BendTrip

Beyond Bend: 9-Day Road Trip Through Southern Oregon & Northern California

Aug 02, 2025

We just got back from the most fun, full, and beautiful 9-day road trip through Southern Oregon and Northern California. From redwoods to cityscapes, farm stays to theme parks, this route had a little bit of everything. Here’s a full breakdown of our week-long adventure, including all the places we stayed, played, and ate.

 
Day 1: Kamp Klamath & the Redwoods

We kicked off the trip with a drive through the stunning Redwood National and State Parks. Just the drive alone is worth it. We stayed that night at Kamp Klamath, a peaceful RV park nestled in the trees. There’s a big open field where the kids played soccer, a small playground, horseshoe pits, and a hidden walking path that felt like a secret trail straight out of a storybook.

Fun Note: This was the first campground we ever stayed at on our 8 month trip across America. It was so fun to go back to where it all started!

Things we were happy to have at Kamp Klamath:

River End and the beach


Day 2: Mendocino Redwoods RV Resort

Next, we drove south to Mendocino Redwoods RV Resort and loved it so much we ended up staying two nights. The kids were thrilled with the pool, mini golf, arcade, and petting zoo, and the RV sites were huge with plenty of space to spread out.

Things we were happy to have at the RV resort:

Colorful Camping Site at Fall

Day 3: Glass Beach & Fort Bragg Eats

We spent the day in Fort Bragg, starting with a walk along Glass Beach, which totally lived up to the hype. After beachcombing, we had what might be the best burrito ever at Mayan Fusion, then checked out the quirky and super fun Sea Glass Museum. We headed back to Mendocino Redwoods RV Resort for a second night of relaxing and recharging.

Tip: Go to the Sea Glass Museum first. We really wished we did!

We hit the road again and made our way to Point Reyes, where we stayed on a working dairy farm right on the bay through Harvest Hosts. Waking up with cows just outside our door was such a fun and unique experience for the kids. We also picked up a fresh cheese board, served on an engraved wooden board that made the perfect souvenir. 

View of the Coast at Point Reyes National Seashore

Day 5: San Francisco Highlights

From the farm, we drove into San Francisco for a big day of sightseeing. We spent time at the Pier, explored the Ferry Building, wandered through Chinatown, and had lunch at Boudin Bakery right on the water. Dinner was at an incredible little pizza place called Piccolo Forno. After getting some groceries at Trader Joes, we drove back to the dairy farm for the night.

Tip: We have a Toyota Tundra so we used SpotHero to find a garage parking spot next to the Pier.

Things we were happy to have in San Francisco:

We made a stop in Vacaville to visit friends and stayed overnight through Harvest Hosts again, this time at a quiet homestead driveway with plenty of space and privacy. It was a simple stay, but a nice breather before the theme park energy of the next day.

Things we were happy to have in Vacaville:

The kids were SO ready for this one. We spent the whole day at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and had an absolute blast. Rides, animals, junk food, and all the overstimulation you could ask for—they loved every second.

Things we were happy to have at Six Flags:

Time for a grown-up day! We took it slower and went wine tasting in the Vacaville/Napa area. It was such a lovely change of pace after the chaos of Six Flags, and the views were just as good as the wine.

 
Day 9: The Long Drive Home

After nine days of adventure, we buckled in for the full 8-hour drive back to Bend. It was a long haul, but completely worth it after a trip this full of memories.