KEY" to control the restrictions and loss of ability to spontaneously make changes in your RV plans;):):) You have everything to gain and nothing to loose by making reservations!!!

[bikendan]

Mike Taverniti wrote:
Tough question ! We did a 2 month trip in 2014 and made reservations for every night. Decided it was not needed because every park had empty spaces. Reservations kept us on a schedule that we wished we could have varied a bit. Similar trip in 2017 with no reservations . Had to change route constantly because all parks full !! I would advise make reservations at most popular areas and then wing it. But be prepared. Have a great time. Looking forward to our next western trip in 3 years.

you did this in the summertime and on the West Coast?

[bikendan]

LaTriker wrote:
Thanks for the info. I saw a lot of pull-offs along the cost highway in both CA and OR. Can I overnight in those pull-offs?

Nope! and most Walmarts out on the West Coast have overnight bans, due to municipal and county regulations.

i've done the entire California coast and Oregon coast, numerous times. doubt if you'll find anything available during the summer, except for maybe a single night, if you don't make reservations. or you could go inland and find something without needing reservations.

[Nutinelse2do]

LaTriker wrote:
Thanks for the info. I saw a lot of pull-offs along the cost highway in both CA and OR. Can I overnight in those pull-offs?

Nope. Everyone we have seen, from Brookings to Astoria, Or have a “ No overnight camping” sign posted.... Ca, don’t know cause we won’t go there anymore.

There are some free, dry camping spots, but im sorry, I can’t disclose those. :B

[Ivylog]

I've been through Death Valley three times running the heater to keep from over heating the engine...not fun. There is a serious climb out of the valley in 115+ degree heat. Good luck.

[LaTriker]

Thanks for the info. I saw a lot of pull-offs along the cost highway in both CA and OR. Can I overnight in those pull-offs?

[bikendan]

LaTriker wrote:
Planning a trip out west in June. Will go through Vegas then Death Valley and up through CA stopping near Sequoia NP and Yosemite NP. Next to San Francisco and up CA and OR coast to Columbia River. Do I need to make Reservations? If yes, how far in advance? Driving a 40’ MH pulling a toad.

for California in June, YEA you need to make reservations. at least 6 months in advance.
expect to stay in private RV parks in California with a rig your size. very few California state parks have sites big enough and the few that do, are booked year-round.

[MarkTwain]

LaTriker wrote:
Planning a trip out west in June. Will go through Vegas then Death Valley and up through CA stopping near Sequoia NP and Yosemite NP. Next to San Francisco and up CA and OR coast to Columbia River. Do I need to make Reservations? If yes, how far in advance? Driving a 40’ MH pulling a toad.

You really need to think about Death Valley in June HOT HOT 110-115 deg. IMHO, I would reconsider Death Valley for another time during the winter or very early spring. Same with Vegas as far as heat, but if you enjoy the Casinos & gambling, shows and food you can deal with heat in air conditioned Casinos. It is not a real kid friendly destination. From Vegas I would take 1-15 to Hwy. 58 over to Bakersfield, then head up to Yosemite and Sequoia. From Sequoia head west over to Vallejo then take Hwy. 37 over to Hwy 101 then pick an rv park in Novato, Petaluma or Santa Rosa. Then you can drive over the Golden Gate Bridge to SF to do your sight seeing. Driving a trailer into San Francisco would be a night mare, IMHO and yes I did it once but never again. From 101 just head north all the way up the coast of calif. and Oregon.
You will be hitting the peak RV season in Calif. and Oregon.
MAKE YOUR RESERVTIONS TODAY for your whole trip. Reservations can always be changed or cancelled, just check the cancellation policy of each RV park. People make reservations in Oregon as much as a year in advance. Can you do this trip with out Reservations? Yes and some folks like to wing it but you can set yourself up for potential frustration and anxiety.

[donn0128]

Yes and NoW. Oregon state parks fill up fast and are busy all summer.

[2chiefsRus]

depends - are you retired with a lot of time to spare or do you have to be back at work on a specific date? If you can be flexible on your dates, then not making reservations can work for you but if you know that you want to stay in a particular campground because of its proximity to what you want to see, then make reservations.

[rhagfo]

LOL! Popular parks, checkout South Beach and Beverly Beach SP for the weekend of 2/22 to 2/25 can we say full or very near to full!
Newport Seafood & Wine Festival.