RV Trip from San Francisco, USA to Victoria, Canada
One summer, we decided to experience northern California and the Pacific northwest in an RV. This would be our first time on such a trip, but we thought that an RV trip from San Francisco to Victoria, Canada would be a great adventure!
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Why Travel by RV?
To me, an RV represented freedom. When you take your home-away-from-home with you, there is more flexibility when stopping for the night, and this seemed a much more appealing choice than renting cabins in every place we stopped.
We loved camping, but we had only gone tent camping as a couple. However, this trip would be different. We had a small child, and I was 5 months pregnant. RV camping seemed a better fit. We also decided to take my in-laws with us, since they lived an ocean away. The closeness of the RV would allow the in-laws some extra time with their grandson, and it would give me and my toddler a convenient place to get a nap.
Why San Francisco to Victoria, British Columbia?
Starting from San Francisco and heading north on highway 101, we planned a route that allowed us to see some of the best natural scenery in this area of the USA. We were also excited for the national forests that along the way that were filled with giant redwoods, lush rainforests, picturesque lakes, majestic waterfalls and even a volcano.
Are you looking for great places to visit on your next USA camping trip? Find some great places HERE!
The Pacific Northwest is also a great area for history buffs. We knew that there were many places where we could learn about the Lewis and Clark Trail, a part of the USA we didn’t know much about.
Finding a place to park the camper each night was also not too difficult since there were many parks and campgrounds very close to the coast.
The only thing that could be different from California to Canada was the weather. We decided to travel in June, which was a time for cool and rainy days in the north, but warm days in the south. Though we may have had to pack extra clothes to accommodate the different temperatures and weather, it was nice to get some variety from either all hot or all cool days.
Renting an RV from Cruise America
It is important to mention that during this RV road trip in California and beyond, we were living near Chicago, Illinois in the USA. This was few years before we moved to Denmark, and since we were flying to San Francisco from Chicago, we needed to rent an RV for this trip.
After some research, we decided to go with a 25 foot, Standard RV from Cruise America. It seemed to be the right choice since this RV would be big enough for 4 adults and a toddler. The company also supplied everything we would need from bedding to kitchen utensils.
This meant that we would only need to pack what we would normally put in a suitcase: clothes and toiletries. This gave us peace of mind when having to travel first by airplane.
After landing at the airport in San Francisco, my husband and father-in-law rushed to get a ride to the RV center to pick up the RV. My mother-in-law, son and I took our time finding the luggage before we were picked up at the airport. It was just easier for two people to travel to get the RV than it was for 5.
What to See on a RV Trip in the Pacific Northwest
When planning our RV Trip from San Francisco to Victoria, we first chose to make an itinerary that lasted 13 days. The entire trip would start and end in San Francisco, which would take around 890 miles. Also, we chose to visit Canada staying there.
Looking for inspiration for a new travel destination? Check out our European recommendations HERE!
We looked at the cost to take the camper to Canada on the ferry and also where we would stay on our trip there. But since it was only one night that we would be spending in Canada, we didn’t feel it was worth it to take the RV.
Here is a list of the places we visited during our Pacific Northwest RV trip!
RV Trip in California
As I mentioned before, we flew into San Francisco and rented our RV there. Since we had been to San Fran many times before, we decided to only make a stop to see the Golden Gate Bridge before getting back on the road heading north. The best place to see the Golden Gate Bridge is at the view point on the northern side of the bridge, which is part of the Marin Headlands in the Golden Gate Recreational Area.
Wine Country of Napa and Sonoma Valleys
Of course, we had to take a stop in the wine country to get some delicious wine for our trip. This can be a quick stop at one vineyard or a big focus of your trip. Being pregnant, it wasn’t a focus of my trip, but we did stop for my in-laws! However, I have tried many vineyards in this area and would highly recommend doing so. There are many vineyards in the area just north of San Francisco, so we stopped there first. We also stayed in Napa Valley on our first night in the RV.
Best Places to See Giant Redwoods in California
On this side of the bridge, you can also see the Muir Woods National Monument, which is where you can see some beautiful redwood trees. Another great place to see the giant redwood and sequoia trees is the Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The paths we drove the camper down were very magical with a variety of different examples of nature’s beauty at every turn.
Be sure to stop at Founder’s Grove while in this part of the park. You can get a pamphlets for a self-guided walking tour to learn more about the ecology of the forest while you enjoy the many trees.
Within this park, we found the Avenue of the Giants, which is the path with the world’s largest collection of redwood trees. These redwoods were so large that you could drive a car through some, like the Chandelier Tree.
Each of the main trees had names, and we were excited to find each one!
Victorian Village of Ferndale
Another interesting area that we visited on our trip was the Victorian Village of Ferndale, California. Because I was traveling with my Danish in-laws, they requested to visit a town that had many Danish ancestry. The beautiful homes and quaint downtown were a nice break from the drive, and my son enjoyed the playground we found in town!
Would you like to know what makes Denmark so great for travel? Go HERE for more!
Beautiful Lakes and Hiking in California
Another stop on our coastal trip through California was to Mt. Shasta and the Lake Shasta area. This is a great place to take a hike or a swim with beautiful views of the volcano, Mt. Shasta.
Another nearby park that is great for hiking, finding waterfalls and swimming is the breathtaking Whiskeytown Lake.
RV Trip in Oregon
Driving north along highway 101 is the perfect way to enjoy not only the California coastline, but also that of Oregon. However, on the way back to San Francisco, we decided to take highway 5 going south to see some new sights in Oregon. We enjoyed stopping at the Simpson Reef Overlook, which is a great place to see sea lions and seals and is part of Shore Acres State Park. This was also very close to where we camped for the night.
Hiking Trails and Canoeing in Oregon
Farther down the road is Cape Perpetua, which is where the highest viewpoint of Oregon’s coast that is accessible by car. Here, you will find a visitor’s center where you can learn a lot about the local area from friendly staff members. There are also many great hiking trails that go down to the coastline or into the Siuslaw National Forest.
If you are looking for a great place to camp and canoe that is a short drive to the coast, you can check out the Siltcoos Lake, which is the largest lake on the coastal area of Oregon.
Historical Sites on Oregon’s Coast
On the northern border of Oregon, you will find the town of Astoria. I know this town as being the setting for the movie Goonies, which I loved as a child. However, traveling with a bunch of Danes who weren’t familiar with the movie meant that we didn’t go in search of the sites from the movie. Oh well!!
Instead, we visited the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park. Here, you will find a memorial replica of Fort Clatsop, which is where Lewis and Clark spent their time at the end of their journey to explore the western lands after the Louisiana Purchase of the early 1800s. This is a great place for kids, since they get to go into different rooms with very few limitations. Our 2 year old even enjoyed it.
Fort Stevens State Park is also a great place for year-round camping, lessons in US military history, and some of the best natural beauty that can be found in this area! We especially loved the walk on their amazing beach to see the peaceful waves and a very cool shipwreck!
The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is well worth a visit. Not only can you see some great views high up in the trees, but this area is also the home to some amazing waterfalls. East of Portland, Oregon off of Highway 84, you won’t want to miss Multnomah and Horsetail Waterfalls. This is a great place for a short hike and a photo. In addition to these, there are many other great, natural spots off of this highway going east from Portland.
RV Trip in Washington State
The next stop on our RV trip from San Francisco to Victoria, Canada was the beautiful state of Washington. Again, we chose to have a mixture of historical and natural experiences, but we also added a bit of pop culture to the list.
For nature, there is the amazing Olympic National Forest and Hoh Rainforest. Here, you can find fern-covered forest beds where Olympic elk can be found grazing between the trunks of moss-covered trees.
Another great area in the Olympic National Park is Lake Crescent, which is the perfect place for a hike, picnic or canoe ride.
In between Portland, Oregon and Takoma, Washington, is the amazing Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. This is more than just an active volcano. It is also a place with great walking paths and advanced hiking trails.
Great Place to Experience History on Washington’s Coast
Near the border with the state of Oregon is the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. This area houses many great sites like Vancouver Barracks from the times of the Civil War and World War I and the Pearson Air Museum, as well as the impressive Fort Vancouver “village”, which housed over 600 employees of a London-based, fur trading company and their families. You can see the gardens as well as other parts to this village, which was home to people from over 35 ethnic groups and tribes.
Pop Cultural Tour of Washington’s Twilight Sites
For a fun pop-culture experience, my husband and I decided to leave our son with the grandparents and take the local bus from the Port Angeles KOA to the town of Forks. I didn’t feel our RV trip from San Francisco to Victoria would be complete without stopping at the home of a popular book series, Twilight. Since the movies were filmed in Canada, the places we saw on our Twilight movie tour were all inspirations from the book series.
We even got to see the La Push Beach, which was also a popular location in the series. This might not be for everyone, since the town of Forks really doesn’t have much to offer tourists. I know my husband wouldn’t have suggested going to these places without me, but if you are a fan of the novel series, this could be a neat experience for you!
What to See in Victoria, British Columbia (Canada)
We wanted to visit the town of Victoria in Canada, but we didn’t want to take our RV there. It would have been an extra cost, and we felt that it would’ve just been easier to travel there without the RV. This was a big reason why we decided to camp at the Port Angeles KOA, since the Black Ball ferry traveled a couple times a day from Port Angeles, Washington to Victoria, Canada.
A one-way trip took around one and a half hour and drops us off in the downtown area of Victoria. You can easily walk to fine restaurant, local museums, shopping and the ever popular Miniature World. We particularly loved the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia building that was near the ferry harbor. Also, worth a visit is the beautiful Beacon Hill Park. At the harbor, you can charter sightseeing tours, as well as whale watching tours.
Where to Camp on a RV Trip from San Francisco to Victoria
Here are the campgrounds and parks where we stayed during the California portion of our RV trip from San Francisco to Victoria, Canada!
Our Recommendations of Where to Camp in California
Here is a list of the campgrounds and parks where we stayed on our trip. Most of these for only for one night at a time, and I would recommend for any travelers passing by the northern coast of California.
Our Recommendations of Where to Camp in Oregon
In Oregon, we didn’t stay in as many places as we did in California, since we spent a few days visiting family. We did; however, really enjoy the parks in which we camped in Oregon. They had the best locations with amazing views! Here are my recommendations for great places to camp when traveling in Oregon:
Our Recommendation of Where to Camp in Washington State
During our trip in Washington State, we only stayed at one campground. We chose this location because of its location to the ferry to Victoria as well as its close proximity to Forks, WA. Since we knew we would only make the Twilight tour if we could get there by bus, the KOA in Port Angeles was the obvious and perfect choice!
Have you taken an RV trip in California, Oregon and / or Washington? Let me know about the places you would recommend in the comments.
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