Topic: West coast heading north - coastline or mountains?

[Schnell]

So I'm planning this great circle tour of the USA next summer. Folks familiar with this area (I'm from Toronto so I'm not) would you suggest a route along the coast or more interior through the mountains?

 Or a bit of both? Southern coast route then inland mountains more to the north, or vice versa?

This is loosey goosey planning, I'm going to simply follow my front wheel, but would appreciate a few pointers.

Thanks!

[70CB750]

For the east coast you should ride the Skyline drive and Tail of the Dragon.  Better scenery and weather than the coast for sure.

Look up Andy's tail of the Dragon in Traveler's rest for reference.

My $0.02 only of course

[Schnell]

Skyline Dr and Blueridge Parkway, yes. Tail of the Dragon sounds too busy.

Any info on the west coast?

[FunJimmy]

Any info on the west coast?

Lots, but the specifics will depend on how far south you plan to travel before following your front wheel north.
What sort of time you're allowing to travel north on the West Coast, etc.

[Schnell]

Roughly speaking: 1 week south from Toronto to Florida, 1 week west to California, 1 week north to Washington St., then 1 week west back to Toronto.

[FunJimmy]

Roughly speaking: 1 week south from Toronto to Florida, 1 week west to California, 1 week north to Washington St., then 1 week west back to Toronto.

So, a week to travel from Cali to Washington will allow for quite a few options and an occasional zigzag across Northern Cali and Oregon would be stellar. Will you be travelling with the aid of a GPS? How far would be ideal per day?

Some home work for ya.

http://oregonmotorcyclist.com/ridepage.php?page=statemap

[Schnell]

I figure about 300 miles per day on most days. Looking to stay put for an extra day at interesting places/areas. iPhone for GPS. Photography is important for me. Not necessarily typical tourist Kodak photo opp spots though.

[Robbo22]

I would try to work in the Pacific Coast Hwy.  I did it - Seattle to LA - 40 years ago on my NEW K3.
Rob

[Schnell]

Pacific Coast highway is 101, right? I've got a K5.

[goldarrow]

Pacific Coast highway is 101, right? I've got a K5.

101 is freeway.  You want to stay PCH 1. Would be nice and cool ride along the way.

Also, many bikers like to canyon carving on high way 23 Malibu and 27 (Topanga Canyon) to Malibu.  I Never have time do to it though, so I don't know how great.

[Schnell]

Great, thanks!

[Stev-o]

I would try to work in the Pacific Coast Hwy. 

PCH 1 is a must.  Try to hit a couple parks in Cali too, Yosemite and Sequoia, where the big trees are.  California is spectacular, plan to spend more time there, it's a huge state and you won't want to rush it.
I spent 10 days doing San Diego to San Francisco in a motorhome,  only 500 miles, but we took the long way - 1500 miles.

[scottly]

Pacific Coast highway is 101, right? I've got a K5.

101 is freeway.  You want to stay PCH 1. Would be nice and cool ride along the way.

Highway 1 is best from Morro Bay to the north. The best inland route is 395, up the east side of the Sierras. I-5, 99, and the 101 are race tracks in places; you can make good time, but not the most enjoyable routes in CA, IMHO.

[Schnell]

Thanks for that. I am definitely staying off freeways. This trip is the opposit of that.

[brandEn]

HWY 36.
Red Bluff to Eureka California. This is a must do IMO.

http://www.pashnit.com/roads/cal/Highway36.htm

[FunJimmy]

HWY 36.
Red Bluff to Eureka California. This is a must do IMO.

http://www.pashnit.com/roads/cal/Highway36.htm

It's an amazing road BrandEn. Will be riding it this fall too.

[RAFster122s]

Out of LA over the mountains via Angeles Crest Highway, very entertaining road . Remember the huge red rocks on one of the planets in the original Star Trek series, it is a nature area on the edge of the Mohave in the mountains to the east of Lancaster. I forget what it is called. Friend showed me it and we explored its trails into the giant bowl. Seem to recall Devil in the name...  we came out of LALa on the Angeles Crest and into the southern edge of the Mohave along the mountains to this place then over to Palmdale. Worth the detour I think.

[RAFster122s]

Irish Hills in SLO area, you get a commanding view of the nearby mountains and ocean and are above the thermal layer usually as it goes out in the morning. Apple orchards nearby near Avril Valley are on a nice twisty tree covered road. The tri-tip steak at McClintock's in Pismo Beach or SLO or the Tri-Tip sandwich at Fireside Grill in SLO are worth the experience.

[BeSeeingYou]

North fron San Fran on the PCH to Crescent City was nice.  Here I went inland to stop at Crater Lake.  Well worth the stop but once past that 97 north to the Columbia River was not all that great.  Coast route may be a better option but Crater Lake is really cool.  Whatever way you go a nice route back east from somewhere in Washington is U.S. 12.  Long streches are posted as scenic highway and the section between Lewiston and Missoula should not be missed.  The only drawback to me is in Montana it runs midway between Glacier and Yellowstone so if you don't have lot's of time you may have to choose one or the other.   U.S. 12 is also a nice route across the Dakotas and Minnesota.  U.S. 14 would be another alternative route back east if you decided on Yellowstone.  It will take you through the Bighorn Mts, near Devils Tower, and the Black Hills with just a few runs on the interstate.  Either of these roads will put you in or near Minneapolis.  From there U.S. 8 across Wisconsin to U.S. 2 and by various route to Sault Ste. Marie.  A nice ride across the top of Lake Huron and you are home.  I have traveled all these routes over the years.  In fact in about 10 days we are heading east on 8 across Wisconsin to the Sault but will take a right at Espanola to Little Current on Manitoulin Island.  We are towing our sailboat so this is not a bike trip.

[Schnell]

Thanks, this is all good info!

[jackseattle]

US 14 through Wyoming is epic

[Schnell]

Thank you!

So now I'm thinking for the first leg of my trip, to ride south on blue ridge parkway then cut across to Memphis where I have a buddy to show me the town. I'll avoid the south eastern states which sound boring.

[70CB750]

Let me know when you are passing through West Virginia, I can join you for some miles on the Skyline.

[Schnell]

Will do. It'll be next summer, early July.

[70CB750]

OK.  And I meant North Virginia