Where to Stay Along the Way: So Cal to Portland, OR

[Vapor_Trails]

This July we are travelling from our home in Yucaipa, CA to Laguna Seca Raceway for the MotoGP races (7/19-7/21) and then on to Portland, OR for the Rush concert the following weekend (7/28).

Other than those two places and dates we have no itinerary. I would like some suggestions as to where we could stay along the way. We’ve always wanted to spend a couple days in the Eureka area, so we’ll likely not deviate from that. And the Klamath Falls area looks interesting on our way home.

Below is a likely route we’ll take. But, the route is not an issue. We can figure that out pretty easily. Where to stay, and where to avoid is the big unknown. Many thanks.

[WishWeWereCampi]

Lots to do here in the Santa Cruz/Monterey area, as you probably know. Don't know how old your youngest DD is, but have you taken her to Dennis the Menace Park in Monterey? Or the big redwood trees at Henry Cowell? Or to Nisene Marks State Park? Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk?

Wilder Ranch, just north of Santa Cruz, is great for riding bikes & hiking; trails along the ocean and into the hills in back of the park.

You may be able to reserve a place to stay at Pinto Lake Park in Watsonville, it's very reasonable and has hookups. Take a side trip to Gizdich Farms nearby to pick blackberries & strawberries in season.

[kazmir]

If your going to hang out in the Monterey area, there is a restaurant called Louie's by the Aquarium that was good and had good views. Kids had fun there.

Also at Moss Landing you can rent Kayaks and go up into the Elkhorn Slough. Lots of sea otters and wildlife up there!.

Have fun!

[Vapor_Trails]

Oh, boy! Do I now feel like a schmuck! Thanks for all the great suggestions. As it turns out, my wife has to report back to work (she's a teacher, well, we both are but I start later in August) on Wednesday July 31st. We can't be in Portland on Sunday and be back home by Tuesday. So all our plans have changed. We may do a similar trip in the future. But, this Summer we’ll likely spend time in Monterey and San Fran the week prior to the MotoGP races at Seca and come home on July 23rd or 24th.

To respond to some of you:

ReferDog: Thanks. I would not have known that about the 99.

WyoTraveler: Rush is a band. And like bikendan said, a very famous one. Just got inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. But, if you’re not much of a Rock fan it’s not a surprise they’ve passed under your radar.

rocmoc: Thanks for the Valero tip. That may come in handy.

DesertHawk: Although it’s been a number of years since our last Seca trip, we’ve been many times. But, our youngest DD has not. We’ll likely do the Aquarium again and Phil’s sounds good.

downtheroad & nina_70: Thanks for the tip on Klamath Falls. In looks nice on the web, but we’ll check out Crater Lake instead if we end up being able to do this trip.

Road-Trekker: Many thanks for putting that together! The only thing I’d deviate from is the return trip. I am no stranger to the 101 and would like to come home either on I-5 (Ugh, but we’ve never seen the State Capital) or SH-395. Just so we don’t do the same thing twice.

[Road-Trekker]

Hi, we did same trip last year, but we also visited Mt. St. Helen and Mt. Rainier in washington before heading south of 101 to socal.

[bikendan]

WyoTraveler wrote:
So what is the Rush concert?

Rush is a famous rock band.

[rbtglove]

We generally stay at Ainsworth State Park near Troutdale about 30 minutes to Portland, full hookups very scenic and near waterfalls in the Gorge. No reservations but if you get there early afternoon you can generally get in. Also Harris Beach State Park is our favorite, near the beach, and just before the border into CA. Most of the public campgrounds near the Redwoods are no hookups and the private ones like parking lots. Enjoy your trip.

[WishWeWereCampi]

One place that we've been that looks like it's on your route is Lava Tubes National Monument. We were only there for a couple of hours on a day trip, but would love to go back. You will need a good flashlight, we recently were given a LED Maglite that is amazing. When we were there we were given flashlights to use but I'd rather use the Maglite.

I'd also recommend Lassen National Park if you've never been there before. The hike into Bumpass Hell is spectacular. You have to get out of your car and hike around to really see what's there.

[MarkTwain]

Hello Vapor Trails,
Great trip. My suggested trip route based on my own RV travels:
1. Yucaipa to Santa Barbara on Hwy. 101 up to some where around Pleasanton. Find an RV park, leave the RV and drive into San Francisco for sight seeing. I would not drive my RV into S.F. Then take 580 east to I-5. Too congested and "white Knuckle" driving. Can it be done, sure! just not my choice when towing the 5th. wheel.

2. continue north to Hwy. 20 (Clear Lake area) take 20 west to 101. There is an Indian Casino half way to 101. You can stay overnight free. Big parking lot and no need to unhook.

3. I would take 101 all the way through Calif. and Oregon. Suggest you make some reservations along the Oregon coast now! Very popular areas during the summer. Just past the Calif. border is the town of Brookings with some nice RV parks right on the coast. Seaside has a nice RV Park Circle Creek to stay and the explore the area. 20 miles north to Astoria, neat old ocean town. You can take a day trip over the Columbia River and visit some coast towns in Washington.
4. Take Hwy 26 from Seaside east to Portland, about 2 hr. trip.
5. On the return trip home if you take I-5, there are good RV Parks in Corning at the Casino with full hook ups and great Casino. Further south, about 30 miles past Stockton, stay at the Kit Fox RV park, full hook ups and resturants right across the street. If you need additional info, email me privatly. Have fun!

[korbe]

Most of the state parks either south of, or north of Eureka are great for dry camping. However, reservations would most likely be necessary - soon.

[nina_70]

Rather than Klamath Falls I would stop somewhere a little closer to Crater Lake. THAT is something worth seeing and should not be missed. Several state parks not too far away (e.g. Collier Memorial State Park), all of which are excellent.

If you need to stop at Grants Pass, Valley of the Rogue State Park is quite nice. You can take a jet boat down the Rogue River from Grants Pass too.

But I also agree with the others that travelling along the OR coast (101) is really the prettiest option. It's not a big detour, but it's SO gorgeous with lots of excellent state parks along the way. My preference in OR is always to travel the coast whenever I can. I'd advise taking the coast all the way north to Astoria, then breaking off into Portland. On your way back you can stick w/ the 5 but plan to stop at Crater Lake.

[downtheroad]

We have spent A Lot of time wandering all over the area on your map.
I would suggest that you re-think this some:

• skip Klamath Falls - nothing really there
• after Eureka, work your way up the Oregon Coast to Astoria and take Hwy 30 east into Portland for the concert
• or do this in reverse for better views and easier pull-outs going south down the Oregon Coast.

Unless you have done it - don't skip the Oregon Coast.
Have a good trip.

[DesertHawk]

Here's some older posts: San Francisco to Los Angles Area and Half Moon Bay & San Francisco & BART which can be found in this old post: :C Clicky

We enjoyed the sights & sites along the 101. If you haven't gone to see "Hearst Castle". "Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument" is a must see. And San Simeon State Park is just south of the Monument.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey is really great. North of Monterey at Moss Landing is a great sea food place over by the docks, called Phil's Fish Market & Eatery.

Santa Barbara is a neat area to see. We used Carppinteria State Park as a base to see the area.

This old post has some things in WA & OR to see. Pacific NorthWest Some of the links might not be work anymore however.

In Washington, just over the river from OR, Cape Disappointment State Park was a nice place to stay & to see. The bridge over the Columbia River is neat to cross at Astoria as well. We stayed a couple of nights at a state park located just outside Ilwaco at the very southwesternmost corner of Washington.

For viewing the Pacific Coast via the highway, Northbound is better (do not have to cross traffic to pull off at sites, or recross getting back on). But we have done it both ways, northbound & southbound.

[lanerd]

If you can, make it a point to stop at 7Feathers RV Park in Canyonville, Oregon at exit 99 on I-5. Fantastic (and reasonable) park with free shuttle to/from the casino.

Also, since you want to go up 101 in CA, why don't you continue on 101 up through Oregon? Oregon state parks are some of the best in the country, very numerous, and most have full hookups.

Ron

[rocmoc]

I can offer one stop. Just before you get to King City, CA (north of Paso Robles)is a Valero Truck Stop on the West side of 101. Park all the way to the back (west) and the trucks will park closer to the pumps. Have stayed there many times and always filled the tank as it is some of cheapest fuel on 101.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico