Do you have any tips? Located on a beautiful crescent-shaped bay, Crescent City is along part of the PCH where California Highway 1 and U.S. Highway 101 overlap hence this guide refers to both Highway 1 and Highway 101 as the PCH in the different states. Rainier, plenty of coastlines, and Redwoods. Basically, you cant start/end in Crescent City if you want to rent a car. Making a Pacific Coast Highway road trip is a popular bucket list experience - for good reason! Those little beaches overlooking the water below is freaking amazing. A few years ago I started saving (unbeknownst to my husband) for his 50th birthday this summer. We are planning a west coast trip and are considering renting an RV one way from Portland or Seattle to San Francisco. Pacific Coast Highway (1982)(Datasoft)(US)PlatformAtari 8-bitReleased1982Published byDatasoft,. To access the map on Roadtrippers, you just need to click the map! Now that you have all the details you need to plan a PCH road trip, you need to know which destinations are worth a stop along the Pacific Coast Highway. Ronald, I dont know for sure as I dont recommend people drive in an RV. AAA has no candle to this. 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. I can really tell that you love traveling, Valerie . (Be prepared for fog from the marine layer! Los Angeles is the last major city on my list of Pacific Coast Highway stops, and though I have a guide to spending one day in L.A., you can and should spend as much time as you like. Thanks Valerie. They all offer budget rentals, run regular deals and specials, and have one-way rental options. Great post. After driving across the famous Columbia River bridge, stop and give yourself a self-guided tour of popular Goonies spots in Oregons northwest-most town. Extremely informative. Thanks for sharing this great itinerary. My only additional rec for anyone would be to add the Great Tide Pool in Monterrey to check out little worlds of marine life. Unfortunately, I dont have suggestions for Santa Barbara as I havent been there in nearly a decade. Big Sur is defined as the stretch of coastline and adjacent state park between Carmel and San Simeon. Pacific Coast Highway Road-Trip Itinerary Has Hidden Gems - AARP Feel free to comment back here if you have questions while planning your trip . With colorful historic seaside homes and great hiking trails and other outdoor activities, Mendocino is good for at least an overnight stop dont be surprised if you want to spend even longer here once you arrive! You'll feel far from it all as you pass through tiny towns and secluded beaches and wind around cliffs surrounded by yellowy beige grasses and cliffs. Before you hit the road, youve gotta figure out your car situation! I was reading for the road trip from Seattle to San Diego. 1. For accommodation, try a small hotel like the. We are going to go the middle of September 2022 and take a flight from Phx to somewhere around Crescent city. These seem to be the hardest parts to figure out for this type of trip! Moon Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip: California, Oregon & Washington (Travel Guide) by Ian Anderson | Dec 20, 2022. Have other questions about driving the Pacific Coast Highway? Thanks Teena. Am planning to do a 10 day PCH drive in August. Thank you again for all of your information. One of the most famous sea stacks on the U.S. Pacific Coast, Haystack Rock is picture perfect while you stretch your legs. If you are connecting to Highway 1 from the Sacramento area, take I-80 West for about 50 miles, connect to US-101 S from there, and then connect US-101 North. Thank you so very much. Now we want to take our girls on the same trip. Hi Valerie, I am doing the PCH drive southbound from Seattle and as far as we can go for 5 days. Im at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone! Bixby Bridge in Big Sur Choosing the top Pacific Coast Highway attractions isn't easy, as there are so many we love! Its easy to make a stop in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, so take the opportunity! Also known as California Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway is the longest state route in California at just over 656 miles. We want to spend 5 days for PCH and not sure where to fly in or out of. Blow your budget and stay the night at Fairmont San Francisco, one of the nicest hotels in town. The redwoods are a definite. Travelling from Australia and would like to spend 3 weeks driving around . There are loads of cool things to explore in/around this small PNW town, including Olympic National Park! Youve got so much time, thats awesome! I am currently living in crescent city and plan to make the drive in a couple of weeks. Would you recommend the 7 day to get 2-3 days in Diego? We just booked Patrees room! I had the chance to spend a weekend in Huntington Beach a few years ago and loved the vibe in this surf town. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south on CA-1, the Pacific Coast Highway. Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip itinerary: driving on Route 1 in California Is this going to be a big disappointment? Hi there, I am thinking of taking a solo trip down the PCH from Long Beach, WA to LA? Glad this was helpful! Eileen, thanks for your comment, and for reading! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Follow CA-1 south its a meandering route, but if you follow it all the way until Muir Beach you can make an optional stop at Muir Woods if you want. Sorry, I could not get past it, and I may not even be correct, but I truly loved this page. This post was originally published in August 2014, and was updated regularly including most recently in May 2022. 9. Hi V& VDid you make hotel reservations in advance for your overnight stops? These make perfect Instagram captions for dreamy sunsets or foggy mornings on the Pacific. The PCH is on my bucket list since my daughter did it with Teens Westward Bound over 10 years ago. I have no idea what the case will be for forest fires next year, unfortunately! I am going to drive PCH 1 this summer and was going to drive from North to South but my son has driven it and suggested going South to North. 35 Captions For Throwback Road Trip Pictures With Your Ride Or Dies Thinking of Seattle to San Diego on US 1 in late September or early October, is the weather still good for a 10 day driving trip? At low tide, you can hike down into the hole or go tide pooling; at other times you can have a picnic while trying to spot whales off the coast. Great question, Sharon! Thanks so much for any tips you can suggest on having adequate funds! Great name btw . Read more in my Privacy Policy. Huntington Beach Resort Hotels | Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Great content here, thank you! Stay safe. Glad to help, Andrew I hope you have an amazing trip! WOW! Reading through this your article is going to be a huge help as our family plans our two-week trip. We plan on doing the 7 day trip June/July. Thanks for your comment, Catherine. I have tendency to suffer from analysis paralysis therefore navigating all the ins and outs what to do where to stay etc would be overwhelming to say the least. Pacific Highway (United States) - Wikipedia 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. I lived for 15 years in Alaska, as well as four years each in California and Washington. Were on day 2 of our 8-day PCH Tour.and its great to have your help! Downtown is a series of taffy-colored storefronts filled with beach gear, kitschy coastal crafts, and the Funland Seaside Arcade, which harkens back to the heydays of coastal vacations. About Us - Pepperdine University Malibu Campus If you happen to do your PCH road trip in the winter, Pismo State Beach is also home to the largest colony of migrating monarch butterflies during the winter months. My car is a convertible (BMW 3 series) so I am not sure if it can take on the road during Dec end Seattle and portland area mainly ? I am planning for this roadtrip this December- starting from Dec 25th. Police ticket 186 drivers in 12 hours on Pacific Coast Highway Want to know more? No matter which you choose, youll enter SF by driving across the Golden Gate Bridge; you can either stay along the coast and drive down Ocean Beach or head east into the city. Day 3: Cape Kiwanda, OR to Redwood State Park, CA. I can think off the top of my head that you could do the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. 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. We are so overwhelmed. 5 Beds. It connects the beautiful harbor town of Dana Point in southern California's Orange County to Leggett, California, in Mendocino County, home to some of the largest trees in the world. Thank you so much for creating this itinerary! Thanks so much for this comprehensive look at the PCH. Im assuiming youve read the whole post, as I do cover a 7-day suggested itinerary, and cover overnight stops along the Oregon coast. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: None! I do too (ish Im in Oakland!). I hope you have an amazing time! The ideia is to have a West Coast Beer Route drive. I started this site to share my travel stories and inspiration to help you complete bucket list trips. When you hit the California coast, its like driving in a postcard. Let me know if you have any other questions while planning or on the road! 15 Best Stops On Your Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip - California Nate, thanks for your comment. Are you hoping to do a one-way rental car for your PCH drive? Thanks for your comment, Vicky! The Pacific Coast Highway, also called California State Route 1, Coast Highway, or shortened by locals to be "PCH," is 650 miles of road. Should we go down the coast only (plus say Portland & Crater Lk), or head inland given how much time we have? Its hard to do the drive one way in just 5 days from San Diego to Seattle adding on the time driving from Arizona and the return trip, I think you need at least 10-12 days. Unfortunately, when I drove the PCH it was pretty foggy and cool most of the week. Adrian, great to hear from you! I am planning a road-trip with my husband along the Pacific coast. "In America, the colors sing, they don't just glower at you. Any recommendations will be appreciated! The journey down Highway 1 is the iconic California road trip, and this coastal route is a great choice whether you're in Northern California, the central coast, or in SoCal. Our plan (2 people) would be to fly into Seattle, where family is. Awesome, Tim! Hello, Thanks for sharing your trips and valuable tips. We planned to start in Seattle and drive to San Diego. Thanks for reading, Angel! I did drive it alone and I still recommend heading southbound. If you go as big as a Suburban or Tahoe, youll be way to big and clunky to enjoy the road! It is a time consuming drive but the most worthwhile time you will ever spend traveling. We can skip Napa and SF. Sounds like youve got a great plan drive safe! I have a question in regards to your amazing experiences and my hopes to travel the PCH with my older kids. I am heading to LA in March and have a day to drive around and wanted to drive from LAX up HW 1 to around Malibu, maybe further! The Pacific Coast Highwayalso known as PCH or, more commonly, Highway 1runs north-south along most of the United States' West Coast. If youve ever seen The Goonies, you know exactly what I mean. Thanks for your points. My favorite place is Mendocino if the skies are clear! With an RV, Id just give yourself a lot more time each day (probably 25% more driving time) since youll need to go a bit slower. Valerie I just came across this post. Want to stop over a few nights, and hit some of the destinations you listed. Thank you in advance! We live in Colorado, so more interested in Ocean more than hiking, so 101 is ideal. Many thanks, alex, Alex, unfortunately, this might not be the trip for you. Ann, thanks so much for your comment. Thanks so much. There are a few restaurants in town and 17 miles of beautiful beach to explore. 4 Baths. 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. Im glad it was helpful. Credit: Bigstock.com Santa Cruz. Getting excited. Also being from Colorado, we would love to camp oceanside, do you have any recommendations on campsites? We are planning on a 7 days trip in Dec 2021. This guide is great, do you have a Google map itinerary to download with the stops? It is best known for the stretch along the Californian coast, with spectacular ocean views and awesome attractions as you travel. Im going to publish a suggested 7-day PCH guide soon! 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. Thanks for sharing this! I hate cold! Once you are on Pacific Coast Highway, it is a straight-shot to virtually any beach destination on your road trip list, including San Luis . Weve spent time in SF already so dont need to stay there. trees. The must-see sights definitely include places such as Hearst Castle and Big Sur. That route looks good have you input all the drive times in Google to confirm that you want to be on the road that much each day? Pacific Coast Highway Directions: From Seattle, head south along US Highway 101 to Olympia. Thats it! 1. The majority of this California road trip will take place on Highway 1, AKA the Pacific Coast Highway, AKA the PCH, AKA Cabrillo Highway, AKA Shoreline Highway, AKA The Prettiest Highway in the World. Thank you, and your blog is fantastic! Thank you. Thanks for your comment, Manny. Homes similar to 20132 Pacific Coast Hwy are listed between $350K to $70M at an average of $2,795 per square foot. Its a little tough to guess without knowing the exact dates and which towns/cities you plan to stay in on any given night, but I hope this helps! is booking hotels on the day or maybe the day before likely to be OK, or should we book well in advance? Id like to include Olympic NP, Mt. Southern California has great weather year-round. Thanks for reading, Kay. Pacific Coast Highway or PCH, segments of California State Route 1 Pacific Coast Highway, parts of New Zealand State Highway 2 and all of New Zealand State Highway 25 and New Zealand State Highway 35. To answer your questions: 1. I cant even imagine how incredible it must have been to experience all this in person. Follow the highway south as it winds inland and along the coast. The Pacific Coast Highway is arguably one of the most famous drives in the entire world. Thanks so much from a couple of Canucks! The Pacific Coast Highway is up there with the most beautiful drives in the world. Next, youll pass through Point Reyes, which again seems underwhelming. So heading east eventually to round out the trip. My problem is going to be deciding what not to do because Ill only have so much time (and money). Thank you for sharing! Your second choice is where to start your road trip. Santa Barbara was the biggest surprise I had on my PCH road trip in 2014. The longer you spend, the more youll get to see and enjoy. I live in Florida and have never been to the pacific coast. I hope you have a great trip! Driving California's Pacific Coast Highway | Audley Travel The turn-out for Ruby Beach occurs right as the highway reaches the Pacific coast. 15+ Must-See Stops Along California's Pacific Coast Highway - Trips To Where would you start and end if it is reasonable to go in December, and what might we expect weather wise? May 16, 2022 by Allison Green. Pacific Coast | region, North America | Britannica Camp at Second Beach in Olympic NP Photo: Michael Matti to San Diego, CA. Have a great trip! 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. 7 Stunning Viewpoints on the Pacific Coast Highway By Michael Hodson Updated on 06/03/19 At just over six hundred and fifty miles in length, and running along much of the coast of California, the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most popular road trip destinations in the United States. 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! Our partners offer one-way rentals from multiple locations in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The skies are guaranteed to be blue, the weather begs for a convertible, and the passing sands are alive with . Thanks for reading, Sonia. My wife and I have been to Cali a couple of times, our daughter once from Diego to Fran (Berkeley) and loved it, and just us once to Seattle and Portland, but flying in and out only. If I can make a recommendation? But never mind those technicalities, because equally bewitching ribbons of Hwy 1 and Hwy 101 await all along this route. We are only going to be there once though and want to make the most of it. I do not care to get into the Los Angeles areaHowever, the Sequoias are a must. Ive just started planning our trip for this autumn. I agree, go north to south. San Luis Obispo with Paso Robles). Manny from Massachusetts. I had a question regarding travel to California present time as in next week(August 14, 2021). Valerie, cant thank you enough for this guide! Thank you. Thanks for reading, Laurie! Also, for a map, I use the app Roadtrippers, which is linked in the post. You will miss Seaside & Cannon Beach on this route, so your next stop will be Newport (#9). We are thinking of taking this drive during the week of Christmas. Thanks for your comment, Jorge! Three police agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, crack down on motorists along the Pacific Coast Highway near Crystal Cove on Sunday, May 3, 2020. Located in the heart of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, Hurricane Ridge is an iconic spot to stop and stretch your legs on a Pacific Coast Highway road trip. I already have the vista points where we will stop for photos and eating. I appreciate your asking for clarification! Lane closure lasting 5 hours on Conventional Hwy for Electrical Work affecting #3, R T Lane #1, Right Shoulder, Bike Lane, Sidewalk lane(s) in District: 12 From: MAIN ST (DOWN TOWN) Huntington Beach to Beach Blvd, Rte 39 Huntington Beach End 300ft going SB on Rte 1 after Beach Blvd intersection Loved your trip adventure and recommendations !! Manage photos Whats your thought on late availability rooms at that time of year? If you make it out this way, let me know, as Im now in the Bay Area! For each spot, I share whether I consider it an Overnight stop (where you should spend a night) or a Waypoint stop (where you should stop to stretch your legs and/or see the sights). Dont be in a hurry and be cautious so you can enjoy everything. The best time of year to do this will be in the summer (June/July/August), probably sooner in the year rather than later. Theres a nice public parking area near a lake that overlooks the Washington State Capital building. Day 2: Forks, WA to Cape Kiwanda, OR. I am starting from seattle 8/26 down to los angeles taking PCH. Thank you for the recommendation! I was hoping to see autumn colours in the northern area. Hah, sounds like a good bonding experience, Angela! Do you have any recommendations or modifications while traveling with kids. hi planing to do the PCH however we will be in Las Vegas and driving to San Francisco will be there for 2 or 3 days and dont know witch is better to do San Francisco to L A back to Vegas or go north San Francisco to Seattle and then drive to Vegas i will have a extra 3 to 4 days what is your thoughts, we are nature and wildlife lovers not to big into visiting towns. What do you think of Coos Bay/North Bend or better places for overnight, seemed a good split between Seattle and San Francisco? Amazingly great article. Any suggestions. 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!). I do you can sign up using the email forms in this post to receive a short version! Travelling from Auckland to Napier, you'll experience lakes, wildlife, vineyards and a tranquil lagoon. Valerie, First off, congratulations on your recent wedding! After about 15 miles, you will reach Highway 1. We definitely want to visit the redwood forest, which is the main reason we want to go so far north. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head west along U.S. 101 until it turns south along the west coast of the Olympic Peninsula. What a drive! Thanks for reading, Lynda! Were driving south-to-north. I am planning to start my road trip in Vancouver BC and ending in San Francisco. 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. Love it. Amazing, Melanii! Pacific Coast Highway Map, Direction & Start/End Points. Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary Options, How to Choose a Car for the Pacific Coast Highway, Step-by-Step Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Directions, this gorgeous 3-bedroom oceanfront property, plenty of experiences to choose from in San Diego, https://www.valisemag.com/california-coast-road-trip/, Wandering the Olympic Peninsula - Valerie & Valise, https://www.theoutbound.com/theoutbound/camping-along-the-pacific-10-seaside-campsites-for-your-west-coast-road-trip, https://www.valisemag.com/visit-san-juan-islands/, https://www.valisemag.com/3-days-seattle/, https://www.valisemag.com/3-days-san-francisco/, https://www.valisemag.com/portland-city-guide/, https://www.valisemag.com/pacific-coast-highway-guide/. One of the longest state routes in California (after Interstate 5 and U.S. 101), California 1 sees some of the most . It was also formed by wave erosion, and now the huge hole is a beautiful vista or hiking spot. Can you recommend where to spend time and in which cities to plan to spend the night? Youre all set to start filling in the gaps! Any thoughts on this as it pertains to weather? Its less than 10 minutes drive from Newport to Devils Punch Bowl. Thanks for reading, Thomas. Ive been to Napa, Sonoma and Russian River Valley but curious if there are any great places you are aware of. Depending on the timing of your itinerary, you may want to do an overnight here. I wish I could remember the name of the mountain turnoff in Washington. Mike, great to hear from you and thanks for reading! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue along CA-1 to San Diego, your final stop on this PCH road trip. Im glad you booked LA and Seattle, because those are the two you most need to have arranged! These stops are numbered to match my Roadtrippers map and trip above (click here to open the trip in a separate window). (Hours and dates for the attractions on the SF CityPass have been affected by the pandemic, so be sure to check those when you purchase!). Thanks for reading, Lauren! Ive done Yosemite and Sequoia, so no need for inland stops. I travelled alone from San Francisco to LA while on a work trip years ago and havent stopped thinking about getting my husband out there. Great question So Crater Lake is pretty far inland. From here on south, it's miles-upon-miles of beautiful sand beaches, palm-lined streets, and thriving coastal cities. Hoping to do this mid Sept 2020. The most important thing you need to decide first when driving the Pacific Coast Highway is which direction you prefer to travel the Pacific Coast Highway (northbound or southbound). Planning a trip on PCH last week of July 2020. It was a great help! Highway 1 Self-Driving Audio Tour (Pacific Coast Highway) 11 Adventure Tours from $24.99 per adult Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive - Full Day Tour from San Francisco 310 Bus Tours from $105.00 per adult Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco 584 Full-day Tours from $199.00 per adult (price varies by group size) I am flying into Portland to meet my niece and we will rent a car and drive down the coast to LA to meet another nephew. I will definitely use all the info youve provided. This information is great!!! 8. Thanks for sharing. Id like to make a 10 day trip with a couple days in San Francisco and San Diego. The PCH begins south of Dana Point in Orange County and ends at US 101 in Mendocino County. We then headed to San Fran, our ending point. Angie, thanks so much for your comment! The Perfect Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary (25 Stops + 3 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. Taking your advice, flying into Seattle (from KC), and heading south. Here, California Highway 1 carves a sinuous path along steep cliffs; the road is beautiful at a price, since mudslides arent uncommon along this stretch of highway, and can close the highway for months. I especially appreciate your links to stays and dine. Also, we were thinking with the additional days to do a detour over to Yosemite. There are no reasonable alternatives for some of the routes like the one across Bixby Canyon Bridge (shown above). You can choose the spots you want to stop at that way . Best of all, theres no cell service so theyll have to look around to see them . I dont think you can do Yosemite in a day its a four hour drive from the coast to Yosemite (one-way) and youll probably want a full day in the park at minimum. The Pacific Coast Highway runs along two highways: In Washington and Oregon, the best weather of the year happens between June and September. You could see Canada and the river valley. Day 4: Redwood State Park, CA to San Francisco, CA. It's renowned as one of the most scenic road trips in America, and of course there are dozens of fun places to stop and check out along the way. I recommend researching/contacting each one individual to confirm theyll be open. Looking forward to follow your tips. Got to save some $$$$$. I would definitely do some research on inland options Im not as familiar with whats inland though. Can you share with me how long this should take us?? Ending at a beach front hotel in Diego for 2-3 days to visit that college, unwind and settle a little bit before leaving.
