elbegewa

If you really want to drive along the coast to Seattle and are really into driving, as I've before, indicated, it's very doable. But it can't be emphasized enough how much rain you are likely to encounter on the NW coast (not a warm rain, a cold and blustry rain.)

Would that discourage me? Nope. But I've spent my life living 40% in OR, 40% in the Seattle/Vancouver Canada regions, and 20 % in the bay area and northern CA, so I'm used to rain. I love going to the coast during rainy stormy weather and watching the storms and even bundling up in gortex rain gear and hiking/walking in the rain. And I enjoy the northwest hot springs when its chilly / rainy / snowy when you dash from the cold into the hot water, then dash back into the cold and try to get your clothes back on while shivering in the cold.

... however ...

Most tourists would find the OR & WA coast much more enjoyable in our summer or early fall, especially July, Aug. and Sept. You might find it more enjoyable doing that on another trip.

If you love driving a corvette, and love sunny weather and enjoying hot springs in warm comfortable weather, the two trips outlined by Gardyloo would be fantastic. November is often one of the nicest months in the bay area, and the extensive drives she's outlined would be a corvette driver's dream.

Gardyloo

<i>...the extensive drives she's outlined would be a corvette driver's dream.</i>

He.

Noein

Hi everyone,

Thank you very much for your feedback. I will talk with my other half on changing our trip to mostly CA as nice explained by Gardyloo. Can either fly to Seattle indeed or try to change our tickets to SF for our way back. Might try to postpone my meetings in Seattle so we can actually fly out of SF as well. Been to Monterey last year. It was a nice ride (except on the way back on the highway in-land).

These routes sounds both very interesting. Will have a look and seem what I can come up with. Actually was thinking about dropping the Corvette due to the potential bad weather going up north... (and the extra $$ to drop it in Seattle).

You guys are really helpful, thank you very much!

Noein

Hi again everyone,

so we are planning our road trip which will be

day 1 SF -> Av of Giant and sleeping nearby
day 2 Av of Giant -> Columbia
day 3 Columbia -> Yosemite
day 4 Yosemite -> Pacheco Pass
day 5 Pacheco -> Big Sur/Montery
Day 6 Monterey -> SF

Does it sound good and doable?

Cheers!

PS : Changed from Corvette to SUV due to potential weather not fitting the type of car.

janisj

>>Does it sound good and doable?<<

Doable yes, fun - not so much. It is a heck of a LOT of driving, especially the first two days.

Just using Redcrest since it is towards the northern part of the Avenue of the Giants, though not the very north end . . .

Driving SFO to Redcrest will take at least 5 hours plus stops.

Then Redcrest to Columbia takes about 7 hours without any stops.

So in two days you want to drive 12 hours AND see the Redwoods.

If you really want to see Redwoods and Yosemite - I'd forget about the far northern end of California. Why not do Columbia, Yosemite, Big Sur/Monterey, and Henry Cowell Redwood State Park. You would still see lots of Redwoods but save about 9 or 10 hours of driving. SFO to Columbia only takes about 3 hours.

Gardyloo

Remember this trip is taking place in a couple of weeks, so short daylight will be compounding things significantly. The drives you're proposing would be highly prone to wet conditions and low light levels. The redwoods are in a rain forest; it doesn't get that designation for nothing.

If you want to see the gold rush country and Yosemite, then I'd aim for the Calaveras Big Trees State Park on CA Hwy 4 up the road from Murphys, and not too far from Columbia. These will be giant sequoias instead of coast redwoods, but they're equally awe-inspiring and MUCH closer than heading all the way through the rain to the Avenue of the Giants.

Stay in Murphys, then visit Columbia on the way to Yosemite. Spend one or two nights in Yosemite - IF you can find accommodation (it can be very difficult to obtain) then head west to Monterey. Visit Point Lobos State Park, Carmel and the Monterey aquarium, then return to SF with a stop at either Big Basin or Henry Cowell redwoods (not far apart.) Frankly given the time of year I'd spend one night in Yosemite and three in the Monterey area - the weather will be nicer and there's more to see and do, including the Big Sur coast south of Point Lobos.

Here's a map suggesting an alternative route for you - https://goo.gl/maps/4vnePJdnc4F2 - and here's a suggested timetable.

1 SF to Calaveras Big Trees, overnight Murphys
2 Murphys to Yosemite via Columbia
3 Day in Yosemite
4 Yosemite to Monterey
5 Day in Monterey area
6 Monterey to SF via Big Basin

janisj

Even Gardyloo's truncated itinerary will leave you very little time most places -- but is MUCH more doable than your plan.

Patty

<i>day 4 Yosemite -> Pacheco Pass</i>

Do you mean overnight around Pacheco Pass? It's only a 4 hour drive from Yosemite to Monterey. There's no need to overnight in between.

Calaveras/Murphys is a good suggestions.

You shouldn't have trouble booking in park accommodations at Yosemite this time of year especially if you go midweek. I just booked a last minute trip for next week and pretty much every lodge had availability.

janisj

oh jeeze, I didn't even notice that bit - was so fixated on the driving up to Humboldt County and then back to Columbia in 2 days . . .

Absolutely no reason to stop between TNP and Monterey Bay.

janisj

oops -- that should be <B>Y</B>NP