We are heading to Arizona from Vancouver, BC area and would like to travel along the west coast before heading over to Yuma. We are traveling in a 40 foot motorhome towing a Jeep. Any concerns or recommendations you would like to share regarding roads and campsites would be appreciated. We will be leaving mid October so winter should not be a problem. I hope!
Thanks
Do you mean Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway? If so, there are parts of it that would be inadvisable for a big rig like yours. It can be done, but at the expense of the drivers behind you and the beautiful scenery you will miss because you will be focusing all your attention on trying to stay in your lane. And there are places where it will be impossible to stay in your lane due to extreme switchbacks. Just MHO, of course.
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If you drive on the coastal highway, some turns are tight, but big tour busses go that way so you will be able to get through. I meet a tour buss on a turn and we almost touched mirrors so take them slowly. That was the California coastal HWY.
Prince George wrote: We are heading to Arizona from Vancouver, BC area and would like to travel along the west coast before heading over to Yuma. We are traveling in a 40 foot motorhome towing a Jeep. Any concerns or recommendations you would like to share regarding roads and campsites would be appreciated. We will be leaving mid October so winter should not be a problem. I hope!
Thanks
there are 2 coastal routes in Calif. the main one is Rte. 101, which is big-rig friendly. but parts of it go inland.
Rte. 1 is the other. parts of it merge into 101. but the other parts are coastal while 101 goes inland.
Rte. 1 has a few sections that are difficult for big-rig RV's. these are generally avoided by most. i think the Leggett to Ft. Bragg route and the Carmel to Hearst Castle route are the ones most discussed.
Dan- Firefighter, Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur, Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever, 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LS, 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS w/Equalizer and Prodigy, and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
If I wanted to “hug” the coast of California I would stay on U.S. 101 from Oregon to Santa Rosa. This will take me along some coast and then heads inland where the coast is not easily accessible. This will take me through the Redwoods.
California 1 splits off from U.S. 101 in Leggett but I would stay on 101 until Santa Rosa. Highway 1 is pretty darn twisty along there and I have not tried it with my 65’ long rig.
In Santa Rosa, I would get off 101 and head to the coast on California Highway 12 toward Sebastopol. At that point I would either continue on 12 to Bodega Bay or take California 116 northwestward to the coast, then head south on California 1.
I would take Highway 1 all the way down to Olema and then head inland to the San Francisco area (Sir Francis Drake Blvd). This section of Highway 1 is still twisty but not dangerous. It’s too beautiful to miss. I did it in my 39’ motorhome pulling my 19’ long toad.
After San Francisco, I would follow 1 or 101. I have not yet traveled that section of Highway 1 in my rig, but I don’t think that there would be any problem. If I chose Highway 1, I would return to 101 just south of Santa Cruz. I would avoid Highway 1 between Santa Cruz and just north of Morro Bay.
I would leave 101 again at California 46 near Paso Robles and rejoin Highway 1 toward Morro Bay. Highway 1 joins up with 101 again south of Morro Bay and then splits off again shortly. I would stay on 101 because Highway 1 doesn’t have much to offer in this next section.
1 and 101 come together again near the coast and run together until Oxnard. Then I would take Highway 1 and follow the coast until I reach Santa Monica.
Now that I’m in the Los Angeles area, I would want to get through it as fast as possible. I’d take Interstate 10 to Interstate 405 and head south until I’m deep in Orange County. Then I’d take Beach Blvd. (California Highway 39) to the beach and rejoin Highway 1. I’d stay on 1 all the way down to Dana Point where it joins up with Interstate 5.
Then it’s a straight shot all the way to San Diego on I-5 and then Interstate 8 to Yuma.
That’s more driving than taking just U.S. 101 through California and way more driving than taking Interstate 5 the whole way, but what a difference of sights.
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All seem to be saying the same thing. The coast route is great eye candy, but challanging in some places, previously mentioned. I would stay off of Hwy 1 between Morro Bay and south of Carmel. The scenery is incredible but you would be gripping the wheel too tright and quite stressed out to enjoy anything. The best way to see that area, and you should, is to unhook and take a day trip.
I've been running the Oregon/California coast Highway 101 for the past 50 years.
I've run it in sports cars, sedans, and with a 32' Class A towing a Jeep Cherokee several times both directions including Highway 1 from Leggett to Fort Bragg to Corte Madera, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge without incident. You may want to pass on the Leggett to Fort Bragg section as it is intimidating and will wear you out.
In addition you may be stretching your luck in a 40 footer towing on the last leg from Olema to Corte Madera, but the rest is doable if you have confidence in yourself and know where all the corners of your rig are.
If you think you'd be intimidated travelling Highway 1 just stay on 101 as there is nothing on 101 that I can think of that is threatening or dangerous. It's slow going in some places, but not dangerous.
I still run this route at least once a year to the San Juan Islands. Now, I tow a 33' - 5th wheel and still don't feel uncomfortable doing it.
Enjoy the ride it's worth the twists, turns, climbs and descents.
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, 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LS, 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS w/Equalizer and Prodigy, and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
