California Road Trip
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5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9
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From: California
California Road Trip
I'm thinking about taking a trip from Southern California, Long Beach, up to Avenue of The Giants then Cave Junction, Oregon and back. I am wondering when the best time of year would be and what a realistic time frame should be. I can take 2 weeks, total 16 days, for this trip. The wife and I will be traveling 2up on our Street Glide and plan on staying in hotels. Would this trip be better in summer or fall? We really have no firm plans and would most likely ride until we felt like stopping then finding a hotel. I've read that its better not to plan to much and just sort of go with the flow.
All advice is greatly appreciated after all this is our first long distance trip unless you count Long Beach to Solvang long distance.
All advice is greatly appreciated after all this is our first long distance trip unless you count Long Beach to Solvang long distance.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 317
From: CA
One strategy would be to avoid the rainy months for Oregon but get the warmest weather when kids are still in school. Less crowds and tolerable weather. According to this site you can travel in early June or mid Sep and have great chances. But Summer would be fine, as my experience shows, as California is big enough to handle summer travelers, once you get out of the LA basin.
On the actual things to do - have you done Oregon Coast and Big Sur? Those are absolutely mandatory in my view. There are countless great roads en route to your destination. I'd strongly suggest getting a guide and figuring out which back roads you want to take.
Are you a wine fan? Napa and possibly Paso Robles (Sideways, anyone?). I love San Francisco but Sausilito may be more bike friendly as a waypoint.
You have the opportunity to have a world class trip. Have a blast and be safe.
On the actual things to do - have you done Oregon Coast and Big Sur? Those are absolutely mandatory in my view. There are countless great roads en route to your destination. I'd strongly suggest getting a guide and figuring out which back roads you want to take.
Are you a wine fan? Napa and possibly Paso Robles (Sideways, anyone?). I love San Francisco but Sausilito may be more bike friendly as a waypoint.
You have the opportunity to have a world class trip. Have a blast and be safe.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,960
Likes: 1,993
From: CA
Going up the PCH is a great ride any time of year as long as you are prepared for a variety of weather conditions. I've been up and down the coast more times than I can count and I've seen it cold and foggy on the Fourth of July and 78 degrees on the first of January and anywhere in between at any time of year.
It's one of my favorite rides, and the more time you have to stop and enjoy the scenery the better.
It's one of my favorite rides, and the more time you have to stop and enjoy the scenery the better.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,949
Likes: 53
From: NoNV
I lived in Northern California (No - NOT San Fran area - I said NORHTERN CA. ) I lived in Crescent City CA - on the coast 30 miles from OR border ... the very best weather all year in that area is fall: Sept/Oct ... (BTW - in Crescent City, anything below the Klamath River is considered SOUTHERN CA ... LOL) Also deadhawg said he's seen in rainy & foggy on 4th of July ... he's right ... it ALWAYS rains on 4th of July up there ..... For the fireworks shows, we just watched the clouds change pretty colors ... !!!!!
Have a great trip ... !!!!
Have a great trip ... !!!!
Last edited by tjhog; Jan 10, 2016 at 02:45 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,032
From: Carlsbad, CA
Did a similar trip this past Summer:
Day 1: San Diego to Sacramento via Interstate 5
Day 2: Sacramento to Grants Pass via Interstate 5
Day 3: Grants Pass via Redwood Highway to Eureka.
Day 4: Touring Redwoods
Day 5: Eureka to Sausalito...via highway 1...took Avenue of Giants
Day 6: let the bike rest in Sausalito...took ferry to San Fran and toured San Fran
Day 7: Sausalito to Morro Bay via Highway 1...breath taking ride!! Oh yeah...make sure you stop at the Big Sur River Inn...and sit on a chair in the River having a beer,
Day 8: Morro Bay to San Diego
But!!! We did this trip the first week of August...and it was freaking hot on the entire trip up the 5!!! Temperatures in afternoon in Redding 112!!! So, we were casting off early each AM. Also, Northern California & Southern Oregon was on fire...so that made breathing troublesome at times.
Never felt like we were spending too much time in the saddle. This was a comfortable pa e, and gave time for sight seeing.
We did a similar trip the previous year the first week of October. The weather was excellent. Got one rain shower just south of San Francisco. But, this can be the start of rain in Oregon. So, I would consider late Mid to late June. If you take Interstate 5 North...avoid July & August. Although we took a trip to Yosemite this past June...and it was freaking hot then too! Temperatures in the 100s. But, that was unusual.
Day 1: San Diego to Sacramento via Interstate 5
Day 2: Sacramento to Grants Pass via Interstate 5
Day 3: Grants Pass via Redwood Highway to Eureka.
Day 4: Touring Redwoods
Day 5: Eureka to Sausalito...via highway 1...took Avenue of Giants
Day 6: let the bike rest in Sausalito...took ferry to San Fran and toured San Fran
Day 7: Sausalito to Morro Bay via Highway 1...breath taking ride!! Oh yeah...make sure you stop at the Big Sur River Inn...and sit on a chair in the River having a beer,
Day 8: Morro Bay to San Diego
But!!! We did this trip the first week of August...and it was freaking hot on the entire trip up the 5!!! Temperatures in afternoon in Redding 112!!! So, we were casting off early each AM. Also, Northern California & Southern Oregon was on fire...so that made breathing troublesome at times.
Never felt like we were spending too much time in the saddle. This was a comfortable pa e, and gave time for sight seeing.
We did a similar trip the previous year the first week of October. The weather was excellent. Got one rain shower just south of San Francisco. But, this can be the start of rain in Oregon. So, I would consider late Mid to late June. If you take Interstate 5 North...avoid July & August. Although we took a trip to Yosemite this past June...and it was freaking hot then too! Temperatures in the 100s. But, that was unusual.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,328
Likes: 154
From: Lake City, Florida
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 8,196
Likes: 2,432
From: San Francisco
I totally agree. Early/mid September would be ideal.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 615
From: San Antonio, Texas
We did the trip in the truck two summers ago, Anaheim to Vancouver, Canada. Great trip, PCH with side trips doesn't get any better. We spent three weeks on the trip and stayed in Portland and Seattle awhile to visit with friends. You could go up the 5, come back down PCH, 16 days would be very doable. We went in July and it was chilly in Arcata and the Red Woods!