I have been reading your blog posts about the PCH and think I read where you mentioned a couple of crossover vehicles that would be good rental cars. If you are planning to cruise along that part of the Californian coastline, then here's our magnificent seven! I was a truck driver for 29 years and could not drive that road. Also, I love your pictures! What you suggested (Anaheim > SLO/Madonna Inn > Half Moon Bay) is a great two-day itinerary. Starting in San Francisco, you'll cruise south along the Pacific Coast of California, visiting vibrant cities, secluded beaches and stunning State Parks as you go. Anyway, we are looking to do the very same drive. I have been to Europe, for 2 years, and nothing compares to this coastal trip. Have a great trip! 3. Kim. You live in SF! Nice ride. Have a great trip! These stops are numbered to match my Roadtrippers map and trip above (click here to open the trip in a separate window). Thank you for your great ideas and itineraries! 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. Great article. Thanks again! Thank you for any other tips. Also, how many days should we take for the one-way trip back. Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary: Day 3 Take in the majestic sights of the Central Coast while cruising across the famous Bixby Bridge in Big Sur. Thanks again for this excellent resource. Did you try searching my site using the search in the sidebar? "In America, the colors sing, they don't just glower at you. 1. We stayed in Seattle and drove south to Olympia, to pick up the beginning of the 101. Thanks for your help in advance!!!! Reading through this your article is going to be a huge help as our family plans our two-week trip. Before launching into a bunch of details for where to stop along the Pacific Coast Highway, I need to define a few things: Now that you know the details, lets dig into the logistics of planning your own Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary! Similar to Haystack Rock, your experience stopping at Devils Punchbowl will depend on the tides. Thanks again! I was born on the East Coast and currently live in the Midwest but my heart will always be out West. My wife and I (with our dog) are driving from Pismo Beach to Cannon Beach and staying at a beach house there. This sounds like a great adventure. Thanks for your comment, Kathy! Travelling from Auckland to Napier, you'll experience lakes, wildlife, vineyards and a tranquil lagoon. So we used really about a day off the coast but well worth it. Want to avoid the summer crowds, but still enjoy nice weather. Tim & Janice, what kind words! Were staying just outside of Long Beach, in cute little Ilwaco, WA, at Salt Hotel & Pub. Its a small detail, but totally uncalifornian to say the PCH. So doing our 101 bucket list too, but want a 2-3 days near Ocean Beach, CA. This gorgeous building mostly survived the 1906 earthquake and captures Victorian glory with modern amenities. Sounds like youre well on the way to it . Where does the Pacific Coast Highway start and end? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for your comment, Archimedes. I was far more interested in the hundreds of miles of coastal roadways. This is a great itinerary! Great trip! For the California portion, I recommend September & October! Thanks for your amazing feedback, and Im so glad to help! Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most famous and beautiful road trips on earth. Have a great trip!! Id go with a mid-size car for your rental. Thanks for asking, Helen! If you go to the Big Sur Crater, you will be a full one mile (1.6 km) above sea level while remaining only three miles (5 km) inland from the ocean. However I actively lament that I was on the wrong side of the road in the present tense (as in, if you ask me today, I still lament it); I didnt really realize I was on the wrong side until after my trip was over and its not like you can change your route once you start! Taking your advice, flying into Seattle (from KC), and heading south. Now I want to take a trip there from San Diego to the Canadian border while sitting on a Honda Goldwing trike. The best time of year to do this will be in the summer (June/July/August), probably sooner in the year rather than later. The Outdoor Blueprint team pieces together an incredible guide featuring all the best coastal stops from Vancouver, B.C. If you do decide to spend an overnight in the area, I recommend stopping in the town of Mendocino first for late lunch, walking around the Mendocino Headlands, then continue driving south to spend the night at the beautiful Little River Inn for dinner at the Whale Watch Bar. I appreciate you taking the time to answer everyones questions. Yes, I do have San Francisco guides! Thanks for your comment, David! Hi there, I am thinking of taking a solo trip down the PCH from Long Beach, WA to LA? It is a time consuming drive but the most worthwhile time you will ever spend traveling. When I drove the PCH in 2014, I drove a northbound San Diego to Seattle road trip, and lament that I wasnt on the outer side of the road. We will go from Seattle to San Diego using your itinerary as our planning guide. Wondering about forest fires and how they affect the trip. I have suggestions on dates earlier in the article to help you figure out how long to do the trip and where to stop. We stay in San Diego on Pacific/Mission Beach a lot so no need to travel this far south for us. The turn-out for Ruby Beach occurs right as the highway reaches the Pacific coast. Maybe Im AAAA ? Hi, My wife and I are planning a 7-day drive from San Fran to Portland in late June of this year. staying at decent places 3-4 star properties. Thank you! Thanks so much, Lois and glad to help! The most commonly driven part of the . Which Direction to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway? Sort of a round trip Oregon adventure. The Pacific Coast Highway is arguably one of the most famous drives in the entire world. Best trip ever! Portland? This 20-mile (one way) detour will take you out on Point Reyes, and has a stark and beautiful landscape because its so far out at sea. Additionally, youll get a sense of the magnitude of the San Andreas fault line, which comes inland along the northern part of Point Reyes. The huge sweeping beach is admittedly not warm enough for a swim but its great for a stroll in the surf. P.S. Although I live in San Francisco, Ive yet to visit several of these places on this list. Thank so much for putting together a wonderful and comprehensive itinerary of the PC scenic drive. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: At this point in Northern California, the PCH is still U.S. 101. Very glad to help, and I hope you have a great trip! Day 2: Forks, WA to Cape Kiwanda, OR. Located on the Pacific side of the Olympic Peninsula, Hoh Rainforest qualifies as a rainforest due to the amount of precipitation that occurs each year. 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. My only additional rec for anyone would be to add the Great Tide Pool in Monterrey to check out little worlds of marine life. I can think off the top of my head that you could do the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. We are doing the PCH this July and August coming from Yellowstone, Glacier and Teddy Roosevelt NP it has been on our Bucket list for quite some time after this trip we only have Alaska to visit and we will have visited all the States !! Just starting to think about a 1st time road trip from Az to Washington and back among the PCH!!?? Im not sure how to prioritize the rest of our time. Aberdeen has one main claim to fame: it was the hometown of Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain. These are just ten of the many places off Highway 1 that you'll want to experience. Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Guide - Brian Eagen 2016-09-23 A stunning visual guide for a road trip along the entire United States pacific coast. Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip. Thanks for your comment, Catherine. Seaside is a picturesque coastal town, a western interpretation of the East Coast summer destinations along the Atlantic. South of Seaside, be sure to stop in Cannon Beach to admire Haystack Rock. So heading east eventually to round out the trip. Whether you stop to take a few Instagram-worthy spots or ogle the animals, theres plenty of experiences to choose from in San Diego. Im sure someone else has asked this but..When is the best time to travel PCH (traveling Southbound through California to San Diego in hopes of warm days and cool(ish) nights)? Seeing some nice beaches is also of interest. I love all the details that you are recommended here. A few years ago I started saving (unbeknownst to my husband) for his 50th birthday this summer. Any other advise you could give us. I appreciated your take on the drive, and now Im sorry we will be going north rather than south, but we are planning on going back the I-5 and stopping in Ashland. Tim and Janice. To help you plan your road trip, here are two possible road trip itineraries you could take. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange . If I were going to recommend a route, Id do something like the National Parks in California or the Utah/Arizona/SoCal loop. Thinking of maybe making this where we would b me somewhere different for 4th of July. Manny from Massachusetts. I would rather guess on the high side than the low side so Im prepared. Explore seaside scenery along the east coast, taking you off the beaten track to some of the most beautiful beaches including Mount Maunganui - voted as New Zealand's best beach. Eileen, thanks for your comment, and for reading! Im nervous go excited. Is this possible?? The total distance is about 1,500 miles! Glad to help, Ashley! Silvia, not to minimize risks but I think the issue is not being represented realistically by the media. 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. 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? I drove part of this back in 2009 from LA to San Francisco (northbound..) and would also recommend stops in Morro Bay and Monterey I enjoyed both very much! Stop and admire the views in Big Sur, too! So nice to hear from you, Silvia! Santa Barbara marks the threshold to the southern California section of the pacific coast. If you know which car you want, I recommend renting from Fox Rent-A-Car or Sixt. We just did this trip in October 2019, We started in Portland to Cannons beach then headed south on HWY 101. Thanks! I am planning to take this trip with my family of 5 as you have lined out for the 10 days this coming June. The views of the colors changing in the trees were surreal. I do not plan to do any shopping at stores, so our money would be spent on a rental vehicle, hotels, gas, and food. 21500 Pacific Coast Highway Huntington Beach, California, United States, 92648 Phone +1 714 698 1234 Email HyattHBFrontOffice@hyatt.com View Details Rooms Featuring a coastal chic aesthetic, our rooms and suites each feature terraces overlooking Huntington Beach, pools and lavishly landscaped courtyards. Where would you start and end if it is reasonable to go in December, and what might we expect weather wise? 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. Thanks for your comment, Rex! My wife doesnt particularly like high bridges or steep drops (one reason we are driving north), so any advice on where we might avoid such things is appreciated. Thanks for reading, Jennifer. 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. 1-2 days in Portland to visit college and check out Portland. Any recommendations will be appreciated! Youll see signs for Hoh Rainforest, a left turn that takes you inland to the forest. Stop 4: Bixby bridge. Hey Valerie great name yourself! Whether youre planning a San Diego to San Francisco, Seattle to San Francisco, San Francisco to San Diego, Seattle to San Diego road trip, or somewhere in between (Los Angeles! Hope that helps you plan! We took this trip several years ago. I am traveling with my husband, brother and our 4 year old. These seem to be the hardest parts to figure out for this type of trip! We live in Colorado, so more interested in Ocean more than hiking, so 101 is ideal. It was just gorgeous with a 360 degree view. Thanks so much for sharing your experience for others to know its worth doing!! I know we wont see everything, but its the only time frame we have. One of the most famous sea stacks on the U.S. Pacific Coast, Haystack Rock is picture perfect while you stretch your legs. Bixby Bridge in Big Sur Choosing the top Pacific Coast Highway attractions isn't easy, as there are so many we love! As the title suggests, this music would make the perfect soundtrack for a drive up the California coast. Pacific Coast Highway 1 (PCH) - California. If you are short on time to drive the PCH, as I was, a Pacific Coast highway itinerary for 5 days is ideal. This information is great!!! The must-see sights definitely include places such as Hearst Castle and Big Sur. It was so helpful as I planned and traveled cross country this summer starting with the PCH. 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. Hi! Kavinsky - Pacific Coast Highway (Official Audio) - YouTube 0:00 / 6:18 Kavinsky - Pacific Coast Highway (Official Audio) Record Makers 225K subscribers Share 12M views 11 years ago #Kavinsky Also known as Big Sur, the route winds along the rugged California coastline (from Cape San Martin to Ragged . Suggestions? 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. Pacific coast highway road trip with kids. When driving the PCH south from Portland, how much of a detour would it be to see Crater Lake on the way? This guide is great, do you have a Google map itinerary to download with the stops? Thank you, and your blog is fantastic! Hi V& VDid you make hotel reservations in advance for your overnight stops? I love that the Pacific coast has those little hideaways! I would love to take this vacation but not fall short on money. Have a wonderful trip! You will miss Seaside & Cannon Beach on this route, so your next stop will be Newport (#9). Should we go down the coast only (plus say Portland & Crater Lk), or head inland given how much time we have? Youre very welcome, and have a great road trip!! Your second choice is where to start your road trip. Is this time of year realistic for an enjoyable adventure, or should we maybe plan to go somewhere else? Is this going to be a big disappointment? Im thinking of a four day road trip for easter next year but thinking along the lines of vegas to grand canyon and so. I do you can sign up using the email forms in this post to receive a short version! Just one small thing, its not the PCH, its just PCH. 1. Is this doable in 7 days, with stops during the day and to spend the night? I think its going to be a tough year fro travel! If youre a fan, make sure to stop in Aberdeen to see the house where he grew up. Thank you for the comprehensive narrative! If we have 10 days to do this and could skip San Francisco, because we just did that 2 years ago, could we drive from Seattle to either Los Angeles or San Diego in an RV? Im not sure there are many good airports to leave a rental car in the region youre suggesting you may end up driving into L.A. to do so and to fly home. Hurricane Ridge. 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!! 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. There are no reasonable alternatives for some of the routes like the one across Bixby Canyon Bridge (shown above). Pacific Coast Highway Map, Direction & Start/End Points. Find and save ideas about pacific coast highway on Pinterest. Heather, you saw the rest of the post, right? I would like to follow the route on the map. 1. Also, niece is vegan and I am meat eater. I am planning 14 days to take in the sights. Also, I will have 3 weeks to do this, I like small towns, Vegan food, and too out of shape for extended hikes. 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 for reading, Dave. Maybe worth checking another site thats more expert in RV travel! 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. Have a great trip! Thanks for your comment, Pam, but Im a little confused its a 10-day itinerary, so its a 9-night trip. The ocean is my happy place. What a great and comprehensive post! My husband and I are both 62 in pretty good shape and planning to do this trip from Portland to San Diego in late September 2019 over 2 weeks. Would it be worth it to continue to San Diego then back to LA? Here, waves are grand and harsh, and coastal cliffs are as breathtaking as it gets. 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. Planning a mother/son trip after my son graduates HS next year. Ill have to stop at these places, Thinking about a pch trip from San frans to LA.. suggestions on where to stop and how many days, I have this post that will help you plan your trip: https://www.valisemag.com/california-coast-road-trip/, Hi Valerie I am looking for a 1 day coastal trip from Anaheim back to San Francisco with 4 kids ranging from Teen to toddler. I appreciate your asking for clarification! What time of year would be best to do this. Have other questions about driving the Pacific Coast Highway? We are coming from Pennsylvania. Thanks for your points. Appreciate you sharing your experience and advice. I hope you have an epic time; Patrees such an amazing host! Enjoyed this 14 day article! Pacific Coast Highway (1982)(Datasoft)(US)PlatformAtari 8-bitReleased1982Published byDatasoft,. If I can make a recommendation? Homes similar to 20132 Pacific Coast Hwy are listed between $350K to $70M at an average of $2,795 per square foot. Sorry, I dont have any special suggestions for kids! Is it worth waiting to do this trip in summer? Where is the Pacific Coast Highway? Im at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone! Crescent City! In Washington, Oregon, and at the northern end of California, the Pacific Coast route follows US Highway 101. You absolutely nailed it. Regarding openings, Im sorry but I cant keep up with all of the places and changing restrictions in the various counties and states. It was a great help! Pismo is a popular camping destination, so the most common amenities youll find if you decide to stay longer than a few hours are camping-oriented. My English is very very basic but if you write to me I can understand it. Day 4: Redwood State Park, CA to San Francisco, CA. Valerie, I am so glad I found your guide to the PCH! One of the longest state routes in California (after Interstate 5 and U.S. 101), California 1 sees some of the most . Hi Valerie. Awesome suggestions and itinerary! We are thinking of taking this drive during the week of Christmas.