Yosemite,Redwood n.p.

[STEVEP220]

I plan to visit Yosemite and Redwood N.P. either late August or early September. I would like to know which time would be best (Aug-Sept.) for camping, crowds, sightseeing campgrounds, etc. Also what is the expected temperature in early September? Thanks for your info!!

[JanTx]

I guess it just depends on how much you like to travel. My husband and I are just born tourists. We love to travel and see all the things that are in this big wonderful country of ours... the natural and the man made stuff too! (museums, historical sites, etc). Got a lot of things on our bucket list. We just need somewhere comfy to sleep and keep our stuff and cook a good breakfast or supper. A fridge to keep the food fresh and a bathroom to wash up when we feel the need. We plan to go off the grid for some of the time,, so a solar panel or 2 might be nice.. when we don't wanna burn fuel in the gennie.

[msmith1199]

As longs as you've RV'd before then you know what you want. The most time I've spent in my motorhome is two weeks. 35' with 3 slides is nice for long term stays. When my wife is able to retire we'll probably go out in it for a couple of months at a time. I like rving but I don't think I could ever be a full timer. I need a house.

[JanTx]

I have owned a 19.5' mini motorhome and went w/ 2 kids and a husband for 3 wks. Then a few other short weekend trips. I lived in a 5th wheel for 7 wks coming back from ALaska. I have a gotta have list,, and the most important thing I know is storage... closets mostly. One for me and one for my hubby. Then basement storage for things like folding chairs and bbq grills,, and off season clothes. I have 48 acres w/ a house that I rent out so we can put a storage pod on for the extras we don't absolutely want to throw away...things we might need at some point... After than less than 20 ft'r id think that a 30 foot anything would be a great starter rig.

any comments appreciated

[msmith1199]

JanTx wrote:
I don't have a rig yet,, but am shopping via the net. I am leaning towards a smaller rig for just such a reason. We want to "parttime" that is to say,, get out of the heat for the summer... for say,,,mid may to mid October. And plan to do a lot of dry camping. So I have many 'wants' on my list for a rig. I sure hope we can get all my wants in one...that's why I probably will have to shop a LOT before finding just the perfect ONE!!! Right now I'm caring for my almost 91 yr old mother, so until that job is done,, ive got time to look online and this forum has been wonderful for me in a lot of ways.

thanks !

Have you RV'd before? Based on what you want to use it for, before you buy one, go rent a small one and take it out for a few days. You are talking about living in a motorhome for several months at a time. Most people would not be happy doing that in a 28' class C. When you're looking at motorhomes sitting on a dealers lot they are nice and empty and always seem so huge. That big empty closet looks like you'll always have enough room and those empty cabinets looks like they'll store anything you want. Then several weeks into your months long trip that huge motorhome you thought you bought, starts to look and feel pretty darn small.

I have a 35' Class A with three slides. For me, I think that's about the smallest I'd want to go if I was going to go live in it for months at a time.

[korbe]

There are no campgrounds in Redwood National park. The park is huge and is combined with the state park system that does have some parks in the region

[JanTx]

I don't have a rig yet,, but am shopping via the net. I am leaning towards a smaller rig for just such a reason. We want to "parttime" that is to say,, get out of the heat for the summer... for say,,,mid may to mid October. And plan to do a lot of dry camping. So I have many 'wants' on my list for a rig. I sure hope we can get all my wants in one...that's why I probably will have to shop a LOT before finding just the perfect ONE!!! Right now I'm caring for my almost 91 yr old mother, so until that job is done,, ive got time to look online and this forum has been wonderful for me in a lot of ways.

thanks !

[D_E_Bishop]

There are several parks between the two. Not knowing your RV's size I can't make a reccomendation. The big Coast Redwood Park is a State park, There are a couple of small CGs in there.

[JanTx]

are there any campgrounds in either park? I know there are in Yellowstone

[Executive45]

Yosemite...we stay at the Thousand Trails CG about 5 miles from the entrance. The campground on the north side is open to the public. They also accept RPI. Late August is good, some schools are already back in session. Labor Day is a zoo...

Redwoods....be sure to take the Avenue of the Giants tour. That road will take you through the most awesome redwoods you'll ever see. Plan on spending at least a day or two to stop at all the turnouts. Short trails wander through the trees with informational signs posted along the way. Very quiet and serene. Along the Avenue of the Giants, stay at the Ancient Redwoods RV Park. Big rig friendly and nice owners. Unless you have a small Class C, you'll have to use your toad. RVs are not recommended. Just north of the RV park on Ave of the Giants is a great roadside stand for produce...don't like what you see on display, tell them. They will invite you to their garden and let you pick what you like...doesn't get any fresher than that....!

Another gem of a campground is the Klamath River RV Park. Stay away from Kamp Klamath. Klamath River is before Kamp Klamath, is newer and nicer. Grassy sites, no gravel, no concrete...faces the river. In September you might have some fog coming inland off the ocean. The RV park is near the mouth of the Klamath River where it empties into the ocean. Great salmon fishing..... They honor Passport America and RPI.

If I were making both parks a must, I would probably start with the Redwoods in late August, early Septembeer and hit Yosemite mid September. You'll need a light jacket or sweater in both places.......Dennis

Yosemite Lakes Campground

Ancient Redwoods RV Park

Klamath River RV Park

[rk911]

STEVEP220 wrote:
I plan to visit Yosemite and Redwood N.P. either late August or early September. I would like to know which time would be best (Aug-Sept.) for camping, crowds, sightseeing campgrounds, etc. Also what is the expected temperature in early September? Thanks for your info!!

as soon as schools are back in session the crowds will dissipate in most places but the premier parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone will still be busy. before we retired we always traveled after schools went back. it was heaven. we now travel about 6-months a year, mar-may and aug-oct. we leave the summer months to the family's with kids.

[popeye766]

By all means get there first Sept.....will need light jacket evenings.......the climb from 395 into the park is 2nd gear stuff.....
be there during the week...not to many people.

[msmith1199]

If you don't already have reservations inside Yosemite it may be too late. But if you can't stay inside the park I like Yosemite Pines RV Park on Highway 120. It's about a 22 mile drive to the gate and another 25 to the valley, but you can also access the Tioga Pass area easiest from 120. First week in September most schools in California are back in session to it will be less crowded then with the exception of Labor Day weekend.

The only bad thing about visiting Yosemite at the end of the summer is the waterfalls may just be a trickle of water by then.

[Pogoil]

In Yosemite valley you most likely will not be able to get a spot in the park. Yosemite is a beautiful park. Stayed in the valley many times.

Pogoil.

[korbe]

Redwood National Park, located along the north coast of California, is best visited in September, IMHO. Less fog and less people. Some of the best weather up there is in September too.