Knight 40 PLQ Posted October 10, 2023 Share Posted October 10, 2023 Has anybody traveled 299 west recently, its been 40 years since I drove it in a truck/camper, and it was narrow and windy? Now with a class A pusher I'm wondering if it has change.. Thanks Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cherry Posted October 10, 2023 Share Posted October 10, 2023 16 minutes ago, Knight 40 PLQ said: Has anybody traveled 299 west recently, its been 40 years since I drove it in a truck/camper, and it was narrow and windy? Now with a class A pusher I'm wondering if it has change.. Thanks Tim Not been on it. BUT, it is a “GREEN” hihgway as far as you are concerned. It is OK up to 45 ft. Your 40ft rig is in the twilight zone. I talked to CHIP’s….specifically a chief “enforcement” officer, in the spring of 2018. He said there was no “definition” of overall length….and that any it was at the officer’s discretion as to how to measure. My 40ft Camelot is closer to 41. Therefore I avoided the “red roads”. Make sure you download the latest map from Caltrans….if has all the districts labeled and then you can click on the PDF. Restriction wise, you clean and green and good to go…. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyronTruex Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 Not a fun road in the best of times for a full-size setup. And the state was unable to tell me how an RV would be measured. Probably a lot shorter after a wreck. I spent six months chasing departments down trying to get a definitive answer. One office told me, "You're in luck, we have the expert here just leaving". After thirty minutes he excused himself and gave me a place to send a letter. Fell on deaf ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trinidaddave Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 I live on the north coast, but only used that road once with my 38’ Safari Gazelle towing my pickup. The roads are still narrow, but they have added more turnouts over the years. I prefer going North or South on Highway 101. If you take it slow and easy, take your time it’s a beautiful drive, but this upsets others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr4Film Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 https://roads.dot.ca.gov/ Input 299 and you will get the latest road conditions and traffic update. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyronTruex Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 Be careful to not overheat your brakes. The drive is indeed beautiful. But I do prefer the 101 if possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLynes Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 Keep in mind your toad, if you have one, will add to the overall length of your rig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight 40 PLQ Posted October 11, 2023 Author Share Posted October 11, 2023 Thank you all for the reply's and I tow a 2007 Avalanche, sometimes the wife prefers to drive behind for her quiet time 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizzly Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 I live in the area. It's got a couple of steep up and down grades. Road work currently will cause some delays. Weekends are better. Couple of areas were curvy but not bad. Better than 199 for sure. Depending upon where you are coming from and going to, 101 could be better answer. Also if going further north there are better options. Depends on your destination and where coming from. Have friends that travel it all the time 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight 40 PLQ Posted October 11, 2023 Author Share Posted October 11, 2023 Thanks, will be heading to Cresent City from Stockton to visit grandkids, 40 Monaco with 34,000 miles on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizzly Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 My buddies both have 38 ft 5th wheels and pull with 1 ton PU and go that way all the time. They live in Chico and Redding. Check weather this time of year for snow but shouldn't be an issue yet Other option from Stockton is go over Altamont Pass into east bay then up 101. Traffic issues that way depending upon the day of the week and probably slower and longer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomV48 Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 12 hours ago, Dr4Film said: https://roads.dot.ca.gov/ Input 299 and you will get the latest road conditions and traffic update. You can just call CalTrans at 1 800-427-7623 speak the highway number and it will give you up to the minute road report on the requested road. Traffic feature on Google maps is sometimes more comprehensive. But also sometimes wrong completely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyronTruex Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 If you choose to go the 101 route here is a suggestion I have posted many times over the years. So many that I saved it. Disregard the title of Ft. Bragg. Just follow the instructions until you get to 101 and go North. Don't make the turn towards Ft. Bragg when you get to that part of the scenario. It has been ten years since traveling this route (bailed out of Kalifornia), so hopefully any changes would be corrected by this group,. I highly recommend using Google Earth and print out the turns so you will recognize them. Just a note for history. There is an old abandoned mine on the right side of the hwy 20, three lanes going up. I am one of the few people that lived in a mining camp in Calif. Well, after the gold rush that is. That is a mercury mine. Some heavy stuff for sure. While taking this route 20, keep your eyes out for Elk. There are a couple of herds running around and they can be right off the road. Go slow enough to enjoy the views. It is beautiful country for sure. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Route to Ft Bragg area Take Highway 20 West out of Williams. 37.1 miles. Watch for Highway 53 as you drop down a hill after a fairly long climb. Easy climb and multiple lanes. Turn what would be South onto 53. You will go about 8 miles. Look for the sign to Highway 29 which leads to Kelseyville. This is a nice road and will become freeway in a few miles. Eventually you are back to two lane for a short distance and will come to a stop sign. You are back to Highway 20 again. This leg is about 30 miles. Turn left and enjoy the beautiful drive right to 101. This route will bypass the two lane twisting and winding on the North side of Clear lake. If you want a good view of the lake go ahead and stay on 20 all the way to 101. Disregard this part for your journey: Do NOT go to Ft. Bragg and then try to go North out of there. Sheesh. Been there. Won't do that again. Take the freeway ramp towards Willits. Once in town stay in the left lane and be patient. Traffic can back up a bit. You will come to a large intersection that has a shopping center on the right and fuel stations on three corners. Turn left and relax and enjoy a beautiful twisting and winding road that has plenty of pull outs to rest, calm queasy stomachs and stretch the pets. This section may take you an hour. Use your shifting lever to keep things in a lower gear so you don’t get hot brakes. Nothing steep, just lots of slow curves. After the 33 miles you will come to a stop light. Two ways to go, right or left. Left will take you to Mendocino and right will take you to Ft. Bragg. Be sure to make reservations in advance. Turning left there is a really nice campground “Pomo”, that we have used many times. Further down is Casper beach. My wife does not like the cramped spaces but I liked being able to walk across the street to the beach. Adding to this. Keep an eye out for Elk along the road from Williams to the Clear Lake area. Another interesting place along the way on the right is an old mining camp. You will come to a three lane road, two lanes going uphill. On the right you will see an old slag dump. This is Abbot mine. It was a mercury mine in the 50's and 60's. "Quick Silver", is an incredibly heavy liquid metal at room temp. There were about a dozen families living at this mining camp at one time. A cook house, bunk house and showers were provided for many miners. Ore was trucked to the crushers, then entered furnaces. The slag was dumped over an embankment. The site was cleaned up several years ago so mostly memories are the only things left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLynes Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 13 hours ago, TomV48 said: You can just call CalTrans at 1 800-427-7623 speak the highway number and it will give you up to the minute road report on the requested road. Traffic feature on Google maps is sometimes more comprehensive. But also sometimes wrong completely. Waze saved us on the trip home from Yellowstone...two-hour backup on I-84 near Mountain Home, ID, due to construction, so we took the back roads home. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan K Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 40 minutes ago, FLynes said: Waze saved us on the trip home from Yellowstone...two-hour backup on I-84 near Mountain Home, ID, due to construction, so we took the back roads home. I also like to run waze in the background to warn me of road hazard ahead and such. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimc99999 Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 (edited) 20 hours ago, Knight 40 PLQ said: Thanks, will be heading to Cresent City from Stockton to visit grandkids, 40 Monaco with 34,000 miles on it I've taken Rt 20 from I-5 past Clear Lake to 101 a couple times in my 38' Windsor, pulling a small trailer once and dragging a toad once. It's not bad, and overall 101 isn't bad either. The part of 101 along the coast just south of Crescent City was pretty rough (bouncy) last time I headed that way (Dec 2020). On Rt 20, the Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino has a large parking lot, easy spot to take a break. We overnighted there once as well. Edited October 12, 2023 by jimc99999 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnlandrus Posted October 13, 2023 Share Posted October 13, 2023 It’s a good way to get to the coast! I have done it about 10-15 times in the last 15 years. Beautiful scenery. Some serious grades, but no problem if you pay attention and take your time! I started traveling it, driving a Volvo semi towing a Living Quarters horse trailer, 68’ total length, and have done it 6-7 times with my 43’ MH with a toad, 66’ total. Used it last April ! The Hwy has been improved over the years, and is very good overall! There is I very nice rest stop we use, about 1/2 way to the coast. Here are the GPS coordinates. 40.882733°, -123.547127. Use google earth to locate it. Enjoy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Blackmon Posted October 13, 2023 Share Posted October 13, 2023 Sitting in Dunnigan right now on our way to Eureka. 299 is doable but work. Take 20 from Williams to Ukiah. Hills and curves but easier than 299. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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