One of the greatest advantages to RVing is the freedom that it provides as you travel. You don’t need to make hotel reservations and there’s no reason to feel you need to stay put in one place. You have the freedom to travel and enjoy a road trip to the fullest extent. And, because you’re traveling in your RV, road tripping is even easier because you have the comfort and convenience you want traveling along with you.
Summer is moving fast but there is still plenty of time to sneak in another trip before school starts and it the calendar books up once again. If you’re looking for ideas on what to do, give one of these west coast road trips a try.
Highway 1
No West Coast road trip list would be complete without mentioning Highway 1. The 656 mile route takes you along the stunning Pacific coastline in California. As you drive, you can see thirteen state parks, a national marine sanctuary, historic lighthouses and piers, a Monarch butterfly preserve, elephant seal rookery, forests, white sand beaches, and vineyards.
You can check out tide pools, Hearst Castle, farmer’s markets, breweries, shopping and dining. You can go fishing, surfing, golfing, hiking, and so much more. If you’re looking for an iconic roadtrip that you’ll never forget, start with Highway 1.
San Francisco to Redwood National Park
There are two routes you can take when making this trip. The first is to travel part of Highway 1 following the Pacific Coast. You’ll be able to enjoy gorgeous ocean views and browse through quaint coastal towns on your way to Redwood National Park.
It’s recommended that you plan for at least 3 – 4 days when making this trip so you have time to explore along the way. If you follow Highway 1 the trip is around 350 miles and takes around 8 1/2 hours to drive. Things to do and explore along the way include Point Reyes National Seashore, Bodega Bay, Mendocino, Humboldt Redwoods State Park, and the Lost Coast.
The second route, which is Highway 101, is faster but cuts out some of the stops listed above. However, this route does take you through Sonoma County which is known as being one of the best wine regions in North America.
Oregon: Brookings to Portland
This west coast road trip is around 315 miles long. You’ll start out in southern Oregon in Brookings. As you travel north toward Portland, you find places to stop such as Harris Beach State Park, the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (you can even horseback through it), Oregon Coast Aquarium, Yaquina Head lighthouse, Tillamook creamery, Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock.
There are plenty of others activities you can find to do along the way. There is everything from touristy towns and shopping to stunning views and outdoor adventures.
Sacramento to Los Angeles
You can have a west coast adventure by getting off the well traveled road connecting Los Angeles and Sacramento. This trip takes you toward the Nevada state border to put you on the path for all kinds of experiences.
Some of the highlights you can see on this path include:
- Lake Tahoe
- Yosemite
- Mammoth Lakes
- Owens River Gorge
- Death Valley and the salt flats of Badwater Basin
- Sequoia National Park
- Joshua Tree
- Big Bear
And then you can end your trip at Los Angeles, which has tons of attractions nearby to choose from including Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, Battleship USS Iowa Museum, and Knott’s Berry Farm.
Wine County Road Trip
There are many different ways you can plan your own west coast wine county road trip. You can do a simple Google search to look up wineries you want to visit, or you can choose a specific road trip like following the Pacific Coast Wine Trail. Explore the vineyards, participate in wine tastings, and stop to explore what you pass along the way.
Planning for an RV road trip
If you’re planning for a last minute summer west coast road trip, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- If you want to stay in a campground, we recommend making reservations if possible. Summer is a busy travel time and campgrounds can book up well in advance if they accept reservations.
- If you plan on boondocking, do a little research to come up with potential places you may want to stay overnight.
- Take your time. The beauty of a road trip is that you don’t have to rush. Plan in time to make stops and enjoy the scenery. Look for the activities that you love to enjoy along the route.
- Pack snacks for the road but make sure to eat local along the route. As locals for the best restaurants, wineries, bakeries, coffee shops, and breweries. It will help you enjoy the area you are in even more.
Summer is quickly winding down, but it’s not over yet. There’s still plenty of time to sneak in an RV road trip adventure!
