Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

It is very easy to miss that Woodland area and boring valley areas of CA . Yes I would cut the State off right across Hwy 50/ I 80/Hwy 12/ hwy 1-
With a little Zig Zaging one can truly capture the major points of interest with out back tracking on the same roads quite easily. From Carson City (Virginia City)Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, the wine country, Golden Gate, Marin headlands, Point Reys park and north through the Redwoods to OR.
Harvey in the Sierras

old man 88 Loc: Palmview, TX when not on road

This is how my trip is shaping up now, these are stops for Motorhome.
Not cut in stone as I still have three months to add lots more Motorhome stops or adjust.
Then use Toad to see the other areas.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

You have to go up in to Wyoming and Montana. But the truth is, this part of the world is full of so much beauty, that 5 months is not enough no matter what routes you will take. You will miss a lot. I also second the suggestion to stay off major roads. Have fun!!!!!

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I-5 through Oregon is a mistake. Get on the coast.

Kissel vonKeister Loc: Georgia

I second that! They didn't tear up the US highways when they built the Interstates. They're still there, and they still have character, and tend to be as well maintained as the interstates, besides getting far less wear. We use them a lot.

old man 88 Loc: Palmview, TX when not on road

I was in Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota for three months last year.

I always stay on side roads when available, learn that from RV and motorcycle for forty plus years.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Sorry, didn't realize that.. How about Utah?

woodworkerman Loc: PA to FL

Interstate 5 thru Portland, Tacoma and Seattle is a parking lot on steroids. The best times to drive those areas are 2 to 5 AM. Or if you have to drive through there during the day, do so after about 10:30 AM and before 2:30 PM. It took me about 4 hours last summer to travel from just above Seattle and get below Tacoma. Thru Portland during work traffic can take 3 hours or more. The same with Seattle. And Seattle has a lot of road work going on on the Interstate and even on 405. Driving the Oregon / Washington coast on 101 is a bit taxing with a motor home or travel trailer since the road weaves around hill sides and rock out croppings. Avg speed on 101 might be 30 to 45 mph or even lower in some areas. BUT it is extremely beautiful. I highly recommend 101 West out of Olympia and then North to go out to the Olympic Peninsula on the East side. Port Townsend is a beautiful town with turn-of-the-century homes. 101 goes completely around the Peninsula and the West coast of it is a Rain Forrest with 140 to 200 in per year. Forks, Wa is the filming location of the Twilight Saga movies. Neat little town. Just west of Classet, WA out on the point is the most western point of land on the lower 48 states. DO be certain to drive up into the Olympic National Park out of Port Angeles. The mountains are breathtaking. Expect to see deer at the top of the mountain walking thru the parking lot at the visitor's center. Have Fun. My wife and I will be out there in mid July. We travel for 2 months every year in my truck and always go to the Peninsula.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Someone suggested Sauvie Island for birds - late September is ideal.

P9280395 by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr

P9280541 by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr

Kissel vonKeister Loc: Georgia

Very nice work indeed! Now I know a guy who should lay out $2,500 for that Oly 300mm f4.0!

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Thank you, but you are way too kind. I am just a hack, but there were so many birds, that even I was able to take a few shots.

I prefer landscape and I am trying to find a way to get the em1 mark 2 for those 80MP hi res photographs.

splatbass Loc: Honolulu

I use to live in California. Lots of HBs there. I used to see them almost daily in the flowers around my front door.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

I heartily agree. Take I-80 through Sacramento, take 37 from Vallejo, work your way up Hwy 1 & 101 along the California-Oregon coast. By the way, are you driving a toy hauler with your motorcycle? That would facilitate some great side trips.

Wandering Loc: Sea Wa

Triple your experience on that train by booking on a car called the Silver Bullet.

Mark Bski Loc: A sleepy little island not far from Seattle

Find the hidden gems! Visit our many National Wildlife Refuges! I travel afar with work on a weekly basis and am always looking for places to photograph. The maps feature on your iphone is a great place to start. I look for patches of green ~ usually they're golf courses ~ but with patience you will find wonderful places known mostly to locals. We have lots of National Wildlife Refuges scattered about the country, VISIT THEM! They're exactly what you are looking for. Spend a few minutes and hobnob with the locals, they'll tell you good places in the park, and they'll tell you about other parks close by.

The big and famous national parks are spectacular with their grandeur, and I love them, but they are over ridden with tourists. The wildlife preserves, I have a few of them that I have visited linked below, are away from urban areas and usually located outside of old fashioned small towns. I've done my best bird photography at these small preserves, you'll love them & the people you meet there.


https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ridgefield/

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/dungeness/

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/tualatin_river/

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ankeny/