I am planning a trip from Astoria Oregon down the coast to somewhere around Fort Bragg at which point I will have to head east to get back to Illinois. Unfortunately, this will not be a trip on the bike but in the convertible.

We will be also making a side trip to Crater Lake as well.

My question for the group is how much time does one need at Crater Lake to get a really good experience? How much time should I allow each day for driving along the coast? I am looking at making reservations since we want to stay on the coast, preferably right on the beach if possible. I am looking at doing about 150 miles a day is all, just to make sure I leave enough time to enjoy all the beauty and do some hiking and so forth.

Thanks for your information.

 

Great trip planned.
Suggest to go further south along coast to Jenner. Then Russian River 116 to 101 Santa Rosa.
Santa Rosa puts you close to wine country Calistoga, Sonoma, Napa.

 

Thank you for the information. We do not drink so the wine country has no appeal to us but I will look at this route and see if we can make it work. Thanks again!

 

Jenner is a neat village
Small towns along Russian River are also
Back road from Santa Rosa to Calistoga in a convertible great

 

At Crater Lake it depends what you want to do. If you just want to look and go, then 1 hour. Or if you want to take the boat tour to Wizard island, allow 3/4 of a day. The last time we were there we spent the night in Crater Lodge. The star gazing was awesome... The lake is so beautiful, it’s almost a magical experience. So, allow some time to take it in, and I highly recommend staying in the lodge if you can get reservations.

 

I wanted to stay in the lodge or even the camp ground cabins but alas it is sold out, i will keep checking everyday though just in case there is a cancelation. We plan to spend the majority of the day there but unfortunately we will have to drive a few hours to get in and back out to a place to stay. But that is ok.

 

I think we are changing things up a bit and are going to go as far south as Jenner and then head in land. That road out of Santa Rosa, is that the one that goes through the pertrified forest?

 

Yes.
From Jenner go 116 west following Russian River through Guerneville to Mirabel Park. Then to Santa Rosa 101.
Then as you say Calistoga Road through Petrified Forest to Calistoga. Then take Silverado Trail through vineyards to St.Helena. Then Napa. Top down of course. Well worth taking an extra day.
Warning Napa is very busy on weekend. Lodging is expensive.


Jenner along Russian River to Santa Rosa 101

Santa Rosa through Petrified Fires & Calistoga. St Helena Silverado Trail to Napa.

Then take 80 to Sacramento, over Donner Pass, Truckee, Lake Tahoe, Reno. And home.

Or my favorite road is Hwy 88 Carson Pass over the Sierras to Lake Tahoe.
Sacramento, Jackson, Kitkwood, South Lake Tahoe, Reno.

 

This looks great but I am afraid this part of California will have to wait for another trip. We simply will not have the time, we need to be back in IL for my brothers celebration of life and we are spending alot of our alotted time running the coast from Seattle to Jenner with a couple side trips tossed in.
I will mark this section for another trip thoug, we have never been to Tahoe and we want to revisit Yosemite as well.

 

Have a great trip