About RVing
The Absolute Toughest Drive I Ever Drove in an RV
I well remember the day I turned left, away from the coast, and headed east. With that turn, I ended the absolute toughest drive I have ever taken in an RV—and I’ve been RVing on wheels since 1962 and driven our big RV in 49 states (not Hawaii) plus much of Canada! It was a spectacular drive, but tough.
Define “Tough” Let me define “tough”—curving, twisting, tight turns, numerous switchbacks, narrow lanes, 500-foot drop-offs straight down, rarely any shoulder, a few sparse guardrails, rock abutments sticking out into my lane on inside curves, bushes and trees so close you must brush them, some mostly bunched-up traffic, a few fully-loaded log trucks, and fog—yes, fog! Would I recommend this drive? Well, yes, but not for the faint-hearted and not in an RV. Allow me to explain.
Going south on US 101 through northern California is a wonderful drive and highly recommended. This drive is most spectacular along the coast and through the redwood forests prevalent there and, coincidentally, only grow along this stretch of coast—no place else in the world. There are a number of coastal towns where you can stay for very reasonable overnight rates, the campgrounds are great, and the number of excellent seafood restaurants is sometimes overwhelming. (Rule #1 is always try the clam chowder.) But I digress…
First Hint Below Eureka, California, US 101 heads inland and stays away from the coast all the way to San Francisco. We wanted to be on the coast. So, at Legget, California (about Mile Marker 616) we decided to take California Highway 1 (Shoreline Highway). After all, it hugs the coast, ends up in San Francisco, and is a “red” road on the map. RVers know that the red roads are typically okay. What we didn’t know was that this highway is one of the official “ California Restricted Routes ” (click to see my article entitled, California Restricted Routes).
We turned that 42-foot Dynasty towing a Saturn Vue onto Highway 1, heading west toward the coast, and within a mile, were into the curvy, twisty, narrow lane, easing around large rock abutments sticking out—i.e., seemed to be reaching out—for the passenger side of my coach while I was concentrating on the potential surprise of an oncoming vehicle possibly crowding my lane. We only planned to go to Fort Bragg, a wimpy 42 miles but now we were averaging a whopping 15-20 mph!
Luckily, there were numerous turnouts, with some large enough for me to pull off with our 63-foot coach and toad combination. When a turnout was available, we usually stopped for a short rest. The concentration and constant extensive turning of the steering wheel was tiring. I don’t get rattled or nervous. This was a challenge. And no, it was not possible to turn around even if we unhooked. We were committed. We joked that we should have been committed for turning onto this route. The first 20-or-so miles took us to the coast over a small mountain range where we were always in the woods. Finally, we got to the coast. Our moment. Life was good. But, I was really glad we did not have to backtrack. Now, I wish I had.
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Traveling the entire Pacific Coast in an RV is one of the best ways to enjoy this incredible route, starting in San Diego and driving up to Seattle. ... but it's also the most popular time for travel and Highway 101 can quickly get congested. Spring or fall is the best time for enjoying some sunshine with fewer crowds. 01 of 07. First Stop: San ...
Plan your epic road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway from Seattle to Orange County with this comprehensive guide. Find the best stops, tips, directions, and itinerary examples for Washington, Oregon, and California.
Los Angeles. The last stop on this Pacific Coast Highway road trip is 95 miles south to Los Angeles. This stop could keep you busy for months. Famous for Hollywood, Rodeo Drive, and the Malibu beaches, you are sure to have plenty to do. You will probably even run into one or two of the celebrities that live in the area.
A family's epic road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway 101 from Seattle to Los Angeles. Discover the best attractions, landmarks and experiences in Washington, Oregon and California, including national parks, coastline, cities and wildlife.
A blog post about driving an RV along the scenic but challenging US 101, from Oregon to California. It includes tips, photos, and recommendations for RV parks and campgrounds along the way.
Learn about the history, attractions, and RV parks along US Route 101, one of the most historic highways in America. Explore the Avenue of the Giants, Ecola State Park, Olympic Peninsula Loop, and more on your west coast adventure.
Plan your ultimate road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway from San Diego to Seattle. Find the best itineraries, stops, attractions, and tips for Highway 1 and Highway 101.
Plan your 2023 California RV trip with this guide that includes where to stay, what to do, and what to eat along the famous Pacific Coast Highway. See photos, videos, tips, and costs for San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, San Francisco, Redwoods, and Coos Bay.
Pacific Coast Highway & Highway 101Road Trip Guide. Pacific Coast Highway & Highway 101. The Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most iconic drives in the United States. California Highway 1 (the PCH) runs 655.8 miles from its southern terminus at Dana Point, CA to its northern terminus at Leggett, CA. Some of the most breath-taking scenery is ...
We wanted to take the Pacific Coast Highway (U.S. Highway 101) South through California, except we wanted to go around San Francisco.We share our California Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip by RV including places to stay such as free overnight parking at casinos and wineries through Harvest Hosts, and things to do.Planning a US 101 road trip? We share our favorites.
Plan your ultimate road trip along Highway 1, one of the most scenic drives in the world. Find out the best time, route, stops, attractions, and tips for this iconic California journey.
Explore the diverse landscapes and attractions of the Pacific Coast, from temperate rainforest to near-desert, on a classic road trip from Washington to California. Learn about the best stops, historic sites, and scenic views along the way, including Olympic National Park, Redwood National Park, and Big Sur.
Start in Los Angeles. Dean's California-wild, sweaty, important, the land of lonely and exiled and eccentric lovers come to forgather like birds, and the land where everybody somehow looked like broken-down, handsome, decadent movie actors. - On the Road. Kissing LA's skyline from Runyon Canyon - a local favorite.
Explore the best of the Oregon coast with this guide by a local who shares her favorite spots, tips, and photos. From Astoria to Brookings, discover the scenic beaches, charming towns, and iconic landmarks along Highway 101.
Explore the best of the Oregon coastline along Highway 101, from Astoria to Bandon. Find scenic views, hikes, attractions, camping, lodging, and local tips for your road trip.
Explore the stunning natural attractions and historic towns along the Pacific Coast Highway 101 in Oregon. Find out the best places to visit, things to do, and tips for your ultimate Oregon coast road trip.
Explore the remote and scenic coastline of Washington state along Highway 101. Find hiking trails, camping spots, attractions, and more in Olympic National Park, the Olympic Coast, Grays Harbor, and Willapa Bay.
The Pacific Coast Highway runs along two highways: US 101 in Washington, Oregon, and parts of California and California Highway 1 in the majority of California. From end to end, the Pacific Coast Highway is 1,675 miles long from Olympia, WA to San Diego, CA. Now that you know the details, let's dig into the logistics of planning your own ...
Plan the ultimate 10-day road trip along the California coast, from Los Angeles to the Avenue of the Giants. Discover the best stops, activities, and tips for driving Highway One, including whale watching, elephant seals, and hot springs.
Explore the best places to visit and stay along the 1,540-mile Highway 101 from Los Angeles to Seattle. Find tips on road trip activities, attractions, and vacation homes on the Central Coast, Redwood Coast, Oregon Coast, and Olympic Peninsula.
Explore the diverse and dramatic scenery of Washington's Pacific Coast Highway (101) with this KOA camping guide. Find attractions, activities, and campgrounds along the way, from Olympic National Park to Fort Vancouver.
The author shares his experience of driving a 63-foot RV on California Highway 1, a scenic but challenging route along the Pacific coast. He warns that this road is not big rig friendly and requires constant attention and skill.
Explore the northern California coast with this comprehensive guide to Highway 1 and Highway 101. Find scenic stops, hikes, camping, lodging, food, and fun facts along the way.
US-101 separates the Santa Monica Mountains to the south from the Simi Hills and Santa Susana Mountains to the north. US-101 is a formidable and virtually impenetrable barrier for many wildlife species including mountain lions, bobcats, gray foxes, coyotes and mule deer that inhabit and travel between these two mountain ranges.
The Marin-Sonoma Narrows Project on Highway 101 in Novato on Aug. 7, 2024. The 16-mile construction project, more than a decade in the making, is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Highway 101 Loop (Olympic Peninsula) One of the most scenic rides in Washington, Highway 101 offers a mix of coastal and forest scenery. This loop around the peninsula takes you through dense rainforests, past lakes like Crescent and Quinault, and along rugged Pacific shores. Loads of places to stop and explore. 300 miles.