Pinnacles National Park, California question

[Ron3rd]

Hey Folks, we're heading up to Pinnacles National Park in California next week. We're staying at the campground in the park.

Never been there and want to make sure I have the route correct.

It looks like you can go in the West Entrance or the East Entrance. There is no road connecting the two so I want to get it right the first time.

According to the website, if you're going to the campground, you want to go in the East Entrance only.

If anyone from So Cal has been there, I would like to know what route you took and what to avoid and any other info that might be helpful. There's several different routes I've seen on the nav apps. Don't want to get stuck on some bad road for 2 hours!

TIA, Ron

[TerriLyn]

Just found your post - we're heading to Pinnacles in a few weeks from So Cal.  What route did you take and how was the drive?

[Alan_Hepburn]

Ron3rd wrote:

According to the website, if you're going to the campground, you want to go in the East Entrance only.

The website is correct: the campground is accessed from the East entrance only. Depending on when you go, if you decide to wander through the caves you can expect to see some tarantulas - they make their homes in the caves...

[Ron3rd]

Thanks !

[profdant139]

Some tips for enjoying the park: bring lots of water when you hike. Bring binoculars if you have them -- you might see a condor!

And there are trails where you walk through caves -- watch your head. Don't ask how I know this.

One more thought -- the stars are great. Bring warm clothes for sitting outside and stargazing.

[Tiger4x4RV]

Ron3rd wrote:
Pulling a 35 ft fiver btw

I figured your rig was bigger than mine, but 35 ft? Hmmm. Did the park say that would fit in the site you reserved?

I think driving there midweek would be fine, but I remember that road having a LOT of traffic on a weekend.

Anyway, Have fun and be safe.

[Lwiddis]

The county park in King City is nice. San Lorenzo.

https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-i-z/public-works-facilities-parks/county-parks/list-of-county-parks/san-lorenzo-park

[Ron3rd]

Pulling a 35 ft fiver btw

[Ron3rd]

Good info. Thanks!

[Tiger4x4RV]

You can follow the Google Maps suggestion, leaving 101 at King City. Get gas there.

However, I am a backroads person. I like to leave 101 at San Miguel (gas there), follow Indian Valley Road, go left when that changes to Peach Tree Road, jog bit left at 198, then right on Peach Tree again, now also called Hwy 25, follow that through Bitterwater. At some point 25 changes its name to Airline Hwy. Eventually, you'll get to a left turn onto 146, which takes you to the NP entrance station. Signage is good along this route. 2-lane paved road. I've driven it several times over the years (last time about 3 years ago) and rarely seen another vehicle midweek.

Take a good map, like maybe a regional AAA map or a roads atlas. Enjoy!

[agesilaus]

I've been there but it was 50 years ago, so not much help.