Community Forums

edwardo37 · 01-06-2025, 09:54 AM

We are planning a trip to California next fall and want to see most if not all of the coast. We will be in a 25’ class c towing a 2-door jeep. The last time I made that trip was in a minivan towing a pop-up and had no trouble; that was in 1990.
Is it advisable or doable to drive the Highway 1 portions with my rig? We plan to go from Crescent City to Morro Bay. Give me your thoughts please. We will probably spend 1-3 days each in the Crescent City, Fort Bragg, Point Reyes, Monterrey, and Morro Bay areas. Thanks for any tips on helping to plan our trip.

davidceder · 01-06-2025, 10:13 AM

I believe parts of HWY 1 are closed and you will need to detour around those parts. Check it out on line.

Solo_RV_Guy · 01-06-2025, 10:21 AM

What DavidCedar said. There are portions of PCH that are closed due to erosion and land slides. You might start here:

https://roads.dot.ca.gov/roadscell.php

**Lt Dan** · 01-06-2025, 10:57 AM

With your size, you should be fine on the parts of 101 that are open. Just be aware that in some areas it's very winding with tight turns and narrow two lane roadway. It's a beautiful drive but not recommended for anything longer than what you will be. We based out of Bodega Bay and rode north and south on the motorcycles, highly recommended for the scenery.

HMCSW · 01-06-2025, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardo37

We are planning a trip to California next fall and want to see most if not all of the coast. We will be in a 25’ class c towing a 2-door jeep. The last time I made that trip was in a minivan towing a pop-up and had no trouble; that was in 1990.
Is it advisable or doable to drive the Highway 1 portions with my rig? We plan to go from Crescent City to Morro Bay. Give me your thoughts please. We will probably spend 1-3 days each in the Crescent City, Fort Bragg, Point Reyes, Monterrey, and Morro Bay areas. Thanks for any tips on helping to plan our trip.

Big Sur to Cabria would be the stretch with the greatest potential for closure. Jut plan on it and be flexible to bypass if needed. Can close anytime with weather, fire, road falling into ocean. https://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/hig...onditions.html

Dieselboy · 01-06-2025, 01:44 PM

I did all of PCH from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fran all the way into Washington with my 45ft bus towing a vehicle. Very doable in my experience. Some tight roads downtown San Francisco but still manageable.

twogypsies · 01-06-2025, 04:51 PM

Hwy 1 and Hwy 101 are very different.

It would be more pleasant to drive from south to north on Hwy 1 so you're not on 'the edge' the whole way.

101 was a piece of cake with our 40' motorhome! We didn't take it on Hwy 1.

Jay D. · 01-08-2025, 12:47 PM

WE DID HWY 1 from Fort Bragg North to Leggett with a 27'T/T with a crew cab pickup. it has some real sharp curves and not much traffic. i had to take some with me useing the whole road and some. a good idea is to have your better half get out and look around the corner to check traffic there's only 2-3 that are that bad. Leggett is were hwy 1 North turns into hwy 101 North. coming from the North you'll turn onto hwy 1 from 101 just before Leggett. its that first 10 miles or so that have the sharp corners once you break out to the coast its not bad at all. year before we went to San Simion on hwy 1 the roads were all good IF you get down there stop at the Hurst Castle well worth a tour. i would check with the CA. hwy dept. about road closures and detours. sounds like a real fun trip, go slow and enjoy there is so much to see in that area. we camped 3 nights at in the San Simon Fort Bragg area with no reservations and had no problems lots of places to overnight.
Jay D.

NevadaNick · 01-09-2025, 10:43 AM

There is no way my wife is getting out to look around a corner, are they supposed to stop in the highway while she runs ahead? I have driven Hwy 1 with a few different combinations, just be mindful of the drive.

Jay D. · 01-09-2025, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NevadaNick

There is no way my wife is getting out to look around a corner, are they supposed to stop in the highway while she runs ahead? I have driven Hwy 1 with a few different combinations, just be mindful of the drive.

if no traffic why not? wouldn't be more than 50 feet AND IF there happened to be some one behind me they can always go around or wait !! this is a very low traveled road narrow and winding i don't think stopping for a couple minutes is going to cause a national disaster. my wife would like to get out and stretch her legs. there are a couple corners where i with a 27' TT and a crew cab, had to use my lane and the other lane and the dirt on the edge of the road. my TT would be just a few feet from the bank on the inside of the turn. sure would be nice to see if someone was coming the other way don't you think???
Jay D.

NevadaNick · 01-10-2025, 07:00 AM

I have driven it many times and have met semi’s coming the other direction coming around corners, never hit anything or anyone. My current rv and truck are similar to yours but the rv is 31 overall and its the shortest setup i have had in several years. Yes its tight in some spots but if you need a spotter on a state highway i have to wonder if you should even be there.

Jay D. · 01-10-2025, 01:14 PM

MR. Nick, I worked in the logging industry here in the Pacific west i have operated everything from a skid steers to 988 log loading machines to log and rock trucks. A lot of times in the woods your required to sound your horn on sharp corners and some times drive to the left. the loaded truck always gets the outside of the sharper corners. i'm assuming you've done this before. but between the Dunn Creek bridge and Leggett are a few real sharp curves. if towing 25' or more you'll need to, if on the outside of the turn watch your trailer as it will walk over to half or more of the inside lane. if your negotiating the inside lane you'll need to put your tow vehicle into the other lane to allow the trailer to pass the inside. two truck and trailer combos could not pass at the same time. i just don't understand why its such a crime to stop and check if someone is coming the other way, its only a couple blind turns, actually one thats narrow and sharp. there's is very little traffic to hold up and its only about a 50' walk. then you bad mouth me for wanting to take a few minutes to be on the safe side for other people. i just don't get it!!!
Jay D.

twogypsies · 01-10-2025, 05:03 PM

Luckily, I've never seen anyone stopping on a highway to let a passenger get out and walk ahead to check for traffic. I would think the police would frown on this procedure.

followingsea · 01-10-2025, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardo37

.... that was in 1990.
....

A lot has changed since 1990. CA has become RV unfriendly. It is not as bad in northern CA. After parking the MH on the beach in Texas it was sad to see 'no parking 2 am to 4 am on the PCH where my dad would park and we would hike down on the beach.

It took 4 police officers with there hands on the weapons to tell me I could not sleep there. I was doing pretty good job of sleeping.

The traffic is bad on the weekend between Santa Cruz and Monterey.

Rita and I were married on the CA beach. Lots of memories.