RV in California

Hello. My husband, daughter (7) and me are wanting to go RVing in California next summer (aug) and could do with some advise! We are planning to stay in San Fran for a few days then to rent RV. Would like to visit Yosemite, costal areas from San Fran but not as far as LA, also napa Valley. Can you recommend RV size and any good campsites please and any place worth a visit? We will have about 14 days and are RV virgins!

RV in California

Oh goodness, I responded to your posting on LeicesterG%26#39;s thread before I saw this one, lol!

I%26#39;ve been RV%26#39;ing for over 15 years, in all types of rigs. Most people rent what are called Class C motorhomes. For three people, you%26#39;ll probably want one about 24 feet long or so. There are many rental companies, and smaller ones seem to have slightly better prices, but you can check out floor plans at the two big companies - CruiseAmerica and El Monte RV.

There are two basic types of lodging with an RV. Privately owned ';RV parks'; will have full hookups, which means water, power and sewer. They also usually have cable TV, often wi-fi, swimming pools, playgrounds, clubhouses and other amenities. You usually do not need to book far ahead, sometimes just a few days or weeks.

Government or privately owned ';campgrounds'; will have far fewer facilities and hookups and tend to be more ';natural';. Sometimes you have to pay for your showers. State Parks have limited hookups, and popular ones will book up far in advance, sometimes up to nearly a *year* ahead.

Yosemite has no hookups inside the park.

Here are some websites which will help you locate RV parks and campgrounds:

http://www.rv-clubs.us/rv_campgrounds.html

www.rvparkhunter.com/state.asp鈥?/a>

http://www.rvparkreviews.com/index.html

As far as what to see - CA is a big state with nearly unlimited attractions. You might like to buy a couple of guidebooks to give you some ideas. Since you will be in the SF area, I%26#39;d strongly suggest seeing at least one grove of redwoods north of the city.

RV in California

Hi---Half-Brit is the RV expert around here and gives great advice!

If you can do without a hookup for the RV for a few days, I suggest you stay right in Yosemite Valley. Read LeicesterGolfer%26#39;s trip report about RV%26#39;ing at Yosemite and what an amazing time they had there.

Reservations for the campgrounds in Yosemite Valley are made online at www.recreation.gov

I am going to pass on some advice that I saw Enzian give to LeicesterGolfer: register on the website in advance and practice using it. On the day reservations for Yosemite Valley campsite open up, they are often gone in the first half-hour or so. For camping dates that start between July 15 and August 14, you would book on March 15, 2009. For camping dates that start after August 15, you would book on April 15. They go by the first date of a several-day visit, so if you are arriving on August 13 and spending 4 nights, you can still book all 4 nights on March 15.

I would suggest you spend 3 nights in Yosemite Valley, and consider another night or 2 up in Tuolumne Meadows, at 8600 feet in elevation, and the largest alpine meadow in the Sierras. (You would have to book these separately, and be sure to book the Yosemite Valley spot first as they go quickly!)

Then you could continue over Tioga Pass and north on Highway 395, crossing back over the mountains to spend a night or 2 at Lake Tahoe, a huge jewel of a lake at 6000 feet and surrounded by snowy peaks. From there take Interstate 80 back to the SF Bay area but take a cut-off (Highway 12) up to Napa. I hope someone can suggest a good RV park around there for you. Consider Sonoma as well.

Then maybe head over to the coast for a couple of nights. This northern coast area is my personal favorite. If you also want to go to the more southern coast, like Monterey area or Big Sur, you%26#39;ll have to go right through San Francisco, and it is not all freeway. But if you stay on Highway 1 (instead of Highway 101) it is not bad in the city, even in an RV. You can stay on Highway 1 as far as you like---maybe Big Sur?

Or you could skip the north coast stop, and head straight down to Monterey and Big Sur from Napa, skirting around the Bay Area on the east side, all on freeways.

Be sure and stop for a walk around at Point Lobos Reserve--you might even see sea otters.

http://pt-lobos.parks.state.ca.us/

The website has a link to state park campgrounds all up and down the coast, from Santa Cruz area south to

a bit below Big Sur.