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RV Parks in San Fran / Bay Area for big rigs

Yahoo Message Number: 98139
I've got some business meetings in San Fran and San Jose early next week (Mon and Tue).
Not having a lot of luck finding places that can accommodate our 42' Lexa with attached 26' trailer, so I'm 74' long total.
Any suggestions on something that is drivable (or BART, etc.) to San Fran and San Jose? (Have a toad in the trailer, so we can get around).
Coming from Sonoma (probably staying in Sonoma County Fairgrounds, if they'll return the call), and heading South afterwards (and San Jose is last meeting on Tue afternoon), so a little further south would be fine, would make it easier on Wed morning when heading south.

Thanks,

Jim Walsh

Re: RV Parks in San Fran / Bay Area for big rigs

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98142
Sonoma County is poor on communication; it's a large gravel park with no ambience; was ok for me overnight. When I go, I've been staying at Marin RV Park. I'm sure you can fit; might have to rent some trailer space, but it was clearing out when I was there in late September. Easy commute via the GG bridge; to town; against traffic, in 20 minutes.
I've stayed in San Jose, at Coyote Valley RV. They can fit you as well, but the commute to downtown will be at least an hour.
Forget the Pacifica parks. Small parks and the salt fog rusts your coach almost overnight. Never again.
My $.02,

Roger Harper
2007 Affinity
#6840

Re: RV Parks in San Fran / Bay Area for big rigs

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98143
The Petaluma KOA is a nice, but pricey park. Just off Highway 101 and can handle your length. Petaluma to SF is straight down 101, about 1 hr. non-commute times.
Novato has a park mostly for perm folks, it is clean but cramped, no room for your trailer.
Vallejo fairgrounds has RV spots, but I wouldn't recommend it. On Highways 80 & 37.

So I think my #1 pick would be Petaluma KOA.
** If your an ELK member, Petaluma Lodge # 901 has spots with hookups for $25

Best - Kent

05 Allure, #31281

Re: RV Parks in San Fran / Bay Area for big rigs

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98147
Jim,


I have used Alameda County Fairgrounds 4501 Pleasanton Ave, Pleasanton, CA. 94566 925-426-7600 the last couple of years when visiting the bay area, Bart to SF, no Bart to San Jose. San Jose is only about 20 miles south. They have some long pull throughs 50 amps. Can only stay 21 days at a time. It is the most convenient RV park in the bay area.


Jock Vargo

2005 Inspire
51428

Re: RV Parks in San Fran / Bay Area for big rigs

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98148
We're generally stayed in Morgan hill south of San Jose. Besides Coyote, there's Maple Leaf RV Resort

http://www.rvparkmorganhill.com/
Some other closer in options I have heard of but have no personal expereience with are the following: Candlestick Park RV PArk
http://sanfranciscorvpark.com/
Redwood City RV Park
http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/California/Redwood_City.html Trailer Villa
http://www.trailervilla.com

Maybe some other forum members have personal experience with some of these

Joseph Burkle

2010 Tiffin Allegro Bus 43QRP

43' quad slide tag axle ISL 425 HP pusher formerly:

2008 Country Coach Inspire 360 Founders Edition http://www.wind-seeker.com

Re: RV Parks in San Fran / Bay Area for big rigs

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98149
Also Maple Leaf RV Park in Morgan Hill may work for you. From either the Coyote Valley RV or Maple Leaf RV Parks, you can catch the commuter train that runs from Gilroy to San Francisco. I believe it is about a 2+ hour train ride (use to do it about 20 years ago), but you can get your pick of seats boarding before San Jose (e.g. Morgan Hill).

Herb

CCO Moderator

Re: RV Parks in San Fran / Bay Area for big rigs

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98153
Would suggest the KOA in Petaluma for the Sonoma & SF visit. Alameda Fair Grounds or Morgan Hill for San Jose visit. In both cases you need to allow 1 hr+ to get where your going. The SF Bay Area is really lacking in any real nice parks, especially ones that will handle big rigs. Forget Candlestick Park & Pacifica in SF. There really isn't anything in San Jose or Oakland. The Marin County parks are tight and can be noisey. We've looked at them all as we go to the Bay Area regularly to visit family and finally settled on KOA Petaluma in the north bay as the best around. It's an easy drive down 101 to the City. GG toll is expensive. The drive up from Morgan Hill to San Jose at commute time is brutal so avoid. Pleasanton to San Jose at commute time is also awful.

I would suggest when you travel south from Sonoma County, go across the Richmond Bridge take I580/880/17 south to San Jose. Don't drive through San Francisco. I've done it once and won't do it again if I can avoid it. Bridge tolls are northbound and westbound on the bridges so going from Marin County to Richmond you'll avoid the $25 toll.

If you finish your work in the Bay Area and want to just kick back for a "time out", look at Costanoa KOA. The best park in the greater SF/SJ area. Costanoa is actually a resort with an rv park/campground attached to it. It's located on the coast, on Highway 1, half way between Half Moon Bay and SantaCruz, which is not far from SF or SJ. It's not like any KOA you ever seen. Full restaurant (& the food's good), lodge, spa, store, stables, cabins (not the typical KOA cabins), hiking & bike trails. Downside is there is no phone service, internet or cable TV and it takes 1 1/2 hrs plus to get to SF or SJ. They can handle big rigs easily.

Bill Englund

42 Allure, towing a Grand Cherokee

Re: RV Parks in San Fran / Bay Area for big rigs

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98157
Will I agree on the toe vechlice but the KOA on Petauluma is the pits. There is a old section that is not bad, but the rest is dirt, kids, and pandemonium.

Re: RV Parks in San Fran / Bay Area for big rigs

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98158
The best in the area for your itinerary. However, they only give camping credit if you cancel--No credit card refunds.


Alameda County Fairgrounds
4501 Pleasanton Ave

Pleasanton, CA 94566 US

925-426-7600
Web: Alameda County Fairgrounds

Re: RV Parks in San Fran / Bay Area for big rigs

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98161
Two questions:

I was told the CHP was enforcing the 65' limit on freeways and less on side roads. Be careful. I assume you will get a permit entering the state?
Secondly, I see (unless I misread) someone advised the RV tolls on the GG Bridge were expensive. Last time I was there, the entry road was plastered with "NO RV'S" signs everywhere. And you will get socked anyway, regardless of the bridge you use.
If you are retired military, there is the USCG Station at Peteluma. Very nice and secure. And inexpensive . . .

Safe travels.
----

Re: RV Parks in San Fran / Bay Area for big rigs

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98166
Stay off GG bridge. Better to use 80/880 on other side of bay to transit Bay Area. All tolls for 5 axles at least 25.00 you can get around if you know toll direction.

Re: RV Parks in San Fran / Bay Area for big rigs

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98167
I've lived in the Bay Area all my life. IMHO Highway 680 is the best way to go.
You'll skirt around San Francisco so you won't have to deal with that, and Highway 880 thru Oakland is heavily traveled, has more accidents as well as narrow lanes.
680 may require a few more miles around your destination, but worth it.
Most parts the road had been repaved and in V. Good condition.
If your going to Petaluma KOA, get on 680 NB. Take 780 after the Benicia bridge towards Vallejo, then North on Highway 80 for 4 miles.
Then go West on highway 37 to Highway 101. Petaluma will be 15 miles North off Highway 101.

BTW. Petaluma is the first town in Sonoma County, where along with neighboring Napa County has the best wine in e U.S. A. ,

Happy trails, Kent
05 Allure #31281

Re: RV Parks in San Fran / Bay Area for big rigs

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98172
Agree the outer loop around the bay is better. BTW unless you are a gluten for punishment don't take the GG into the city with coach. The freeway ends as you enter the city and you are on city streets and no one wants to let you change lanes. Turned out ok since I was in the middle lane where I needed to be since my mirrors were hanging over the other two lanes. The bridge was cool but the city part to get to the 101 again sucks.

Ray

They say wine improves with age! As I enter my golden years, I say age improves with wine! The Born Loser

Re: RV Parks in San Fran / Bay Area for big rigs

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98176
There is a park on Monterey Road in Morgan Hill (may have been Gilroy, but don't think so) where we left our 45'' Magna for a week while at our second home in the Bay Area. It was about all we could find and worked very well. Pretty easy access from 101. Found it in Trailer Life Guide. It has a fair number of "permanent"? residents but we were pleased.

Dave Glen

'06 Magna 6591

Re: RV Parks in San Fran / Bay Area for big rigs

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98177
David is right its on Monterey Road and it really has a SanJose address, very close to Morgan Hill. I stayed there 2 months, nice park. There are 2 other parks in Gilroy. Don't use 880, coming from 80 use 680 to get to the Bay Area its the non-toll direction. You can take it all the way to 101, read the directions on the Coyote Valley web-site on where to get off (hint its not Bally Ave)



Wally & Elta Mae

2007Allure 470 #31535
 

Re: RV Parks in San Fran / Bay Area for big rigs

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98179
I have stayed at the park in Morgan Hill, they have two sizes of sites in length. They are fairly narrow unless you luck out and get the right site on the end of a row. Access to the park is only from the south as there is a road divider preventing access from the north as I remember. Its a very nice park other wise.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731