Okay to Travel OR Coast in Mid March?

[Silver Wolf]

Hello! We are considering a mid March trek up the CA coast into OR with our 30' AS. We are wondering if weather and roads at this time of year are going to give us any challenges. Ice? Snow? Closed parks or limited services? Anyone in the area who can advise on the early spring conditions for travel with a long rig would be appreciated Thanks!
Todd and Nancy

[OTRA15]

Welcome to the forum! You may be interested in this thread FYI:

Oregon Coastal Road Trip

We are hoping to make it to Oregon in the fall.

Have a great trip.

Peter

[Silver Wolf]

Thanks. I did read this one. We were hoping for some seasonal advice for early spring.

[NWRVR]

You could run into some black ice early in the morning in shaded areas but this winter has been unseasonably mild, so it is unlikely. It is a good time to go as you won't have any problem getting into the state park campgrounds. We will be getting our AS out of the garage next week and heading to the coast. Enjoy!

[PKI]

Todd and Nancy - Thanks for starting a Spring Coast trip thread. We are also interested in the experience that others have for this area. We started making plans for a CA to Canada trip and are seeing winter closings until June. Is the Spring really only suitable for a Coastal trip? Pat

[gandttimes]

When we came home to Canada last spring from wintering in California, we came up the coast. No problems finding anything open and weather was sure drier than when we went down. Can't see any issues with the timing. Have fun.


George

[PKI]

GT - How late in the Spring was it when you went home to Canada? Pat

[gandttimes]

Pat, we got home to the interior of BC around the 10th of March.
We actually had to leave the coast and head up through 97 to BC, and wished we could have stayed in the coastal route.
All the State parks all the way through Oregon were open as well as the private parks.



George

[Oregon Ms]

I avoid the coast in the summer. Too crowded. With the exception of a landslide or two blocking 101 or some loop roads the rest of the year is awesome. I was there last week, avoided the beach because the waves seemed a little daunting. I went and found one of my favorite spots and watched the show out the window.

[NWGetaways]

This part of the world has some beautiful early spring days that will take your breath away. However more often expect gray drippy weather..

[toothpull]

Aside from rain, wind and gray, early Spring is great time for the Oregon Coast. The crowds are minimal and the storms can be awesome to view. Highway 101 is no problem with your TT. The Oregon state campgrounds are very nice and the seafood wonderful. If you are planing Northern Cali. too, be advised Highway 1 is a bit of a challenge. We did that last year with our 25 ft FC...beautiful to see...but one and done for me!

[GumbyGirl]

I live at the far south end of the Oregon Coast. The saying around here is "if you don't like the weather wait a few minutes". It's super rare for us to get snow ever...it happens about every three years for maybe a day. We've bee here 20 years and the longest I've ever seen it stick is three days and that was only once in December. We do sometimes get a random hail storm in March. Just long enough to knock the blossoms off my fruit trees . If you stay on the coast temps are warm enough that you won't have ice issues. Some parks close certain sections but I haven't noticed an entire park being closed.

[LBelle]

We just returned from the Oregon coast and agree with everyone that there should be no problems..but if you like boondocking or the smaller (less is more) kind of spots be aware that many USFS campgrounds do not open until mid-March or even later.

[mcomeaux]

We just did Florence Oregon and Pacific City no problems. Cape Kiwanda has nice accommodations with pull through sites and enclosed heated swimming pool and full hookups. Nice facilities....

[Climber]

Silver Wolf, we camp on the Oregon Coast all months of the year, and prefer Fall, Winter and early Spring. The beautiful Oregon state parks are almost never full then, and the weather can be terrific. We camped at Nehalem Bay SP in January with sunny skies and 65-degree temps.

Sometimes a big winter storm will blow in and you can enjoy watching the biggest, baddest surf this side of Hawaii. Seeing it crash over a rocky shore or a coastal jetty is a not-to-be-forgotten experience.

Very occasionally in mid-winter snow will fall on the Coast Range and might hamper traffic for a short while, but it never lasts long. And snow in mid-March is almost unheard of.

So come on up, you'll love it.

[darsea]

We just finished traveling from northern CA 1 and through Oregon. 25 AS challenging in CA. OR great.
Stayed at state parks water and electric/ dump stations available and no problem.
The weather had days in the 50's nights 40's.
Roads no problems. Super parks. Some even get back to you on the phone. We never made a reservation. Judging from the large amount of RV s traveling I would think it is beyond busy in the warmer weather.

[Devananda-E9]

Just go do it! Schedule a stop in Port Orford and eat on the marina dock restaurant operated by a former restaurant chef who just could not stay retired. You may be able to park the night overlooking the bay where you need to walk down to the dock. The Motel that is perched on the cliff is a great option if so desired. Next be sure to stay a few days at Nehalem State Park and get on the beach. It is a very favorite spot of mine. The next place up the coast is Cannon Beach, also a must walk on the beach adventure. It takes a long time to travel the coast hyway. If you travel more than 150 miles a day you are missing too much.

[Devananda-E9]

SORRY, THAT IS AS ABOVE: Nehalem Bay SP, NOT NEW HALEM!!

[nwclassic]

We spent the last week at Harris Beach SP (Brookings) First come, no reservations for now. Great trip, sunshine 60s, then rain 50s. Flowers blooming, fragrant myrtle, crashing waves… hurt to come home!
Sink hole south side of city (Harbor). Minor traffic revision. Some road work on H101 north of there. Short wait time. We heard a radio report tonight of a new slide south of Florence on H101. Sounded like detour will be needed.
Side trip to Shore Acres SP (SW of Coos Bay) on the way home. Stunning wave/headland collisions. $1.90/g diesel. What's not to like? Go for it

[Devananda-E9]

Just do it! Schedule a stop in Port Orford and eat on the marina dock restaurant operated by a former restaurant chef who just could not stay retired. You may be able to park the night overlooking the bay where you need to walk down to the dock. The Motel that is perched on the cliff is a great option if so desired. Next be sure to stay a few days at Nehalem State Park and get on the beach. It is a very favorite spot of mine. The next place up the coast is Cannon Beach, also a must walk on the beach adventure. It takes a long time to travel the coast hyway. If you travel more than 150 miles a day you are missing too much.