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Old 04-20-2016, 12:17 PM   #1
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need overnight spots in Oregon and NorCal

Just about to finally go pick up my 19. Next Tuesday. I can use some suggestions for places to stop coming back to Calif.

My orientation is at 1:30pm Tuesday so figuring 4:30-6:30pm by the time the transfer is done in Sumas. I got a place reserved that night at Lynden KOA (with hookups) so close to Sumas and I can test out all the systems more. Assuming all is good I head for home, have to be back in Sunnyvale Friday afternoon to drop off my friend. So looking at two nights Wed. and Thurs next week.

Coming back down I5 so any campground suggestions (no hookups is fine) along there or close for Wed night and Thursday night. Assuming probably one in Oregon and one North Calif but anything that works with the schedule.


Oh, will be driving up solo leaving Saturday and will stop somewhere in Eugene to Portland area that night. Any places along there easy to find, motel 6 type? Or if weather ok I could even do a campground and use my tent (one last time ;-) The next leg will just be up to north of Seattle to pick up my friend and visit others Sunday and Monday night.

Thanks,
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Old 04-20-2016, 12:38 PM   #2
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Here are two places that break up the trip into reasonably easy sections.

First day; drive through WA and stop at the rest stop near exit 11. That's 11 miles north of Portland and makes for a reasonable day's drive. This is an excellent rest stop, one of the best there is. Drive in the area indicated for cars, keep driving, the parking goes way in and loops around the facilities. Right at the back, far from the freeway there's lots of room to park with the trailer.

Second day; stop in southern OR. at the Valley of the Rogue State Park. Good facilities and makes for a second 300 mile day and puts you within range of driving home.

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Old 04-20-2016, 01:24 PM   #3
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We stayed at the Rogue State Park in south Oregon and quite liked it. Very close to the I5 but we were camped on the lower level closer to the river so noise was not a problem.

One other option to the Exit 11 Rest Area that Ron noted is Paradise Point State Park at Exit 16 a few miles north of exit 11. It is very close to I5 and you do hear the traffic noise, but it is probably a bit more comfortable than the Rest Area as it is actually camp sites.

Slightly further south of Portland is Champoeg State Park. Out in a very nice rural area. You do have to drive through Portland to get there though. It would be later in the day that you get there so rush "hour" traffic will have died down some??
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Old 04-20-2016, 02:20 PM   #4
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Those are nice places. I guess the difference and our outlook on the difference between going to a park etc., getting there before it closes if it's later in day, which has happened to us a Paradise Point, getting a site etc. is that, when the only real purpose of the stop is you're in transit and only need an easy and convenient place to stop, eat, sleep, eat and go then rest stops do the job.

Actually North bound at exit 282 in OR, and South of Portland is one of the most dedicated rest stop facilities that I've ever seen. 12 hours allowed and it has the main area typical of all rest stops but then there's additional parking. It's two separate large areas, well away from the freeway. Next time in CA it'll be our target destination for the day when leaving from central or Northern CA.


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Old 04-20-2016, 02:47 PM   #5
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Thanks Ron and John. Good suggestions. Wish I had more time but still a couple years from retiring. Still hoping to spend a bit of time actually checking out the area before hitting the road each day.

Will just be winging it and see depending on how early we hit the road and when ready to stop. I won't make reservations for those two nights so will just see what is open.

Appreciate all suggestions.

Jeff
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Old 04-20-2016, 03:12 PM   #6
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Interesting to know that you can sleep in a Rest Area. Didn't think that was allowed.
Not familiar with the rest areas in the USA.
I recall that most of the ones I have stopped at in BC have signs saying "No Overnight Camping". But who is watching them to see??
I agree that if all you need is a place to park to sleep then why pay to sleep in a State or Provincial Park?
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Old 04-20-2016, 04:07 PM   #7
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Interesting to know that you can sleep in a Rest Area. Didn't think that was allowed.
Not familiar with the rest areas in the USA.
I recall that most of the ones I have stopped at in BC have signs saying "No Overnight Camping".
This depends on the individual rest area, even within British Columbia. Typically you don't "camp" in them, but some allow overnight stops, which makes sense to give any driver (commercial or RV) a proper rest. There is a really nice one adjacent to Elk Valley Provincial Park (but accessed directly from the highway, not within the park gates). It is a bit separated from the highway, and you can hike to the river in the park from the rest stop. BC has a website to find more: BC Rest Areas

Apparently I found a couple more, too:
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I assume that rest stop rules also vary by location. We have stayed overnight at three in B.C. where that is explicitly permitted, although they have a time limit; however none are in the target area, and I don't know what's available there.
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Old 04-20-2016, 06:18 PM   #8
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Interesting to know that you can sleep in a Rest Area. Didn't think that was allowed.
Not familiar with the rest areas in the USA.
If someone hasn't already, someone should write a book on rest stops. There's probably more info on staying at Walmarts than rest stops.

In a nutshell; each state has its' own rules, they're all different. All allow you to stop and rest and if that means a nap of some kind that's never a problem. No camping means don't set-up anything outside of your vehicle.

Some states limit stays to a short maximum such as 6 hours, others longer up to 24 hours. There are some stingy states and some generous ones. Texas is really generous and has some rest stops that look more like a park, Alaska, heck, as long as you're off the road everything's pretty much fair game.

If we're doing a fast cross country and going to a state we haven't been before I look up their policy, just in case a rest stop overnight works out to be the best option for driving long and stopping after supper. Of course there's always Walmart, Lowes et al and casinos.

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Old 04-20-2016, 06:27 PM   #9
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Since you are driving through Seattle and Portland on a week day, the traffic on I5 through the cities could be bad. Do allow yourself an extra hour for driving through them.

We drive to Fremont from Portland almost evey summer and a couple of those trips we were towing. We like to stop overnight in Ashland and start climbing the pass early in the morning. It was a surprisingly quiet and beautiful drive.

We stayed at Emigrant Lake Park (county) and Glenyan RV park (private). Emigrant Lake would be nice right now before the boating season starts. If you get a site next to the lake you get panoramic lake view through the back window. We were towing a popup at that point. While we did see bigger trailers at the campground I have to say the road is a tad narrower than most campground I've been to.

Glenyan RV is nice and quiet. We overnight there and will go back again if needed. However we spent about 9 hours in dark there so I can't tell you much besides the quiet environment and friendly staffs.

Good luck and congrats!
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Old 04-20-2016, 06:46 PM   #10
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Those are nice places. I guess the difference and our outlook on the difference between going to a park etc., getting there before it closes if it's later in day, which has happened to us a Paradise Point, getting a site etc. is that, when the only real purpose of the stop is you're in transit and only need an easy and convenient place to stop, eat, sleep, eat and go then rest stops do the job.

Actually North bound at exit 282 in OR, and South of Portland is one of the most dedicated rest stop facilities that I've ever seen. 12 hours allowed and it has the main area typical of all rest stops but then there's additional parking. It's two separate large areas, well away from the freeway. Next time in CA it'll be our target destination for the day when leaving from central or Northern CA.


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http://maps.apple.com/?ll=45.270264,...64,-122.774309
Very nice rest area! The timing did not work out for us to sleep there because we decided to make a detour to Silver Falls State Park. I did take a few pictures of the rest area. The overnight was away from the main rest area and seems like it would be very quiet. (No Trucks)
On our drive up we stayed at best Western plus Hartford lodge in Sutherlin, Oregon.
On our way home we stayed at Sandi Riverfront RV in Troutdale, outside of Portland.
We also stayed at Holiday RV, south of Medford, Oregon. As we pulled in there we were followed by a 19 foot escape also stopping there for the night. This was just about the right distance to arrive at the Shasta DMV early the next morning We highly recommend Shasta DMV for registering in California! I did make an appointment but we arrived early and they were able to take us. Took 30 minutes.
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Old 04-20-2016, 06:53 PM   #11
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Interesting to know that you can sleep in a Rest Area. Didn't think that was allowed.
Not familiar with the rest areas in the USA.
I recall that most of the ones I have stopped at in BC have signs saying "No Overnight Camping". But who is watching them to see??
I agree that if all you need is a place to park to sleep then why pay to sleep in a State or Provincial Park?
This is a picture from the French Prairie rest area in Oregon
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Old 04-20-2016, 06:53 PM   #12
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You have good ideas from others. I would suggest checking traffic before you get to Portland. I 205 might be a better choice than 5 to get north or south. Traffic in Portland is reaching Seattle levels!
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Old 04-20-2016, 11:05 PM   #13
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And look what popped up at the bottom of page one of this thread (least for me; heck if I know if it did for everyone):

Six States that Allow Overnight Parking at Rest Areas - RV Life

Great timing or what?
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Old 04-20-2016, 11:15 PM   #14
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You think it's great timing?
How about it's Google monitoring everything that's posted by you and others and then directing ads that might be of interest. If you have Gmail, Google sifts ( no, not reads, sifts ) for key words that allow them to focus ads of interest to you and direct them to you.
Same with threads on forums.
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Old 04-20-2016, 11:32 PM   #15
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Spooky isn't it? On the other hand it's weird & wonderful to see a pop-up for a lower price on an item recently viewed.
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Old 04-21-2016, 01:17 AM   #16
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Spooky isn't it? On the other hand it's weird & wonderful to see a pop-up for a lower price on an item recently viewed.
Uh, the pop-up for tires I understand but the one for lipstick?

Loved the write-up for Oregon rest stops. Sort of figures that their policy is generous because their parks are also good in comparison to others.

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Old 04-21-2016, 08:07 AM   #17
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Uh, the pop-up for tires I understand but the one for lipstick?
I think we all know just why this popped up for you....
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Old 04-21-2016, 09:50 AM   #18
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Thanks again for all the great suggestions. Looking forward to the trip, just wish I had longer

Hopefully the Mt Shasta DMV will work out, that DMV process is one I'm not looking forward to after prior experiences with them.
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Old 04-21-2016, 10:41 AM   #19
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I think we all know just why this popped up for you....
I was waiting for that.

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Old 04-21-2016, 10:46 AM   #20
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I was waiting for that.

Ron
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