Community Forums

chuckbear · 08-11-2017, 08:27 PM

Looking for some info on taking our coach with a tow down Hwy 101 between Tillamook and Lincoln City, OR heading south. Chuck

Mr_D · 08-11-2017, 08:35 PM

Kind of crowded, twisty and slow but I've had no problem with a 40' rig and towing a Honda Odyssey. With the present 45' towing a CR-V I wouldn't have a problem either. There will be lots of traffic this time of year and some slowdowns through towns.

BFlinn181 · 08-11-2017, 08:44 PM

I've driven US 101 from Olympia WA to Port Angeles and Olympic NP, and south to Newport, OR. Beautiful drive, many places to pull off and sightsee, walk a beach, take a hike. We enjoyed Astoria and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park. Parts of the road is a bit twisty and hilly, but nothing our RV and toad couldn't handle. It's not a route for speed or covering distance, we took our time and enjoyed it.

If you're planning on seeing the solar eclipse Aug. 21, I expect Salem and other spots in the path of the totality will be jammed.

Jake21 · 08-12-2017, 08:39 AM

Did that route about a month ago. No real issues. Just a little traffic now and then.

Unplanned Tourist · 08-12-2017, 08:49 AM

Great drive. You'll have no problem, but take your time and stop once in a while to really enjoy the trip.
Happy Glamping.

chuckbear · 08-12-2017, 10:25 AM

Thanks to those that have responded Looking forward to it. Chuck

ktn1966 · 08-15-2017, 11:25 AM

I live and camp on the Oregon 101. It is a great drive if you are not in a hurry or rush. I suggest you make the trip after all the kids have gone back to school and the summer travel season starts to slow down. This ensures a little less road traffic and a lot more camp spots will be open. Be aware that even in the fall and spring months the tillamook to Astoria can section can still get busy on beautiful weather weekends.

The only drive sections you have to worry about are farther south where the road can get a little narrower going through the hills. Your main concern will be the bike riders who also like the route, but there is no bike lane so you are sharing the road. It is not uncommon for you to be tooling along around a corner and find a bicyclist struggling to get up a hill, around a blind corner in the middle of the road.

Most of the scenic turnouts for the road are on the ocean side. There are wonderful State Parks to camp at with the majority of them having water and electric. Not to many dispersed camp sites unless you know the area and if you want an ocean view it will be in a camp. There are casinos that have free camping in Lincoln City, Florence, and Coos Bay.

BFlinn181 · 08-15-2017, 12:06 PM

The Oregon State Parks have a great reservation system, showing campground maps and photos of the campsites. A few years ago, Washington and Oregon had the best information on camping of any state we'd visited. Very surprised when we found very little info about Colorado state parks as we traveled there.

Edit: I now see Oregon is part of ReserveAmerica. Not that it's bad, but they do charge a premium for the reservations and their cancellation policy is pricey if you don't keep to your itinerary.

ktn1966 · 08-15-2017, 03:03 PM

On a good note for Oregon State Parks, if you are a disabled vet you can apply for a state parks camping pass allowing 10 free days a month. There is no state residence requirement, such as Washington.

MCJones · 08-15-2017, 03:10 PM

We did that drive in our 43 footer/towing about 4 weeks ago. We drove N to S and thought it was one of the most picturesque drives ever. But, not for the first time RV driver it is cliffy (is that a word?) and crowded and you must not trust the signs for curve speeds. Slow way down. They will tell you35 mph but forget to mention that it also starts a mean downhill run ! Glad I did it and would do it again but not during summer tourist season. good luck. mark

LarrySharon · 08-15-2017, 05:05 PM

Just drove it last month and was a good drive. Road was good, twisty, crowded sometimes. Just don't plan going quickly. Some beautiful scenery. Have fun.

chuckbear · 08-15-2017, 08:04 PM

Thanks again everyone. We should be there next week. Chuck

Alan_Hepburn · 08-16-2017, 09:58 PM

We came down 101 from south of Seattle to the SF Bay area about 3 weeks ago - nice drive, but there's a bunch of construction with single lane traffic in several places. Some of the spots had traffic signals controling the traffic while others had flagmen - be prepared for some delays due to that.

Other than that it's a great drive!

tahoexc · 09-12-2017, 10:55 AM

I'm in Newport Oregon now and heading to Cape Disappointment in southern Washington. Rand McNally and Google Maps have me going 101 for most of the route, but both have a small section where they recommend Miami Foley Rd to Oregon 53 joining back to 101 near Nehalem. Do you follow this or just stay on 101 through this section? I'm in a 45' RV towing a Jeep.