Plenty of RVers are probably wondering if they should re-think plans for California travel this summer and fall; the media is full of stories about the "lights going out" all over the state, heart-stopping gas (and diesel) prices, freeway gridlock, and assorted other hassles and problems for visitors (and residents). What can an RV traveler expect if he or she wants to come "out west" to California this summer? The following "travelogue" may help you decide if a California journey is for you!
A Little About California's Land and Climates...
California is a big state; we have mountains, deserts (high and low types), dry forests, wet forests, rivers, volcanoes (inactive at present), and about 1000 miles of coastline. We have as many climates as there are geographical "areas", and those "areas" have variations within them; there's no such thing as one California climate. Virtually all of our rain comes between October and April; it's unlikely (but it can happen) that you'll get wet traveling in the late spring, summer or early fall unless you're in the mountain areas; occasional afternoon thunderstorms "blow up" here. Summer weather -- and water temperatures -- along the southern California coast is warmer than central and northern California; the farther north, the more fog and "overcast" and cool weather. (Summertime tourists to San Francisco are easy to spot; they're the ones wearing shorts. One of the best times to visit SF and the central and northern California coast is mid-September through October.) Inland valleys and desert areas are hot; temperatures (well) over 100 degrees are common. (Visits to California desert areas are best made between November and April.) The higher you go, the cooler the weather; when it's 105° in Sacramento, it can be 70° (or less) in the Lake Tahoe area (about 7000'). Check www.weather.com for past weather/temperature patterns for all California areas/towns/cities.
Driving...
California has more than 35,000,000 people; each of these people has at least two cars. And, all of these people are driving one of their cars at the same time. (At least, it appears that way!) Unfortunately, it is true that traffic in much of California can be horrendous, especially in "urban" areas. If you're from Houston or Atlanta or Seattle or a few other places, you'll feel right at home! Since there are a lot of urban areas in California, travelers (especially those driving larger RVs and/or hauling 5th wheels or TTs) need to pre-plan the "where, when and how" of freeway survival; here are a few basic tips:
Check www.dot.ca.gov/hq/readinfo/cal.traffic for current California highway information; the phone is 800/427-7623.
Traffic is worst in the San Fernando Valley/L.A. "metro"/Orange County/San Diego areas and in the "Bay Area"; San Jose/SF/East Bay/Marin County. The Sacramento area can also get congested during commute times. In general, avoid travel between 5:30 - 9:30 am and 3:00 - 7:30 pm. on weekdays. Weekend traffic is heavy at most times of the day, but not like "commute" times.
Use road maps of cities and areas; if you belong to AAA, use theirs (and their "tour books") or use a Rand-McNally road atlas or other current maps to plan your routes in advance. The freeway systems can be a pretty bewildering maze for those unaccustomed to fast-moving, heavy traffic and in unfamiliar surroundings. Unlike other states, California freeway/highway/interstate exits are not "numbered". If you prefer "downloaded" maps to the "traditional" type, try www.mapquest.com. GPS in your RV can help you "find your way", but to me, nothing beats a good road map and a calm, competent navigator with a good sense of direction who won't freak if you miss the exit!
Travel in the right lane except to pass, but watch (in high-traffic urban areas) for lanes to "end" and become "exit only" lanes. Watch for cars merging onto the freeway; I am loathe to admit this, but, in my experience, "L.A." drivers are generally more skilled at merging -- and at other driving maneuvers -- than Bay Area drivers. All places have their "cowboys" -- speeders, lane cutters, cell-phone yakkers, tail-gaters, what-have-you -- so just keep to the right lane(s) and know where you're going.
Keep your speed down; California law requires vehicles towing trailers to travel at 55 mph. Many do not adhere to this speed; some of these may have a little less "gas money" if they encounter a vigilant CHP officer.
On two-lane roads, pull over and let backed-up traffic pass as soon as it's safe to do so; 5 vehicles behind you is the "limit". Watch for log trucks on mountain roads in forested areas.
Gas and Diesel...
http://208.13.208.31/CAmetro.asp will give you the prices of gasoline in selected cities in California. Diesel is comparably priced. California has the highest fuel prices in the country (except for Hawaii), and these prices are expected to continue to rise.
The "Power" Problem...
The "lights" are still on, but everyone, tourists and residents alike, are definitely paying a lot more to keep them that way. Expect to pay higher RV park fees, higher admission prices to attractions, and higher food prices in supermarkets and restaurants, just to mention a few "basics". We do have "rolling" black-outs in urban areas during periods of exceptionally hot weather and/or heavy usage, but the effects are (so far) in the "inconvenience" category. ( If you don't already have one, I suggest investing in a good "power line monitor" for your RV. These are not cheap, but neither is re-wiring your RV or buying new appliances if you "fry" the system(s) or appliances because of a power spike or too-low voltage for too long a time. You may not experience any problems, but the "electric" situation is so tenuous in so many RV parks anywhere that a power line monitor is well worth considering.)
Well, now that you're probably thinking that pretty much anyplace else is looking a lot better than California for this summer's trip, let me get to the "upside" of a visit to California; we have a lot of beautiful, unique, and entertaining things to do and see! Here is some general (and specific to RVers) travel information and some of my favorite California adventures and attractions.
Some General Travel "Stuff"...
http://gocalif.ca.gov/index2.html is the starting point for all kinds of California travel information; the "buttons" for "Visitor's Guide", "Maps", "Special Events" are good places to begin. Also try "Index" or "Search" if you know which "specifics" you're looking for; the main site links to many web pages of information. The "free California Official State Visitor's Guide" can be ordered from the home page of the web site; it's well done and informative.
Do you need reservations for (reservable) attractions, RV parks, state parks, etc. in the summer? Yes! Despite the high prices of fuel, the power glitches, and all the "bad press" California is regularly subject to for a variety of "sins", real and imagined, the "tourist dollar" still contributes a great deal to California's economy. Reserve to avoid disappointment, especially places to stay in areas of heavy tourist demand; it is increasingly difficult to be "spontaneous" in a state with 35 million people and who knows how many visitors! It's anybody's guess as to how California's "problems" will affect tourism this summer, but past experience suggests that reservations are always a good idea. Popular state parks "near" population centers or along the coast are always booked well in advance. http://cal-parks.ca.gov is the California State Parks' web site; information on how to reserve a campsite in a state park is on the web site. State parks with hookups are very rare in California; only a very few state parks offer these. RV parks near major tourist attractions also fill early, and many RV parks have a large resident populations; both factors affect site availability.
I suggest that RVers get the following guides if they don't already have them; they will make mountain driving and finding places to stay much easier. (Anywhere; not just in CA!)
The Trailer Life Directory -- You can get this at any Camping World store, most large bookstores (on-line and "regular"), and/or from www.rv.net The guide lists RV parks, state parks, national park campgrounds, and many other "camping" options in every state in the U.S., and in Canada and Mexico. Woodall's is another guide, as is the guide sold in Camping World stores -- a Woodall's with a CW cover; all are published by "TL".
The Mountain Directory - Western Edition -- This is an essential guide for driving in any state with "mountains". The guide details elevations, road conditions, percentage of incline of up and down grades, and specific details of each pass/grade. www.mountaindirectory.com
If you have a toad or tow vehicle, "tour" in this vehicle and leave the RV hooked up at an RV park or other "central" campsite whenever you can. Many places have limited or no parking for RVs, and "maneuvering" a large rig may be difficult.
Some Places To Go and Things to Do and See...
Southern California
The San Diego Zoo -- One of the finest zoos in the world. www.sandiegozoo.org
The San Diego Wild Animal Park -- Actually in Escondido, northeast of San Diego. Animals in their "natural" habitats; a "don't miss". www.sandiegozoo.org/wap/homepage.php3
The museum "trio" -- The Norton Simon, The Getty, The Huntington. World-class collections. www.nortonsimon.org ; www.huntington.org ; www.getty.edu/museum
Catalina Island -- 22 miles off the coast, Catalina can only be reached by tour boat or air. www.catalina.com
Anza-Borrego SP -- a desert park, best in March and April (or fall); HOT in summer. Hookup sites for RVs available. http://cal-parks.ca.gov
Joshua Tree NP -- Also best visited in spring or fall; www.nps.gov
Mission Santa Barbara -- One of the better-preserved of California's missions. www.bgmm.com/missions Santa Barbara also has a good art museum and interesting "Spanish colonial" architecture. Note: There are 21 California missions; the web site describes all in detail.
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Other popular attractions: www.disneyland.com ; www.seaworld.com ; www.universalstudios.com
Central California
San Luis Obispo -- A great Thursday night farmers' market, Mission San Luis Obispo, area wineries, much more. www.thesloguide.com (For listings of all wineries in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties that welcome visitors, see www.thesloguide.com/wine_links.htm)
Hearst Castle -- Open only by reserved tour; www.hearstcastle.org
California Highway 1 (San Simeon to Carmel or reverse) -- Magnificent views of the Pacific and coast. A beautiful drive from either direction, but the views are best southbound. Road goes through Big Sur area. Note: Highway 1 is largely narrow and curving; there are almost no pullouts going north (southbound, yes) and southbound travelers will notice that there is often no guard rail on the cliff side! Summer mornings and evenings often are foggy; for obvious reasons, don't attempt the drive in the fog. Those driving large RVs should use special caution on this road. Landslides often close Highway 1 in the winter, but these are generally repaired pretty quickly. Check the "Cal-Trans" web site under the "Driving..." section for the current road conditions. Go slowly and carefully, pull over when it's safe to let the more impatient folks get by, and enjoy as much of the view as you can!
Carmel-Monterey area --
Point Lobos State Reserve -- Beaches, sea otters, seals, hiking trails. http://cal- parks.ca.gov
Carmel -- "trendy" shops; don't try to drive an RV here.
Carmel Mission
Monterey Bay Aquarium -- one of the best in the world. www.mbayaq.org
Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP -- Giant sequoia trees and less crowded than many national parks; www.nps.gov
Yosemite NP -- Yosemite Valley is beautiful, but so is the "high country"; Tioga Pass (Hwy. 120) is the cross-park route. (Up to 10000', narrow, curving road; large RVs use special caution.) Note: Yosemite is usually super-crowded, and all campsites are booked well in advance of the season. See the park information at www.nps.gov.
Northern California...
Marshall Gold Discovery SHP -- At Coloma; site of Calfornia's 1848 gold discovery.
Columbia SHP -- Near Sonora; some original buildings, some "restored" in a "Mother Lode" gold mining town. Information on both state parks above at http://cal-parks.ca.gov
Note: There are still a few towns in the "Gold Country" that have retained or preserved some of their Gold Rush era buildings and atmosphere, but this is disappearing. (South to north) try Jamestown, Murphys, Jackson, Sutter Creek, Volcano, and Nevada City.
Lake Tahoe area -- Beautiful lake and scenery. www.virtualtahoe.com and/or 1-800-AT-TAHOE
San Francisco -- www.sfvisitor.org will help you plan a visit to "The City". RVers will have to find an RV park outside the city, leave the rig and drive in; do not try to drive an RV in San Francisco! (A class B is excepted.) SF has hills, traffic, congestion/some narrow streets, and lack of parking for cars, let alone RVs. The Trailer Life campground guide lists all the options for RV parks "around" San Francisco.
The Napa Valley (and surrounding "wine country") -- State Route 29 runs 28 miles from Napa in the south to Calistoga; a (partial) parallel route is the "Silverado Trail". A map and guide to all the area wineries is very useful; this and other information is available from www.napavalley.com There are more wineries in Sonoma County; www.sonoma.com The whole area is especially pretty in the spring and fall just before the harvest. Note: The Napa Valley and surrounding areas are extremely popular and can be very crowded, with bumper-to-bumper traffic, even during the week. Touring around is definitely easier in a toad or tow vehicle. Expect to pay a small fee for wine tasting at most wineries. The only options for "camping" in this immediate area are Bothe-Napa SP (no hookups) and "Napa Valley Expo"; this was the fairgrounds, and most people still refer to it as that. (www.napavalleyexpo.com) Many RVers stay in Vallejo or Vacaville.
Highway 1 from Stinson Beach to Leggett -- This section of Hwy. 1 goes through Point Reyes National Seashore, along the beautiful coast areas of Sonoma and Mendocino counties, through the town of Mendocino, and ends at Highway 101 at Leggett. www.mendocinocoast.com will provide information on this area.
Highway 101 from Leggett to the Oregon Border -- This is "redwood country"; two attractions not to miss are:
The Avenue of the Giants -- This is a 33-mile-long two-lane road paralleling Hwy. 101 from Phillipsville and Pepperwood. Some of the most magnificent redwood groves in California are found along this route. There are many pull-outs for (short-term) parking, picknicking areas and hiking trails. Watch out for logging trucks; they move fast.
Redwood NP -- This national park contains three state parks with campsites, more beautiful redwoods, beaches, marshes, meadows, and oak woodlands.
www.redwoodvisitor.org
Lassen Volcanic NP -- This "drive-through and look" national park is uncrowded. Lassen has pretty scenery, volcanic and thermal features, and a small but interesting visitor's center. www.nps.gov
There's a lot more to see and do in California; the state offers far too much to include in one short travelogue. Many parts of the state that aren't so far mentioned have their own special appeal; there is literally something and somewhere for everyone to do and see and enjoy. Mt. Shasta, Mt. Whitney, the ancient Bristlecone Pines, Mammoth Lakes area, farmers' markets and roadside fruit stands, Trinity County, Sausalito, California's lonely northeast corner, fishing in the Walker, Upper Sacramento, and McCloud rivers, houseboating on Lake Shasta, San Jose's "Tech" Museum, national forests, the Willits to Fort Bragg Skunk Train, Mission San Fernando, Legoland, Palomar Observatory, Solvang, Mission San Antonio......come visit; we'll (try to) leave the lights on for you!
Questions? Just drop me a note...