posted
I am now in Eugene Or and will be heading south mid next week.Can someone give some insite on what to expect on traveling through the pass with bad weather. Also, what would the trip for a 42 ft MH and tow be like going through Crescent City? and which Highway would you suggest to get back to I5 before Sacramento?
-------------------- Monaco Dynasty Towing Dodge Dakota F1 Datastorm|D3 v 3.9.4|HN7000S|99W/1230 Posts: 78 | From: Edmonton, Alberta | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Wx is a bit hard to predict this time of year-- You may find yourself waiting in Ashland for the pass to be dry enough to cross w/o chains or you may zip right over.
If you are travelling over this weekend, especially Sunday, you will likely encounter several hours delay North of Redding due to bridge work and expected holiday traffic.
(oops-- I see "mid next week")
If you elect to go down the coast and must traverse back to I 5 North of Sacramento the best route is via hwy 20 just North of Ukiah.
There are a couple of tight spots thru the redwoods but generally it is just fine.
Likewise if you take 199 from Grants Pass over to Crescent City you will encounter a few miles of narrow roadway where passing an oncoming big rig will make your eyes get big but it is otherwise a spectacular drive.
posted
I've bounced off one guardrail on 199, so I've taken to avoiding it. Oregon 126 to Florence then south is my preferred way to get to-from Eugene and Eureka. Likewise we usually use 20 to get to I-5 when headed south.
Only hairy part of that trip in a 42-footer is probably Richardson's Grove south of Garberville, where you will wind between redwoods that are right against the side of the road for a mile or so.
199 has been much improved in the past few years--
Still a few miles that are very narrow especially just East of Patrick's Creek Lodge but its not as bad it was when I moved up here 8 years ago. I just slow down and let the crazies behind me suffer for ten minutes.
posted
Len, I know that if I was leaving Eugene and heading for Crescent City I would ONLY take 126W to Florence and then S. to Crescent City (be sure to stop in Brookings at the Seaside RV Park, I think, on the beach). Follow that S. on 101 as far as you like. It's a great drive and the roads are excellent. You will pick up CA37 to I80 to Sacramento and then S. on I-5. You could also just continue S. on 101 depending upon your destination. If you are headed anywhere S. of San Fran. near the coast, I highly recommend that you take US1 (yes, really, US1) S. from the Monterey/Seaside area all the way to Morro Bay. What a great (25 MPH in many places) drive! As long as you are not on a tight schedule, this is one of the nicest drives we have taken in many years.
-------------------- Bill Adams Winegard Company Posts: 15677 | From: Traveling the Western US | Registered: May 2003
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If you take the US1 South trip, be sure to visit Hearst Castle in San Simeon. There are 3 (I believe) different tours available and you can take only 1 at a time, return to the bottom of the hill by bus and begin another. We did not know that and only had time for 1, but I would recommend an earlier start and additional tours for a complete overview if this kind of thing interests you.
-------------------- Bill Adams Winegard Company Posts: 15677 | From: Traveling the Western US | Registered: May 2003
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Hearst Castle (a California State Park) can be visited off US101 from SLO (and you get to visit Morro Bay!). The trip down US1 from Monterey is beautiful (one of the best), but might be tiring driving a 42' motorhome towing a car (narrow, tight turns).
John
-------------------- "Always gone yet always at home."
Fulltiming in Monaco Windsor towing Jeep Grand Cherokee F1 Datastorm | D2 | DW7000 | 117/990 | Vista Ultimate 64 Posts: 138 | From: Full-time RV'ers | Registered: Mar 2004
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Well, if you're traveling US1 South from Monterrey you must stop for lunch at Nepenthe Restaurant, former home of Orson Wells and Rita Hayworth. (A few miles South of Big Sur.)
posted
I agree with John and Paul (gee, add in George and Ringo and I think you would have a great band) that the drive down 1 from Monterrey is beautiful. However, also be aware that motorhomes over 40' are not allowed on most roads in California and that is one of them. You can legally access Hearst Castle from the South via 1 but not from the North. California has maps of the roads that are legal for a motorhome over 40' but not longer than 45' to travel here.
You will note that 1 from Monterrey to the Hearst Castle is not only not 'approved' for motorhomes over 40' it is a red route where they make a note that they are specifically 'prohibited'.
-------------------- Michael Day F1|D3|7000 5.8.0.72|Currently no Hughes|1 Laptop: XP Home|1 Desktop:Vista, 1 Win7|Cradlepoint 1400|Verizon MiFi 4GLTE| Newell Coach, PT Cruiser Turbo Find Me Here (Map) Donations Help Support This Site Posts: 2814 | From: Everywhere (home is Austin, TX) | Registered: May 2003
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posted
That was my next question, What are the length restriction. I have not traveled much in California with my MH before, so any comments advise would be greatly appreciated.
Len
-------------------- Monaco Dynasty Towing Dodge Dakota F1 Datastorm|D3 v 3.9.4|HN7000S|99W/1230 Posts: 78 | From: Edmonton, Alberta | Registered: Nov 2005
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Until 2001, motorhomes over 40' in length were illegal to drive on California roads. However, the law was not enforced until late 1999 when CA started actively issuing citations to motorhomes over 40'. After several years of out cry, a law was passed (effective 10/9/01) that allowed motorhomes (which CA legislation calls house cars) between 40' and 45' to be legally operated in California on SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED roads. The link I listed above gives detailed maps of the legal routes in CA for motorhomes over 40'. While many motorhomes over 40' travel on roads not designated for their travel, just be aware that you are subject to receiving a ticket.
It is also easy to violate the 65' combined length limit in CA if you have a motorhome over 40' (particularly if it is 45') towing a large car/truck. Example: a 45' motorhome using a tow bar to tow a Suburban breaks the 65' limit and can net you a ticket from the CHP. Do people do it without getting caught, Yes! Do people get tickets for doing it, Yes! Probably not a problem for a 42' motorhome unless you are pulling a trailer since most tow bar/vehicle combinations would be less than 23'.
Take a look at the maps and follow the green routes and you are good to go. You would be more likely to get in trouble on a red route than an unlisted route.
-------------------- Michael Day F1|D3|7000 5.8.0.72|Currently no Hughes|1 Laptop: XP Home|1 Desktop:Vista, 1 Win7|Cradlepoint 1400|Verizon MiFi 4GLTE| Newell Coach, PT Cruiser Turbo Find Me Here (Map) Donations Help Support This Site Posts: 2814 | From: Everywhere (home is Austin, TX) | Registered: May 2003
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