Where to stealth between Eureka and San Francisco?

[TucsonAZ]

Wow, CA is not the overnight friendly capital of the world! Even where a Walmart may allow it the town says no go! I'm all stealthed out right now which will hopefully get my through the night. The first night in the Golden Acorn casino parking lot worked but was HOT early in the day. The second night in the Lompoc Walmart went just fine, way cooler!

I'm staying with a friend to visit for a bit then marching north so I have a couple more nights before I will be in the need but I'm wondering what anybody has used along the 1 or the 101 to get by overnight. I'm fairly stealth but it looks like some of those towns are really small. I'm trying to avoid the heat along hwy 5 so I'm most interested in staying closer to the coast.

Thanks a lot for any help or suggestions!

PS Clearly I've survived my first couple nights, it isn't home...just yet but it isn't all that bad and I'm sure as I get more in the mindset things will go smoother and smoother.

 

[caseyc]

Of the 3 highways, 101, 1, 5, you will have better and more choices on 101. Many more exits on 101 that you can take to find a spot. Highway 1 is too narrow along mountain roads, it's scenic for sure, but not good for what you want. Highway 5 has long stretches of nothing and more nothing, other than occasional gas station stops.

 

[TucsonAZ]

Thanks for the tips! I'm just passing through, normally in late but have been sleeping a little later than I'd like so not getting out until around noon. I'm in a large step van so I'm not sure I can pull off residential with ease. Last night in the Santa Cruz area I managed to pull into a higher end hotel (they quoted me $400 something a night) and sleep in their parking lot without any issues. I'm sure I can find something when I get up that way I'm just worried about being tired and not being able to find anything along the way. I know there are casinos along the coast in OR that'll work, I guess I will keep you all posted on how it goes.

Thanks again!

 

[caseyc]

Regarding i5, there is an area (towards Los Angeles) that reeks of extremely foul cow manure from a cow farm off the freeway. You can smell it for miles. Needless to say, don't park anywhere near there, haha!

EDIT: Since you mention you have a large step van, DON'T even bother going along highway 1. Too narrow and curvy, and freakin dark at night. Unless you are really hard-up for the beautiful coastal view, I'd avoid it with your large vehicle.

 

[TucsonAZ]

Haha, kicked it down 19th street in S.F. today, that was fun! Thankfully, I love trying to fit large things in small places or I would be hating this adventure! It's been okay, the turning radius has gotten me a time or two otherwise, I haven't been too concerned about things. I get beeped at a bit but I think they're just scared that I take up all of the lane I'm in.

I did take 1 up from Salinas to SF today without any issues. The stealth camping thing, mehhh, it can be nerve wracking, I would rather know I can make noise and do my thing but it's easy enough to get lost in the mess. I'm also super friendly so I don't mind calling to get a wifi password (I use a foreign accent normally) or flat out asking locals for insider dirt as they seem happy to offer it. I even had a lady telling me how to sneak into a place for a shower when I asked for change for coin showers.

Anyway, thank you all again for the help and insights!

 

[TucsonAZ]

So, up to this point, here is where things sit:

Night 1 - Golden Acorn Casino in Campo, CA with no issues.
Night 2 - Walmart in Lompoc, CA with no issues.
Night 3 - Residence Inn parking lot in Salinas, CA with no issue.
Night 4 - Best Western parking lot in Ukiah, CA with no issue.

In each case, I have called, scoped the place out, found out some little details, asked where I could park a larger vehicle in their lot when I arrive for my check in and so on. I've also called if I pick up their wifi and asked for the password and one of the places I can pick up normally just gives it to me after I pretend like I know nothing about computers.

Thanks again you all, I appreciate the help, insights and info.