Need Itinerary Help with Last Minute PCH Road Trip
 

Hi there! My husband and I are planning a mid-April road trip. Flying in to Seattle, with family for 4 nights there, then still with family for 2 nights in Forks, Wa. Then we are on our own. Next three nights are booked in Cannon Beach a the Sea Sprite.
After that we have 9 nights, flying out of SFO late afternoon on the 10th day. Need help with this part. We like to base ourselves for 3 nights minimum, and ideally would like to stay within 1-2 hour drive of SFO the last stop.
We are thinking redwoods, wineries, hiking, boat excursions, exploring the famous dunes. Love finding local food and we do plan to eat lunches out and cook in our vacation rental at night. Also thinking of making this a picnic sunset theme, so waterfront lodgings/views would be ideal.
I'd love recommendations for which three towns to stay in. We are an active couple in our 60's, enjoy kayaking, bicycle (flat only lol we live in Fla), and boating.
Thanks so much in advance for any help.

First things first . . . PCH is a southern California 'thing'. Up north we don't call it that ;)

Nine nights would be great - ideal really -- If you want to stick to 3 - 3 - 3 I'd stay 3 nights in Trinidad or Ferndale (possibly at https://gingerbread-mansion.com or https://lostwhaleinn.com), 3 nights in Mendocino/Ft Bragg area (check out this place - https://www.littleriverinn.com ) and 3 nights in Healdsburg or somewhere in Sonoma Valley)

That's a relief. I was thinking the entire west coast in 9 nights might be a bit rushed!

I love both Trinidad and Mendocino and was going to recommend the same. However, you have to keep in mind that it will be a long day of driving from Cannon Beach to Trinidad. If you're okay with that, I'd definitely choose those two places.

I agree that's a very long drive day -- I'd maybe cut one night from Sonoma County and stop for one night after Cannon Beach in somewhere like Bandon. I know that adds a one night stop and cuts Healdsburg/Sonoma to 2 nights -- but IMO that is a much better driving option.

On a road trip down the coast in November I timed the days of driving to stay at this hotel in Newport. I loved it. It's not for everyone but have a look at my write-up, it could be for you:

https://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/roa...ia-beach-hotel

Jedediah Redwoods State Park will be about one hour from Trinidad. Wander under towering redwood trees. Some say this is better than the Redwoods National Park which is a few miles south.

Nearby Arcata has been dubbed the Peoples Republic of Arcata because it is perhaps the most progressive town in America. It’s home to Humboldt State Uni. It features a lovely downtown with colorful buildings and a laid back lifestyle which includes an artistic and intellectual ambiance.

The fact that this will be in mid-April is pretty important in deciding on your stopping places and the duration. Many of the coastal towns, or those in the redwoods, can be downright bleak at that time of year, and rather than "sunset picnics" you can easily find yourselves in wet and gloomy conditions that last all day. Now I'm not saying that you WILL encounter those conditions, only that it's a definite possibility.

I understand your desire not to turn this into some kind of drive-by tour of the coast, but three nights in one place can be pretty long if the weather's poor and the local towns are still in winter mode. One of the features of the southern Oregon towns (basically everything south of Coos Bay) is that pretty much everything is located on US 101; the towns are rather linear strip-mall sorts of places and there aren't many roads (and few that are attractive) leading away from the coast.

Things are a little different in the redwood country over the state line, particularly when you get down to Humboldt County. You've got attractive coastal communities like Trinidad, terrific Victorian architecture in Eureka and Ferndale, byways and day-trip roads like the Lost Coast loop out of Ferndale, or the Avenue of the Giants byway that parallels US 101; fascinating local history in the 19th century company town of Scotia, the very fun Samoa Cookhouse in Samoa, across the bay from downtown Eureka, and so on.

I like the idea of a base somewhere in the wine country, although some years the Russian River can be prone to flooding, so keep an eye on local conditions.

So I guess I'd look at Bandon as a stopover point, but maybe not for three nights, then down to somewhere in the Trinidad/Arcata/Eureka/Ferndale area for the next stopping place. If you want to be within an hour or two of SFO for your departure that really means somewhere in the SF conurbation; traffic happens, especially if you have to transit the city itself to get to the airport. Frankly I'd probably forego the CA Hwy 1 coast north of SF and swing inland in order to have better/faster access to the airport closer to the end of the trip. I even found myself wondering if a day spent driving around the Sacramento River Delta might not be of interest; you'd overnight in Sonoma, then swing out to the levee country around the fascinating old Chinese town of Locke, before heading toward SF and SFO. Imaginary map - https://goo.gl/maps/iyCxQeMJUgh81gNN7

Random thoughts, I suppose, but maybe worth considering.

That's at least the 2nd time you've posted the same exact word-for-word descriptions -- could you maybe be copying them from some tourist site or blog? In any case I wouldn't spend much time in Arcata.

I agree. Stopping in Arcata once was enough for me.

Thank you Thank you Thank you ALL for the quick responses. You have given me a lot of food for thought.
I made two rookies mistakes: Calling the northern route the PCH - who knew? JanisJ, what is the proper name (or is there one?), because that must be why all my internet research has mostly turned up ideas for the San Francisco to San Diego drive.
My other rookie mistake was quickly looking at driving directions, which I just plugged in the loose itinerary to Google, and of course got 13 hours for the whole route - well they all were inland routes, so now that I've chosen "no highways" I get 101. Yikes! 8 1/2 hours Cannon Beach to Trinidad, then 7 hs to Ft Bragg. But after that, no bad 2 hrs to Healdsburg/Sonoma, and only 1.5 hours to SFO (finally using highway) after that. So - two long driving days if we stick to the orignal plan. If the dreary weather hits on those days, we may be glad to be getting some distance covered...she said, optimistically..

So, how does this sound:
Leave Cannon Beach, drive 5 hours to Coos Bay area, stay one night.
Leave Coos Bay, drive 3.5 hours to Trinidad, stay 2-3 nights.
Leave Trinidad, drive 7 hours to Ft. Bragg, stay 2-3 nights *** or drive 3 + hrs if we use highways, maybe that would be worth it? Or is this world class scenic highway between the two?^^
Leave Ft Bragg, drive 2.5 hours to Sonoma area,
then to the airport 1.5 hours.
We only have to choose to shorten one leg, from 3 to 2 nights. Which one would you shorten? Trinidad, Ft. Bragg, or Sonoma? The looking I've done makes it seem like Sonoma wine country is outrageously expensive (our budget is $200-250/night, and we really enjoy cooking, so even though those Inns look amazing, and the prices seem affordable, I'm not sure we are a good fit. Cabins, cottages, or maybe townhouse is more our preference.

We were looking forward to boating excursions, dunes (ATV tour? where?), weather permitting hikes and tide pools.

I would choose Bandon over Coos Bay. Although if you have time for a stop, Shore Acres in Charleston is a nice stop and usually some pretty wild wave action if you walk the trails outside the gardens. If you want to read something as you travel along, A Gathering of Finches is an interesting book about the area around Charleston Oregon and the life of the original owner of Shore Acres.

"Leave Trinidad, drive 7 hours to Ft. Bragg, stay 2-3 nights *** or drive 3 + hrs if we use highways, maybe that would be worth it? Or is this world class scenic highway between the two?^^"

The only practical route for that segment is the 3 hour drive (more like 4-ish hours though). This is a very scenic route on 101 through redwoods and farmland and includes the iconic Avenue of the Giants. The only other road would take you to 'hell and gone' to the Lost Coast and Petrolia - gorgeous but not worth the detour.

Thanks again Janis J. Whew!
Sunbum, I will take that advice and check out Bandon accommodations.

Meanwhile, any thoughts on either of these two Ft Bragg places? Fees are hideous on the first one, but you only live once, right?!
https://www.vacasa.com/unit/1326?che...Out=04-28-2022
https://www.vrbo.com/687078?adultsCo...unitId=1235016

I think the first one is just above the Botanical Gardens, not sure exactly where the 2nd one is . I personally think the first one is awfully expensive - both have gorgeous views but the 2nd one has the trees and 'feels' more homey. And the price is right.

It's only 3 hours from Trinidad to Fort Bragg. You won't be driving the Lost Coast to get there.

But do count on longer since part of that route runs parallel to the Avenue of the Giants which driving along at least half of which is HIGHLY recommended -- that would likely add an hour or so to the total drive depending on how many places you stop. Plus the 20-ish miles on hwy 1 between Leggett and Rockport is really slow going - like 20-25 mph slow If one isn't used to that sort of road and is in a sedan or SUV.

Yes, the Avenue of the Giants is definitely a worthy detour.