Good Sam Club Open Roads Forum: Route into Pinnacles National Park?


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dsr27

SF Bay area

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Posted: 10/04/22 01:41pm

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I'm hoping for a trip to Pinnacles in the future, in a 35' MH. We are in the San Francisco Bay Area, so it looks like we'd head down 101 to Gilroy, then out HWY 25 to Hwy 146. Does anyone have any experience with larger MH's on 25 and 146? I don't enjoy driving the MH down 16% grades or narrow roads with tight corners. Can someone tell me about these roads please?

thanks
Gary

Those who know me have come to accept that I want it all, no matter how impossible it may obviously be. They've learned to wait patiently while I struggle to accept the inevitable.

rdhetrick

Texas

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Posted: 10/04/22 03:26pm

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Been there a few times, don't remember any really steep grades, but it was definitely curvy - but doable, just take it slow. I was in a car both times, but I remember seeing motorhomes along the way.

Rob - Solo Full Timer
2017 Winnebago Travato 59G
Former 2006 Mandalay 40E

Lwiddis

Southern California :(

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Posted: 10/04/22 03:36pm

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I agree with Rob. Slow and easy but very doable.

Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

StarkNaked

West Seattle, WA

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Posted: 10/04/22 07:37pm

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Hwy 25 is pretty easy from Gilroy to about Tres Pinos. After that it gets narrower and windier. There are a couple of hills, but nothing I would consider a long difficult grade.

We do it every spring in a 30-foot Class C. Sometimes towing, sometimes just the RV.

It is a road that you will need to just slow down and take your time. Expect to do some pothole dodging and there will be times where you will intentionally cross the double yellow just to make the corners easier.

Once you get to 146, it's even a little slower (and the speed limit reflects it), and you will dodge a few more potholes.

But it is well worth the trip! We will be there in May 2023.

Reach out if you want campsite suggestions.

aerbus32

california

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Posted: 10/05/22 09:13am

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This will be of no help to you, but maybe to others . . . Hit Pinnacles last year from Yanks RV to the west. Road was so narrow, I had to drive on the shoulder in an F350 SRW when larger rigs were coming from the opposite direction.

StarkNaked

West Seattle, WA

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Posted: 10/05/22 10:34am

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aerbus32 wrote:

I couldn't agree more. The West side entrance road is even more narrow than the East side. I have to assume that there are many situations where people have to back up to a wider spot in the road to get past each other. Glad I never tried to drive an RV up that side.