Cardinal RV Club

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for excellent RV parks on or near Interstate 5 through Oregon and California. We're heading south as far as the Bakersfield area in a few weeks...Also, how about some interesting attractions, scenic spots and/or historic sites etc. Never been through this area so any ideas will be greatly appreciated! (Guide books and the internet are fine but it's nice to hear from people who have been there.)

But of course. When we travel through Oregon on I-5 we stay at Champoeg State Park near Salem and Rogue River State Park just south of Grants Pass. Plus they have excellent prices and large sites.

Rob

I can start you with Eugene, Or. Premier RV Resort just north of Eugene is very nice, and then Seven Feathers RV in Canyonville is a great place. The Valley of the Roque SP is nice right on the river, then take the 238 and the 99 bypass and go to Jackson historic district is worth the drive, this is just south of Grants Pass. Going down the I-5 when go just get into Calif. there is a rest stop right on the Kamath river , great place for lunch. A good place to stay over night is Rolling Hills Casino & RV in Corning , a good buffet and a place to get fuel right there. When you get to Sacramento I would recommend go down 99 instead of I-5 and stay at the KOA in Lodi and then take day trips without the trailer and go thru the Mother Lode country on hiway 49. The town of Angel Camp is the town with a lot of Mark Twain history. Columbia Historical town is very interesting. And of course the town of Sutter Creek . Going down the 99 in the town of Chowchilla stay at the Lakes RV Resort very nice and then on to Bakersfield. There is not much to see or places to stay going down I-5 from Sacramento to Bakersfield . In Bakersfield I would recommend staying at the Bakersfield RV Resort. Hope this helped you.

In California, along I5 south of Redding there isn't much. In the Sacramento/San Joaquin Valleys historical areas lie to the east along SR99 which with SR101 to the west, and 395 along the east side of the Sierra are the original north/south highways through California. SR49 winds through the Gold Rush and logging areas in the Sierra foothills, with places like Sutter's Mill. I5 was constructed mostly during the 1960s as a thru route for trucks, avoiding the cities where possible in California.

In Sacramento there is the California State Railroad Museum, which has many indoor and outdoor displays of historical railroad equipment. From I5, 80 miles to the west on I580 is San Francisco. Modesto has a excellent aircraft museum at the former Castle AFB, THE training base for B-52 crews until it closed around 1992, with many USAF aircraft, (and a B-52 crew training simulator, neat, but then I'm a retired USN P-3 aircrewman ) from WWII up to the 1990s, that is located just off of Highway 99. South of I580, I5 is a couple hundred miles of not much until you get to the exit for SR58 at Buttonwillow and head east to Bakersfield.

I5 in California. It's a highway where the cruise control comes on and you count fence posts to stay awake. If you don't have Sirius/XM satellite radio, bring lots of Cd's. AM/FM leaves alot to be desired.

And if you must take I5 from Sacramento to Bakersfield be sure you have a good spare and kidney belt.

gmarker wrote:And if you must take I5 from Sacramento to Bakersfield be sure you have a good spare and kidney belt.

Ah Gerry, it isn't that bad. I've only had kidney bruises. I5 is NOTHING compared to Interstate 80 EAST of the Mississippi River. There you need a spine transplant after 50 miles! Survival Rule #1 over there - take the Turnpike.
Seriously, with all the truck traffic, they fix one section, then 40 miles down the road... WHAM!
I think our trip to San Fran in April will be #10,001 since 1968 that I've made thru the Valley. At least it seems that way.

ski boy wrote: We're heading south as far as the Bakersfield area in a few weeks...Also, how about some interesting attractions, scenic spots and/or historic sites etc.

Any chance you'll be able to join us in Jackson California for the SW rally in the end of April?

If you're looking for scenic spots there's Silver Falls State Park just east of Salem that I can highly recommend.
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_211.php

This is one of ten falls along the hiking trail in the park:


Rob

Thanks so much for the info, members...just busy now copying all the great ideas..Regarding the rally - unfortunately we have to be back in Ontario for the end of April for a very important graduation - after $30,000 plus for tuition etc. I feel that I now own a good chunk of the university that my dear daughter attended so therefore I feel supremely entitled to be there!! We hope in the near future to make it to a rally if we can coordinate our plans...If anyone has anything else (California/Oregon) that'll be great!

Here is something I posted on the "On the Road" topic about staying in the San Francisco Bay area if you visit.

Just finished scheduling time off and making reservations at the Alameda County Fairgrounds for April 16 - 18.

"If you travel to the San Francisco Bay you can't beat this place, it's not fancy, however it is right off I680 and just south of the I580/I680 interchange, and at $43 a night for a large FHU pull through you won't get a better deal in this area. Back in spaces are $33 a night. Satellite TV, no problems. There is Free WiFi. I schedule a month in advance to ensure we'll have a place to stay.

http://www.campingfriend.com/AlamedaCou ... ?file=Home

Our last trip was during the Pleasanton RV Show, at other times the fairgrounds is host the Goodguy's car shows, then there are the Home and Garden shows, horse racing (and off track betting), a golf course, driving range, all within walking distance. About 10 miles south is the Niles Canyon RR at Sunol (the place which elected Bosco the dog as Mayor) which runs trains about every weekend, some powered by Steam Engines, Wente Vineyards at Livermore with a great golf course, and of course San Francisco."

The campground manager called me this morning, and this time there is going to be a Boy Scout Jamboree. So all the pull-thru spaces were taken, but we do have a back-in 50 amp space reserved. County Fairground RV Parks are neat, always something different!

I noticed that the links available on the Alameda County Fairgrounds page didn't have Wente Vineyards listed, so here is a link:

http://www.wentevineyards.com/

Concerts, good food and a great golf course, if you play golf. And it is in the hills!

2 1/2 hours drive west of Bakersfield just of the coast is the Danish community of Solvang, I think that it's worth the drive.

We travel I=5 thru Oregon and Calif. quite a bit. We love staying in Grants Pass. There are two RV parks right on the Rogue River. One is Bridgeview RV Park and the other is Rogue River RV Park. They are owned by the same people and not too far apart. Ask for a spot on the water. Gorgeous views. Also, going down into California, we spend a LOT of time at JGW RV Resort in Redding, actually just the south end of Redding above Anderson. It's right on the Sacramento River and we always request a river site there too. They also give you 10% off if you pay cash. It is a manicured park with a beautiful huge area of green grass along the water. Very close to Shasta Lake, so side trips are great. Shasta is a beautiful site, but very hot in the summer. We also take side trips from there to Lassen and to Whiskeytown Lake. Also a beautiful lake with gorgeous views. To be honest, I-5 is not the nicest drive. There's an ok park at Santa Nella, but probably ok for an overnight stay and it's right on the highway. Of course, when you are up near Stockton area, you can go to one of the parks on the Sacramento Delta. Lots to see there especially if you can rent a boat. Actually, we live about 65 miles north of Bakersfield, but east of Hwy 99. Hope you have a nice trip.

We stay at Flag City in Lodi and Orange Grove in Bakersfield. Chris

And if you go to Solvang, be sure and visit (and SHOP!) at the Danish Mill Bakery, a wee little pet project of Torben and Patty's! EXCELLENT cookies, BTW! Thanks, Torben! I will expect the check to be coming in the mail for the advertisement........... lol! Donna and Dennis

COOKIES??? Yes, those are great, but what about those specialty breakfast rolls. Yummmm! And my favorite whole grain bread. And their lunch menu is great. Some of the best sandwiches you'll ever have. And while you are there, you also get to visit that beautiful, quaint little city that has tons of cute shops. And lastly, if Torben and Patty are in town, you might even get to visit with them. Well worth the trip down Hwy 101 to see and visit. OK, T & P, just one more loaf of my favorite bread would be wonderful. hehehe
Marge