Pacific Coast Highway Trip

Just wanted to get anyone's thoughts or opinions on traveling the PCH.
We've been full-timers for the last 7 years. Primarily travel in the west and winter in south Texas. This year we've decided to travel the PCH from southern California to Seattle. From Seattle we'll head over to northern Idaho, then on to Durango, CO before heading back to south Texas.
Left Texas a few weeks ago.....took the I-10 to the I-8 and on into San Diego. Stayed at the Admiral Baker Recreational Facility for a while. Now we're at Point Mugu for another week or so. Both places are great, by the way.
I've been told that the PCH around Big Sur is under construction and to avoid that section. Other than that, does anyone have any other info? I traveled the Oregon coast years ago, but have never been on the section from southern California to Crescent City. Any info would be appreciated. Hope to meet other travelers on the way.

Bill

What are you driving / towing??

Some of the PCH is pretty tight for big rigs - more of a visual hassle than actually a FIT hassle, basically. But if you're big rig AND towing, you might have some problems.

No eaaaaasy way around Big Sur without going all the way to I-5 and past SF, come in above SF into Marin County - If you just drive H-101, you'll hit a ton of traffic thru SF that is often a nightmare unless you schedule SF pass-thru at night. IF you go to I-5 and come back to the coast, Rte 12w is fine, and comes in above the SF hassle, mostly.

PCH above SF, thru Oregon, and to Seattle is one of the most beautiful drives in this country. We did it last year, from the north. Oregon has free camping for ten days a month if a DAV - and reduced rates for veterans (I think that's still in effect)

EDIT: Just looked at "U" -- 30' with Jeep ... probably be okay most of PCH. Definitely a great drive ... worth all the effort.

Hi I wonder if you would give more info on Oregon's free camping. Is it State Parks Federal etc Where would I find more info? We plan to drive from Washinton, Oregon to Yosemite via the Pacific Coast Hgwh. Thanks

We just done the trip from the south to Seattle in April, May of this year. We still don't know what you are driving or towing but we have a 40'MH and tow a big pickup with a Harley on the back. We skipped the Big Sur area because they had a big mud slide and that is why the construction. We also skipped the area from SF North for 100mi. because of the twist and turns but took the Motor cycle in that area and seen what we wanted to see. It is the most gorgeous area of the trip. If you have a big rig you should avoid the State parks in Northern Ca and even though the state parks in Or. are free for the disabled veteran for 10 days they are very tight for the big rigs. You have to apply for the Or. state park pass through the Oregon state parks. Do a search for Oregon veterans park pass or something like that and you will find it. We used about 4 days of ours coming north. Also done some damage to our Mh because of the trees being so close. Make sure you eat some dongenus spelling wrong crab as it is cheep in north Ca. and Oregon. Fort Rilea is a good place to stop in Or. to see all of the sights around there. Enjoy and if you have any more questions, just ask.
Bill

Monkey44 and Bill6750

Thanks for the information. BTW - we're in a 30' class A with a Jeep toad.

Will be leaving Pt. Mugu Thursday - just gonna take an easy trip up to Pismo Beach (with a stop in Solvang)that day. Will be headed to Carmel on Friday for the weekend. I'll be avoiding the Big Sur area due to the slide. Gonna take the 101 to Salinas and then cut back down.
Just gonna take things as they come when we leave Carmel and head north. Have reservations at Fort Lewis for 3 July, so that's the only schedule I have to meet for now.
Thanks for the info about the San Francisco area. Sounds like a busy place, but I think I'll give it a go. If it looks too bad, I'll take your advice, Monkey and take 12w. Would like to cross the Golden Gate and get back over on the PCH at Muir Beach (sounds like Bill6750 liked that part of his trip). Looking at Google, from Muir Beach north it seems quite twisty, so I guess I'll be in for some white knuckle driving for a while!

Looking forward the Dungeness crab. Thanks for that advice, Bill6750!!

Once again, thanks......Bill B.

Don't misunderstand me - RTE 12w is good from I-5 to SF and north if you wnat to bypass downtown SF traffic (a nightmare) - if you go thru SF, you'll stay on Hwy-101 -- if you dio it, go thru at night, late. SF tarffic is NUTS all day long...

RE Free Camping{ Oregon State Parks - as I recall, it's any Disabled Vet gets ten days per month free at state parks. Might be any VET, but as I recall, I showed my VA card - which has on it DAV -- Show your DAV card and you get into the computer - ten days in any month.

You can probably get more info on the Oregon Parks site. But, Oregon state parks are probably some of the best in the nation. You'll really enjoy this one - we did the coast from Seattle south to SF last year.