Palm Springs to Vancouver sightseeing suggestions

[Redram99]

Hi All
We will be headed North to Vancouver BC from Palm Springs(bringing along our adult daughter and son in law) in a few weeks and want to hit a few things along the way.

San Francisco, a Redwood forest visit and a bit of the Oregon Coast along the way are on the list.

What route would you suggest and best spots to hit the Redwoods and Oregon Coast?

Any other suggestions along the way?

Thanks for the input!!

[RS ODonnell]

We've spent several summers at the Klamath Camper Corral in Klamath.

https://klamathcampercorral.org

It's in the heart of the redwoods with big grassy pull through sites. Really great people with very reasonable rates.

We bypass the Bay Area and pickup the 101 in Petaluma, and run it all the way up. We've always taken I-5 but on our next trip we plan to go through gold rush country.

https://www.visitcalifornia.com/experience/highway-49/

You can also get some ideas from Bartell's backroads video's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikse...LCpuwWgtMPYV3f

[TacomaJoe]

On the coast leg, I prefer doing it southbound. Stops along the way will be right turn in, right turn out. Going north the stops are left turn across traffic to get in and then left turn across traffic to continue north.

[Dutch Star Don]

Take I-5 north to or Hwy 99 to Lodi California. At Lodi, take Hwy 12 to Petaluma California. This will keep you out of the San Francisco traffic and put you just north of SF. There is a nice KOA in Petaluma and then use your toad to visit San Francisco.

From there you can head north through the Redwoods. Keep in mind that the driving will be very slow through the California and Oregon Coast highway, averaging less than 35 mph when you start planning the length of each day's drive.

As you go north, you have the Redwoods, Sea Lion caves and then as you enter Oregon, you have the Oregon Caverns. When you reach Golds Beach, there is really only one campground in the area that's decent, called Turtle Rock. We stay there and take Jerry's Jet Boat ride up the Rogue River. It's a huge three engine jet boat that holds about 50 people. They have morning, half day lunch and full day dinner trips. We've done it at least a dozen times and is a great family excursion. Book early.

North of there is one of the most beautiful campgrounds on the west coast, Winchester Bay RV Park. Again, a hard park to get into, so book early. If it's booked, a few miles further north is the Mill Casino RV Park in Coos Bay. A very nice casino park with lots to sightsee in the area.

After that, the Florence area is a nice place to stop, and site see. Port Orchard RV Park and Marina is a nice place, book early. North of there is Fort Stevens which has a KOA and a State Park, from there we head back out to I-5.

All of the parks I listed along the Oregon Coast will fit your RV. They're spaced a reasonable distance apart to drive and then site see the areas nearby. Obviously, there are other parks and others will have their favorites. These are the parks we found work best for a big rig and offer the most for the area. We've been site seeing the Oregon almost every year for the last 20 years.

[MarkMaxPayne]

Yes, along the Oregon Coast there is Winchester Bay, the city of Newport (Port of Newport RV Park & Marina -or- Pacific Shores Luxury Mortorcoach Resort), Tenmile Lake, Cannon Beach / Hastake Rock (think Morrow Bay / Morrow Bay Rock, but with more to do in the beach community), Seaside, then Astoria if you are a fan of movies like the Goonies.

If you are coming up I5 instead of the coast, think about Emigrant Lake and make a a detour into Dundee area for some great wineries (I like this area better than Napa myself). You could even use going through Dundee wineries as your cutoff for venturing over to the coast. If you have a couple of days to burn take I84 east through the gorge along the Columbia River out by Bridge of the Gods before turning back towards Portland and/or the coast. Either side of the river has RV park options.

If you decide to come up the 395 on the desert side of things from California, a stop in Sun River and/or Bend could fill you with a good week of fun activities.

Enjoy!

Best,
-Mark

[Redram99]

Thank you for the great suggestions!!
Appreciate your time!

[VentanaOdyssey]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

Take I-5 north to or Hwy 99 to Lodi California. At Lodi, take Hwy 12 to Petaluma California. This will keep you out of the San Francisco traffic and put you just north of SF. There is a nice KOA in Petaluma and then use your toad to visit San Francisco.

From there you can head north through the Redwoods. Keep in mind that the driving will be very slow through the California and Oregon Coast highway, averaging less than 35 mph when you start planning the length of each day's drive.

As you go north, you have the Redwoods, Sea Lion caves and then as you enter Oregon, you have the Oregon Caverns. When you reach Golds Beach, there is really only one campground in the area that's decent, called Turtle Rock. We stay there and take Jerry's Jet Boat ride up the Rogue River. It's a huge three engine jet boat that holds about 50 people. They have morning, half day lunch and full day dinner trips. We've done it at least a dozen times and is a great family excursion. Book early.

North of there is one of the most beautiful campgrounds on the west coast, Winchester Bay RV Park. Again, a hard park to get into, so book early. If it's booked, a few miles further north is the Mill Casino RV Park in Coos Bay. A very nice casino park with lots to sightsee in the area.

After that, the Florence area is a nice place to stop, and site see. Port Orchard RV Park and Marina is a nice place, book early. North of there is Fort Stevens which has a KOA and a State Park, from there we head back out to I-5.

All of the parks I listed along the Oregon Coast will fit your RV. They're spaced a reasonable distance apart to drive and then site see the areas nearby. Obviously, there are other parks and others will have their favorites. These are the parks we found work best for a big rig and offer the most for the area. We've been site seeing the Oregon almost every year for the last 20 years.

I second this plan and if you want a very nice RV resort to stay in a very cool Oregon coast town Newport OR, the Pacific Shores RV Resort nice clean big sites some ocean front Newport has a great seafood place where you can buy fresh fish crab and shrimp or some cooked items as well. Head down to Nye Beach and you end up in a nice little area that has shops and restaurants and huge beach.

[Amazing]

I'm originally from Newport, OR.

The whole drive up hwy 101 from California to Seaside is just beautiful. I agree that North to South would be better, but don't miss the coast if going down isn't an option. There are literally hundreds of waysides/viewpoints, beaches, tide pools, and hikes along the entire coast. Too much to see, but do your best. There are also dozens of state campgrounds that are really nice, but availability and camp spot size/hookups are limited.
Coffee is the state beverage, you'll not want for a good cup. Micro-brew beer is a close second. Rouge Ale and Pelican are most excellent along the coast.


Central Oregon Coast:
Florence, take a commercial dune buggy ride or go to Cleawox day use area to climb the huge dune, if you're able, so much fun.
Sea Lion Caves is expensive but epic. If you really just want to see the sea lions wait to see them on the bay front in Newport, it's free and you're right above them.
Heceta(optional Heck e ta) Head Light House, pull over to the viewpoint just south of the tunnel, it's shown on Google Maps. The view is one of the most photographed places in the West.
Yachats(Ya hots) is a cute little town with access to the river.
Newport: South Beach has a world class aquarium and a large marina. There is an RV camping area and parking. The bridge is gorgeous and the view of the bay front as you cross is a don't miss. Parking along the bay front is very limited and not really suitable for a large RV. The park just north and west of the bridge has some decent spots to park and the walk down to the bay front is nice. Go to Mo's, either the original or the annex across the street, for some delicious clam chowder, Dungeness crab sandwich and a pint of Rouge Ale. The annex has a great view of the bay and you can watch them clean fish at the charter fishing dock. Lots of shops along the bay front. I recommend some salt water taffy. Don't forget the sea lions across from the wax museum, you'll hear them barking.
Yaquina(ya Quin a, not Ya keen a) Head light house. There's a fee to get in, but it's well worth it. Tide pools, visitor's center, and the light house. At the light house take the steps down to the cobble beach and check out the tide pools there.
Otter Rock has lots of parking and an excellent beach, surfing(water temp around 50F), and the Devils Punch Bowl.
The viewpoint at Otter Crest Viewpoint is, again, Epic. The gift shop is famous for the whale watching.
Depoe Bay is the smallest natural harbor in the world and another excellent whale watching possibility. Guides at the visitor's center will help you see them. The view of the channel entrance is a must and maybe see a small boat or the Coast Guard transit in or out of the harbor. They filmed the fishing scene from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest there.
You'll cross the D River, from Devil's Lake to the Pacific, on 101. It's the shortest natural river in the US, maybe the world.


Not as much to see going north until you get closer to Cannon Beach/Seaside. There's Pacific City and then the Tillamook(Til a muck) cheese factory and the Air Museum maybe. 101 goes inland a bunch, but still a nice drive with some excellent hiking along the way. Hwy 26 takes you straight to Portland(stay weird) or you can go a little further and see Astoria, where they filmed Goonies and Kindergarten Cop.

Hope this helps

[johnbro27]

Oregon is lovely, so is CA, but can we see a little love for Washington? I mean, there is so much to see between Portland and Vancouver.

[Wildwoods22]

Definitely take in Mt. St. Helens!

[xbcsutter]

Use I-5 to find fuel and make time, Hwy 101 the scenic route. Oregon State Parks are beautiful, have Elec & water. Newport, OR is terrific as mentioned earlier - working fishing port, Oregon State Aquarium. Pacific Shores Motorcoach Resort - only 10/10 resort on the coast.. (biased because I’m an owner). Seven Feathers in Canyonville on I-5 a nice resort if on your route. Enjoy!

[VanDiemen23]

Wow. I-5? 99? Only if you want trucks, rough roads, the same 'ol same 'ol of strip malls and fast food, and constant frustration.

15 to the top of the Cajon Pass. Get on 395 and take it all the way to the Tahoe area.

Drive around Carson City and then take 50 up to the lake, go around the lake (your choice of direction) to 89 and up to I-80 at Truckee.

I-80 through the Sacramento metro to 12 and then over to the 1 or 101.

This takes you through the high desert (maybe wildflowers if the time's right) past the High Sierra, Owens lake, Mammoth, Mono Lake, Bridgeport, the Nevada high plains, the Capital of Nevada, Tahoe, The Capital of CA, and Wine Country. And you avoid the majority of LA basin traffic. You can avoid it all by going over to Yucca Valley and getting to 395 the back way.

Depending on how fast/how many stops, first night between lone pine and Bishop, second between Carson City and Sac.

[capnqball]

I can second DSDon's itinerary but would point out that Winchester Bay is north about 30 miles of the Coos Bay Mill Casino RV Park not the reverse as mentioned.

Also, DO NOT, under any circumstances venture north of Ft. Bragg on hwy 1 with your RV. Hwy 1 has beautiful vistas and all but use your toad to make that trip. Safe travels all.

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by VanDiemen23

Wow. I-5? 99? Only if you want trucks, rough roads, the same 'ol same 'ol of strip malls and fast food, and constant frustration.

15 to the top of the Cajon Pass. Get on 395 and take it all the way to the Tahoe area.

Drive around Carson City and then take 50 up to the lake, go around the lake (your choice of direction) to 89 and up to I-80 at Truckee.

I-80 through the Sacramento metro to 12 and then over to the 1 or 101.

This takes you through the high desert (maybe wildflowers if the time's right) past the High Sierra, Owens lake, Mammoth, Mono Lake, Bridgeport, the Nevada high plains, the Capital of Nevada, Tahoe, The Capital of CA, and Wine Country. And you avoid the majority of LA basin traffic. You can avoid it all by going over to Yucca Valley and getting to 395 the back way.

Depending on how fast/how many stops, first night between lone pine and Bishop, second between Carson City and Sac.

This is the route you want to take! Awesome beauty!!!