Traveling to San Francisco

We stayed several times at the Peteluma KOA. (http://www.petalumakoakampground.com/)
Nicely maintained, reasonable and close enough to SF and the Wine country for day trips in either direction. I recommend the town of Healdsburg over any place in Napa. Great town to visit, and great wine/food. It's about 35 minutes on US 101 North from the KOA. We live locally so going here was not a necessity, but really more for just a quick get away.

I would have to agree on the KOA in Petaluma for a few reasons. There is so much to see and do in the beautiful part of the country and Petaluma is a great place to start off from. It is only an hours drive to San Fransisco, Napa/Sonoma wine country, Bodega Bay, and the John Muir Redwoods. The weather there is also a bit more stable than in the City. For those that have never been to San Fransisco, It is a neat place but always take a sweater or light coat. The weather can change in a heartbeat and get very cold, even in the middle of August.

I'd suggest staying at the fairgrounds in Pleasanton. If you stay in Coyote Valley, you'll spend most of your morning in traffic getting to the city. If you stay in Pleasanton, you can take BART(light rail) into the city (about +/- 45 min) and forget the parking hassle. Keep in mind the bay bridge will be closed over the Labor day weekend for the last part of the crossover to be made for the new bridge.

fordsd wrote:
You are traveling in beautiful country, but you don't say how long you are staying at your stops. Lower Yosemite is beautiful but so is upper. In fact, driving out the top on Tioga Pass may be the best part. There is a whole different California up in the High Country on HWY 395.
After Fresno, I recommend heading over to the Coast and traveling up Hwy 1. Carmel, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay are all worth some time. There is a canyon that starts in Monterey Bay that is larger than the Grand Canyon, just can't see it under water. The Monterey Aquarium is worth a visit and the 17 mile drive is very pretty. The weather can be unpredictable, it kind of depends on the days just before you get there. If it has been hot in the Central Valley, the fog will cover most of the West side. If you are lucky enough to hit a "Santa Ana" type desert wind, San Francisco will be sunny and beautiful. I would still be living there if everyone would just mind their own business.

Off me soapbox for the evening, Have Fun

Steve
Have Fun

So.....you're saying that you actually "dont" care to have people tell you how to live? :h ;)

You are traveling in beautiful country, but you don't say how long you are staying at your stops. Lower Yosemite is beautiful but so is upper. In fact, driving out the top on Tioga Pass may be the best part. There is a whole different California up in the High Country on HWY 395.
After Fresno, I recommend heading over to the Coast and traveling up Hwy 1. Carmel, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay are all worth some time. There is a canyon that starts in Monterey Bay that is larger than the Grand Canyon, just can't see it under water. The Monterey Aquarium is worth a visit and the 17 mile drive is very pretty. The weather can be unpredictable, it kind of depends on the days just before you get there. If it has been hot in the Central Valley, the fog will cover most of the West side. If you are lucky enough to hit a "Santa Ana" type desert wind, San Francisco will be sunny and beautiful. I would still be living there if everyone would just mind their own business.

Off me soapbox for the evening, Have Fun

Steve
Have Fun

We travel frequently to the bay area and if you don't need the petting zoo (Petaluma KOA) the Novato RV Park is very nice and much closer to the "action". I suggest that you take the Larkspur Ferry to SF. If you are a baseball fan, they have some ferries that go directly to the ballpark. Be sure to get a transfer to use the Muni busses and streetcars.

Thank you all for your input. Since we will be at Fresno before San Francisco, I think we will try for Coyote Valley Rv Resort near San Jose and then drive in for the day. Everyone be safe on all your adventures and travels.

As long as you can park your RV in a decent radius distance, like 30 miles, from the city..... then simply find a nice place to stay and drive in. Get a map and spend the day in SF sight seeing, paying outrageous prices for parking, eat good food, and drive back to your safe spot. No point in trying to get close enough to be in walking distance. If you dont have a tag vehicle or a way to drive there then take a bus and get a City Pass and use the SF muni systems (bus, trolly, cable cars, taxis, etc.) to get around. That in itself is a sight seeing adventure. Lots of diversity traveling on the muni systems. :B

What month you plan to be in SF?

I'm building a loooong trip that includes SF area and have identified the following sites as possibles for us......hope this helps:

o STAY:

? http://travel.camp-california.com/find-state-results-list/Campgrounds-and-RV-Parks/All/California/San-Francisco/VAM=90/VAF=empty/

? Candlestick RV Park 650 Gilman Avenue, San Francisco http://www.sanfranciscorvpark.com/

? Treasure Island RV Park 1700 El Camino Real, South San Fran. http://www.treasureislandrvpark.com/

? San Francisco RV Resort 700 Palmetto Ave. Pacifica, 15 S GSP http://www.sanfranciscorvresort.com/

? Golden Gate Trailer Park 2000 Redwood Highway, Greenbrae
16 N
http://www.goldengatetrailerpark.com/

? Marin Park 2140 Redwood Hwy, Greenbrae, 16 N GSP http://www.marinrvpark.com/campground/index.php

? Trailer Villa RV Park 3401 E. Bayshore Rd., Redwood City 26 S http://www.trailervilla.com/default.html

? Novato RV Park 1530 Armstrong Ave., Novato 29 N GSP http://www.goodsamclub.com/travel/campgroundsandrvparks/generalinfo.aspx?cgid=950000843

? Pillar Point RV Park 4000 Cabrillo Hwy. Half Moon Bay 30 S http://www.pillarpointrvpark.com/

? Tradewinds RV of Vallejo 239 Lincoln Road West, Vallejo, 30 NE GSP
http://www.woodalls.com/a/CAW46273800.html

? San Francisco North KOA 20 Rainsville Road, Petaluma 39 N http://koa.com/campgrounds/san-francisco/

? The Fair Park RV (Alameda County Fair Grounds) 4501 Pleasanton Avenue, Pleasanton 40 E
http://www.thefairparkrv.com/index.php
• From San Francisco:
• Cross the Bay Bridge -- Follow the sign to stay on I-580 East
• When you come to I-680, go South
• Take the Bernal Exit off Interstate 680 (2 exits South of the 580/680 Interchange in Pleasanton)
• Turn Right on Bernal and get in the second lane from the left
• Turn Left on Valley (1st major intersection)
• Turn Right at Gate 12/Koll Center Parkway (You’ll see a Golf Driving Range in front of you)
• After you go through the Guard Gate, go straight
• Take the 2nd Left (in between the two grassy fields)
• Check in at the Camp Host Office between 8AM - 5:00PM
(After 5:00PM: Guard Gate will have your paperwork)

? Coyote Valley RV Resort 9750 Monterey Road, San Jose 47 S http://www.coyotevalleyresort.com/home.html

? Trailer Tel RV Park 1212 Oakland Rd., San Jose 47 S http://www.trailertel.net/

? Santa Cruz North / Costanoa KOA 2001 Rossi Road at Hwy 1, Pescadero 46 S
http://koa.com/campgrounds/santa-cruz-north/

? Costanoa Coastal Lodge & Camp 2001 Rossi Road at Hwy 1,
Pescadero 46 S
http://www.costanoa.com/

Bob