Thanks for reading and asking, Hunter! Many thanks, alex, Alex, unfortunately, this might not be the trip for you. I am not a family travel expert so I dont have advice there! Drive Time: About 3.5 Hours. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Therefore, its an amazing place to start your Pacific Coast Highway trip! 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. How long is the Pacific Coast Highway? (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!). Mike, great to hear from you and thanks for reading! Its a great spot for a short hike to stretch your legs. From here on south, it's miles-upon-miles of beautiful sand beaches, palm-lined streets, and thriving coastal cities. My wife and I were planning to fly to San Diego to start the trip, but your point about southbound visibility makes total sense. Your email address will not be published. I love road trips & he tolerates them so I am looking forward to all these sights to see! I hope you can do at least part of the PCH someday soon . We are from Ohio. We fly out of LA. 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. Here are the stops I suggest for a Pacific Coast Highway California road trip itinerary. Im not sure how to prioritize the rest of our time. Your second choice is where to start your road trip. 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. I stopped here to eat a to-go lunch I had purchased earlier in the drive, with my toes in the sand. Sireesha, thanks for reading. Would there be a place where the rental could be left in those regions? 3. 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. Im definitely going to try to do it sometime! Hood. Have a great drive!! You did a fantastic job with this giude, everything is straight to the point but provided in a fun and educational way. The drive travels 655 miles along the coast of California and along the wa. Also, how many days should we take for the one-way trip back. I think once we hit Los Angeles we will just take the I10 home to Phoenix. To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to exploreNative Land. The Pacific Coast Highway is up there with the most beautiful drives in the world. 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. My blog posts likely contain affiliate links, including for the Amazon Associates program.If you click, book, or buy from one of these links, I may earn a commission. Id look at September as an ideal time to catch autumn colors in the Pacific Northwest but admittedly its hard to predict since this part of the country isnt known for the same leaf colors as New England. We stayed in Seattle and drove south to Olympia, to pick up the beginning of the 101. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Carry on south on CA-1, the PCH. 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. The rest of time will hopefully be in small towns all along the coast. 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. Read more in my Privacy Policy. So the verb lament is correct in the present tense, and the tense of recommend earlier in the paragraph. San Simeon Drive for 45 minutes and start the day with a 15-minute excursion inland to San Simeon to tour the elaborate Hearst Castle. We are planning our trip for the first half of April, SF to LA. Seeing some nice beaches is also of interest. Pacific Coast Highway (@thepacificcoasthighway) Instagram photos and videos 2,612 Followers, 118 Following, 94 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Pacific Coast Highway (@thepacificcoasthighway) Your email address will not be published. Thank you! While staying in Cannon Beach we have planned day trips to Astoria and Long Beach and maybe an inland drive to McMinnvile, for some wine tasting. . The best time of year to do this will be in the summer (June/July/August), probably sooner in the year rather than later. Thanks for your comment, Terri! My problem is going to be deciding what not to do because Ill only have so much time (and money). Best Quotes about the West Coast There are many quotes that sing praises and are written as an ode to the beauty of the West Coast. Im nervous go excited. I hope you have a great trip whenever you can make it! Whether you just want to see the top highlights and sightseeing hotspots or want to dive into L.A.s booming food scene, you can find it all in Los Angeles. 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. 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! Gov. But the hills inland will go even steeper! Thinking approximately 250 miles a day. Amazingly great article. This time I plan to take a friend and start in Portland. We want to spend 5 days for PCH and not sure where to fly in or out of. 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. I appreciate this guide. Any other advise you could give us. Thanks for your points. 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. Yes, we intend to stay a couple of nights in Portland and 2 or 3 in San Francisco but well probably look for hotels on the outskirts and travel in to the cities by car or public transport each day. Sounds like youve got a great plan drive safe! 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. Seaside is a picturesque coastal town, a western interpretation of the East Coast summer destinations along the Atlantic. Especially watching the sun set over Morro Rock in the distance! I hope you had a good trip! lol. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south along California Highway 1. taking my 13 and 17 year old with my wife. Yes, Id recommend flying one-way to Seattle, and flying one-way home from San Diego. Id find an interesting podcast for everyone in the car and have the kids keep an eye out for whales and wildlife. Is Yellowstone worth the long detour? I would love to take this vacation but not fall short on money. Hey Valerie great name yourself! Thank you for sharing. Big Sur is defined as the stretch of coastline and adjacent state park between Carmel and San Simeon. I already have the vista points where we will stop for photos and eating. This is such a great article. The speed limit ranges from 55mph to 25mph theres really no helpful way to give an average! I am traveling with my husband, brother and our 4 year old. Thanks for your comment, Manny. So heading east eventually to round out the trip. Hi! 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 dont plan to change any of my travel plans based on the Coronavirus unless there are required quarantines. Thanks so much from a couple of Canucks! I had the chance to spend a weekend in Huntington Beach a few years ago and loved the vibe in this surf town. Southern California has great weather year-round. Day 4: Redwood State Park, CA to San Francisco, CA. And other than his military time at Ft Lewis many years ago, we have never lived nor toured the west coast at all. Thanks for reading, Tony! 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. 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. 1. The most commonly driven part of the . Nope, headed northbound is not a bad way to go its actually the way I went on my first drive! from Seattle to San Diego along this route . 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. I hope you can make it happen sooner! Such a thorough guide! Thanks, CJ! 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. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: If you are on a quick PCH road trip, turn inland along the Columbia River and then south on I-5 to Portland.If your Pacific Coast Highway road trip includes the Oregon Coast, skip Portland below and drive south along U.S. 101 to Seaside & Cannon Beach (#8). Old Highway 101 is now called the Avenue of the Giants, and I highly recommend slowing down to enjoy this 31-mile stretch through some of Californias oldest living and tallest! Would you have any other suggestions since I am using 4 more days and not going south to Sa Diego and strarting in Vancouver? So it adds about 3 hours of driving time, but it also means youll miss out on basically all of the Oregon Coast. Have a great trip and drive safely! Taking your advice, flying into Seattle (from KC), and heading south. In particular, plan a long foray out to Point Reyes State Park and Lighthouse. We want a mix of National/State Parks, cities, and coasts. Thanks! Also, for a map, I use the app Roadtrippers, which is linked in the post. 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. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head west along U.S. 101 until it turns south along the west coast of the Olympic Peninsula. Route 1 is fine its twisty turny but its the best route by far. Starting at San Francisco ending San Diego. 1. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: South of Humboldt Redwoods, theres a junction where California Highway 1 (CA-1) begins. Well be camping out at most stops except for SF. I was planning 10-12 days? Its the best time for good weather on the whole coast! ), this post will give you all you need to know. If you make it out this way, let me know, as Im now in the Bay Area! 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! Want to stop over a few nights, and hit some of the destinations you listed. I appreciate any help you can provide. Thanks for your help in advance!!!! 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 Would it be worth it to continue to San Diego then back to LA? I did a bit of research into this seems like its a Los Angeles thing to drop the the but as I lived up in Northern California, we use the the. Since my post is referring to a much larger area than just SoCal, Im still going to keep the the. Thanks for providing me this opportunity to learn about a quirky bit of California lingo! Also, its not exactly the most stimulating view its a bit better for older kids than younger ones. The PCH begins south of Dana Point in Orange County and ends at US 101 in Mendocino County. 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. Weve spent time in SF already so dont need to stay there. If youre a fan, make sure to stop in Aberdeen to see the house where he grew up. 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. I love all the details that you are recommended here. 8. 01 of 04 Thanks so much. Hah, sounds like a good bonding experience, Angela! Any thoughts on this as it pertains to weather? Only question I have is how much money would you recommend someone having for a trip like this and staying in a 3 star hotel each night? 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. This is exactly what I was looking for. Those are my top recommendations! I drove one and I hardly ever got to enjoy it!.why were you hardly ever able to enjoy driving a convertible???? Thanks for reading, Jan. This 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. You absolutely nailed it. By the end, youll be ready to plan your own Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary. You may encounter some rain up north near Portland and Seattle, but you shouldnt experience any snow! Does that sound reasonable or doable? I have no idea what the case will be for forest fires next year, unfortunately! You have the same recommendations? Im thinking I might end my trip at Santa Barbara. Thanks Teena. Thanks for your comment . I am planning a road-trip with my husband along the Pacific coast. I hate cold! Oregon & California are both pretty vegan friendly states so Id expect lots of restaurants have at least an option thats animal-free. Stay safe. You can get a printable version by signing up on the forms in this post. 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). Great article. Ive done Yosemite and Sequoia, so no need for inland stops. We plan on doing the 7 day trip June/July. Pacific Highway Route information Existed 1913-1926 [a] Major junctions South end San Diego, CA North end Vancouver, BC Location Country United States States California, Oregon, Washington, (also Vancouver in British Columbia) Highway system Auto trails Pacific Highway is the name of several north-south highways in the Pacific Coast region of the Western United States, either by . Basically, you cant start/end in Crescent City if you want to rent a car. Thank you. The total distance is about 1,500 miles! We detoured at Reedsport to go to Crater lake, which turned out awesome, there was a ELK reserve on the way, it took about 3 hrs to get to Roseburg, where we stayed the night, the next day the drive to Crater lake was about 3 hrs, the drive was absolutely beautiful. Did you try searching my site using the search in the sidebar? I was curious about which one you suggest if you were to slim down this itinerary by 1 day (ex. Also known as Route 1 or Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway is the road of the American Dream, a U.S. route that offers beautiful views of the coast along the 620-mile road from Orange County (near Dana Point, south of Los Angeles) to Mendocino County (just above San Francisco, in Leggett), that covers almost the entire California coast.. A Pacific Coast Highway road trip passes through . ENJOY the sightseeing trip of a lifetime. Glad to help, Andrew I hope you have an amazing trip! When you hit the California coast, its like driving in a postcard. It sounds like youll have an awesome trip, and happy early birthday to him! I have suggestions on dates earlier in the article to help you figure out how long to do the trip and where to stop. I love to do a Pacific Coast Highway drive at some point in my life. Bixby Bridge in Big Sur Choosing the top Pacific Coast Highway attractions isn't easy, as there are so many we love! Unsurprisingly, a private car is the absolute best way to make the most of a trip along the legendary PCH. You can definitely do that! Am interested in your upcoming 7 day itinerary of PCH. It sounds like youll have a great trip no matter what! September and October are definitely best for visiting NorCal, so I recommend that time of year too! WOW! Im at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone! Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, segments of the U.S. Route 101: U.S. Route 101 in Oregon U.S. Route 101 in Washington Public transportation [ edit] Hello Valerie; my family and i are thinking about a trip from northern CA to San Diego along the coast. Thank so much for putting together a wonderful and comprehensive itinerary of the PC scenic drive. Were renting an RV in Seattle (after few days in hotel) and have 30 days before we drop it off in San Fran (and hotel for a few days). Thank you very much for providing a road map! Theres a link to that at the end of the post. I havent been to Monterey but its high on my list! Pigeon Point can be a fun rest stop along the Pacific Coast Highway or a quirky one-night stop depending on your itinerary. Thanks for sharing this! I am currently living in crescent city and plan to make the drive in a couple of weeks. Im driving with our 5 kids (ages 1 -13) and my wife. Hey there! 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 The West Coast especially is fantastic. 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. Thanks for your comment, Jorge! The huge sweeping beach is admittedly not warm enough for a swim but its great for a stroll in the surf. I do have the same recommendations youll see A LOT of fellow bikers/trikers out on the PCH; its a great ride on 2-3 wheels as well as 4 wheels . Other cool attractions include Hurricane Ridge (a popular hiking spot), Elwha River Valley, and Olympic Hot Springs. Portland is the only city on this list thatisnton the coast, and its definitely a trip extender if you want to visit Portland while driving the Pacific Coast Highway. Phoenix77. You could do this road-trip in as little as five days, but I recommend taking at least seven or maybe 10 if you have the time! 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. Sounds like youre well on the way to it . Would love to do the northern parts of PCH though I loved Portland and Seattle, but would like to see more of the coastal regions! 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. Raynard, when are you going? Thank you for all this information. We might consider staying a total of 12-15 days. Youll get access to five major attractions at a discounted price, so you can experience more of what Seattle has to offer for less. Travelling from Auckland to Napier, you'll experience lakes, wildlife, vineyards and a tranquil lagoon. 5 Beds. Thank you. If I were going to recommend a route, Id do something like the National Parks in California or the Utah/Arizona/SoCal loop. Thanks for your comment, Catherine. 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. There are no reasonable alternatives for some of the routes like the one across Bixby Canyon Bridge (shown above). Love it. Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. Have a great trip! For bigger cities, there are probably enough options that you can wait until you arrive to book, even during that time of year. Sorry; I dont have any suggestions for that! Thanks for reading, Heather! 9. Can you please give me a list of must sees in Santa Barbara (we could have two full days there). I recently discovered Mendocino on a weekend trip and fell in love with the small town. I wouldnt advise doing this one in an RV, to be honest. If youre planning a PCH trip and want to pass through San Francisco, you can either skim over along the side of the city as you drive down the coast, take a detour inland to visit Yosemite National Park or dive in for one night knowing it will only make you want to come back for more. When driving the PCH south from Portland, how much of a detour would it be to see Crater Lake on the way? 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? We will be coming from Anaheim and want to drive the Pacific Coast Highway to Half Moon Bay. 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. A one-week Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary will allow you to see the highlights without feeling rushed. Carry on the fantastic work!|. Our plan (2 people) would be to fly into Seattle, where family is. Sea the possibilities. Again, thank you so much!! Pacific Coast Highway 1 (PCH) - California. Along the way we plan to stop at the Benbow Inn near Garberville, CA and in Newport. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue along CA-1 to San Diego, your final stop on this PCH road trip. Have a great drive! We will go from Seattle to San Diego using your itinerary as our planning guide. Youve got so much time, thats awesome! I had a question regarding travel to California present time as in next week(August 14, 2021). BIG SUR, Calif. A section of California's scenic and iconic Pacific Coast Highway that collapsed during a winter storm in January reopened to traffic on Friday. First thank you for all the work you put into this! This is great information and very helpful! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Follow California Highway 1 south. If I were youI would do a leisurely drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles/San Diego. 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. In this post, I promote travel across lands that are the traditional lands of many Indigenous groups. Thanks for the great ideas! Aberdeen has one main claim to fame: it was the hometown of Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain. These Pacific Coast Highway road trip stops really seem like true country California. 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. I also agree that Point Reyes (and the lighthouse) is spectacular and my top place to go when in North Ca. Thank you so much for creating this itinerary! Let me know if you need any extra tips whenever you start planning! Tim and Janice. Glad to help, Dan! Thanks for your comment, Rex! Stop 4: Bixby bridge. We will start in Portland, Or and drive to Las Angeles, CA. Thanks, Id take those days and visit the San Juan Islands: https://www.valisemag.com/visit-san-juan-islands/, You could also give yourself more time in the cities: https://www.valisemag.com/3-days-seattle/ https://www.valisemag.com/3-days-san-francisco/ https://www.valisemag.com/portland-city-guide/, Valerie, My husband and I are wanting to fly from Denver to California on December 27th. Whether you stop to take a few Instagram-worthy spots or ogle the animals, theres plenty of experiences to choose from in San Diego. Youd need to fly into. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: If you are doing a quick Pacific Coast Highway road trip, head south from Olympia along I-5 to Portland. Drive safely! 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. When it comes to vacation rental options. Youre very welcome, and have a great road trip!! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: From Seattle, head south along US Highway 101 to Olympia. The little set of communities on the Long Beach peninsula is at the lower-left corner of the state and is home to cozy accommodations and surprisingly delicious restaurants. I also downloaded the Roadtrippers app but I cant find it. Congrats on the trip, Michael! Its easy to make a stop in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, so take the opportunity! Is this possible?? Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head south from Ruby Beach along U.S. 101. The Pacific Coast Highway is arguably one of the most famous drives in the entire world. Travelling from Australia and would like to spend 3 weeks driving around .
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