Author |
Message |
GTV Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004 Posts: 2084 Location: Si'ahl
|
Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 9:50 pm Post subject: AZ to OR Road Trip! Looking for Camping/Points of Interest |
|
|
Long story short, the missus and I are taking a road trip this August from our home in Hell, er... Phoenix to visit friends in Portland, Oregon. Unfortunately, the trip will not be taken in a VW this time (or else I would have posted this elsewhere), instead we are taking our new-to-us Honda Element, complete with tent, dog, bicycles, etc.
Anyway, we have 9 days total to do the deed (wish I had a month!); 3 days up there, 3-4 days to hang out, 2-3 days to come home. Our day one camp spot has just been booked, right inside of Sequoia National Park. Day two we are looking to spend some time in Sequoia, then head a few hours north to Yosemite. See what we can before proceeding north again. It's going to be slightly rushed but 9 days is all we've got! Better than nothing! After Yosemite, it's a little up in the air.
First off, I'm looking for a good place to camp slightly north of the Sacramento area for day two. I'd like to do Mt Shasta but I think we will run out of daylight. Any recommendations? I also would definitely love to see Crater Lake, hopefully that will happen on day three...
While in Portland, we might jaunt over to Seaside, I was there a few years ago and loved it. Any other must do's?
For the return journey I'm thinking two days (straight shot home more or less), but we might stretch it to three. Totally open to suggestions here.
Anything else we don't want to miss? Or we should avoid like the plague? Or I have planned completely wrong? Your comments are greatly appreciated! _________________ EMPI Power Rules! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
camaroboi13 Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2013 Posts: 902 Location: San Bernardino, CA
|
Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 10:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I just did this same trip, although it was more for business and we didn't really have enough time to do much. I started in San Bernardino, CA, about an hour from Los Angeles. Drove to Laughlin where I met up with my grandpa and went back to his house in Williams, AZ. From there we went straight up Arizona to Utah. We accidentally took the 86T instead of the 86, which ended up on the scenic route of things. It added an extra 2 plus hours and nearly 100 miles of gorgeous canyon views with lots of cool stuff to see along the way. We parked in Jacob Lake and had a nice brunch before we headed through to Utah. Salt Lake City was quite depressing, as you can't even see the lake along the highway, but the cool oil refineries were pretty neat with the flames coming out the pipes and whatnot. Not much to see from there to Boise, but very gorgeous green grass everywhere. From there we cut the corner of Oregon and went through the cascade mtn range and straight to Seattle from there. Total drive time was roughly 25 hours and close to 1500 miles, but we were in Uhauls/trucks with car trailers so speed wasn't as great as it should have been.
I could have easily taken 2-3 days just looking at sights along the way but it was a turn around trip for me as I flew in to Palm Springs the next day. Take your time, make plenty of stops and let mother nature do the work for you. It's pretty country out there.
I understand your route is a little different, but just get out there and see stuff. You can split the ride home into two 12 hour days and you'll make it back. If you have time for a 3rd day home then you have nothing to worry about. Just enjoy it man! Grants pass is gorgeous although I generally end up there around 2-3am when I do my straight through drives from here to there. It's easy to fly up the 5 and miss lots of things along the way, so this last time it was quite nice to take a different route. _________________ 69 bug 1600sp buckpack ceramic header w mondo muffler, riviera wheels, 185/65 front 205/70 rear, dual baby webers, big stereo in the works.
2001 Yukon Denali 6.0l AWD 24s TVs surround sound playstation 6 disc dvd etc etc.
2005 Nissan Maxima 3.5l stock mama's car
FFL GUN DEALER! PM ME FOR SOCAL TRANSFERS! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
philermonic Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2010 Posts: 361 Location: Orange County, California
|
Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 10:39 pm Post subject: Re: AZ to OR Road Trip! Looking for Camping/Points of Intere |
|
|
GTV wrote: |
Long story short, the missus and I are taking a road trip this August from our home in Hell, er... Phoenix to visit friends in Portland, Oregon. Unfortunately, the trip will not be taken in a VW this time (or else I would have posted this elsewhere), instead we are taking our new-to-us Honda Element, complete with tent, dog, bicycles, etc.
Anyway, we have 9 days total to do the deed (wish I had a month!); 3 days up there, 3-4 days to hang out, 2-3 days to come home. Our day one camp spot has just been booked, right inside of Sequoia National Park. Day two we are looking to spend some time in Sequoia, then head a few hours north to Yosemite. See what we can before proceeding north again. It's going to be slightly rushed but 9 days is all we've got! Better than nothing! After Yosemite, it's a little up in the air.
First off, I'm looking for a good place to camp slightly north of the Sacramento area for day two. I'd like to do Mt Shasta but I think we will run out of daylight. Any recommendations? I also would definitely love to see Crater Lake, hopefully that will happen on day three...
While in Portland, we might jaunt over to Seaside, I was there a few years ago and loved it. Any other must do's?
For the return journey I'm thinking two days (straight shot home more or less), but we might stretch it to three. Totally open to suggestions here.
Anything else we don't want to miss? Or we should avoid like the plague? Or I have planned completely wrong? Your comments are greatly appreciated! |
Los Alamos _________________ "A camel is a horse designed by a Committee" |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GTV Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004 Posts: 2084 Location: Si'ahl
|
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 6:13 am Post subject: Re: AZ to OR Road Trip! Looking for Camping/Points of Intere |
|
|
philermonic wrote: |
Los Alamos |
As in New Mexico?! Maybe next time _________________ EMPI Power Rules! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Malokin Martin Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2007 Posts: 3093 Location: E-burg
|
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 7:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
With that much driving in such a short time, I would focus less on day trips and more on roadside stuff. "Weird America" has a fun book series |
|
Back to top |
|
|
philermonic Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2010 Posts: 361 Location: Orange County, California
|
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 8:03 am Post subject: Re: AZ to OR Road Trip! Looking for Camping/Points of Intere |
|
|
GTV wrote: |
philermonic wrote: |
Los Alamos |
As in New Mexico?! Maybe next time |
No, I should have been more clear.
Los Alamos, Ca.
Here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Alamos,_California _________________ "A camel is a horse designed by a Committee" |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Jon Schmid Samba Member
Joined: May 29, 2012 Posts: 2033 Location: Southern California
|
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 8:55 am Post subject: Re: AZ to OR Road Trip! Looking for Camping/Points of Intere |
|
|
You should still be more clear. Visit or avoid like the plague? I've been there, nice but kind of off the track from Phoenix to Yosemite. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Mike Fisher Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2006 Posts: 17962 Location: Eugene, OR
|
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 9:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
The Evergreen Air Museum w/Spruce Goose etc @ McMinnville, OR is fun. _________________ https://imgur.com/user/FisherSquareback/posts
69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
two 57 oval ragtops sold
'68 Karmann Ghia sold
Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you end up with a lot of scum on the top! - Russ_Wolfe/Edward Abbey |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GTV Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004 Posts: 2084 Location: Si'ahl
|
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 11:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
Ahhhh THAT Los Alamos. I have heard that area is beautiful, but it is a bit off track.
Good call on the Spruce Goose! That's something I've always wanted to see, never realized it was that close to Portland. Thanks!! _________________ EMPI Power Rules! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GTV Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004 Posts: 2084 Location: Si'ahl
|
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 12:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Update... Or possibly down... In my haste to grab the last available camp spot in Sequoia, I accidentally chose the wrong date. All other spots are reserved So I'm looking for camping options... Any ideas?? We were planning on entering east of Visalia on highway 198. _________________ EMPI Power Rules! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
offshores Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2012 Posts: 1085 Location: So Cal
|
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 3:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
It's been a while since I've been up there, but we use to camp at Lodgepole. I'll guarantee that place is booked solid, but I remember camping at a place called Buckeye Flat toward the bottom of the hill. It's not too far from where you pay to get into Sequoia on the 198. There's also another campground down there as well. Neither are as nice as the top, but I recall there always being spots available when the top of the mtn was packed. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GTV Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004 Posts: 2084 Location: Si'ahl
|
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 6:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Unfortunately Buckeye is booked too. Every campsite inside the park is
I've decided we're going to leave very early on Saturday morning, hopefully that will put us in Sequoia no later than 2pm. Hopefully that will give us a few hours to drive through and check out the park. Thinking about driving north through the park and camp somewhere in the Sequoia national forest(?). _________________ EMPI Power Rules! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
philermonic Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2010 Posts: 361 Location: Orange County, California
|
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 7:13 pm Post subject: Re: AZ to OR Road Trip! Looking for Camping/Points of Intere |
|
|
Jon Schmid wrote: |
You should still be more clear. Visit or avoid like the plague? I've been there, nice but kind of off the track from Phoenix to Yosemite. |
It's right off the 101 just north of Santa Barbara.
Cool town that began to dry up when the freeway went in and had a couple of really cool antique shope in addition to the Union Hotel and a beautiful Victorian Bed & Breakfast and a left over 1950's gas station.
It's a "GO THERE" spot. _________________ "A camel is a horse designed by a Committee" |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GTV Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004 Posts: 2084 Location: Si'ahl
|
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 7:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
If we decide to take 3 days home I will definitely look into it. I'm sure the missus would love it!
I just made a reservation at the Hume Lake campground just north of the national park in the national forest. Last spot available, again! Looks to be a nice place. Actually happier about this location than the first, even though it's not in the park. Might even leave the night before so we can arrive mid morning and have more time to sight see.
I haven't been to Sequoia since I was about five years old, and I've never been to Yosemite. I'm really getting excited!! _________________ EMPI Power Rules! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
bugnut68 Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2003 Posts: 4180 Location: Eugene, OR
|
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 11:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
I should be back in the Willamette Valley/Eugene area by then as I'm getting ready to move. Would be great to get to say hello even in passing if at all possible! Good luck in your travels... I second the Evergreen aviation museum, good stuff there. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
nickfancher1 Samba Member
Joined: February 03, 2014 Posts: 282 Location: Phoenix, AZ
|
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 9:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I did this road trip last summer. Spend more time in sequoia and Yosemite. They're amazing especially Yosemite. A MUST is Crater Lake in Oregon. Absolute MUST. _________________ 1970 Beetle |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GTV Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004 Posts: 2084 Location: Si'ahl
|
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 11:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
bugnut68 wrote: |
I should be back in the Willamette Valley/Eugene area by then as I'm getting ready to move. Would be great to get to say hello even in passing if at all possible! Good luck in your travels... I second the Evergreen aviation museum, good stuff there. |
I'll let you know Ryan!
I'd love to spend more time in Sequioa and Yosemite. I know we won't even be scratching the surface. But this trip is more about visiting Portland, everything else is secondary. Someday I'll do another trip and spend a whole week in sequoia/Yosemite/kings canyon. _________________ EMPI Power Rules! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
bugnut68 Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2003 Posts: 4180 Location: Eugene, OR
|
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 9:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
Portland is great... lots to do up there, no question! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Dave Samba Elder
Joined: July 11, 2002 Posts: 2689 Location: The Forest Moon of Endor, in the Redwoods
|
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 12:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
GTV wrote: |
Update... Or possibly down... In my haste to grab the last available camp spot in Sequoia, I accidentally chose the wrong date. All other spots are reserved So I'm looking for camping options... Any ideas?? We were planning on entering east of Visalia on highway 198. |
as you are heading east on 198, you will see a sign that says "Farmersville Blvd" go right from the interchange, go about 2 miles, and stop at 1715 N. Farmersville Blvd. Even if you aren't in a VW, you'll be glad you did...CB Performance may not look like much from the road, but once you are there, the buildings you can't see go on, and on, and on...maybe you'll hit it right and you'll catch Pat Downs dyno'ing some 400 hp monster VW motor..
Yeas, that is the home of CB Performance... _________________ 2003 Samba Chummie Winner- Best Story
"Those that matter, don't mind,
and those that mind, don't matter" |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|