West Coast RV Trip for Summer #3: Don’t Miss These Spots!

Arguably one of the most famous drives in the U.S., the Pacific Coast Highway is the ultimate RV road trip destination. Spanning Washington to California, and featuring countless cliffside vistas, urban and suburban spaces, and plenty of charming pit stops along the way, the PCH offers 600 miles of unspoiled, coastline-hugging roadway –– perfect for exploring.

If you are thinking about taking the RV for a summer drive along America’s west coast, there is truly no better way to see the sights. So we’ve put together another breathtaking journey like no other. Picking up where we left off in spectacular San Francisco, we’re heading north along the PCH, stopping in to experience world-class wineries, stunning sights, and stately national parks before taking a break along the golden shores of southern Oregon. Load up the RV for another west coast summer road trip!

Itinerary:

San Francisco > Napa Valley > Mendocino > Eureka > Gold Beach, OR

Total Drive:

9.5 hours, without traffic

Leaving San Francisco

We loved San Francisco so much, that saying goodbye was a tough one. After all, there is so much to experience in this versatile coastal municipality––from the culture and history to the shopping and dining, SanFran is one of those all-American cities that deserves a thorough exploration. If you can take the time to extend your stay, by all means, do so.

Pull the RV out of the San Francisco RV Resort, take a sweeping pass over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and dabble among the lakes and gardens in Golden Gate Park, stop in Sausalito to catch a glimpse of the infamous Alcatraz Prison from the bay (or take the ferry to experience it up close and personal), and then head north through Mill Valley to check out the deep canyons and cool redwood forests in Mount Tamalpais State Park.

RV Accommodation:

Mount Tamalpais features first-come-first-serve RV camping, available at Pantoll or Bootjack Campgrounds. Alice Eastwood Campground is a great alternative for larger parties and offers plenty of parking space for vehicles of all sizes.

Directions:

Take the 101 North for 60 miles, then merge onto I-80 and head eastward towards the next destination.

Napa Valley

Famed for its vineyards and ideal weather conditions, Napa Valley is a slight detour from the coastal drive up the PCH but well worth the pit stop––even with an RV in tow.

Wineries and vineyards make up the lay of the land and for good reason. And while every one of them boasts the best bottles in the country, it’s hard to pick a few must-see favorites for a dedicated sampling tour. Some of the region’s most popular options include:

• Louis M. Martini Winery
• Pine Ridge Vineyards
• Domaine Carneros
• Round Pond Estate
• Stag’s Leap Winery
• Robert Mondavi Winery

It’s not all grapes! For the culture fiends, Napa Valley is home to museums, galleries, studios, and exhibitions celebrating film, music, art, and architecture. Experience all the artistic flourishes the local area has to offer with a visit to the di Rosa Contemporary Art Gallery or the Gordon Huether Gallery; take in a show at Cameo Cinema or live music performance at Uptown Theatre, or check out the festival-style shopping at V Marketplace for a little bit of all the above, plus exceptional dining.

And, of course, the recreational opportunities are endless for those who want to get out and stretch their legs. Ballooning is a popular local pastime. Napa Valley Balloons, Inc. and Napa Valley Aloft both offer rides for novices from certified professional operators.

RV Accommodation:

If you are a fan of wine––and, specifically, wine-tasting––it might be best to spend the night in Napa. And there are plenty of accommodations for RVs and camper vans, including dedicated lots in Skyline Wilderness Park, or at Vineyard RV Park, which features a host of amenities like laundry facilities, restrooms/showers, propane refill, a clubhouse, and free Wi-Fi. Either of these premiere rest stops can serve as a base for your time exploring Napa Valley.

Directions:

Head west back towards the northbound CA-1, the Pacific Coast Highway, and travel north.

Mendocino County

Traveling north from Napa for about 150 miles, the radiant splendor of Mendocino County begins to appear on the horizon. This coastal community known for its cliffside trails and sandy beaches has been a popular tourist destination for decades. It offers small-town charm and natural wonder with friendly hospitality.

If you’re stopping in the town of Mendocino proper, you’ll be wowed by the local shops and restaurants overlooking the ocean. You must check out the beaches if for no other reason than to wade into the glass-bottom water and take in the serenity of it all.

But Mendocino County is really for appreciating nature in its finest forms. The region is teeming with parks and redwood trees to be discovered at every turn. Campervans and RVs can pull up to Camp Navarro for one of the best sites for experiencing the local flora and fauna. There’s also hiking, trekking, biking or wilderness walks through Mendocino Woodlands State Park––just pull into Mendocino Redwoods RV Resort to take advantage of all the conveniences of home. And, of course, the famous Mendocino National Forest for fishing, swimming, rafting and so much more.

RV Accommodation:

Dip into nearby Fort Bragg for even more outdoor adventure spots and refuel at pet-friendly Promo RV Park, a 17-acre premiere lot that offers full hookups, including power/water and cable

Directions:

Continue north on CA-1, the Pacific Coast Highway

Eureka

Up next on this west coast road trip is a port city so quaint and accommodating, you’re likely to drive right past it. But be on the lookout for Eureka, California, in Humboldt County at the heart of the Redwood Coast.

The first thing you’ll notice when pulling into town is the blast-from-the-past architecture and design that dots the downtown strip. Victorian-style buildings housing charming shops and restaurants that have to be experienced to be believed…truly another world!

Another must-see in Eureka is the Sequoia Park Zoo, home to primates and pandas (where else can you stop to see pandas on a northern California RV trip?!) and the oldest zoo of its kind in the entire state. And while you’re there, be sure to try the Redwoods Sky Walk, an inspiring, self-guided trekking tour among the tallest trees you’re sure to see––ever!

This quirky Northern California town really has it all, including a ton of events and festivals (by now, you’ll likely notice that the temperatures are getting a little cooler the further north you travel, so many of these outdoor event change according to season). Some of the best to check out when you’re in town include:

• Eureka Friday Night Market (July – September)
• Farmers’ Market (June – October)
• Free Summer Concert Series (June – August)
• Arts Alive! (Held the first Saturday of every month)
• Speeder Car Rides (June – September)
• Madaket Tours (May – October)

RV Accommodation:

Make your base at Shoreline RV Park, one of the highest-rated lots in the area. It features a ton of great overnight and long-term amenities and is located close to local grocery stores, nature trails, shopping, and, of course, giant redwoods.

Directions:

Continue north on CA-1, the Pacific Coast Highway

Gold Beach, Oregon

By now, the terrain is more rugged than the palm-tree-lined coasts of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, but that only means more opportunities for adventure (and isn’t that the whole point?)

With Eureka in the rearview mirror, in 2.5 hours, you’ll cross the state border and head into one of Oregon’s hidden gems: the aptly named Gold Beach.

Gold Beach sounds like a heavenly spot for rest and relaxation––and it is. But it’s so much more, too. World-class salmon fishing, mountain hikes, windsurfing, treks through untouched forests, and kayaking down the Rogue River. In addition to all the recreational options, there are several unique tourist spots and historical sites to check out. Like exploring the wreck of the Mary D. Hume, snapping a selfie in front of the iconic Kissing Rock, or a fascinating visit to the Curry History Museum.

If Gold Beach is the end of the line for your northbound PCH road trip, then you can experience even more of the area’s local attractions before turning around and heading back down south via Highway 1. Or you can keep heading north. In fact, we’ve got another stretch of PCH to explore that takes you and your RV even further north.