Follow the highway south as it winds inland and along the coast. I am planning for this roadtrip this December- starting from Dec 25th. So the verb lament is correct in the present tense, and the tense of recommend earlier in the paragraph. Let me know in the comments! I havent been to some of those national parks, but they sound amazing! Next time I have a few days off, Ill have to change that! These Pacific Coast Highway road trip stops really seem like true country California. Do you think we could do it in 7 days?? Top ways to experience Pacific Coast Highway See all Recommended Tours & Sightseeing Walking & Biking Tours Multi-day & Extended Tours Outdoor Activities Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive - Full Day Tour from San Francisco 310 Bus Tours from $105.00 per adult Monterey & Carmel Explorer 22 Full-day Tours from $105.00 Donna, thanks for your comment! The Pacific Coast Highway is arguably one of the most famous drives in the entire world. Driving south on the right-hand side of the road, youll have a great view of the ocean and coastline. Whats the best time of year to do this? Id like to include Olympic NP, Mt. My problem is going to be deciding what not to do because Ill only have so much time (and money). We fly out of LA. You wont have as much time to spend in each city, or to take a few of the long drives, but youll see it all in a short span of time. I love Portland and San Diego. We are planning to stay overnight at the Madonna Inn. Id check out the California DOT website for the most up-to-date information. From the beach boardwalk to the lush redwoods, Santa Cruz is one of the best places to stop on the Pacific Coast Highway. maybe to get a car, which adds about 6 hours of driving time. California 1 is the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and Cabrillo Highway, following the coastline from San Juan Capistrano in Orange County in Southern California to Leggett in Mendocino County in Northern California. Thanks for all of this great information! Ive just started planning our trip for this autumn. I started this site to share my travel stories and inspiration to help you complete bucket list trips. Raynard, when are you going? This sounds like a great trip the PCH + inland Oregon! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: If you are doing a quick Pacific Coast Highway road trip, head south from Olympia along I-5 to Portland. Youll see signs for Hoh Rainforest, a left turn that takes you inland to the forest. You should have no problem finding vegan options! Have a great drive!! March is a fine time to drive the PCH the weather on the Pacific Coast is pretty similar all year long! Can you recommend where to spend time and in which cities to plan to spend the night? One of the longest state routes in California (after Interstate 5 and U.S. 101), California 1 sees some of the most . ), this post will give you all you need to know. Depending on the timing of your itinerary, you may want to do an overnight here. Id be happy to save the money and just drive with the windows down when I want some fresh air. You did a fantastic job with this giude, everything is straight to the point but provided in a fun and educational way. Is this doable in 7 days, with stops during the day and to spend the night? I would rather guess on the high side than the low side so Im prepared. Hi there, I am desperate to do the road trip next year however, I am not keen on driving over bridges (I am fine on coastal roads/cliff edges), so are there any places that i definitely need to avoid or that you cant get through/past without crossing a bridge? Port Angeles is the place for that one-night stop. Heres a Pacific Coast Highway map and schedule for 10 days: One of the most popular questions I get about driving the Pacific Coast Highway is about when to drive the PCH. I hope you can do at least part of the PCH someday soon . Any thoughts on this as it pertains to weather? You should have no problem making it down the road in December. South of Seaside, be sure to stop in Cannon Beach to admire Haystack Rock. You can choose the spots you want to stop at that way . Southern California has great weather year-round. Franke's first solo album is surprisingly melodic, highly accessible, and immaculately produced. Question, if we were to add a stop, possible one night stay at Crater Lake, where would you suggest doing this from without missing much, (or any?) The Oregon Coast Aquarium lets visitors explore the marine ecosystems around this part of the Pacific Ocean. Hello Valerie; my family and i are thinking about a trip from northern CA to San Diego along the coast. Dont drive down to SD and back up to LA. Crater lake was amazing!! The weather also wasnt great for most of the route; after moving up out of SoCal, youre much more likely to experience clouds and/or the marine layer on the PCH. I have a question in regards to your amazing experiences and my hopes to travel the PCH with my older kids. Nope, headed northbound is not a bad way to go its actually the way I went on my first drive! 4,329 Sq. Do you highly recommend the LONG route OR is thru Mendocino only enough? Pacific Coast Highway Directions: South of Humboldt Redwoods, theres a junction where California Highway 1 (CA-1) begins. Explore the route. Now that Ive moved to this part of California, I know this is true. If your PCH road trip includes the Olympic Peninsula, follow U.S. 101 west and then north along the eastern side of the Olympic Peninsula toward Port Angeles. But you missed it and it was so incredible. Have a great trip! Thank you for your great ideas and itineraries! The incredibly scenic California stretch is known for its oceanfront locales, rugged cliffs, hidden coves, and numerous beaches, making it one of the nation's most popular road-trip routes. If youve just stayed overnight in Santa Barbara or started your road trip in San Diego, that may not make as much sense. I hope this helps! Heres a Pacific Coast Highway map and schedule for 5 days: If youre lucky to have a few more days for your PCH road trip, a week is a pretty fantastic amount of time to see all that the Pacific Coast Highway has to offer. Pacific Coast Highway Map, Direction & Start/End Points. I am not fond of the cold and a bit fearful of icy driving in the mountains. Find and save ideas about pacific coast highway on Pinterest. I drove one and I hardly ever got to enjoy it!.why were you hardly ever able to enjoy driving a convertible???? The worst that happens is you might end up in a slightly less nice place than you had planned. #addittothelist. After Crescent City, the Pacific Coast Highway starts to navigate in and away from the coast at times, which includes chances to experience one of Californias natural wonders: the Redwoods. Valerie-thanks for the great overview. If youre not sure (or not loyal to any particular car rental company), consider using a tool like Kayak or TripAdvisor to compare a bunch of options (yes, TripAdvisor does rental cars!). This post was originally published in August 2014, and was updated regularly including most recently in May 2022. 5 Beds. Sorry, I could not get past it, and I may not even be correct, but I truly loved this page. Thanks for reading, Dale. If you make it out this way, let me know, as Im now in the Bay Area! Valerie, cant thank you enough for this guide! Hi Valerie, Great job! Sounds like youve got a great plan drive safe! Thanks for reading though , Thanks so much for an in depth post. After Crater lake we headed back to 238 towards HWY 101, we took an off road to hit the coast right at Brookings. Next, youll pass through Point Reyes, which again seems underwhelming. We are just looking to site sea on our way back home from Disneyland I was looking at Hearst Castle and the Elephant Seal Vista Point but dont see much reviews on them with kids. Am interested in your upcoming 7 day itinerary of PCH. Thank you so very much. We can skip Napa and SF. My overnight stop in Santa Barbara changed my mind. Hi, I love Portland and San Francisco. To be honest, Id opt for the long route you only have one day, and Point Reyes is one of my favorite parts of California. Be sure to plan your trip on a day the lighthouse is open for tours, so you can climb the steps down to the lighthouse and lookout beneath the clouds across the sea. I strongly recommend making reservations in advance, and also please be aware that hotels and other accommodation are not currently allowed to accept leisure travelers during the current mandates. Awesome, Im hoping to do the PCH and NorCal next summer. Dont be in a hurry and be cautious so you can enjoy everything. The Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip While many travelers begin in Los Angeles and head north, driving the Pacific Coast Highway from north to south keeps you in the lane closest to the ocean. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Carry on south on CA-1, the PCH. Now let me break down a few itineraries to choose from, based on how much time you have to do your Pacific Coast Highway road trip. Just give yourself more time and end n LA. We've driven sections of this coastline twice, between LA and San Francisco. Thanks for your comment, Vicky! From Bixby Creek Bridge to Mcway Falls to the sea lions of San Simeon, there are so many epic places to see and photos to snap in Big Sur along the Pacific Coast Highway that you'll find yourself exhausting your camera battery and filling up your. The drive travels 655 miles along the coast of California and along the wa. I was curious about which one you suggest if you were to slim down this itinerary by 1 day (ex. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated: Day 1: San Francisco (Arrive late in the evening) Day 2: San Francisco Day 3: Santa Cruz Day 4: Carmel-By-The-Sea Day 5: Big Sur Day 6: San Luis Obispo Day 7: Santa Barbara Day 8: Los Angeles Day 9: San Diego (leave early in the morning). Thanks! Want to avoid the summer crowds, but still enjoy nice weather. Its the best time for good weather on the whole coast! I hope you had a good trip! Rudy. I mapped it here so you can see the option to add in Crater Lake and what youll miss: https://goo.gl/maps/2A4GYTKnBcADVdRw5. I am going to plan for at least a 10 day trip, its once in a lifetime and truly dont want to rush it I cant wait to see his face when I announce at his local birthday party in July that I have saved for and planned this fantastic trip for September 2021!! Technically, it starts in Washington State, but it's best known for the stretch through California from the stunning redwood forests and wild, rugged coast down to the sun-drenched beaches of San Diego. It was a great help! If you go as big as a Suburban or Tahoe, youll be way to big and clunky to enjoy the road! Hi, and thanks for this terrific resource. Have a great trip! We are planning to do Northboundfrom Ventura to Wine country but only have 5 days returning on the 5th day. This Pacific Coast Highway itinerary is 7 days and will let you take the whole route and return home with unforgettable memories: If you have more time to drive the PCH, this 10-day itinerary is perfect. Also, I love your pictures! A road trip along the scenic route features beautiful beaches, waterfalls, natural rock formations, striking bridges, delicious seafood, art communities, surfer towns, and dramatic cliffside views - all along the PCH. We were thinking October, but after reading all the comments, I think we will make it September. Once inPortland, its easy to spend a few days exploring; I have been to Portland repeatedly and there are so many experiences that can more than fill a stop on your road trip. ), Valerie, My wife and I are planning this very trip you outlined. My best advice is to take a look at the app Roadtrippers and start plugging in where you might want to go to get a sense of travel time then you can decide whats must-do, what extra you have time for, and what needs to be cut.I hope that helps! For bigger cities, there are probably enough options that you can wait until you arrive to book, even during that time of year. of the PCH? Also, its not exactly the most stimulating view its a bit better for older kids than younger ones. Hi! Hi V& VDid you make hotel reservations in advance for your overnight stops? The turn-out for Ruby Beach occurs right as the highway reaches the Pacific coast. Mendocino Your Pacific Coast Highway road trip begins at Leggett, so naturally, the first stop is the wonderful Mendocino. Any suggestions. My husband, myself and our four kids always take adventurous vacations every summer. Great tips, Kathi! You should drive the Pacific Coast Highway southbound! 2. As I mentioned above, both are southbound itineraries. I want to fly out to the NW and drive to Crescent city, then go inland to see the redwoods, Bend, and Mt. We want a mix of National/State Parks, cities, and coasts. In fact, we serve over 15 000 different locations worldwide. Youd need to drive about 7-10 hours out of the way depending on the bridge, and miss major stretches of the road . We just booked Patrees room! Also, you can probably get away with booking hotels/vacation rentals in the smaller towns only a few days in advance but if you want to stay in any of the big cities, I would book those 2-3 weeks in advance at the latest! Seaside is a picturesque coastal town, a western interpretation of the East Coast summer destinations along the Atlantic. 4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars (1) Paperback. We both have a lot of vacation all the time, so 10 days or more would be fine. Well, now we will have to wait to see how this Covid-19 progresses. staying at decent places 3-4 star properties. Pacific Coast Highway Attractions, those must-see sights along PCH, include Hearst Castle, Big Sur, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Golden Gate Bridge. We only wish to go South as far as Salinas (more family) or Santa Barbara the furthest. Therefore, its an amazing place to start your Pacific Coast Highway trip! I appreciate your asking for clarification! How long is the Pacific Coast Highway? They all offer budget rentals, run regular deals and specials, and have one-way rental options. The Pacific Coast Highway traces the coast as closely as possible around the edge of Los Angeles, America's second largest city. My wife and I (with our dog) are driving from Pismo Beach to Cannon Beach and staying at a beach house there. Youll have a great time! Long Beach is and always will be one of my favorite destinations in Washington. Im driving with our 5 kids (ages 1 -13) and my wife. Stargazing along the PCH depends a lot on the weather; since there arent a lot of roads that connect the PCH inland, you kinda have to make do with what happens out on the coast. Thank you . One day, I would LOVE to make this road trip. As this post is over 6,000 words long, I typically dont provide extra additional itinerary services for free. Great article! You will miss Seaside & Cannon Beach on this route, so your next stop will be Newport (#9). Ruby Beach is only a short drive from Hoh Rainforest but its the most picturesque beach on Washingtons Pacific Coast. Youll have less distance (just the car and shoulder) instead of an entire lane of the road plus the shoulder. Ending at a beach front hotel in Diego for 2-3 days to visit that college, unwind and settle a little bit before leaving. Thanks for sharing this! I do have OCD though, and Im having a really hard time getting past your use of the word lament in the paragraph suggesting to drive on southbound. Do you happen to know or can you suggest a source with info about the road conditoin in the light of recent terrible weather in California. We might consider staying a total of 12-15 days. This sounds like a great adventure. We stayed in Seattle and drove south to Olympia, to pick up the beginning of the 101. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: From Seattle, head south along US Highway 101 to Olympia. If not, spend your day exploring the Seattle waterfront to see all of the city from above. Let me know how it goes! Other cool attractions include Hurricane Ridge (a popular hiking spot), Elwha River Valley, and Olympic Hot Springs. Im thinking I might end my trip at Santa Barbara. We booked a flight to San Jose to explore the citys economic hub and cultural traditions. Doing this trip starting this weekend! If I were going to recommend a route, Id do something like the National Parks in California or the Utah/Arizona/SoCal loop. Thanks so much for sharing your experience for others to know its worth doing!! Thanks Valerie. Were making a shortlist of 3 or 4 likely hotels for each expected stopover. The route between Los Angeles and San Diego is not as popular as the classic long road trip between Los Angeles and San Francisco on Highway 1.San Francisco is one of the most important cities in the United States and, thanks to its charm and favorable location on the way to visit the national parks, is often preferred over San Diego, which shares the Pacific Ocean with San Francisco and Los . We are thinking of late September of 2022 doing a two week drive from north to south. The first time, we (I) had it all planned out. Glad to help, Bethany! What is the average speed on the 101? My husband are I are planning 20 days to do the PCH(starting in Seattle and ending in San Diego) We are using your the ultimate pacific coast road trip itinerary as a guide. I can think off the top of my head that you could do the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Planning a trip on PCH last week of July 2020. Hi We have just 1-day and will be starting in Fortuna and heading to San Francisco. Hi Valerie, Great tips! Thanks for reading, Tony! If youre planning a full 10-day west coast road trip, make sure you follow my guide and do at least one overnight on the Olympic Peninsula. $2,785,000. my best friends and I have talked about driving down from San Francisco to some of the Orange County, CA cities. My wife and I are planning an 18 day trip in the coming months to fly into San Diego and then make the drive up to Seattle. I was wondering if you would recommend any wine tasting spots along the way? AAA has no candle to this. We planned to start in Seattle and drive to San Diego. How can we apply this info in the reverse, Catherine, its pretty easy just plan it out by reading my article from the bottom to the top! If you see an error, please contact me. Such a thorough guide! I am currently planning a road trip from Phoenix to Vancouver, WA to visit family and weve decided to come back home via the PCH. Life is made for the ocean. We continued on until we picked up the beginning of CA Hwy 1. I have been to Europe, for 2 years, and nothing compares to this coastal trip. As the tallest lighthouse on the U.S. Pacific Coast, Pigeon Point Lighthouse is picturesque, and you can view it from several different angles along the nearby coastline. Thanks for reading, Thomas. Im planning a trip for end of this year most probably the California part only. But never mind those technicalities, because equally bewitching ribbons of Hwy 1 and Hwy 101 await all along this route. I also agree that Point Reyes (and the lighthouse) is spectacular and my top place to go when in North Ca. Just one small thing, its not the PCH, its just PCH. Portland? I love that the Pacific coast has those little hideaways! Briefly, here are some of the other must-see attractions in Seattle: If you want to spend a few days in Seattle, consider purchasing the Seattle CityPass. Aberdeen has one main claim to fame: it was the hometown of Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain. Want to stop over a few nights, and hit some of the destinations you listed. I used to use Google Maps to do this, but I find that the numbered stops and waypoints are much easier to understand, and this Roadtrippers map also has other points of interest (Extraordinary Places) you might want to stop at too. Be sure to stop at Nicks Cove in Marshall, CA for a meal or Hog Island Oyster if you love oysters! If I were youI would do a leisurely drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles/San Diego. lol. We definitely want to visit the redwood forest, which is the main reason we want to go so far north. There are a number of epic hiking trails in the area, ranging from a 0.5-mile loop to 16-mile out-and-back trails. But, we need to go the opposite way; starting in San Diego and heading north. Read more in my Privacy Policy. This is my idea of an itinerary but I need to cut out one of these days or consolidate one since I really only have 8 days. Rainier, plenty of coastlines, and Redwoods. Thanks so much. Day 3: Bodega Bay to Point Arena (62 miles) The highway continues north, skimming the Pacific Ocean for the entire length of today's journey, with several diversions along the way. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: When youre ready to continue on your PCH road trip, make your way back to California Highway 1 and head south. Gov. AND, I did it in November in a PT Cruiser with the top down.all bundled up with the heat on full..but man, what a view! In particular, plan a long foray out to Point Reyes State Park and Lighthouse. Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most famous and beautiful road trips on earth. I see we can head to Mendocino and then over to a larger highway to San Francisco or.drive all the way down the PCH to Point Reyes Station & then head over San Francisco but that would be a lot of driving.