Ventura Ca to Seattle Wa?

[Mikeborny]

Planning trip from Ventura california to Seattle Washington. Stops planned for Yosemite, SanFracisco, Napa, Portland, Seattle. Any recommendations for places to stay close to San Fran and Napa? Anyone knoe how easy it is to get a spot at Faria Beach in Ventura?

[coastie_family]

Not sure how big your RV is, but the Kent KOA near Seattle has very few big rig sites and all of them are super close together and it is very hard to maneuver the turns inside the park. In Seattle area, there are not many parks to choose from and all have sites very close together.

We stay at Issaquah Village RV Park in Issaquah, WA, just 15 miles east of Seattle. It is the nicest park in the area and is a short distance to Seattle so that you can do the touristy stuff. Some spots are larger than others. Spring through Fall books out pretty far in advance. No matter which park you choose, the parks stay full and you will have to have reservations. Just this year, over 1,000 people were turned away each week from the Issaquah Village RV Park because there aren't enough RV parks in the area to meet the demand. This will be even worse in 2016 because Snoqualmie River RV Park has been sold and will not be reopening.

If you know your plans, make reservations now or no later than January for the Seattle area.

[Travelr]

We've taken the coach on the ferries many times. Very easy. Book in advance when you get two three days away. You will need to un hook the tow car before getting on. Again, no big deal. In fact it's fun! Depending on which ferry company, there is parking on the street or a lot close to terminal. We pull in and sleep with other rigs as you may need to be in line around 5 or 6AM. If you have a pet, they can stay in the coach. Be sure to bring all pet health records just in case. Never been asked for them but have been told on their websites to have available.

[ArchHoagland]

xctraveler wrote:
Another alternative for places to stay along the coast for members of Elks is lodges along the way. We find that many lodges have reasonable camping facilities, usually water and electric with a dump on site. They are for members only. I became a member several years ago and support my home lodge even though I am never there anymore.

The Elks Lodge in Napa has RV facilities.

[xctraveler]

Another alternative for places to stay along the coast for members of Elks is lodges along the way. We find that many lodges have reasonable camping facilities, usually water and electric with a dump on site. They are for members only. I became a member several years ago and support my home lodge even though I am never there anymore.

[ArchHoagland]

Candlestick RV Park.

We've stayed there about 10 times. Very easy to get downtown.

[msmith1199]

Mikeborny wrote:
Thanks for the info. We are looking to be in California by mid June, and figured we should try and hit places like Faria beach on a weekday if possible. Anyone take their rv on the ferry to the San Juan Islands?

I've stayed over in Anacortes and then taken the toad on the Ferries.

[msmith1199]

kalynzoo wrote:
Near San Francisco...We often enjoy staying at Petaluma KOA. Yes it is a KOA but it is a gem in the collection. Paved, shade trees, well maintained, and just across the Golden Gate from the Tourist Pier District. Costco is not far down the road, which is a great place to get fresh crab far less expensive than on the boardwalk.
In the Napa area we often stay in Vacaville at the Vineyard RV Park off Midway Drive. The newer section is paved but back in. The older section, our choice, is earthen and well maintained. Lovely pool, huge dog run, rustic but very nice and friendly. In Vacaville our favorite restaurant is Tahoe Joes.
Enjoy.

The Petaluma KOA is far closer to Napa than the RV park in Vacaville. Actually for the OP, assuming you have a toad, Petaluma is a real good place to stay to access both SF as well as Napa.

[Mikeborny]

Thanks for the info. We are looking to be in California by mid June, and figured we should try and hit places like Faria beach on a weekday if possible. Anyone take their rv on the ferry to the San Juan Islands?

[kalynzoo]

Near San Francisco...We often enjoy staying at Petaluma KOA. Yes it is a KOA but it is a gem in the collection. Paved, shade trees, well maintained, and just across the Golden Gate from the Tourist Pier District. Costco is not far down the road, which is a great place to get fresh crab far less expensive than on the boardwalk.
In the Napa area we often stay in Vacaville at the Vineyard RV Park off Midway Drive. The newer section is paved but back in. The older section, our choice, is earthen and well maintained. Lovely pool, huge dog run, rustic but very nice and friendly. In Vacaville our favorite restaurant is Tahoe Joes.
Enjoy.

[Berner2]

The Rincon Pkwy is between Faria and Hobson parks, as Don said they are all county parks on a 1st come basis. Faria and Hobson both have a few full hook up sites and they also have public restrooms and decent showers. The Rincon Pkwy is dry, there is a pumper truck that comes out 2 or 3 times a week and will pump your tanks and sell you fresh water. Nice views and dumpsters etc.

Emma Wood is just north of Ventura, exit the 101 and after the fwy. underpass there is a tight right turn, usually easier to go north a half mile and make a u turn and come back. It is a state park and there are a few decent spaces. The whole park is pretty cr****, dirt spaces and very rocky unusable beach. We ended up there on Pres. Day week end last year, retired didn't know it was a holiday, and it was a zoo. Two dumpsters for 120+ spaces, rangers were absolute jerks. I'd say pass on it unless you absolutely need a place for the night.

[msmith1199]

According to their website, the RV park at Candlestick is still open. Looks like they want about $100 a night to stay there. I've never stayed there myself, and I don't think I would. It is literally only several hundred feet from the housing projects at Hunters Point and that is one of the most crime ridden neighborhoods in California. I have no idea how much crime the park may get, but it is very close to a very violent area.

[msmith1199]

Travelr wrote:
Marin RV Park on Redwood Highway in Marin. Just north of GG Bridge. Half hour drive to city. Its EXPENSIVE but is the closest to SF. Can catch ferry which is a 10 minute walk or 8 minute drive. Parking is hard so better to walk. We have been staying here for over 10 years. Started at $38, just booked for Xmas (we have family both in the city and in Novato so come often. Also come to just enjoy SF, maybe take in a Giants game or two)

Book early though.. Always busy with Europeans/Cruise America... Fills up fast.

This is a good choice. An alternative is the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. They have an RV park there and it's only a few mile drive to a BART station. You can get right into SF on BART. If you want to be close to SF then San Francisco RV resort in Pacifica is about the closest you can get. Pacific is just South of SF on Highway 1. There used to be an RV park at Candlestick park but I assume since the stick was torn down the RV park is gone too.

For Yosemite I like Yosemite Pines RV park in Groveland. It's about 22 miles to the Yosemite Gate from there and 45 miles to the Valley. There is also a KOA over on 140 just outside of Mariposa that is good.

I've never stayed in Napa, but I know there is an RV park at the Napa fair grounds.

[Kayteg1]

Tioga Pass is already closed for winter from what I heard and I know Yosemite is not really RV friendly.
Neither is San Francisco. I live here, so I don't camp here, but I know there are lot of campgrounds of choice in 60 miles radius from the city, where people can easily drive big coach there and take daily trip in dinghy to see the city.
I have 1/2 acre with lot of parking space here, so would gladly host fellow camper, but &*&^&^% city made ordinance forbidding RV parking here.
Even when I bring my coach from storage for overnight packing, I have to make a trip to Chief o Police to get 24 hr permit for parking at my 160' curb space.

[Travelr]

Another idea we use all the time... App for your Iphone/Ipad.... Allstays. Excellent tool. We use it 100% of the time on every trip, even if we have been there before. Also as someone said, look at RVParkreviews.com. Good place for others feedback.