Where to camp between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA?
- CommitmentDevice
- Posts: 272
- Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 3:25 am
Where to camp between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA?
We're driving a camper down the West Coast this winter.
We're looking to add an overnight stop somewhere in-between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA.
Any recommendations?
Camping or family friendly adventuring preferred.
Thanks!
We're looking to add an overnight stop somewhere in-between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA.
Any recommendations?
Camping or family friendly adventuring preferred.
Thanks!
- cartophile
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2015 10:52 pm
Re: Where to camp between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA?
I still have fond memories from the late '70s of camping in a redwood forest along the California coast -- I *think* it was Jedediah Smith state park. Huge redwood trees had grown back among the humongous stumps of the older trees that had been harvested in an earlier era. The only drawback is that diverting to the coast adds about 90 minutes of scenic driving time vs. zipping down interstate 5.
Re: Where to camp between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA?
Mt. Shasta?
"The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty; not knowing what comes next." ~Ursula LeGuin
Re: Where to camp between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA?
We enjoyed the KOA outside of Crescent City, right next to Jedediah park.
https://koa.com/campgrounds/crescent-city/
https://koa.com/campgrounds/crescent-city/
-
- Posts: 419
- Joined: Sun Dec 31, 2017 10:34 am
- Location: From sea to shining sea. But mostly the south west.
Re: Where to camp between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA?
Op,
If you’re traveling down the 101 (not interstate 5), then stop in Humboldt county.. and camp in redwoods next to the Pacific Ocean.. and rivers/streams .
If you’re traveling down the 101 (not interstate 5), then stop in Humboldt county.. and camp in redwoods next to the Pacific Ocean.. and rivers/streams .
“On balance, the financial system subtracts value from society” |
-John Bogle
- Ray_McKigney
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Sun Jul 28, 2019 11:48 am
Re: Where to camp between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA?
In addition to Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park near Crescent City, there's Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park further south. There you can camp near Elk Meadow or on the beach at Gold Bluffs. Fern Canyon is a must if you go.
Master of my domain
Re: Where to camp between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA?
The redwoods are a must. Especially Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and anywhere nearby. Our visit was a few years ago so I'll leave detailed camping info for others.
Re: Where to camp between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA?
A lot depends on your route. I-5 is the fastest and least scenic. The coast is slower but beautiful. We prefer the coast. The camping gets better the farther south you go, depending on your preferences. Gualala State Campground isn't bad.
BH Consumer FAQ: |
Car? Used Toyota, Lexus or Miata. |
House? 20% down and 3x salary. |
Vacation house? No. |
Umbrella? $1 million. |
Goods? Costco.
Re: Where to camp between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA?
Anything between Crescent City and Grants Pass, Oregon. We stayed in Grants Pass and drove down to Redwoods and Crescent City.
Also, Crater Lake is a day trip from that area.
Also, Crater Lake is a day trip from that area.
It's not an engineering problem - Hersh Shefrin | To get the "risk premium", you really do have to take the risk - nisiprius
-
- Posts: 1179
- Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 12:14 am
Re: Where to camp between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA?
In case you're not aware, in the Oregon winter be sure to pay attention to the weather. Every route south, west or east from the Willamette Valley (Salem) goes through a mountain pass. ODOT TripCheck is a good site to confirm safe conditions.
Re: Where to camp between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA?
We make the trip to Oregon often to see relatives and usually stay in Lincoln City at the KOA or other parks, but that's in Salem's backyard.
To avoid mountain passes, travel on U.S. 101 South. Its a scenic drive and in good condition for RVs, especially in OR. Lots of places to stop.
Bandon KOA was nice and quiet. Crescent City KOA is nice. Not endorsing KOA, but there are so many of them on our route.
As mentioned, a side trip to Crater Lake is worth it.
To avoid mountain passes, travel on U.S. 101 South. Its a scenic drive and in good condition for RVs, especially in OR. Lots of places to stop.
Bandon KOA was nice and quiet. Crescent City KOA is nice. Not endorsing KOA, but there are so many of them on our route.
As mentioned, a side trip to Crater Lake is worth it.
- CommitmentDevice
- Posts: 272
- Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 3:25 am
Re: Where to camp between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA?
Amazing - thanks for the great advice, everyone!
Re: Where to camp between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA?
I think other folks have mentioned this, but you really need to watch the weather conditions between Mt Ashland and Mt Shasta if you're taking 5. It's an interstate, but it has a lot of curves and elevation changes, and you can get quite a bit of snow. I've done it in a U-Haul in storm conditions and it was less than pleasant, and it can get closed alltgether.
If you take the coast route, either straight down from Salem->Albany->Newport, or turning towards the coast in Grants Pass, then snow shouldn't be much of an issue (although possibly between Eugene and Grants Pass), but that's a much longer (and much prettier) route than taking 5 through California.
Camping-wise, I've stayed at the Manchester Beach KOA a few times (although not recently), and (as another poster mentioned), Jedediah Smith.
Crater Lake is awesome, but it won't be reachable in winter, they don't plow until late Spring.
If you take the coast route, either straight down from Salem->Albany->Newport, or turning towards the coast in Grants Pass, then snow shouldn't be much of an issue (although possibly between Eugene and Grants Pass), but that's a much longer (and much prettier) route than taking 5 through California.
Camping-wise, I've stayed at the Manchester Beach KOA a few times (although not recently), and (as another poster mentioned), Jedediah Smith.
Crater Lake is awesome, but it won't be reachable in winter, they don't plow until late Spring.
Last edited by mrb09 on Thu Oct 06, 2022 12:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Where to camp between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA?
Fort Bragg. Patrick's point. Bodega bay. All are nice family friendly areas.
Re: Where to camp between Salem, OR and San Francisco, CA?
Fort Bragg. Patrick's point. Bodega bay. All are nice family friendly areas.