Hwy 101 in Northern CA

[Go Dawgs]

Hi all,
I recently retired (Yeah) and plan to head south starting in early February (family commitments prevent leaving sooner). I live in the Seattle area and have traveled Hwy 101 in Washington and Oregon many times, but my concern is California section. I have a 40' DP and tow a full-size Ram 2500, total about 63'.
Where should I head east off of 101? Want to avoid possible snowy conditions as much as possible. No exact timeline to reach Peoria, AZ for Marinier Spring training. Item #1 on my bucket list (have about 6 weeks to make the trip.
Any advice is appreciated.

[RS ODonnell]

We've traveled 101 in NorCal many times in a 24' class C and a 35' 5th wheel pulled with an F350 dually. You'll have no issues whatsoever anywhere along 101. There are some twisties but nothing to worry about. We always head east on 37 in Novato, CA.

Edit:

This is a great place to spend some time exploring the Redwoods. We've stayed several times. Easy in and out and super nice people.

https://klamathcampercorral.org

[PKI]

We used to come South to the Bay Area and pickup a shortcut to Highway 37 which gets you over to I80. However, the 37 route has become traffic impacted and is only recommended if that is your only choice to get where you have to go.

On the last trip down 101, we crossed over to I505 on Highway 20. It's a bit convoluted, but the landscape along the route is interesting.

Above 20 is Highway 36. It has been on my list to try, because it is a bit less convoluted than 20. However, it is also above the Redwoods that embrace The Avenue of the Giants, which is a must see. We have only run through that area on the AOTG in a passenger vehicle as the roadway often passes directly next to those majestic redwoods. It is quite tight in places. Majestic RV park to the North and KOA in Benbow to the South.

Highway 101 in this area also has some sections which are tight and close to big trees. Hold your lane and stay centered. You will be OK. The log haulers have done it for years.

Above 36 is Highway 299. We have only driven it once. We were not towing the Cherokee and are only 8 ft wide and 34 ft long. It was a bit of work to make that trip. As a reference, one guy posted that he towed his fifth wheel across and after making the trip he decided he would never do it again.

So - those are your choices. I'd drive 20 after a visit to AOTG Redwoods. You could try 36 if you get good recommendations and want to be our trial balloon.

Good luck with your trip.

PS - HW 37 is an easy drive if you can hit it when there is no traffic. That is a real challenge.

[Drummer Todd]

Just curious, is there any reason you wouldn't just use I-5 the whole way until you got to somewhere like Bakersfield?

[YC1]

This is a bit different but the question has come up so many times I have saved it.

Read this through and then you can reverse the course to come from 20 toward I5.

Just take your time and enjoy the views. Watch for Elk along the route.
--------------------------------
Route to Ft Bragg area


Take Highway 20 West out of Williams. 37.1 miles.

Watch for Highway 53 as you drop down a hill after a fairly long climb. Easy climb and multiple lanes.
Turn what would be South onto 53. You will go about 8 miles. Look for the sign to Highway 29 which leads to Kelseyville. This is a nice road and will become freeway in a few miles. Eventually you are back to two lane for a short distance and will come to a roundabout. You are back to Highway 20 again. This leg is about 30 miles. Turn left and enjoy the beautiful drive right to 101. This route will bypass the two lane twisting and winding on the North side of Clear lake. If you want a good view of the lake go ahead and stay on 20 all the way to 101.

Take the freeway ramp towards Willits. Once in town stay in the left lane and be patient. Traffic can back up a bit. You will come to a large intersection that has a shopping center on the right and fuel stations on three corners. Turn left and relax and enjoy a beautiful twisting and winding road that has plenty of pull outs to rest, calm queasy stomachs and stretch the pets.

This section may take you an hour. Use your shifting lever to keep things in a lower gear so you don’t get hot brakes. Nothing steep, just lots of slow curves.

After the 33 miles you will come to a stop light. Two ways to go, right or left. Left will take you to Mendocino and right will take you to Ft. Bragg. Be sure to make reservations in advance. Turning left there is a really nice campground “Pomo”, that we have used many times. Further down is Casper beach. My wife does not like the cramped spaces but I liked being able to walk across the street to the beach.

Adding to this. Keep an eye out for Elk along the road from Williams to the Clear Lake area. Another interesting place along the way on the right is an old mining camp. You will come to a three lane road, two lanes going uphill. On the right you will see an old slag dump. This is Abbot mine. It was a mercury mine in the 50's and 60's. "Quick Silver", is an incredibly heavy liquid metal at room temp. There were about a dozen families living at this mining camp at one time. A cook house, bunk house and showers were provided for many miners. Ore was trucked to the crushers, then entered furnaces. The slag was dumped over an embankment. The site was cleaned up several years ago so mostly memories are the only things left.

[Wildwoods22]

Fastest: I-5 to 58 to Bakersfield. Nice wine tasting and parks in the Willamette Valley. Not much in Northern California. Great train museum in Sacramento along with Sutter’s Fort. I would do 5 to Sacramento then 99 to Bakersfield. Less stressful drive than 5.

Most scenic: 101 to 37 then east. Redwood National and State Parks. Humboldt Redwoods (Avenue of the Giants does not have good parking for large rigs; camp and sightsee). We stayed at the KOA in Petaluma which was a real resort. Access to Sonoma and Napa Valleys for wine tasting. Charles Schultz Museum in Santa Rosa for Snoopy fans. I have done 101 to 37 to 80 to 12 to 5, but you may prefer to take 80 all the way to 5 or 99.

Best shortcut. 101 to 20. Not nearly as twisty turny as other routes. We always stop at the Foster’s Freeze in Lucerne on Clear Lake. (299 is the truck route between Redding and Eureka so it’s doable but you miss Humboldt. It has a really steep grade just east of Whiskeytown Lake and we’ve driven that part for decades going to Lake Trinity.)

This summer part of our trip was 101 from Lincoln City, Oregon to LA. Beautiful coast! Enjoy your retirement!

[OldBaldFat]

Originally Posted by Drummer Todd

Just curious, is there any reason you wouldn't just use I-5 the whole way until you got to somewhere like Bakersfield?

In February - the pass at the Oregon/ California border might be closed, or just dangerous to travel. Might require chains. Though it only tops out at 4,200 feet - it is still very 'wintery'

Almost no freezing temps along the coast and US-101. Yes, cold and damp, but above freezing at almost all times.

Also note - I-5 from Sacramento to the cutoff to go to Bakersfield is considered by most folks on this forum, and that I've met - to inferior to CA-99 a bit to the east.

My experience agrees with that sentiment.

[OldBaldFat]

Originally Posted by PKI

Above 20 is Highway 36. It has been on my list to try, because it is a bit less convoluted than 20. However, it is also above the Redwoods that embrace The Avenue of the Giants, which is a must see. We have only run through that area on the AOTG in a passenger vehicle as the roadway often passes directly next to those majestic redwoods. It is quite tight in places. Majestic RV park to the North and KOA in Benbow to the South.

Highway 101 in this area also has some sections which are tight and close to big trees. Hold your lane and stay centered. You will be OK. The log haulers have done it for years.

CA-36 is completely unsuitable for any RV larger than a Sprinter - without a toad. We had to back up to provide clearance for a log hauler. And at places the pickup front tires were in the ditch and the rear tires of the TT were in the ditch on the opposite of the road. Scraped trees off the roadway twice with the rear of the TT.

In your jeep - a nice drive. In your motorhome - NFW.

[PKI]

OBF - thanks for the review of HW36. You saved me a lot of grief as that route looks really inviting on the map. Appreciate your sharing the experience.

[Airizon]

Originally Posted by Go Dawgs

Hi all,
I recently retired (Yeah) and plan to head south starting in early February (family commitments prevent leaving sooner). I live in the Seattle area and have traveled Hwy 101 in Washington and Oregon many times, but my concern is California section. I have a 40' DP and tow a full-size Ram 2500, total about 63'.
Where should I head east off of 101? Want to avoid possible snowy conditions as much as possible. No exact timeline to reach Peoria, AZ for Marinier Spring training. Item #1 on my bucket list (have about 6 weeks to make the trip.
Any advice is appreciated.

You'll be fine. We're doing the exact same trip only leaving from Eugene Oregon. We're heading straight out to the coast at Coos Bay down to Hwy 20 across to I-5 then to south to Hwy 58 east to Barstow then I-40 to Lake Havasu and continue south to I-10. We are only going to Quartzsite. I was hoping to get info from someone about the route on 20 east from the 101. One of the few hwys i haven't been on. We have an Allegro Red 34' towing a Jeep Cherokee. Good luck and safe travels.

[plasticpaddy]

Here is a good resource for some restrictions in CA.
https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-...rhomes/bus-map

[Wildwoods22]

Airizon, hwy 20 is a beautiful drive, particularly along Clear Lake. It’s a truck route so your rig will be fine. There will be a grade down into the central valley and I5 but you’ll be fine.

[YC1]

Originally Posted by Airizon

You'll be fine. We're doing the exact same trip only leaving from Eugene Oregon. We're heading straight out to the coast at Coos Bay down to Hwy 20 across to I-5 then to south to Hwy 58 east to Barstow then I-40 to Lake Havasu and continue south to I-10. We are only going to Quartzsite. I was hoping to get info from someone about the route on 20 east from the 101. One of the few hwys i haven't been on. We have an Allegro Red 34' towing a Jeep Cherokee. Good luck and safe travels.

Post 5 should give you the information you need. Read the route and then just reverse it.