FYI Traveling north of Florence, OR on the PCH (US-101) - TUNNEL INFO

[Neal]

Thanks to @ARD who is assigned as my travel oversight advisor by the bureau of RV travel after repeated poor trip planning she advised me of the tunnel on US-101 north of Florence and how the Garmin is going to blow up about this tunnel. As I left my fuel stop in Eugene, OR to save using TSD fuel savings program at the T/A Petro there Garmin routed me north, over west, then down US-101 taking 2-1/2 hours for what I thought was supposed to be a short trip. It was obvious Garmin was not going to navigate me through "that tunnel". I routed direct Florence to see what the route and time was, then routed to the Campground (Carl Washburne State Park) and yep, it would not take me through Florence. I picked up the red phone to reach out to my designated counselor, @ARD, who reaffirmed that the tunnel is okay, ignore and proceed. So I routed to Florence via Garmin with a backup of Waze (against said advisor's advice but instead to use Google Maps) and off I went.

So yes, the tunnel is huge, nothing to worry about but I guess Garmin has a legal issue in that the far right edge of the lane which you probably wouldn't be driving on is 11'6 but inches to the left of that it's 14'6. I just want to document this here on RVF for others that may travel this path in the future and want to "see" the tunnel.

 

[Scooterfan]

Hmmm...that would make me slow down ? Did you just take it down the center line ?

 

[Neal]

Did you just take it down the center line ?

Yes, that's how I do with any tunnels/arches, etc. Be sure to test your air horn within otherwise you may have grown up

 

[J&JD]

Hmmmm. We’ve passed through that tunnel many times and can’t remember getting a warning from the GPS. I have noticed the signs on the sides saying 11’6” but the coach doesn’t get near that area even staying within the lane, at least not seriously near.

 

[Scooterfan]

? That is (honking in a tunnel) something that just seems to be innate. Oh, and fun. Our tunnel on northbound 101 near Gaviota is one we travel through often and it gets a honk every time. No airhorn however...that would even scare me!

 

[ARD]

Hmmmm. We’ve passed through that tunnel many times and can’t remember getting a warning from the GPS. I have noticed the signs on the sides saying 11’6” but the coach doesn’t get near that area even staying within the lane, at least not seriously near.

Here is a photo I found elsewhere. I just hug the center line and all is well.

 

[ARD]

Hmmmm. We’ve passed through that tunnel many times and can’t remember getting a warning from the GPS. I have noticed the signs on the sides saying 11’6” but the coach doesn’t get near that area even staying within the lane, at least not seriously near.

My GPS went nuts blinking red and I had to ACCEPT that I was going to crash by taking that route. ? I stay in my lane too, but I do keep left and straddle the center line, especially after I saw this photo.?

 

[Joe Hogan]

Looks like 10' or less lanes...

 

[Neemer]

Here is a photo I found elsewhere. I just hug the center line and all is well.View attachment 6731

Pucker factor warp 9.

 

[J&JD]

My GPS went nuts blinking red and I had to ACCEPT that I was going to crash by taking that route. ? I stay in my lane too, but I do keep left and straddle the center line, especially after I saw this photo.?

That does look a bit scary doesn’t it. I will definitely check my GPS next time through. Thanks for sharing.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

We go through that tunnel (and, others similar to it) with our eyes peeled, high beams and emergency flashers on, straddling the center line with one hand on the air horn button. That was the advice of a local logging truck operator we met in Florence. YMMV

TJ

 

[redbaron]

I did this tunnel a few years ago...after a disastrous parking job at the sea lions cave attraction. Worst 4 hrs of my rv life.

Long story, but the grade school parking guides sent me up the hill with my DSDP towing a full size chevy crew cab. No turn around, barely made it up, and the entire lot was full. I had to block traffic and wait for them to evacuate the upper lot so I could unhook and turn around.

I headed north and darn if that dang tunnel wasn't there.

So I took the center blared horn and went for it.

Tunnel was nothing to stress over if I hadn't already been maxed out on stress.

 

[Retired]

I lived 11 years on the Oregon Coast, stuck behind a RV that wouldnt or couldnt pull over.

 

[Neal]

That does look a bit scary doesn’t it. I will definitely check my GPS next time through. Thanks for sharing.

Makes me wonder if your RV params are setup AND the motorhome profile is in use. Both @ARD and I had our RV 890's revert from the motorhome profile back to the car profile. Always pay attention to the vehicle icon in use so you know you have the right "vehicle" with params accounted for.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Garmin didn't lead us down this road, @Neal, but here's a serious case of overhead clearance "pucker factor" that we encountered yesterday in Oregon.

Fortunately, we were in LadyDi's car, but even it was a snug fit and we proceeded VERY carefully.

TJ

 

[Neal]

Non issue over 55 mph

 

[Neal]

That is crazy low!!!!

 

[Neal]

I may, or may not have, shut down a local car wash wondering if my kayak (ladder) rack on the back of my toad would clear. It didn't.

 

[GeoKat]

Garmin didn't lead us down this road, @Neal, but here's a serious case of overhead clearance "pucker factor" that we encountered yesterday in Oregon.

View attachment 6842

Fortunately, we were in LadyDi's car, but even it was a snug fit and we proceeded VERY carefully.

TJ

I was led to a tunnel like this back in Memphis. None of the apps had it listed so I reported it to all of them. A cop came by as I was sitting in traffic trying to figure out how to back 2500’ to the last road and mentioned that at least 15 times a day semi’s would get stuck there also. He escorted the traffic otherwise and helped me back up. Nice guy.

 

[High Desert]

Was just through that tunnel a week ago on a trip from Bandon, north to Astoria. Never got any warnings about tunnel issues and that one is 14’6” at the side, if I recall the sign correctly.