debhirschhorn

Is the better view you'd get driving north to south worth the angst of driving along the edge? We plan to go from Mendocino to Santa Barbara one direction (or vice versa), making a loop with Yosemite the other way in mid September.

happytrailstoyou

You use the word "loop." Are you driving between Santa Barbara and Mendocino and then back again?

In any event, both views are spectacular Driving south you will be on the side nearest the ocean and, depending on the time of day, you may be driving into the sun.

HTtY

tomfuller

Were you planning on staying a night or 2 in Yosemite?
Where are you starting the loop? When you can get a reservation in Yosemite may influence which direction you drive the coast.
I prefer driving from north to south so that there are all right turns into the viewpoints. The driver should get the chance to view the ocean a few times instead of concentrating on the highway.

debhirschhorn

One side of the loop will be in eastern California, and the other will be along the coast. We can go clockwise or counterclockwise, whichever makes the nicer trip. We'll be driving down from Oregon (unless we take the train to somewhere in California and rent the car there, but that's still to be researched).

Thanks for thinking about the sun. I googled sunset times, and we should be stopped for the night by then.

My Fodor's guide makes the road along the coast sound treacherous in places. My big concern is, is it really bad enough that we won't want to drive along the edge?

janisj

>>Are you driving between Santa Barbara and Mendocino and then back again?

janisj

we were posting at the same time . . .

sf7307

The road is not curvy, and you have to pay attention, but not treacherous.

janisj

I think sf7307 meant >>The road is not curvy, . .

sf7307

Oops

debhirschhorn

Guess I'd better look into the Yosemite end of it ASAP. Thanks for the advice!

tomfuller

The key to all of this is when you can get the lodging you want in Yosemite. As for the train option, you can take the southbound Coast Starlight to Sacramento and be in the city usually by 7AM. Have a good breakfast and then rent a car either in the city or take the YOLO bus out to the airport to rent earlier.
It depends on whether you want Yosemite at the beginning or after you have been to the coast.
If you are stuck in Sacramento after 11AM visit Old Sacramento including the California Railroad Museum.
The northbound Coast Starlight leaves the station about midnight but you should be in the station before 11PM for your safety.

gualalalisa

Deb,

Just make sure if you see Gualalalisa behind you in a midnight blue Toyota five-speed and she has to get somewhere that you pull over!

We locals who live and work along Hwy. 1 are once again suffering through the summer when tourists drive anywhere from 10 to 30 (!) miles under the speed limit. We realize that the road is new to you and it is spectacular, particularly between Jenner and Mendocino, but there are plenty of pullouts and places to pull over so just keep that in mind- please!

Best,
Lisa

happytrailstoyou

Highway 1 from Leggett to Westport has lots of twists and turns and from Mendocino to Bodega Bay driving on Highway 1 is complicated in several places where the roadway goes inland to negotiate inlets across which no bridges have been built (as they have been on other stretches of Highway 1).

Thus, the beautiful drive is a little strenuous but it is not treacherous. Be well rested and enjoy.

HTtY

razzledazzle

Best you mind gualalalisa,debhirschhorn
We "locals" can get antsy behind slow drivers, LOL !
Hi Lisa !

R5

debhirschhorn

Well, my husband has never been accused of being a slow driver, but we'll be sure to use the turnouts. Too many of my vacation photos are taken from a speeding car window.

I got accommodations outside Yosemite for the second half of the trip, so next I'll tackle the details of driving north to south along the coast. I'm thinking a day from Mendocino to San Francisco, then several nights in the city. Would two days to drive from San Francisco to San Simeon and tour the castle be reasonable?

Any opinions about where to stay?

DebitNM

Turn the car in when you get to San Francisco and then do a new rental. Parking overnight at most hotels in SF is $$$. Also, it will be less money renting with pickup from SF city location. And you won't need to pay for rental days where the car is likely to sit in a garage -double whammy[ parking fees and daily rental fee].

janisj

>>I got accommodations outside Yosemite for the second half of the tripalways get nervous when someone posts that.. Exactly where? Some owners/websites play fast and loose w/ how convenient they are to YNP. Except for two motels in El Portal and some condos/cabins in Yosemite West, everyplace outside the park is a loooooong drive.

Also - even if Yosemite Lodge is booked solid -- there are frequent cancellations and one can often get in if they keep trying.

janisj

Meant to add: Just a word to the wise -- if your hubby tries to drive fast through Big Sur or in the Yosemite foothills -- we'll likely be reading about you in the papers (sadly). They aren't 'make good time' sorts of roads.

debhirschhorn

I'm nervous about the distance, too. It's Evergreen Lodge in Groveland. I'm going to do some more reading and maybe change that. I've now found that Wawona Hotel is available (although $50/night more). Would that be better than some place in El Porto?

janisj

Oh, Evergreen Lodge - that is a long drive. It is not IN Groveland (which would be even farther) but is still approx. 75 minutes one way from Yosemite Valley.

>>Would that be better than some place in El Porto?