Route from Ashland, OR, to Monterey, CA?

Next September I need to attend a work meeting in Monterey. I am thinking of sending my work stuff (papers and suits and stuff) UPS to Monterey and riding the VFR from Ashland. BUT I hate freeways. What is the most fun route south from Santa Rosa to Monterey? Fewer freeways the better!

 

Well... many, many options for you lad.

If you have a path down through the Klamath Nat'l Forest, take it down and intersect with Hwy 3. Then You can take 3 down to 299 (in Weaverville), and decide to a) take 299 out to the coast (a very nice, fast ride) or 3 down to 36 and 36 to the coast (a very twisty ride). Then take the coast road down through Mendocino into San Francisco and from there down through Santa Cruz and on to Monterey, or....

I'm sure someone else will come along with more...

 

Where I come from (LA) the US-101 S, I-280 S, CA-85 S, CA-17 S, and CA-1 S would hardly be considered a typical "freeway" route. Very scenic and can be done in under 3 hours. (Santa Rosa to Monterey) There are more exciting/challenging routes but you will quickly get yourself into an all day ride. If that's what you're looking for, then go for it. Spend a little time on your favorite mapping website and pick and choose via coin toss if it pleases you because you really can't go wrong...

 

From 1 in Norcal

128 to Booneville
253 to Ukiah
101 South to 175 Hopland
175 Over Hopland Grade to 29 South
29/175 South past Kelseyville
South on 175 over Cobb Mountain to Middletown
29 East out of Middletown to Butts Canyon Road
Butts Canyon Road to Pope Valley Road
Pope Valley Road to Deer Park Road
Deer Park Road to 128/29 North to Calistoga
128/29 to Petrified Forest Road
Petrified Forest Road turns into Porter Creek which turns into Mark West Springs Road
Mark West springs Road over Highway 101
turns into River Road (116) on West side of 101
River Road (116) West to Highway 1 just South of Jenner
1 South out of Jenner area, past Bodega Bay, through Valley Ford
South on 1 through Tomales, through Marshall, into Pt. Reyes Station
Pt. Reyes Station South to Stinson Beach
Stinson Beach on 1 South to Muir Beach
Over the mountain to Tam Valley
Through Tam Valley to Highway 101
First exit off 101 Sausalito
Through Sauasalito to Alexander Ave
Alexander Ave to Bunker Rd.
Through One Way Tunnel onto Fort Cronkite
Bunker Rd. to McCullough Rd.
McCullough to Conzleman Rd.
Conzelman Rd. through the Marin Headlands Nat'l Park back to 101
101 directly across GG Bridge....

If you want more, let me know......but you better have some time on your hands and really like the twisty stuff.

.

 

Thanks a lot, Ron. I have plenty of time. I think I have ridden some of those roads. That is exactly the sort of roads I am looking for. Hwy 128 goes through Navarro - I recall that is the twisty bit through the Redwood stands, And we have ridden the roads to Clear Lake and south to St Helena (that's where the Parriotts have their Honda dealership). Good riding up there!

Thanks for the suggestion from Bodega Bay down across the Golden Gate. After I cross the GG, should I stay on Hwy 1 all the way south to Monterey? Or should I swing inland to Hwy 35, to Hwy 9 and south from there?

 

Thanks. I really like Hwy 299. I like Hwy 96 and Hwy 3 a lot too. Hwy 36 to the coast is not my favorite, as the road is completely worn out coming down into the coastal plain. And the pickups swing pretty wide coming up the hill. I think it is much too dangerous per unit of fun.

 

Swing inland to 35 and 9 through the mountains to Santa Cruz and onward to Monterrey. This is such a great ride; you just can't pass it up. If you get on 101, you'll be slabbing it all the way. HWY 1 is nice but it doesn't beat 35 and 9. Plus you can stop at Alice's at the junction to see some great bikes and get good food. Once you get past Santa Cruz you can get on HWY 1 south to Monterrey.