Greetings Travel people,

We are trying to plan a trip from Vancouver, BC, to SF and DLR.

We are travelling with my in-laws who have never been to the Oregon coast but we only have 2 weeks (including SF, DLR and Universal studios) to drive from Vancouver, BC, down and back.

We would really like to "cut over" from the I5, go down the Oregon coast for a ways and then cut back to the I5 to allow my in-laws to see some of the beautiful coast. We don't have a lot of time and we have several people that get car sick.

Could someone out there let me know where would be an easy "cut over" from the I5 (traveling North to South) and see some of the glorious coast, and finally cut back over to the I5 so that we can get to SF for our 4 days there and then to DLR after that.

We really only have one day to see/drive from the I5 down a bit of the coast and back to the I5, find a place to sleep and get on to SF.

Previously we did the Umpqua Highway from the coast to the I5 and yikes, the inside of the car got messy. Are there roads that aren't as windy as the Umpqua?

I would really appreciate local help!!
Thanks!!

Oops, forgot. We are going in December.

>>we only have 2 weeks (including SF, DLR and Universal studios) to drive from Vancouver, BC, down and back.> . . . and we have several people that get car sick.

Cross the bridge from Longview Washington to US 30 west to Astoria Oregon. Take US 101 south to Reedsport and take Rt. 38 (Umpqua Highway). Stop at Dean's Creek Elk Viewing area to see the elk and use the facilities.
The Umpqua route is the best from the coast to I-5 IMO. I've driven the other routes as well.
For those who get carsick/seasick, ask the doctor about TransDerm Scop (Scopolomine) which is a small patch to put behind the ear (works for most people for 3+ days).
Don't they get sick on Disney rides?

>>and take Rt. 38 (Umpqua Highway).>Don't they get sick on Disney rides? Astoria > some of the coast > I-5 to SF > Anaheim is more than 1500 miles and easily 27 or 28 hours of 'car time'. So the best part of 4 full days JUST for the drive one way. Add to that 4 days in SF and 3 in So Cal and you've used up 11 full days. Leaving just 3 days to drive all the way back to BC.

Anaheim > Vancouver is 1300 miles and 22-23 hours behind the wheel at the best of times.

Just nasty -- ESPECIALLY with uncomfortable/sick passengers.

Thanks for all the great advice!

We don't get sick on most rides at DLR.

The teacups...sometimes lol.

We have been to DLR a few times so this is more about the road trip with family. DLR is going to be 3 - 4 days. Universal 2...SF 4. We actually have the option of up to 16 days. We were just trying to allow ourselves a day or two when we get home for laundry etc.

We are now thinking straight down I5 to SF, then on to DLR...and once at DLR, giving ourselves time to see weather etc in December and decide if we think we can do it. Maybe another trip that is just the coast. It seems like a week on the coast is more doable. Thanks!

OK -- now the schedule is even worse. Even with 16 days.

You want 4 days in SF, 3 or 4 at DL/CA, 2 at Universal . . . and 1 or 2 days back home for laundry/depressurize. So take your 16 days and subtract the set destinations/laundry which account for 10 to 12 days. Leaves you 4 to 6 days to drive close to 3000 miles.

Can you fly down to SF and just do SF and SoCal and fly home? That would be sooooo much easier.


That's what I'd do anyway.

If you don't want to cross back to I-5, just continue on down to San Francisco on US 101. Spend 1 less day in San Francisco.
The crossing of the Golden Gate bridge would be more impressive than driving down the Central Valley south of Redding.
Today's wildfires in the Napa area will have a devastating effect on that area. There were over 1000 homes burned to the ground today.
Fly or take the train and use a rental car for at least 1 leg of your trip.

Forgot to ask when this trip is supposed to happen? If after about the end of Nov. you could run into wintry weather which would make the drive even less doable . . .

Forgot to ask when this trip is supposed to happen?

Oops, forgot. We are going in December.

With short daylight hours, an I-5 route to SF from Vancouver in December runs the risk of icy or snowy roads in southern Oregon and the Siskiyou mountains on the Oregon-California line. You could play this by ear and if the conditions are threatening, cut over to the (warmer, less chance of freezing conditions) using US 199 from Grants Pass to Crescent City. Using this route adds around three hours' additional drive time compared to staying on I-5 down to I-505 into the Bay Area. But of course if the alternative is waiting for somebody to plow I-5 over Siskiyou summit, or having to chain up, then the difference is moot.

Optimally using all-freeway (I-5 to I-505) I'd look at a minimum of 2 1/2 days between Vancouver and SF, with overnights somewhere around Portland and another one somewhere in northern Califorina, maybe around Redding.

SF to LA on I-5 is faster than on US 101, but it's also rather hair-raising as the freeway tends to be a truck racetrack. US 101 is slower but immensely more scenic during the winter; in either case it's a long day between SF and LA but shouldn't require an overnight.

Coming back, using US 101 all the way, so as to include the redwoods and Oregon coast, in the winter you really need at least four days not counting layovers in SF or wherever. (1) LA to Bay Area, (2) Bay area to northern redwoods, (3) Oregon coast and (4) coast to BC. Even so, those would be pretty long days, especially the last one.

I do feel compelled, however, to mention the flying option. In December, round trips from Vancouver to San Francisco cost around C$300; from Seattle around C$184. Just as a thought experiment, what if you looked at this: drive or take the train to Seattle and leave the car near the airport. Fly to San Francisco and get a car, then drive down to the Monterey Peninsula (2 hours) and look at the superb Big Sur coast - http://gardyloo.us/wp-content/upload...0119_61H1a.jpg - before driving down to LA (you'll probably have to double back a short distance to US 101 to head south as CA 1 might still be blocked to through traffic.)

Without having to take the time to drive from Vancouver to the Bay Area twice, that could free up days to see other things - maybe Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park (spectacular at that time of year) or spend a day visiting Santa Barbara or the "Sideways" wine country.

I'd certainly do the numbers, and also think about driving the Oregon coast at the worst time of year - dark, wet, gloomy, the scenery only visible between swipes of the wipers...

Oh -- I didn't notice the December bit. Thanks.

I'd DEFINITELY re-think this. Not only can there be snow and ice on I-5, but also the possibility of winter storms on the coast and very dense fog in the Central Valley of California.

Fly . . .