Which California route is best - RV-Dreams Community Forum

phyllen · RV-Dreams Family Member

Which California route is best

HighwayRanger · RV-Dreams Family Member

Both State Route 20 and State Route 299 are suitable for RV travel from Interstate 5. The question is: do you want to see a bunch of US 101 or would you like to get closer to Oregon before you turn north?

If you go SR-20, you will turn to the north in Ukiah, and will have a gorgeous view of the Redwoods all the way north. You will travel through a few sections of the Redwoods, primarily Richardson's Grove, which are fairly tight, but you can make it through. Big rigs make it through fine. It is breathtakingly beautiful.

If you choose SR-299, you will turn north on US 101 in Eureka/Arcata. The view all along the north coast of California is awe inspiring, and either route is suitable for your lengthy rig. If you want the most impressive views, take SR-20, then go north when you hit US 101. Take it slowly through Richardson's Grove (which is fairly short) and enjoy the impressive Redwoods, and motor-on to the Pacific Northwest. Oh, and watch for the huge herd of Elk near the red school house between Eureka and Crescent City!

Enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet!

Roy

-- Edited by HighwayRanger on Tuesday 6th of May 2014 07:50:01 PM

-- Edited by HighwayRanger on Tuesday 6th of May 2014 07:51:14 PM

-- Edited by HighwayRanger on Tuesday 6th of May 2014 07:53:38 PM

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Route 20 to US101 is much preferred to route 299, some hills but 299 is all hills. We take 20 all the time since we have family in the area. (We last took it from Lakeport to I-5 on April 28th). The Redwoods are great, the Oregon and Washington coast are great. Are you going to follow US101 around Olympic National Park or cut off on WA 107 to cut off to I-5?

HighwayRanger · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree with Bill that 299 is quite a bit more hilly than 20. Both routes are very different, and equally beautiful. The west end of 299 is like going through Jurassic Park, the whole length of SR-20 is more like San Louis Obisbo: grassy rolling hills with short trees and cattle scattered about.

Roy

-- Edited by HighwayRanger on Tuesday 6th of May 2014 07:58:20 PM

-- Edited by HighwayRanger on Tuesday 6th of May 2014 07:59:24 PM

phyllen · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks all. Bill, our plan is to stay at the TT park in Ocean City then drive 101 to the Escapees Evergreen COHO park. After leaving that park then head to the TT park in Monroe. What route is best for that drive? All the way down to I5 again or cut across on Tacoma or further north? Wondering about the costs as it appears that would be ferry rides.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

By the first of June you should be at the Washington-British Columbia border. You need to get moving quickly. If you aren't leaving Texas until June 8th, head for Amarillo and go north at cross in Montana on your way to Alaska.

However, if you are set on coming into Washington, from Chimicum, take the ferry from Kingston to Edmonds and then over to Monroe. Yes, it will cost, but much better than going back down to the south end of the sound and then back up around Lake Washington.

Barb

phyllen · RV-Dreams Family Member

Barb...

Can't leave TX yet. We are working as gate guards in the oil field until June 5. Our grandson graduates HS in Houston on the 6th. Gotta be there! We will be coming down into ND and headed to SD in Sept. Time to renew our drivers licenses.

Also got to be in Branson, MO Sept 11 for our NOMADS ( www.nomadsumc.org ) annual meeting.

As we want to visit OR and WA that is why we are headed there first. We have a NOMADS project in July near Anchorage for 3 weeks.

What is the reason to be at the border by June 1st

Thanks for the info.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

The June 1st crossing is to give people time in Alaska, longer than a couple of weeks. Most go across the border the end of May, first of June and try to hit the border again around Labor Day - - that gives 3 months in Canada and Alaska. If you have to be in Anchorage by the first week in July, you'll need to just get in and go and forget about staying in a lot of places on the way up. Going clear over to California before heading north is going to add at least a week of travel time.

Barb

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

One more comment, June is an "iffy" month at best for the WA/OR coast. Still can be rainy, cool and foggy. In June I'd personally bypass the coast and head east of the Cascades and come up through central WA/OR and enjoy the sunshine and wine country.

phyllen · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Barb. Gives me something to think about.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree, you are trying to cram a lot in to a short time. Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Yukon, Alaska, Alberta, are all places that you can explore for months each.

I agree, it doesn't get dry in Western Oregon and Washington until early July. We are here now, it is wet.

phyllen · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks all. We decided to take your advice and bypass the coast this year. We will be heading up to Canada and Alaska June 8 but through Montana. Coming back down into ND early September. Can always head west again another year.

Anxious to get moving - so blasted humid here in TX last few days.

Thanks again.