There are also steep grades on I-5 at the Oregon-California border from Ashland south, which you will probably do in both directions if you aren't visiting the Lost Coast.
We usually use the
Emigrant Lake RV Park as our base in Ashland. RV spaces around a reservoir. Book your Shakespeare Festival tickets in advance and see a play. It's not all Shakespeare, lots of fun things to see. There are a few different theater companies besides the Shakespeare Festival to look into. Get a sip of the heavily sulphured water from the
Lithia Water Fountain. That's probably all you'll want. Lots of stores and restaurants.
Or get a couple hours off of I-5 at Ashland and camp at
Lake of the Woods. I don't recommend Dead Indian (Memorial) Road for trailers. Too steep. Saw a U-Haul of someone that had not known how to handle hills and burned out his brakes - the complete contents of the moving van were scattered all around a turn.
I have not pulled my trailer over the Grapevine yet, but have taken the Jeep and Prius over a number of times.
In the middle of the Grapevine, near Gorman, is the California Water System
Vista del Lago Visitors Center, with clean bathrooms, a view of Pyramid Lake, and a fun exhibit of California's extensive dam and aqueduct system.
In both directions, pull in and cool off your engine and brakes.
Just north of the Grapevine are the
Tejon outlet stores which are a good place to stop after the descent North to let your vehicle cool and use the nice clean bathrooms and the food court. I got good deals on Van Heusen shirts last time.
Other good I-5 stops:
Vegetarians will want to stop at
Taste of India in Buttonwillow, which would not be notable except for being the only vegetarian place on I-5. Probably there are other ones I don't know of, especially closer to San Francisco and Mt. Shasta.
Harris Ranch steak house is definitely worth a stop for lunch or dinner. But turn off vents and close windows for the feedlots just north of there.
Granzella's restaurant, in Williams, seems to consistently please my family.
Rolling Hills Casino has an OK buffet. I have too much math to gamble, so I've not checked out the slots.
I've not been to
The Olive Pit in Corning, but I think my wife and son liked it.