Help a newbie with planning!

[S-Car-go]

Hi all! I am new to this forum. And I'm planning my first trip to the RV. Rented 23CB Leprechaun (25 ft) Family of four - two children (2 years and 12 years old) We live in Los Angeles and want to travel 5 days from January 3 to January 8. We want to visit Sequoia Park, Carmel by the sea, San Francisco and all which is of interest. But! .. I am alarmed by the weather ... Share your experience of such a trip in winter. We do not have any specific plans, just a dream to travel with a family on the RV. So maybe there are some interesting routes for five days from LA to LA.

[GOLDWINGER2]

I have done that trip many times in all types of weather, all have been great trips. Bring a good basic tool kit and a shovel and something to create traction.
I have the plastic knobby traction devices. I've never had to use them though.

[Cousin Ed]

Do Not go where you might encounter snow or ice. Even though I have many years experience with snow and larger vehicles, I don't ever intentionally drive the motor home in snow. You are driving a new to you type of vehicle, only go where there is NO chance of slippery conditions

[HavingABlast]

Hello S-Car-go, your leg from SFO to LAX should be run North to South (all of the pullouts will be on your right for easier in and out of the road). Traveling in a 25’ rig, I would take the 1, directly on the waters edge, all of the way south (assuming the roadway is in good shape). If hwy 1 is impacted, take 101 south.

San Francisco and the greater surrounding area has more than enough to keep you occupied for a week or more. Don’t forget Sausalito and the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge. A day trip to Alcatraz (book this in advance) is pretty cool. Drakes Bay and the nearby lighthouse is cool too.

A 4 to 6 hour trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium is recommended. A walk or bike ride on the historic waterfront along, a lunch on the wharf while listening to the sea lions below. The 17 mile drive is spectacular.

Personally, because of current cold weather (although your rental could handle it) and the remains of the devastating fires, I would avoid Sequoia NP this time around. Maybe check a lower elevation spot in Kings Canyon if you want something to do while northbound. Or head north of San Francisco on your northbound leg and see the giant redwoods. We liked the Avenue of the Giants up by Redcrest, CA. (high 30’s low 40’s daytime right now, high 20’s to low 40’s at night right now).

The ocean helps modulate temperature extremes. Closer to the coast will help you as a newbie.

The best advice I can give is that “less is more”. Fewer stops allow for more time to explore, enjoy, and fill the senses. What you are about to experience will build lifelong memories. You are doing a great thing showing these sights to your children. Our adult children are in their mid to 40’s, and still talk about the trips we took with them when they were your children’s ages.

[S-Car-go]

thanks for the answer!

approximately such a route .., please criticize)


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[S-Car-go]

I have good experience in driving a truck and a trailer in various weather conditions. The only thing that worries me is the weather for walking and parking with children. We can easily abandon the northern California trip and head south. Can you tell me what route can be made from Los Angeles for five days?

[S-Car-go]

Originally Posted by HavingABlast

Hello S-Car-go, your leg from SFO to LAX should be run North to South (all of the pullouts will be on your right for easier in and out of the road). Traveling in a 25’ rig, I would take the 1, directly on the waters edge, all of the way south (assuming the roadway is in good shape). If hwy 1 is impacted, take 101 south.

San Francisco and the greater surrounding area has more than enough to keep you occupied for a week or more. Don’t forget Sausalito and the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge. A day trip to Alcatraz (book this in advance) is pretty cool. Drakes Bay and the nearby lighthouse is cool too.

A 4 to 6 hour trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium is recommended. A walk or bike ride on the historic waterfront along, a lunch on the wharf while listening to the sea lions below. The 17 mile drive is spectacular.

Personally, because of current cold weather (although your rental could handle it) and the remains of the devastating fires, I would avoid Sequoia NP this time around. Maybe check a lower elevation spot in Kings Canyon if you want something to do while northbound. Or head north of San Francisco on your northbound leg and see the giant redwoods. We liked the Avenue of the Giants up by Redcrest, CA. (high 30’s low 40’s daytime right now, high 20’s to low 40’s at night right now).

The ocean helps modulate temperature extremes. Closer to the coast will help you as a newbie.

The best advice I can give is that “less is more”. Fewer stops allow for more time to explore, enjoy, and fill the senses. What you are about to experience will build lifelong memories. You are doing a great thing showing these sights to your children. Our adult children are in their mid to 40’s, and still talk about the trips we took with them when they were your children’s ages.

thank you very much! this is really good advice!

[S-Car-go]

Originally Posted by Cousin Ed

Do Not go where you might encounter snow or ice. Even though I have many years experience with snow and larger vehicles, I don't ever intentionally drive the motor home in snow. You are driving a new to you type of vehicle, only go where there is NO chance of slippery conditions

and another question: I can easily drive 800 miles in a day) but it’s me)) The family naturally cannot stand such a trip. How to allocate time on the road? Ride early in the morning and stand in the places you like during the day? Or go in the evening and get up for the night late at night? Share your experience

[S-Car-go]

Following your advice, is it better to get to SF by I5 and then go down to I1 to LA?

[HavingABlast]

Originally Posted by S-Car-go

Following your advice, is it better to get to SF by I5 and then go down to I1 to LA?

We’ve done this route in a car many times. Our current rig is too long for a great deal of this route, so the last few times we went north to south, we traveled 101S.

[HenryH001]

Originally Posted by S-Car-go

and another question: I can easily drive 800 miles in a day) but it’s me)) The family naturally cannot stand such a trip. How to allocate time on the road? Ride early in the morning and stand in the places you like during the day? Or go in the evening and get up for the night late at night? Share your experience

I’ve driven 2,000 miles without much sleep. The trick is to take a break and nap whenever you need it. If I get the least bit not attentive to my driving I will stop and take a nap. Sometimes that nap is 15 minutes and sometimes it’s 2 hours. Sometimes I’ll take a nap and then drive again only to discover I need another one an hour later.

I’ve also learned to keep the cab cool and be slightly hungry. Don’t let your blood sugar level drop but don’t pork out either.

[sbleiweiss]

We do San Francisco in the winter frequently. Our kids and grandkid live there. You should not have any winter weather (snow/ice) between LA and SF on I5 or 101 or 1. Just avoid higher elevations or at least watch the weather report closely if going there. Of course from LA you could go east instead to the desert and avoid winter entirely.

[MCCOHENS]

Being a newbie and only having 5 days you might want to scale down the trip. That is a lot of driving and time to actually camp, hike, etc will be minimal. Kids don't enjoy sitting in a bouncy motorhome no matter how many gadgets they bring. Consider a 100 -150 mile radius, then you have a 2 days driving and 3 days there to have fun.

[S-Car-go]

Originally Posted by MCCOHENS

Being a newbie and only having 5 days you might want to scale down the trip. That is a lot of driving and time to actually camp, hike, etc will be minimal. Kids don't enjoy sitting in a bouncy motorhome no matter how many gadgets they bring. Consider a 100 -150 mile radius, then you have a 2 days driving and 3 days there to have fun.

Yes. We decided to drive to San Francisco and back. We will use i-101 and i-1. What places would you recommend to see?