Ever driven SF-Portland on the coast? Need suggestions, pls

I am going to Portland, Oregon for a conference of sorts, with a friend, in the beginning of March. We decided to make it into a road trip and are going to drive from LA to Portland. I%26#39;ve done the LA -SF leg of the trip many times, but never drove North of SF. We would like to make a couple of overnight stops along the way, and spend a day or two in each place, plus some small stops.

Any specific suggestions on some inresting/beautiful places to stop for a day or two and/or for a drive-through? Also, how would you space your overnight stops?

We were thinking of going up the coast one way and coming back on the 5 Freeway, or vice versa, unless I%26#39;m told otherwise... (I already live by the ocean, so just seeing the ocean per se doesn%26#39;t qualify... )

If anyone lives that way, is it a safe drive up the coast? Someone told me that it%26#39;s not too safe this time of year and very winding... Do I need snow tires on the Prius (I remember seeing something about Oregon snow tires law)?

Thanks!!!

Ever driven SF-Portland on the coast? Need suggestions, pls

I haven%26#39;t done this trip yet but I%26#39;ve talked to quite a few people who have and have done a lot of research since I%26#39;m planning to do it in late March/early April (from Seattle to SF and back).

I%26#39;m planning on stopping somewhere on the mid-to-southern Oregon coast (Bandon or so), then Trinidad CA, then Mendocino, then on to SF from there. Except for the first day, I%26#39;m trying to space my stops about 3-4 hours from each other so that I also have time to go hiking in Redwood National Park, etc. If you%26#39;re into wines, I%26#39;ve heard that the Anderson Valley near Mendocino is supposed to be a great place to explore.

I did a trip in March down the Oregon coast to Crescent City, then cut over to Ashland via Rt. 199 years ago and didn%26#39;t have any problems with snow/weather other than quite a bit of rain.

Ever driven SF-Portland on the coast? Need suggestions, pls

Cal-1 along the Mendocino Coast is very scenic. It is a slow drive, much of it well above the ocean with limited nice stops. If time any factor I would consider not doing it. and make a separate trip to just do it. Mendocino is a nice stop, good area to spend a day. .

The Oregon Coast drives better south bound because of the many stops you can make, more safely. Though in mar less of an issue.

Cal coast at least for my wife drives better north bound where she is away from the dropoff to the ocean.

I suggest you consider staying on 101 all the way

The only thing in common with your home is the Pacific Ocean; the Oregon coast is another world, and the scenery will blow you away. Mile after beautiful mile with easy access through turnouts, state parks, towns, etc. Much praise for OR and Tom McCall for preserving so much for public use. Agree about staying on 101; route 1 can be torturous as in tiring and car sick and... you get the picture. Agree also about returning southbound on the OR coast. You won%26#39;t be disappointed. I hope some of the experts will post their ';things to see'; along the coastal route.

Thank you so much!

northwestwanderer, we also thought to space our travel at about 3 hours a day, ( going in the opposite to your direction) so we have time to explore. What would be a good interesting place to stop for a night or even two, about 6-7 hour drive away from Portland? It%26#39;s my friend%26#39;s birthday, so we want to be in one place for a night or two. I know the question sounds odd, but I am trying to time the drive going backward in time from the destination point, and after this big stop, I%26#39;d like to have one more overnight stop about 2-3 hour drive from Portland, if that makes sense...

phirl, can you (or anyone else) please explain what you meant about the driving over a dropoff to the ocean? You%26#39;re scaring me now... :) And are there more nice stops along the 101? I am getting a little confused, maybe I should check the map again. I thought 101 becomes 1 after SF, more or less...

Thanks again.

If your budget permits I would do your 2nd to last stay at Tu Tu Tun Lodge in Gold Beach OR (southern OR coast)--it%26#39;s a very special, relaxing place. However, I%26#39;m not sure if they%26#39;ll be serving dinner yet (they don%26#39;t in the off-season) so you should check on that. If they aren%26#39;t, then your choices for fine dining in the area are on the limited side or at least they were the last time I was in the area--perhaps that has changed.

I%26#39;ve also heard great things about a place called WildSpring Retreat in Port Orford--it got 4 stars in the latest edition of Northwest Best Places that just came out.

T h a n k y o u

101 south stays inland south of Garberville. Much faster than cal -1. has some nice scenery and some wine country, Sonoma Co.

As for drop-off on Cal-1, my wife has a few places that scare her. That is one, but every one different. No place on oreg coast bothers her, then she is accustomed to that.

As far as driving conditions in early march, I-5 should be ok as far as snow, but if there is a storm that happens to be on your travel day it might be kind of dicey over the Siskiyous(NCal/SOr border--I-5 was closed last night due to snowstorm). So you will still have to keep your eye out on the weather, but most likely it shoud be fine.

As far as places to stay overnight along I-5 in Oregon- I%26#39;d recommend staying in Ashland right on the border. A great town and then about 6-7 hours to Portland(that would be in chinookgrrl time).

There have been a few very good posts/strings lately on the SF-PDX along the coast lately-probably a few pages back.

Thanks, Ch!

pages 3(SirCharles?) %26amp; 4(SCtraveler) posts have coast stuff on it..