Favorite 3-Day Weekend Trips?

[RWMaverick]

Hey folks! Like many of us, I work 9-5 M-F with a few 3-day weekends a year on holidays. We all have a finite amount of time on this rock, so I like to make the most of a long weekend when I get the chance by dropping everything to go on a road trip that I wouldn't have time to do on a normal weekend!

I usually try to leave Friday night after work or Saturday morning, get as far away from the Bay Area as fast as possible on the freeway, then ride more fun and scenic roads in the middle of the trip before making a beeline towards home Monday afternoon. I usually shoot for 900-1200 miles total, with a decent portion of that being scenic highways and some twisties. I always ride solo so I can go at whatever pace I want.

Over Presidents Day last year I took the PCH down to San Diego and back, and over this past Labor Day I headed up to Crater Lake then out to the Oregon coast and back down. Over Memorial Day I took a loop over Ebbett's Pass through Tahoe, Plumas and Lassen, along 36 (my favorite road so far) and back down 101.

Anywho, Presidents Day is coming up soon and I haven't planned anything out yet, so I thought I'd ask you! What are some of your favorite 3-3.5 day routes? Any favorite roads I should try to string together? Thanks in advance for the suggestions!

 

[Junkie]

the Sierras will still be snowed in

1 north won't be warm, but it can reasonably be done
check out the Lost Coast
36

etc

 

[dravnx]

Day 1
101-Cloverdale 128-Ft Bragg-1-Legget 101-Fortuna 36- 3-299. Spend the night in Weaverville.
Day 2
Back down 3 or Wildwood Rd to 36 East to 99 to Chico, 70 to Quincy option
Day 3
70 to Quincy-Quincy/Laport Rd. back to 70-99 and home

 

[Junkie]

is Quincy-LaPorte open in winter?

 

[ScottRNelson]

Go visit Death Valley. You can either cross the Sierras on I-80 or Highway 88 then head down the very scenic 395, or loop across the bottom through Bakersfield. It might be possible to take 155 and 178 across to Ridgecrest, but I don't know for sure if they're open or not. Ride all of the paved roads in the park and you should be able to have a good time.

 

[berth]

Hey folks! Like many of us, I work 9-5 M-F with a few 3-day weekends a year on holidays.

Back in the old days of Aerospace and Defense contractors, you used to be able to accrue silly amounts of vacation.

One guy had, essentially, 8 weeks of vacation.

To use it up, he arranged simply to work a 4 day work week, taking ever Friday off for a year. Every weekend was a 3 day weekend.

He did a LOT of fishing .

 

[RWMaverick]

the Sierras will still be snowed in

1 north won't be warm, but it can reasonably be done
check out the Lost Coast
36

etc

I haven't done either of those in a while! How's the Lost Coast Road looking these days? Last time I went it was in pretty rough shape. People had spray painted stuff like "hell road" and "the county has abandoned us" on the road surface haha. The views were totally worth it though!

 

[RWMaverick]

Day 1
101-Cloverdale 128-Ft Bragg-1-Legget 101-Fortuna 36- 3-299. Spend the night in Weaverville.
Day 2
Back down 3 or Wildwood Rd to 36 East to 99 to Chico, 70 to Quincy option
Day 3
70 to Quincy-Quincy/Laport Rd. back to 70-99 and home

Some of my favorite roads on this list! I've never done Quincy/La Porte Road before but it looks phenomenal! I just love those National Forest roads

 

[RWMaverick]

Go visit Death Valley. You can either cross the Sierras on I-80 or Highway 88 then head down the very scenic 395, or loop across the bottom through Bakersfield. It might be possible to take 155 and 178 across to Ridgecrest, but I don't know for sure if they're open or not. Ride all of the paved roads in the park and you should be able to have a good time.

Ahhhh I really like this idea! I passed through Death Valley once, but I was rushing back to the Palo Alto (had to move the next day) so I didn't get to enjoy it as much as I could have. And I can camp out and save money on lodging! I was thinking of heading to Vegas but that would have ended up being a lot of boring freeway miles given my time constraint. This is way better; definitely on my short list!

To use it up, he arranged simply to work a 4 day work week, taking ever Friday off for a year. Every weekend was a 3 day weekend.

Darnit, that guy was living my dream!

 

[Junkie]

it's certainly rough in places, including multiple spots where it turns to gravel with no warning (I'm referring to Ettersburg Road/Wilder Ridge Road/Mattole Road, from the route out to Shelter Cove up to Mattole/Petrolia/Ferndale, don't know how Mattole Road is from 101 to Honeydew)

 

[ScottRNelson]

Ahhhh I really like this idea! I passed through Death Valley once, but I was rushing back to the Palo Alto (had to move the next day) so I didn't get to enjoy it as much as I could have. And I can camp out and save money on lodging! I was thinking of heading to Vegas but that would have ended up being a lot of boring freeway miles given my time constraint. This is way better; definitely on my short list!

If you go through Pahrump to Las Vegas you end up with zero freeway miles. And you get the bonus of driving on that one section of road where the Koenigsegg went 276.9 mph. (I hit 150 indicated on that road in 2003 in an S2000).

 

[motomania2007]

178 through Kernville is usually open all year. I have ridden to death Valley over President's Day weekend.

 

[RWMaverick]

it's certainly rough in places, including multiple spots where it turns to gravel with no warning (I'm referring to Ettersburg Road/Wilder Ridge Road/Mattole Road, from the route out to Shelter Cove up to Mattole/Petrolia/Ferndale, don't know how Mattole Road is from 101 to Honeydew)

Last time I went was Memorial Day 2018. When you get off 101 it's really nice; classic two lane road through the Redwoods. Then you start climbing and you see potholes more and more frequently. The descent towards Honeydew is in really rough shape with big washouts and after passing through the town there are big patches of completely unpaved road. I was caught off guard, but I took it slow and got through it. The part running along the coast is gorgeous, then the climb back up is a little rough but not nearly as bad. Big disclaimer: this was my first time riding dirt, so maybe I'm just inexperienced and it wasn't that bad. Anyway I felt a lot better after a pint at the Lost Coast Brewery ort

If you go through Pahrump to Las Vegas you end up with zero freeway miles. And you get the bonus of driving on that one section of road where the Koenigsegg went 276.9 mph. (I hit 150 indicated on that road in 2003 in an S2000).

I just watched the video, man that's fast! Can't imagine hitting 150, let alone 276.9. I should have taken that road on my last trip through there, but I took 95 from Vegas to Beatty, then 374 into Death Valley.

178 through Kernville is usually open all year. I have ridden to death Valley over President's Day weekend.

I've heard really awesome things about 178, if I go to Death Valley it's definitely on my list! I'm thinking of taking 99 down instead of 5, which would mean I could do either 99->178 or 99->155->178. Is 155 worth doing?

I think I have this trip narrowed down to either Death Valley or the Salton Sea (inspired by that Toast's post). Sounds like going to Death Valley puts me on much better roads though!

 

[Junkie]

I did it on the way to Hawthorne last year, never having been before, and agree that parts were challenging given the bike I was on. Downhill gravel switchbacks with no warning aren't what I'd call easy.

 

[dravnx]

Last time I went was Memorial Day 2018. When you get off 101 it's really nice; classic two lane road through the Redwoods. Then you start climbing and you see potholes more and more frequently. The descent towards Honeydew is in really rough shape with big washouts and after passing through the town there are big patches of completely unpaved road. I was caught off guard, but I took it slow and got through it. The part running along the coast is gorgeous, then the climb back up is a little rough but not nearly as bad. Big disclaimer: this was my first time riding dirt, so maybe I'm just inexperienced and it wasn't that bad. Anyway I felt a lot better after a pint at the Lost Coast Brewery ort



I just watched the video, man that's fast! Can't imagine hitting 150, let alone 276.9. I should have taken that road on my last trip through there, but I took 95 from Vegas to Beatty, then 374 into Death Valley.



I've heard really awesome things about 178, if I go to Death Valley it's definitely on my list! I'm thinking of taking 99 down instead of 5, which would mean I could do either 99->178 or 99->155->178. Is 155 worth doing?

I think I have this trip narrowed down to either Death Valley or the Salton Sea (inspired by that Toast's post). Sounds like going to Death Valley puts me on much better roads though!

178 is definitely fun. You should also check out Bodfish Caliente Rd. It brings you into the south end of Lake Almanore.

 

[bmwbob51]

you might want to check GPS Kevin

 

[matty]

155 is awesome, more technical than 178.

You could take 25 >198 (or Peachtree south to San Miguel) >Parkfield >41 > 229 > 58 (Carrizo plane) and then make your way east to Granite/Woody Rd to 155 which drop you into Kernville.

Or from 58 continue on to 33, there's a road that cuts through the Frazier Park that's a worthy detour to get to 33, but the name has changed and I can't recall what it's called now. And from there you could cut across and catch Angeles Crest.
Most of those roads are probably quite pretty and lush right now.

 

[Junkie]

Cerro Noroeste, now Hudson Ranch. I agree it's a great road.

 

[RWMaverick]

178 is definitely fun. You should also check out Bodfish Caliente Rd. It brings you into the south end of Lake Almanore.

Just looked up Bodfish on Twistypedia, that's a winner! I'll have to take different routes to Death Valley and back to ride all of the awesome roads in the area :ride

you might want to check GPS Kevin

Bookmarked for future reference, thank you! There are some incredible routes in there. So many trips, such little time!

155 is awesome, more technical than 178.

You could take 25 >198 (or Peachtree south to San Miguel) >Parkfield >41 > 229 > 58 (Carrizo plane) and then make your way east to Granite/Woody Rd to 155 which drop you into Kernville.

Or from 58 continue on to 33, there's a road that cuts through the Frazier Park that's a worthy detour to get to 33, but the name has changed and I can't recall what it's called now. And from there you could cut across and catch Angeles Crest.
Most of those roads are probably quite pretty and lush right now.

I do that route down to San Miguel/Parkfield area pretty often as a day trip on the weekends, it's great! 25 is such a relaxing road.

Cerro Noroeste, now Hudson Ranch. I agree it's a great road.

Thank you for this suggestion, that looks awesome! I'm going to make a motocamping weekend out of this VERY soon

 

[NCGiant]

If you go through Pahrump to Las Vegas you end up with zero freeway miles. And you get the bonus of driving on that one section of road where the Koenigsegg went 276.9 mph. (I hit 150 indicated on that road in 2003 in an S2000).

I hit 166 there in my Genesis, then got popped by a trooper on the decel going 120. Not a cheap ticket..