October Northern California Circuit

**campervanner** · 07-22-2009, 12:42 PM

I'm planning a trip for three of us (one of whom will be a four month old baby) in October. My plan so far is:

3rd Arrive SFO, overnight Tiburon
4th Port Reyes Seashore, overnight Samuel Taylor State Park
5th/6th Russian River Valley
7th Russian River Valley to Lake Tahoe area
8th Lake Tahoe area
9th Lake Tahoe to Yosemite (via Mono lake and Tioga pass, fingers crossed)
10th-12th Yosemite
13th Yosemite to Kings Canyon / Sequoia
14th/15th Kings Canyon / Sequoia
16th Kings Canyon / Sequoia to San Simeon
17th/18th Big Sur
19th/20th Big Basin Redwood State Park
21st-24th San Francisco and around

I imagine this is not especially original, although I didn't spot any identical itineraries in my scans of the threads, and perhaps its rather low mileage by the standards around here! We'll be hiring a camper van, and hopefully mostly staying in state and national parks (if they're open!). I'd be grateful for any hints and tips, but especially route suggestions for the 7th (Russian River Valley to Lake Tahoe) and 16th (Sequoia to San Simeon).

**Southwest Dave** · 07-22-2009, 01:36 PM

Hello and welcome to the RTA forums !

It looks a nice itinerary set at a relaxed pace so well done. In early Oct you should be OK to cross the Tioga pass. On the junction of 120 and 395 there is a Gas station which is ideal for filling up before heading into the park. If you take the road up the hill by the gas station there are good views of Mono lake from there, also inside is a great diner called "Woah Nellies Delli" so if you're a little peckish at this time that's the place to eat.
If you are driving through Sequoia on the Generals highway [198] to Three rivers you will continue through Visalia and get on CA 41/46 to Paso Robles and Cambria and then a short run up CA 1 to San Simeon.
Although one word of warning, the Generals highway is slow going, mountainous and windy and actually carries a recommended max length of 22 ft [could be 24ft] but it is only a recommendation, I have done it in a 30ft RV and although a bit of a work out it was worth every moment IMO.