Need suggestions for must-see routes Pac. N-west

slmayor

Founding California Northern Chapter Leader
We're planning a 3 week trip in late June-July and need suggestions from those of you who are more traveled than we.
We intend to leave Redding and head to northern NV, up into Idaho then loop over into WA and down the coast back into CA. We intend to stay a min. of 3 days in each location, might be a quick overnight here or there. Would like to drive no more than 300 miles per stop.
Any suggestions on routes, don't miss sights or RV parks? Looks like most of the state parks are full already as we had to wait to make reservations.
I'd appreciate any suggestions as to driveability of roads, great places to base for day trips, etc. Even places to stay away from. :)
Thanks!
 

TXBobcat

Fulltime
slmayor
Not sure what route your going to take but here is where I might go.
Leaving Redding go to Reno. I have not been there but I would check out the Casinos. Past Reno is Imlay and Thunder Mountain Park. Might make for a rest stop. If you go through Salt Lake City stop at the KoA (it is ok.. Seen worse) and go see the Morman Temple and if your into genealogy they will help you for free find someone in your family tree. Stop over in Idaho Falls. Go up to Missoula MT. Stay at Jim & Mary's RV Park. Has a lot of flowers all over the park. Go to the Smoke Jumpers museum. Lots of smoke jumber stuff and get to see some of the airplanes. Go north to Glacier National Park. Take the road to the sun and if you can go to Bowman Lake. Stay at the West Glacier KoA. (Great park). Then to Spokane and Seattle. While in Seattle run around and check out some of the Log Homes. This is the home of the Log Home Builders Assoc. of North America. My Son-in-Law took a course on building log homes. Check out some of the photos of ones they have built. Students Homes. The Wallace Falls Lodge is my favorite. You can drive by and see it. They also make custom doors to their log homes. Then back to Redding.

Hope you had a good trip. We enjoyed it.. LOL

I am sure others will come in with great places to go.
 

Tankie

Well-known member
If you are planning on going all the way up to seattle (but imo seattle is a nitemare to drive though all the way down to olympia) then take I-90 well maintained hwy. Lake chelan is a very popular place to visit. We stayed in Moses lake, WA. (in eastern Wa) at Suncrest Resort. From there you can go to dry falls, grand coulee dam and there is a small mineral lake called Soap Lake. There is only one other lake in the world like in Germany I think. Dry Falls was created from the ice age. Then there are other things to do in the area, u won't have any trouble spending a couple days there.
Then there is Hwy 12, a 2 lane road winds through the cascades very beautiful and there is Riffe and Mayfeild lakes w/campgrounds. But hwy 12 can be known for its traffic and accidents (mostly on weekends from alot of people going to lakes) mostly on the west side just drive w/headlights on and stay alert. Those are are the 2 main hwys over the cascades to western WA. From there you can go to the coast on a number of hwys just depending on where you cross the cascades.
It is the 30 yr. anniversary of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens. Take Rt 504 out of Castle Rock, Johnston Ridge Obsevatory is set to open up with new exhibits and you can look into the crater.
There is a park just off I- 5 called Mt. St. Helens rv park but it only has 30 amp service, there one more on I-5 (@ exit 52) but not sure it is open yet. Then there is one up by Silver lakeon 504.
The only one we have stayed at is Mt. St. Helens we consider it our Home park (we know the manager and we are from Castle Rock).
Have a good trip and have lots of fun Id, WA, and OR are beautiful states. Lonnie
 

wdk450

Well-known member
Ray & Deb:
We are in Yreka just finishing what started out to be a 3 week stay In the Eureka area, but what turned into (mid-trip) to an excursion to Seattle. Many years ago (1986), I RV'd to the Vancouver BC World's Fair via US 101. I would highly recommend that route. You CAN take your RV on the Washington State Ferries. You normally see tractor-trailers on most runs. The price isn't that awful, and BOY does it save driving time versus circling down to Tacoma (voice of recent experience). There is a great campground on an old army base (Fort Worden) in charming Port Townsend that gets 10s in the RV park reviews. The only drawback is that the reviews say there is no WiFi, but I saw one of the "Flying Saucer" antennas right there, so I think the review info isn't up to date. The campground is on a small pennensula with beach on both sides, and a lighthouse nearby.
You could do 3 days of exploring from there: Hurricane Ridge, above Port Angeles, Port Townsend, the Ho Rain Forest, or even ferry back to Seattle. You could finish up by taking the scenic drive on 101 south down to the mouth of the Columbia.
We are back to Sacramento to wait some more on the surgeon's scheduling.
 

slmayor

Founding California Northern Chapter Leader
Thanks so much! keep those ideas coming.
For anyone contemplating a trip to Wyoming, I just sent for info on the Wind River area and must have received 5 lbs. of stuff in the mail. Looks like you could spend all 3 weeks right there. Another trip maybe.
We will need a place to stay over the 4th of July, anyone have any "secret" parks that might not be booked yet?
 

mikeandconnie

Well-known member
Hello Ray and Deb, Connie and I made it home last week after the long 2700 mile trip to Georgia. I used the Good Sam trip planner and stayed at there parks and every thing went well with stop overs, However, we did run out of fuel one time 4 miles from the fuel stop. Trying to refuel on the side of the road with truckers blowing there horn and your wife screaming at you is no fun... I will have a Aux tank installed before my next trip and recommend the same, especially in the mountains areas. The trip you are planning looks great and I hope to hear about it some day. Mike
 
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