When Travel Plans Derail: A Cautionary Tale About Navigating to Honey Bear by the Sea in Gold Beach, OR

If you’re planning a stay at Honey Bear by the Sea in Gold Beach, Oregon, consider this a friendly heads-up based on my recent experience. While traveling south from Coos Bay, I encountered an unexpected challenge: significant construction along US-101. As someone unfamiliar with the area—and unaware at the time of Oregon’s TripCheck service—I relied on Google Maps, Apple Maps, and RV Life, just as I always do.

Unfortunately, every navigation platform routed me onto unpaved roads that ultimately dead-ended, sending me in circles for nearly six hours. It appears these mapping systems still identify alternate routes around the construction zone that simply do not exist. The result was repeated backtracking, unhooking, and maneuvering my RV in tight, unmaintained areas. It was an exhausting and frustrating ordeal.

As soon as I realized I was unable to reach the campground that day, I notified Honey Bear that I would be forced to remain in Coos Bay for an extra night. I expected understanding—after all, the circumstances were caused by an Oregon Department of Transportation project completely outside my control. I requested a refund for the single night I could not use.

To my surprise, management declined. Their position seemed to be that guests should somehow anticipate all road closures and regional disruptions in advance.

While every traveler knows that unexpected detours are part of the journey, compassion and flexibility from hospitality providers can make all the difference. My hope is that sharing this experience helps others plan ahead—and encourages more understanding policies for situations truly beyond a traveler’s control.