Please help me plan! Portland to DLR and back.

[Ashlotte]

Last summer our family took our first road trip from Portland to Salt Lake City. We had a lot of fun and decided that this summer we should drive to California. At first we were just going to drive to San Francisco, but then we thought if we are that close to Disneyland, we should go for it and go the rest of the way.

I know there is plenty to see along the way (we will be covering most of the west coast!). The problem is, there is TOO MUCH to see, and I am having a hard time narrowing down what is really a must do, and what is just making the trip take too long.

I am thinking the only thing we know we will do for certain is stop in San Francisco on the way down. I think we'll probably only stay one full day there (perhaps sleeping outside the city to save money). We talked about going to Crescent City to see the Redwoods, but I am not sure if that will add too much time in the car. Perhaps there are some forest areas closer to where we will already be driving?

On the way home, we'll probably stick close to I-5 to get home faster (school will be starting). The real question on the way home is where to stop over to sleep. I am thinking we'll try to make it home in two days. Any suggestions for a good mid-way, safe city? Any other good attractions along the way to break up the boredom? Water parks, playgrounds, restaurants, museums, etc?

Thus far my plan looks like this. Could leave Wednesday or Thursday:


Th: Leave Home. Sleep what city?
F: Arrive San Francisco area
Sa: San Francisco/Monteray?
Su: Drive from Bay Area. Hopefully sleep that night in Anaheim or somewhere no more than two-hours away
M: Disneyland
Tu: DL
W: DL
Th: DL
F: Checkout from resort. Stay extra day, or hit the road?
Sa: Driving- stop where?
Sun: Would like to arrive home that evening
Mon: Labor Day
Tue: SCHOOL

Any advice from those who have done the trip is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[bcla]

Maybe Lassen Volcanic National Park?

It's just a little bit off of I-5. I like Bumpass Hell, where cowboy Kendall Vanhook Bumpass lost his leg to a hot spring. He describe the place as "Hell" because if all the thermal vents, mud pots, etc. It's the closest you'll find to Yellowstone on the West Coast. No geysers per se, but this little area packs a lot of stuff in one small area. And now they have boardwalks.

If that's too much time maybe just the Sundial Bridge in Redding as well as Turtle Bay Exploration Park.

 

[run4me]

My daughter and I have been doing road trips since she was 3. We also live in the Portland area. Going to San Fransisco we have stopped in Ashland (they have a great city park), Yrika, or drove straight through for 10 hours. Have a great trip.

 

[RSWA2]

Th: Leave Home. Sleep what city?
F: Arrive San Francisco area
Sa: San Francisco/Monteray?
Su: Drive from Bay Area. Hopefully sleep that night in Anaheim or somewhere no more than two-hours away
M: Disneyland
Tu: DL
W: DL
Th: DL
F: Checkout from resort. Stay extra day, or hit the road?
Sa: Driving- stop where?
Sun: Would like to arrive home that evening
Mon: Labor Day
Tue: SCHOOL

Any advice from those who have done the trip is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I used to drive from Sacramento to Portland for work. There really isn't much between Eugene, OR and Redding, CA. Most are small towns. I would say Roseburg or Medford are the biggest ones you'll see.

Since you want to go to the Redwoods on the way down, you have a couple options

- Head South to Grants Pass, then go West towards the coast and South on 101 until you reach Crescent City/Redwood National Park, stay there overnight.
- Head South to Redding, stay overnight, then head West to the coast and North on 101 until Redwood National Park.

The 2nd option is a little longer since you have to back track North about an hour but is an easier drive.

Or if you feel that going West to the Redwoods will take too long, as you drive down I5, you will drive right by Mt. Shasta, go see the forest and take a hike and stay overnight there. I would have to say that it feels just like Mt. Hood though. Plus in San Francisco, just across the Golden Gate bridge, is Muir Woods, which is also a nice Redwood forest.

If it was me, I would drive from Portland to San Francisco, in one shot, with bathroom and gas stops, pretty easy (very boring) drive and see Muir Woods while I'm at SF.

On the way home from LA, you will be taking I5 all the way North, I would stop in Sacramento overnight to rest.

LA to Sacramento is about 6-7 hours. A Redding stop (about 2.5 hours North) will put you closer to home, but Sacramento is a bigger city. You can also see the sights in Sacramento, like the Capitol, lots of kid friendly options here.

Sacramento to Portland is about 10 hours on I5. I've always stopped at Ashland/Medford and then the Seven Feathers Casino for gas and bathroom breaks.

Good luck, have fun!

 

[bcla]

Well - I didn't think about Medford even though we stayed there for a night. It's somewhat of a depressing town with a huge meth problem, but you can generally stay away from that sort of thing if you try.

There is the Harry and Davis Country Store along with the Harry and David factory tour. I understand it's $5 and you'd probably want to reserve. But they supposedly give out lots of samples for that $5, which can then be applied to buying stuff in their store. That's their flagship store, which has a wine section along with fresh produce.

http://www.harryanddavid.com/h/view/tours

 

[purplecrush]

I'm also in Portland. We drive to Disneyland yearly. This year we are leaving at 3 am, driving through the Redwoods , then driving to San Fran on the same day. Super easy. Then stay a few days. Check out the piers and Alcatraz. Head down to Anaheim in one shot. It's super easy. You will have a great time!

 

[chabelita545]

I, too, live in the Portland area and have driven to DL numerous times. Usually we drive I-5 all the way, but last trip (8/11) broke it up by spending 2 days in SF. We stayed in Fairfield, CA (at the Fairfield by Marriot) and took the Jelly Belly candy factory tour the next morning. My kids were 8 and 11 at the time and it was worth the stop. Then we drove another 45 minutes into SF. We drove down Lombard St., walked through Chinatown and went to a Giants baseball game that night. The next day we took the cable car to Fisherman's Wharf, had lunch, toured Alcatraz and took a taxi back to the hotel to pick up the car. Drove to Livermore to spend the night closer to I-5 because it was cheaper than staying in SF (free parking, too) and it had a pool. We reserved a room at the Quality Inn but they gave our room away and sent us to a nearby equivalent motel. It was fine. The next day was a straight shot to Anaheim.

In SF, my kids liked the baseball game, Alcatraz tour and cable car ride best.

On the way home from DL, we are usually so tired from commando DL touring and just want to sleep in our own beds again so we always intend to drive straight home, but never make it. We usually stay at the Best Western Miners Inn in Yreka, CA which is close to the OR border. Clean, big, comfy rooms, free breakfast and convenient to I-5. Plus, it is always the least expensive stay of the trip. The management is very friendly, too. The next day is only about a 5 1/2 hour drive home. We have done this trip at the exact same time of year as you are planning and love it. Your itinerary looks great! Have a wonderful vacation.