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Old 04-18-2017, 07:03 PM   #1
JABURKHOLDER
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West Coast Drive

Part of my westward ho trip includes driving down the west coast.
I have several questions...
In Washington and Oregon, I'm looking to take the 101 south along the coast. I'm not in any hurry but is this route slow and tedious ?
In California I am also looking to take the 101/ PCH 1 south to the Ventura area. Is this route slow and tedious ?
Am I better off taking 5 the whole way ?
Also, it has been 36 years since I lived in California, I don't remember if the Grapevine is on 5 ??? Really would rather avoid that.
Any advise from you West Coasters will be helpful.
Thanks in advance.
 
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Old 04-18-2017, 07:24 PM   #2
Mike117
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Washington and Oregon coast no problem. Maybe slow depending on time of year. Hwy 1 in northern Californa could be done but I wouldn't. I did it in a car and some pretty good switch backs and actually got a little car sick and I was driving. Saw lots of gouges in black top from folks who tried it with trailers. Grapevine is on I-5 as you head up from Bakersfield in Kern County. It is no problem as old 99 and I-5 merge if memory serves. Coast is beautiful in Oregon. 101 is doable in all states. Good luck. Lived in California and now WA. Done route in car and old Trailer.
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Old 04-18-2017, 07:42 PM   #3
Drifty1
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I just came up 101 from Santa Maria CA. to Newport Or. This winter was bad to many sections of this road as many places that the road were washed out. They have layed some temporary patches that are very rough.. The stretch north of Santa Rosa CA. has some bad sections that will give you a bad roller coaster ride. At least CA. is working on many sections north of Willits but Oregon has only put in some temp patches on their slide areas. I would say there are at least 30-40 places with patches from a block long up to a quarter mile long. Just don't get in a hurry as it is a very scenic drive.
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Old 04-18-2017, 09:00 PM   #4
bigskyjimmy
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I am with Drifty 101 up the Oregon and Wash coast is a walk in the park and Beautiful BUT like he said it has been a WET winter and some of it is a little rough but go for it WE LOVE IT and do it every year as we live on the Wash coast our friends right now are with us in Ocean Shores Wa and going to Winchester bay Rv resort in Oregon next week
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Old 04-18-2017, 10:05 PM   #5
Carl n Susan
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The others have given you good advice. Take 101 (not Hwy-1) all the way south from WA to SoCal. Don't be in a big hurry as the OR coast can get slowed down by tourists (depending on the time of year).

By going south from WA you are going the right way! The scenic turnouts, particularly in OR, are on the right side of the road and much easier to enter/exit than coming the other way.
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Old 04-19-2017, 05:37 AM   #6
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X2 on the 101 being fine for towing other than rough roads. There is some rough road between Newport and Lincoln City also if I remember correctly. We did do the 1 from below Sanfaransicisco and I don't advise it with Fifthwheel. It can be done as we did it but it is extremely slow and it seemed that I got a good look at the back half of my Fifthwheel in most of the corners. ;-)

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Old 04-19-2017, 09:46 AM   #7
John Neeley
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Stay on 101. Hwy 1 South of San Fran is closed due to road missing and bridges out due to winter rains and landslides.
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Old 04-19-2017, 10:17 AM   #8
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If you have not seen it before, don't miss the Avenue of the Giants while going down 101 in northern CA. You would want to camp somewhere nearby and drive it, not towing. Pretty awesome to walk inside a living tree partially burned out in a fire. Or come upon a fallen tree you could never climb over without a tall ladder.

http://avenueofthegiants.net
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Old 04-19-2017, 09:50 PM   #9
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Can you take an RV across the Golden Gate Bridge ?
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Old 04-19-2017, 11:05 PM   #10
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Jerry,
Yes, no problem. Far right lane is for trucks and RV's. important to know the route through SF. Where are you heading??

Ken
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Old 04-19-2017, 11:40 PM   #11
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Jerry, here is a link to the toll for the bridge. They use a electronic payment system and I believe the truck and trailer will run $30. We went around San Francisco but still ended up with a $20 toll.
http://goldengate.org/tolls/index.php
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Old 04-20-2017, 07:57 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by brenkco View Post
Jerry,
Yes, no problem. Far right lane is for trucks and RV's. important to know the route through SF. Where are you heading??

Ken
OH, IN, IL, WI, MN, SD, WY, MT, ID, WA, OR, WA, CA, NV, Four Corners, NM, TX, OK, MS, TN, KY, OH

On the west coast I plan on taking 101 from Oak Harbor, Wa to Ventura, Ca then thru the desert to Vegas.
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Old 04-20-2017, 08:14 AM   #13
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Ok then!

If you want to go via the Golden Gate Bridge, you should take the Hwy 1 exit on the south side of the bridge. After you exit the tunnel at lake street, it becomes 3 lanes. Stay in the middle lane. You will wind up on I280 towards San Jose. Then take hwy 85 to hook back to 101. You do not want to take 101 through SF.

If you want to avoid the SF thing and city driving, take 580 in San Rafael to 880 in Oakland to 101. You will avoid the GG bridge toll. (Richmond bridge toll is westbound).

Traffic can be a challenge. But if you time it right, you can minimize it.

Ken
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Old 04-20-2017, 08:22 AM   #14
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Ok then!

If you want to go via the Golden Gate Bridge, you should take the Hwy 1 exit on the south side of the bridge. After you exit the tunnel at lake street, it becomes 3 lanes. Stay in the middle lane. You will wind up on I280 towards San Jose. Then take hwy 85 to hook back to 101. You do not want to take 101 through SF.



Ken
Thanks,
Jerry
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Old 04-22-2017, 05:49 AM   #15
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Lots of great info. We did a south to north route up the Northern Ca, Or, and Wa coast in 2007. Yes, the scenic places are on the coast side of the highway--we had to skip a few with the Monty because of traffic. We came back to many after the set up camp. For SF, we went around the city and stayed in Petaluma and took a nice tour over the Golden Gate into SF--let the driver do the driving and we did the looking. Have a great trip!
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Old 04-22-2017, 07:56 AM   #16
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Hwy 1 isn't for the faint of heart, but going through SF on Hwy 1 isn't bad if you just take your time, then take 280 south. If this is a once in a lifetime trip, a coast drive south of SF is a must. Get a campground around Paso Robles and drive it, north, rated one of the best drives.
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