My wife and I are considering a trip in late May from Portland down to San Francisco with our two year old. How will the weather be on the coast at that time of year? Are reservations necessary? How cold, snowy will Crater Lake be? How about Redwood Nat'l Park? I would be most appreciative of any and all suggestions.

I have taken a drive similar to the one you describe. We took a very indirect route down the Oregon Coast through the Redwoods to San Francisco. On a separate trip we visited Crater Lake.

There are great redwood groves in state parks as well as national parks. I suggest you get a good map of the state and find the state parks along US 101 or close to it. Also the National Park is divided into sections. All are of interest.

If you wish email me at my ginger account and I will fill you in with more details.

Crater lake is pretty and by late May the snow should be off of the roads.
The rim drive is worth the effort.
We took the boat ride, but it was like looking up a big funnel. I think the rim drive gives the best perspective.

I think you would need reservations at Crater Lake. Along the way, perhaps at Brookings Oregon on a weekend.

But it is easy to make advance reservations, so I usually do to avoid being shut out.

My wife and I made a similar trip about three years ago. We were there in July and didn't have any problems finding places to stay, except at Crater Lake. There really are too many choices near it, but we got lucky and got a room at an historic inn very close to CL. It was a fabulous place to stay, although I'm not sure your two year old will appreciate it as much.

We actually did a loop from Portland to Northern California and back. We went out to the high desert, down to Crater Lake, and then to the Redwoods, and then came back up the coast. We enjoyed both, so its a matter of preference.

We live in Oregon. Late May should have very nice weather. As always though in Oregon come with sunglasses *and* rain gear in your luggage. Crater Lake may or may not be cleared of snow by that time. It's different every year. You can see the lake most of the year from the road that just dead ends at the lake, but that rim drive is only plowed or clear of snow about 2-3 months of the year. You really have to call the park headquarters right before you get there to find out the status. Advance reservations always needed at the Lodge there. Advance reservations are a good idea on the coast in May too....especially on the weekend.

I have traveled all of these areas at various times of the year. The California coast is very liklely to be very foggy at that time of the year. October is the best month for traveling the California coast. The Oregon coast will probably be quite chilly.

Crater Lake will likely have snow and the north entrance and rim road will in all probability be closed. I have been there in early June and that was the situation.

Hwy 101 through the Redwoods will be fine. If you do this route make sure that you drive through the Avenue of the Giants which is just south of Eureka.

Bear in mind that my comments are generalizations and there can always be exceptions.

Late May in Oregon coast will *not be chilly* so forget what the guy above says. He doesn't know Oregon coast well it seems.
We live on the coast here and that time of year is nice.
So have a light jacket but you probably won't need it in the day. It's shirt sleeve and shorts weather here then.