Pacific Coast During Winter Months

[raeburn2000]

Thanks in advance to all of you who respond.

We are thinking about doing a Pacific Coast trip next winter instead of heading towards the Gulf. Starting in the San Diego area in early December and ending up around Seattle by late March, early April. We would want to spend a week minimum in multiple areas along the coast.

Looking for suggestions for camping spots and recommendation on “not to miss” activities along the way!

[RS ODonnell]

Redwoods while staying at Klamath Camper Corral. We've spent three summers with them. Family owned and very easy to get along with. Beautiful grassy pull through sites.

https://www.klamathcampercorral.com

[Charming]

I will be watching the topic. We are still a go on our January/February trip up the California Coast.

[TriMoot]

Sea and Sand RV Park

Right by the Ocean!!

https://images.app.goo.gl/JDJ1LdeBV5RHQDeZ8

Us:

[Newmar2856]

KOA in Warrington, right across the street from Fort Stevens State Park. I will say it’s expensive and a KOA, so spots are close together, but it is a nice park unless you get stuck in the far back. It is also close to Seaside.

Cannon Beach RV Resort, close to Cannon Beach. Neat downtown with some nice shops.

Premier RV Resort in Lincoln City. Lots to do in Lincoln City. The park is nice, ask for a spot on the upper portion of the park.

About 30 minutes south of Lincoln City is Newport and Pacific Shores Motorcoach Resort. Newport has a lot to do. The park is really nice. It’s on the high side for pricing, but it is well cared for and the ocean view sites have gorgeous views. It’s also close enough to go to Lincoln City if you can’t get a spot at Premier RV Resort.

Further south is Winchester Bay. It’s a county park and books pretty fast. If you can’t get in there, then try the Mill Casino in Coos Bay.

Even further south is the Sea Perch. Books very fast.

[twogypsies]

Pack a sturdy rain coat, hat, pants and boots!!

[tap4154]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

Pack a sturdy rain coat, hat, pants and boots!!

They won't need that for Southern California. I wear flip-flops and shorts year round.

By the way if the OP wants to stay someplace in inland San Diego while he's down here, check out a San Diego County Park called William Heise. There's also other San Diego County Parks closer to the coast and closer to the border, and all of them are easy to book online, and are nice places to stay. But especially William Heise is really a hidden gem. It's at 4200 feet so it could get snow in January/February. Also just a couple miles from the historic town of Julian, which is really nice to visit. Famous for apple pies.

Just check the weather. If they're into hiking it has some cool hiking trails, a couple short ones, and a couple longer ones. The Cedar Loop trail is easy, about a half hour 1 mile hike and well-maintained .Really enjoyable . More challenging is the Desert Loop trail, which takes you up to where you can see the Anza-Borrego Desert, Salton Sea, and Oceanside, on a clear day. It does have some steep rocky spots, but I'm 67 and I made it, and I'm not a big hiker. It's about a 3-mile trail.

Many of the sites have electrical and water, none have sewer, but there is a dumping station. I've been there twice in the past couple of months, I just love it down there. By the way I was just in site number 34, and it would be great for a large rig with a toad, and has a huge private area with shady trees where you could even set up tents. Also the drive to the park is very nice. Inland San Diego county is a beautiful area.

If he wants to stay at Huntington Beach (my town) for a few days, there's the Sunset Vista RV Park, which is basically inside the city parking lot near the pier. Access to all kinds of restaurants, high end shopping, surf shops and bars, and you're right downtown at the beach and a beautiful pier. It has water and electrical, and a dumping station.

Just a little bit north of town is the Bolsa Chica State Beach, where you're basically parking next to each other in a beach parking lot, with many of the sites right on the bike path overlooking the beach. It has electrical and water and a dumping station. If you have bikes you can ride south along the beach bike path, and in a few minutes be at the Huntington Beach pier and downtown area. Bolsa Chica would be more quiet than staying at the Sunset Vista Park.

[Lt Dan]

A great place along the Oregon coast is the Sea Perch RV Resort near Yachats. It's right on the beach and a nice place. There's a lot to see and do in the area; Thor's Well, Heceta Head lighthouse, Devil's Elbow, Seal Cave and plenty of coastal scenery. The Blue Whale restaurant in town is great.

[Wbonsell]

Enjoy all that cold windy rain you will experience in those months especially north of San Francisco. You may encounter 60mph plus winds on the Oregon coast

[99dart]

The Washington coast is awesome in the winter!! Wind, Rain coming down sideways, big waves, it's a sight to behold! From Cape Disappointment S.P. North to Pacific Beach S.P. the beaches are smooth & sandy. Most S.P.'s usually take a bit of a walk through the dunes to get to the beach. Long Beach & Oceans Shores, Pacific Beach are long sandy beaches. Going North to Kalaloch & Mora campgrounds are National Parks. You can sit on a bluff overlooking the beach a Kalaloch. At Mora it is a drive to the beach, but so worth it. There is a parking lot with restrooms at the beach. And, yes, a motorhome has plenty of room to park and/or turn around. Then, head north again to Neah Bay. There is a nice hike out to the tip of WA looking out to the lighthouse on Tatoosh Island on Cape Flattery. There are a couple private RV campgrounds out there if you want to stay out there. Headed back towards Seattle there are are 3-4 old WWI & II forts that are S,P.'s with campgrounds. Lot's to see and enjoy. Even take a day trip from Port Angeles over to Victoria Island, Canada.

[Ldubs]

Originally Posted by raeburn2000

Thanks in advance to all of you who respond.

We are thinking about doing a Pacific Coast trip next winter instead of heading towards the Gulf. Starting in the San Diego area in early December and ending up around Seattle by late March, early April. We would want to spend a week minimum in multiple areas along the coast.

Looking for suggestions for camping spots and recommendation on “not to miss” activities along the way!

Gualala River Redwoods RV Park on Hwy 1. Very beautiful setting. Elect & Water hookups. Dump on the way out. Just a few minutes from the town of Gualala and a sandy beach with surf fishing opportunities. It is a slow, windy drive north out of Jenner on Hwy 1 though.

If hookups are not an issue, Bodega Dunes just north of Bodega Bay is a nice state campground. Good access to Salmon Creek beach and surf fishing. Great oysters at the The Birds Cafe in Bodega Bay (Yep, where Hitchcock's movie The Birds was filmed). Great clam chowder at Spuds. Roads to Bodega Bay are easy with only a couple of tight bends between the bay and the campground.

Another is the KOA in Manchester which is further north along Hwy 1. This also has excellent access to a sandy beach about 2 miles away with great surf fishing (notice a trend). It is also located for excursions to everything from Point Arena to Mendocino to Fort Bragg. You can cut over to Manchester from 101 through Booneville, but under no circumstances follow the sign out of Booneville to Manchester on Mountain View Road. Instead stay on 128 and turn south on Hwy 1 at the Navarro bridge.

These places are along Hwy1, which has beautiful coastal scenery with a lot of pull-off places to enjoy the views.

We have been to these places towing our travel trailer. CalTrans says not for motorhomes >40'.

[Charming]

Great info. We were unable to get a spot at the LA campground I wanted so we are at the Malibu RV park for the 1st week in January.

From there we will revisit some of our favorite places. We would like to go a little further north than Bodego Bay but we plan to be back in Indian Wells by the end of February.