Pacific Coast

[#1footballfan]

We are thinking about going over to San Luis Obispo, CA, from Grapevine, TX. Wanted to see if anyone drove from there and north along the coast and have any recommendations as to parks and areas. We will eventually make our way over to Carson City so we can go over to Lake Tahoe. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

We are thinking about going over to San Luis Obispo, CA, from Grapevine, TX. Wanted to see if anyone drove from there and north along the coast and have any recommendations as to parks and areas. We will eventually make our way over to Carson City so we can go over to Lake Tahoe. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Obviously you will be taking I 10 to the coast. We stayed at Tapo Canyon Campground when we did the LA area. It is quiet, a bit out of the way but there is easy access to the freeways to get to the LA need to see sites. Then head over to Venture and take highway 101 up the coast all the way to San Francisco. You will be okay on the road running a 43 footer, but finding any RV Parks from Morro Bay to Monterey will be tough. There aren't many to start with and then add to the mix your length makes it pretty much impossible. San Simeon State Park has a max length of 35. Riverside max 25. I could not determine a max for Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (call to book and conform max length). From Morro Bay to Monterey is only about 150 miles but it is a s l o w drive and because of your size, there won't be many pull outs that you will fit. What I would do is drive your rig from Morro Bay to Monterey and then back track with your towed. Honestly, the drive from north to south is more spectacular IMO. If you do stay near Monterey make sure you take in the Aquarium. Plenty of RV Parks in Morro Bay that will accommodate you. Lots of RV Parks near Monterey starting at Carmel by the Sea but book as far in advance as you can because this area gets busy. We have no recommendations for the San Fran area. We always stay with friends sorry. But San Fran is only an hours drive from Napa and if you like wine this is a must. Napa Valley Expo is our go to. Concrete pads, well manicured and close to the wine! We have not stayed anywhere in the Sacramento area so you are on your own after Napa.

Good luck and safe travels.

 

[#1footballfan]

Obviously you will be taking I 10 to the coast. We stayed at Tapo Canyon Campground when we did the LA area. It is quiet, a bit out of the way but there is easy access to the freeways to get to the LA need to see sites. Then head over to Venture and take highway 101 up the coast all the way to San Francisco. You will be okay on the road running a 43 footer, but finding any RV Parks from Morro Bay to Monterey will be tough. There aren't many to start with and then add to the mix your length makes it pretty much impossible. San Simeon State Park has a max length of 35. Riverside max 25. I could not determine a max for Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (call to book and conform max length). From Morro Bay to Monterey is only about 150 miles but it is a s l o w drive and because of your size, there won't be many pull outs that you will fit. What I would do is drive your rig from Morro Bay to Monterey and then back track with your towed. Honestly, the drive from north to south is more spectacular IMO. If you do stay near Monterey make sure you take in the Aquarium. Plenty of RV Parks in Morro Bay that will accommodate you. Lots of RV Parks near Monterey starting at Carmel by the Sea but book as far in advance as you can because this area gets busy. We have no recommendations for the San Fran area. We always stay with friends sorry. But San Fran is only an hours drive from Napa and if you like wine this is a must. Napa Valley Expo is our go to. Concrete pads, well manicured and close to the wine! We have not stayed anywhere in the Sacramento area so you are on your own after Napa.

Good luck and safe travels.

Rollin, thanks for the info. We will be leaving Vegas and heading towards Barstow for the nite. Then onto Santa Barbara Sun Outdoors. From there we were thinking stopping for a few days at Paso Robles Sun Outdoors. From there going to Carmel by the Sea for like 5/6 nites. From there going to Yosemite RV Resort. Going from there to Silver City - Lake Tahoe area. Staying there during the 4th of July time. Any recommendations on this itinerary ??

 

[Rollin Ollen]

Rollin, thanks for the info. We will be leaving Vegas and heading towards Barstow for the nite. Then onto Santa Barbara Sun Outdoors. From there we were thinking stopping for a few days at Paso Robles Sun Outdoors. From there going to Carmel by the Sea for like 5/6 nites. From there going to Yosemite RV Resort. Going from there to Silver City - Lake Tahoe area. Staying there during the 4th of July time. Any recommendations on this itinerary ??

None other than the scenery from highway 101 is world class. If you can, the Aquarium in Monterey. Safe travels.

 

[lostinfla]

None other than the scenery from highway 101 is world class. If you can, the Aquarium in Monterey. Safe travels.

101 is indeed a beautiful drive. We traveled it from Crescent City, CA. up to Astoria, OR. Bonnie was following me in the toad. Just watch some of the tunnels. A little tight where it necks down at the end....

 

[GUS2000]

I'm allergic to California LMAO

 

[#1footballfan]

I'm allergic to California LMAO

. Now that’s funny

 

[J&JD]

. Now that’s funny

Actually, no, it’s just sad. No use giving travel advice I guess even though we’ve travelled the entire coast of Ca., Oregon, and Washington dozens of times in our 40’er towing our Jeep with no problems whatsoever. No problems with allergic reactions to any state we traveled to/through and we’ve visited all 50. While visiting Louisiana we have had many good times in NOLA with no ill effects.

 

[J&JD]

We are thinking about going over to San Luis Obispo, CA, from Grapevine, TX. Wanted to see if anyone drove from there and north along the coast and have any recommendations as to parks and areas. We will eventually make our way over to Carson City so we can go over to Lake Tahoe. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

You also might want to consider Flying Flags, Avila Beach. It is expensive, but beautiful ocean views. Also, Flying Flags, Buelton to visit the charming Danish town of Solvang. The bakeries are super!
In Monterey, the aquarium is wonderful. I would not go on a weekend. The best time is about 3 pm, and then we would head over to the Sandbar restaurant, sit at the bar for Happy Hour and have their calamari and sandabs! We stay often at the Moss Landing KOA, and drive to Carmel and Monterey. Carmel is one of the most beautiful beach towns in the US, and wonderful restaurants.
If your are a golfer you might want to take the 17 Mile Drive in Carmel along Pebble Beach. Judy D

 

[#1footballfan]

You also might want to consider Flying Flags, Avila Beach. It is expensive, but beautiful ocean views. Also, Flying Flags, Buelton to visit the charming Danish town of Solvang. The bakeries are super!
In Monterey, the aquarium is wonderful. I would not go on a weekend. The best time is about 3 pm, and then we would head over to the Sandbar restaurant, sit at the bar for Happy Hour and have their calamari and sandabs! We stay often at the Moss Landing KOA, and drive to Carmel and Monterey. Carmel is one of the most beautiful beach towns in the US, and wonderful restaurants.
If your are a golfer you might want to take the 17 Mile Drive in Carmel along Pebble Beach. Judy D

Hi Judy, when you guys stayed at Moss Landing, do you remember how far it was to Carmel ???

 

[J&JD]

Hi Judy, when you guys stayed at Moss Landing, do you remember how far it was to Carmel ???

It is about 15 miles. We go several times a year, as we love the area and only about 70 miles from our home. The rv park is very clean, with concrete sites. It is a bit tight, but a nice place to stay in the harbor. If you like artichokes, Pezzini farms is close, and they have the heirloom artichokes that taste like artichokes should.
If you go to Buelton, there are some nice big rig sites in the back corner at the rv park. Avoid the ones closest to the freeway. Good wineries in the area also.
BTW, the drive right along the coast from Carmel to Pacific Grove and Monterey is drop dead gorgeous!
On the way to Tahoe is the cute town of Grass Valley. This is gold country, and historical. There is a really nice, new Rv Resort there, Grass Valley RV Resort.

 

[#1footballfan]

It is about 15 miles. We go several times a year, as we love the area and only about 70 miles from our home. The rv park is very clean, with concrete sites. It is a bit tight, but a nice place to stay in the harbor. If you like artichokes, Pezzini farms is close, and they have the heirloom artichokes that taste like artichokes should.
If you go to Buelton, there are some nice big rig sites in the back corner at the rv park. Avoid the ones closest to the freeway. Good wineries in the area also.
BTW, the drive right along the coast from Carmel to Pacific Grove and Monterey is drop dead gorgeous!

Judy, great information.
Are we able to drive up the coast in our RV or is that only for our toad?

 

[Rollin Ollen]

Highway 101 from top to bottom is Big Rig doable. What you can't do is many pull offs. The road was built many many years ago and they were not intended to accommodate large vehicles. We parked the coach (and ours small) and toured with the towed. A seriously amazing trip is from Port Angeles, Washington following 101 to Aberdeen then along the coast all the way south to LA. There are some legs that do not hug the coast but that gives you the opportunity to see the Redwoods and a lot of other worthwhile sites. A couple of cautions. Should you decide to follow the coast on highway 1 to take in the glass beach at Fort Bragg and on down to San Francisco DON'T exit at Leggett. Continue down to highway 20 to move over. Highway 1 from Leggett to Fort Brag is limited to vehicles under 28 feet. Even using a towed (unless your towed is a motorcycle) the speed you will most likely do is 10 MPH. Steep, winding, switchbacks, hairpins and nothing but forest to look at until the very end. Don't do it!!

Edited addition..... Don't bother with Glass Beach. It has been picked over so badly that there is hardly anything left to see. The views are still nice though.
Safe travels

 

[J&JD]

We totally agree! We made that mistake once in our previous 36 foot motorhome! NEVER again. Judy D

Edit from Jd:
Highway 101 from LA all the way to San Jose is a 4 lane highway very little of which is directly on the Pacific. It is, however, a very pleasant drive. You do need to watch fuel as this is not a trucker’s highway. Most of the big rigs are over on highway 5. Highway 1 from Morro Bay thru Cambria, San Simeon and Big Sur is a two lane road dead on the ocean and magnificent. I have done it in a 36’ pusher towing but I wouldn’t recommend it. Also, portions are often closed due to rock slides etc. it is closed now about 40 miles south of Carmel.
As Judy said, spending a few days in the Carmel Monterey area is a must. A day spent in the Toad driving from Carmel-By-The-Sea, 17mile drive, Pebble Beach, along the magnificent shore of Asilomar and Pacific grove ending up at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row is just not to be beat.
I also second the idea of visiting Grass Valley in the Gold Country on your way to Tahoe. Very easy to do in your rig. The new rv park Judy mentioned is really quite nice.
Enjoy your trip and I guarantee you will not be disappointed. And, your allergies will be just fine!

 

[J&JD]

Moss Landing

 

[GUS2000]

Actually, no, it’s just sad. No use giving travel advice I guess even though we’ve travelled the entire coast of Ca., Oregon, and Washington dozens of times in our 40’er towing our Jeep with no problems whatsoever. No problems with allergic reactions to any state we traveled to/through and we’ve visited all 50. While visiting Louisiana we have had many good times in NOLA with no ill effects.

Please dont take my comment personally, there are reasons why I made that comment. I have traveled all over California and did so 30 years ago and enjoyed it. However, the reason I am "allergic" is something i can discuss with you via PM or over a beer in a campground and then it will make sense to you. In the meantime, safe travels and glad you enjoyed Louisiana when you traveled here.. Sad our state is not being maintained and we have a mass exodus on our hands as our tax rates are rising (sales tax of 10.5% and could end up going higher).

 

[Vanbrat]

I grew up in that area and I'm afraid the only advice I could give is drive carefully and watch out for the slugs..... I partied pretty hardy in Cannery Row while it was still Cannery Row and last time I was through there it was amazingly pretty and very different from 1975...

 

[Scooterfan]

You'll enjoy the SB and Paso Robles Sun Outdoor Parks, I think, as they are well laid out and kept. MANY other choices in the area. Like mentioned before, Avila Beach (pricey), Pismo Beach, Lopez Lake (County Park), and this list goes on and on. If you need anything while in the area, please reach out as we live in Orcutt. Enjoy our little slice of paradise even though our State has issues Bllessings

 

[#1footballfan]

You'll enjoy the SB and Paso Robles Sun Outdoor Parks, I think, as they are well laid out and kept. MANY other choices in the area. Like mentioned before, Avila Beach (pricey), Pismo Beach, Lopez Lake (County Park), and this list goes on and on. If you need anything while in the area, please reach out as we live in Orcutt. Enjoy our little slice of paradise even though our State has issues Bllessings

Thanks for the info. What are your thoughts on Carmel by the river rv park? We are trying to get into Moss KOA but they have me on a wait list right now.

 

[J&JD]

We have not stayed at Carmel by the River, but our daughter has, and liked it. I would talk to them about a site suitable for your size, as some sites would not be appropriate.