We just did a very similar trip and stayed at the KOA in Petaluma. That was actually a really nice park and i would definitely recommend it. I don't know what HWY 1 is like, because we followed everyone's advice and stayed off of it. But I can say even the 101 and driving into SF was a little white knuckle with a trailer. The lanes are extremely narrow and driving through the toll booth with the trailer behind didn't give me an easy feeling either. JMHO though
The Candlestick CG charges around $70, what might be convenient if you want to see the City, but not too affordable on long run. There are tons of CG in the 1.5 hr driving range. Any freeway or highway have them, but I never used them. My favorite campgrounds in higher Sierra charged $12 to $16 last season and I dying to go there. Maybe in the fall.
I drove highway 1 with motorhomes and although it made for 20 mph average, it is beautiful. North of San Francisco might not be advisable for 40', but I drove from Monterey to LA along the Ocean in 40-footers just fine.
Pessimist sees dark tunnel, optimist sees a light at the end, realist sees lights of coming train.Engineer sees 3 idiots on the tracks.
hey lady wrote: Does anyone have recommendation for a campground very close to or in San Francisco?
The one located in Pacifica is about as close as you are going to get.
hey lady wrote: We will approach from the north on Highway 1. We will be mainly in the Fisherman's Wharf area?
I work in downtown SF, so I would suggest driving to the Colma Bay Area Rapid Transit Station BART and taking the train to the Embarcadero BART station. You come upstairs and take the F streetcar. It stops right at Fisherman's Wharf. Parking in San Francisco costs $20+ a day. Public Transit is the best and cheapest way to get around here.
MFinCA
2004 Homestead Settler 255RS
1999 Chevrolet Suburban 2500
A few years ago we stayed at the Novato RV Park. It was very convenient to the hwy and not too far from the Golden Gate Bridge. We had no problem commuting into the Fisherman's Wharf area to park for the day and see the sites. The sites are tight but it is a very clean and convenient place to stay.
We did try to drive Hwy 1 Northbound from Hwy 128 near Albion to where it joins the 101 again, then stayed on 101 until we got to Crescent City. We had planned on the 101 all the way up the Oregon Coast, but the fog caused us to bail at Crescent City. When it's 100 degrees in the valley, the cold moist air from the Pacific gets kinda thick!
Chuck & Pam in NC
Bobbi the Traveling Cat
Our Travel Page: Chuck & Pam's Travel Pages
Bounder 32 - Ford V10
'04 Chevy Tracker Toad.
F261484
NJ4B
We stayed in Morgan Hill at Coyote Valley RV Resort. It is close enough to visit Monterey and San Francisco, within 1 hour drive on the weekend. When traveling from Morgan Hill north on the 101 you will cross over the Golden Gate Bridge. The 101 ends on the south side of the city and you will have to travel a short distance on city streets. It's not bad if done on the weekend in the early hours. I have a 5th Wheel trailer and it was not that bad. If you have any skills it should not be a problem. I know you will be traveling south, just giving you a heads up. Time your travels through San Francisco and LA in the very early morning hours or late in the evening. 0600 or 2000 hours. Hwy 1 is a little more challenging, but if done correctly and safely can be a very memorable adventure. Good luck and Happy Trailes.
Some of the answers may be dependent on when you're traveling. Half Moon Bay State Beach will take reservations, and thats one of the nicer parks in the area but they're booked for the next few weeks till Sept. No hookups, though, if it makes a diff. Go to www.parks.ca.gov to check it out. There aren't any bad sites there but some are nicer than others.
SF RV park in Pacifica on an Ocean bluff, cold, windy gut your best best for tourist. Expensive but basically in the city and take BART as suggested. A nice parking lot with a hot tub.
Novato RV park 18 miles north of the Golden Gate, tight, but clean. Take the Ferry in from Larkspur, then walk or take a trolley to the wharf. (RV friends will be here again for their yearly visit in a few days, they came back so I guess it/we are not that bad )
It's a basic park.
Marin RV park, safe, very noisy freeway but you can walk to the Ferry.
Basic
KOA in Petaluma, 35 miles but in summer Gray line has tour buses to the city. Excellent KOA. Woodsy, big pool, animal farm and tons of cows in the ranch surrounding it (which can be country 'fresh' air is manure is spread.)
Cedar Creek 27LRLS 7359 dry with extensive options/7700+ loaded.
2003 Expedition 5.4 FX4 with factory Tow 3.73 Bilstein shocks. GCVWR 14500, Tow rating with no cargo 8650
Equalizer Hitch, Prodigy, Barker Electric jack. Coachnet ERS
Rallies=8 My travel albums
I spent some at the RV at Pacifica a couple of years back. The wife wanted to camp close to the ocean. It was expensive then (but I was working full time). Now I will have to think twice or save for the trip. I have a Coleman Bayside and at that time my tow vehicle was a Tundra. We took highway 1 up the coast on our way to see the kids in Seattle and did not have a problem. It was a very seanic ride. As far as the state parks are concerned, you will need reservations. At least that is what my mom said back then and it is probalby still true today. I have not check on any other sites because that one was the closest to my mom's house.
Offline
Online
