CA to Oregon via coast

[Glippie]

Taking coast route in my 2WD SMB from Mendocino CA to Florence Oregon, cutting over to Eugene then hwy 5 to Salem. Any recommendations for camp spots and must-sees?

 

[N147JK]

Highly recommended must-see.. Grove of Titans in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

 

[sn0mad]

^^ yes! also a bit south: Humbolt Redwoods State Park

Samuel H Boardman State Scenic Corridor runs along the Oregon coast between Brookings and Gold Beach. Lone Ranch Beach, 4.5 miles north of Brookings, is one of our favorites.

we try to eat at Crazy Norwegian's Fish & Chips, Port Orford, OR anytime we are in the area.

 

[WhitH]

Second crazy Norwegians. Some spots to camp on the sand down near Dunes City south of Florence. I’m sure you’re making the decision to cut over based on time but the stretch of coast up to Lincoln City is nice as well. See Haceta Head and the Lighthouse there as well as Cape Perpetua.

 

[Glippie]

Thank you!

 

[kbeefy]

Trees of Misery is awesome. As are all the California and Oregon Redwood Parks.
Gotta see giant Paul Bunyon and Babe.


The further you can stay from I-5 the better, but be aware... it's gonna be slower. But Prettier!


If you have time skip Eugene and stay on 101 to lincoln city before dipping into the I5 corridor mess. Its slower, but less likely to get your stuff stolen!


By the way, why go there at all? Everything West of 99 is beautiful, to the east is.... um.... not where I would take my friends or family.

 

[N147JK]

See Haceta Head and the Lighthouse there as well as Cape Perpetua.

Indeed - the "lighthouse tour" is a great way to drive the entire Oregon coast.

https://traveloregon.com/things-to-...regon-trail/road-trip-oregon-lighthouse-tour/

 

[RVflyfish]

Definitely make time for Avenue of the Giants, which is the old 101.

And I’ll second Humboldt Redwoods State Park, especially Rockefeller Grove, which (if memory serves) has 10 of the 13 tallest trees in the world.

Another fun fact about Humboldt Redwoods is that the Ewok speeder chase in Return of the Jedi was filmed there in Cheatham Grove.

 

[Glippie]

Thanks so much. Unfortunately I'm on a time constraint . I need to get to Independence from Florence on this leg of the race. How much longer do you guess it would take me to drive from Florence to Independence if I stayed on 101 and cut over just above Lincoln City rather than over to Eugene?

 

[Glippie]

Thank you!

 

[WhitH]

Independence is a lovely little town. Just around 20 minutes longer if you go up to Newport and cut over. I’d definitely do that.

 

[86Scotty]

We really enjoyed the Lady Bird Johnson Grove in Redwoods NP. It's a short nature loop, maybe a couple of miles. Spectacular.

:b5:

 

[BrianW.]

As a very broad aside, I recently read this book about tree poaching in the Pacific forests, in particular the N California area and OR/WA/BC. Having traveled in that area, it provided some good insights into the local economy and other challenges. I'm NOT meaning to hijack the thread with any political comments, and hope folks don't respond in that way; just thought it might be an interesting read for those who travel in the region. https://www.amazon.com/Tree-Thieves-Crime-Survival-Americas

 

[sn0mad]

^ in like vein, The Wild Trees relates the story of redwood obsessed folks, their quest to climb them, find the tallest one & the inadvertent discovery of an ecosystem 300 feet above ground of bonsai, berry bushes & aquatic creatures. It combines an adventure tale with an appreciation of coast redwoods.

 

[Weichl]

Don't skip this portion of the coast

Hey Glippie - Just want to recommend that if you go up 5 to Humboldt State Park (which is lovely) there is a great road back toward the coast (Bull Creek) that winds through one of the most beautiful this old CA native has ever seen. You can take the road to Petrolia, Capetown and up to Ferndale. Here's a Google map showing the route.


And if you like baseball check out the Humboldt Crabs in Arcata - super fun way to spend the evening. The whole town turns out.

Have fun!!