Pacific Coast Hwy

['TIL MONDAY]

I’m planning a trip up the Northern California Coast and want to follow the coast to the Oregon-Washington state line. I’ll be headed north on the I-5 and plan to head over to the 101 by way of the 580 to the 880 in the San Francisco Bay area. Is this a bad idea? I would appreciate any input.

Once I’m on the 101 or 1: Can I stay on it all the way through Oregon? My rig is not huge but 36’ plus a dinghy is not really small either. Any parts I should avoid?

Thanks,

[fulltiming]

You should be OK with a 36'. I have taken that trip in a 35' with a toad without incident. Some beautiful scenery. If you are in a coach over 40' part of Coast Highway is not a legal road to travel and can be a little tight.

[chockwald]

If you eventually want to end up northbound on Highway 1 (PCH) I would recommend not doing that until you are near Petaluma....head over to Highway 1 on Valley Ford Road to Bodega Bay and then north.....Highway 1 between San Francisco and Bodega Bay is not driveable for any vehicle over 22'. I made the mistake a few years ago in my Class C 26' motorhome of driving this section of highway and had to go around some of the hair pin turns at 2mph and on a couple had to back up and take a different angle...what a nightmare! In a 36' motorhome it would be impossible! From Bodega Bay north it is driveable...some areas you will not get much over 25mph, but that is the speed limit in some sections. Don't try to bite off too many miles per day on Highway 1.....enjoy the scenery, and stop often. I've driven Highway 1 from Astoria, OR to the Mexican border and the only section that will not work for you is the one I just mentioned....south of Bodega Bay to San Francisco.

Enjoy!

['TIL MONDAY]

Thanks Michael, Clarke and Elaine!

I knew someone would have great advice for me on this trip. I'm not going until the last couple weeks of June but nows the time to get a plan together.

Thanks again