Read more in my Privacy Policy. Thank you! What day of the week would you recommend starting from WA? Crescent City! BEST PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY STOPS Sun, sand, and surf. Please keep doing what youre doing. Angie, thanks so much for your comment! Are we likely to hit snow in the northern stops? I am going to mostly follow the path you outlined in your 10 day itinerary. Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip. Moon Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip: California, Oregon & Washington (Travel Guide) by Ian Anderson | Dec 20, 2022. Thank you very much for providing a road map! Im planning on doing the PCH from Seattle to SF next Sept. (We did SF to SD in 2019). 24255 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90263 310.506.4000 Map Driving Directions From Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) From Orange County, San Diego and points south of Los Angeles From points east of Los Angeles From the north on Interstate 5 From Pasadena/ San Gabriel Valley From the north on Hwy 101/Santa Barbara and Thousand Oaks It was also formed by wave erosion, and now the huge hole is a beautiful vista or hiking spot. Also, I will have 3 weeks to do this, I like small towns, Vegan food, and too out of shape for extended hikes. Is there any river rafting or boating along the way? These are just ten of the many places off Highway 1 that you'll want to experience. I would hate to plan a trip only to find out that things are shut down or there are big restrictions placed on free movement. Eileen, thanks for your comment, and for reading! Wed like to be flexible so, if we like somewhere we could stay an extra night, or if we need to push on, we could pull the itinerary forward. Here are my twenty five favorite stops on PCH from south to north. Maybe worth checking another site thats more expert in RV travel! To ensure accommodations, I was thinking to book all of the hotels in advance. We will be coming from Anaheim and want to drive the Pacific Coast Highway to Half Moon Bay. FREE delivery Sat, Jan 7 on $25 of items shipped by Amazon. Can you believe theres a rainforest in Washington? I am not a family travel expert so I dont have advice there! Long Beach is and always will be one of my favorite destinations in Washington. A few years ago I started saving (unbeknownst to my husband) for his 50th birthday this summer. An unanticipated problem was encountered, check back soon and try again Hi! 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. Im saving this post to reference when I think about doing this trip, because that has to happen! Youre all set to start filling in the gaps! Hi Valerie, I am doing the PCH drive southbound from Seattle and as far as we can go for 5 days. Adrian, great to hear from you! 0:42. Thanks for your comment, Pam, but Im a little confused its a 10-day itinerary, so its a 9-night trip. I am planning a 10 day trip the last two weeks in May down the entire PCH from Seattle to San Diego. If you are planning to cruise along that part of the Californian coastline, then here's our magnificent seven! Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. Regarding openings, Im sorry but I cant keep up with all of the places and changing restrictions in the various counties and states. 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. My husband and I are planning a Spring Break trip with our girls March 2020. Im glad you booked LA and Seattle, because those are the two you most need to have arranged! These Pacific Coast Highway road trip stops really seem like true country California. 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] And it's hard to miss: you'll be driving right through, so when you see roller coasters, it's time to stop. Thank you for any other tips. Glad to help, Ashley! We plan a trip to San Jos, California because of its diversity, beautiful scenery, and exceptionally high outputs. What are must see spots. 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 !! We are from Ohio. 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. Sep 26, 2017. ai traffic expansion highway 1 layout mod pacific coast pch. Doing this trip starting this weekend! 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! I do not care to get into the Los Angeles areaHowever, the Sequoias are a must. Wondering about forest fires and how they affect the trip. We are planning a trip next year from New Orleans while my husband has a conference in Portlandwe were thinking of driving Hwy 1 down to Disneylandand catching some of the beautiful beaches and state parks. Awesome, Im hoping to do the PCH and NorCal next summer. 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. We are going to go the middle of September 2022 and take a flight from Phx to somewhere around Crescent city. Maybe Im AAAA ? 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. What do you think of Coos Bay/North Bend or better places for overnight, seemed a good split between Seattle and San Francisco? Any other advise you could give us. 01 of 04 The Outdoor Blueprint team pieces together an incredible guide featuring all the best coastal stops from Vancouver, B.C. If you are short on time to drive the PCH, as I was, a Pacific Coast highway itinerary for 5 days is ideal. It depends a lot on how long you plan to make the drive do you know how many days youll be driving? The Pacific Coast Highway, also called California State Route 1, Coast Highway, or shortened by locals to be "PCH," is 650 miles of road. 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. Your article was just what I needed!! The turn-out for Ruby Beach occurs right as the highway reaches the Pacific coast. Crater lake was amazing!! Thanks for your comment, Catherine. Amazing, Melanii! 1-2 days in Portland to visit college and check out Portland. Oregon & California are both pretty vegan friendly states so Id expect lots of restaurants have at least an option thats animal-free. I have been to Europe, for 2 years, and nothing compares to this coastal trip. If I am going to follow your 10 day itinerary from Washington State to San Diego, how many overnight stays can I have? 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. Both have way more to explore once you stop or pull off the road. Great question, Sharon! I had the chance to spend a weekend in Huntington Beach a few years ago and loved the vibe in this surf town. Required fields are marked *. Can you recommend where to spend time and in which cities to plan to spend the night? Hi Valerie, Great tips! The ocean is my happy place. I will be driving from Dallas to Seattle. After reading your blog we are excited to visit San Jose. Gavin Newsom and . Here are my suggestions: Therefore, the best month to drive the Pacific Coast Highway is September, when youre most likely to have great weather along the entire length of the road trip. I havent been to Monterey but its high on my list! Thanks! I was considering driving from San Jose with overnight stops at Mt Shasta or Lassen NP, Crater Lake, Portland, and Seattle (maybe a few nights in the cities). 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! If youve ever seen The Goonies, you know exactly what I mean. We were 70s teenagers all around! From there we are planning on 4 days drive/stop on high 1 (PCH) up to Santa Monica/Malibu then flight out LAX. Were staying just outside of Long Beach, in cute little Ilwaco, WA, at Salt Hotel & Pub. Seeing some nice beaches is also of interest. Pacific coast highway road trip with kids. For flights, I recently heard theres a flight from the Bay Area to Crescent City check out Contour Airlines (they come up when I google OAK > CEC). Stop 3: Monterey and its aquarium. We then took that to the end. 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! The coast near Crescent City is dotted with the gigantic rock formations out at sea that characterize most of the northern and central California coastline. In Washington, Oregon, and at the northern end of California, the Pacific Coast route follows US Highway 101. 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 . Hah, sounds like a good bonding experience, Angela! I lived for 15 years in Alaska, as well as four years each in California and Washington. Find and save ideas about pacific coast highway on Pinterest. I was a truck driver for 29 years and could not drive that road. 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. Congrats on finishing your Pacific Coast Highway road trip. Do you have any recommendations or modifications while traveling with kids. Thanks for your amazing feedback, and Im so glad to help! Youd need to drive about 7-10 hours out of the way depending on the bridge, and miss major stretches of the road . The best time of year to do this will be in the summer (June/July/August), probably sooner in the year rather than later. 2. Depending on the timing of your itinerary, you may want to do an overnight here. Related posts: Stop 1: San Francisco. Now my only problem is trying to figure out how many extra days were going to need! You can get a printable version by signing up on the forms in this post. Thank you in advance! Manny from Massachusetts. The Pacific Coast Highway is an ambitious road trip, but totally possible in as few as five days. This is a great itinerary! Will we be able to enjoy the drive in March? trees. 4 Baths. The Pacific Coast Highway is the ultimate road trip - and it's certainly the best one in America. Awesome suggestions and itinerary! I am starting from seattle 8/26 down to los angeles taking PCH. March is a fine time to drive the PCH the weather on the Pacific Coast is pretty similar all year long! We will only have 7 days. Thanks for your help in advance!!!! 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! This post was originally published in August 2014, and was updated regularly including most recently in May 2022. Sounds like it will be well worth it. How Long is it? Love all the comments ideas and suggestion, will try and make this trip happen in about 2-3 years . I make all of my must see recommendations in this post, so I recommend checking out the section on California to find the ones that sound interesting to you. To access the map on Roadtrippers, you just need to click the map! Thank you. I have looked up the different uses of the word and grammatically correct samples, and I believe you needed to use it in past-tense. 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. Pacific Coast Highway stops include big city vacation destinations like Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, and smaller places like Monterey. Extremely informative. Hi, and thanks for this terrific resource. Amazingly great article. 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! Now that Ive moved to this part of California, I know this is true. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south along U.S. 101 to Crescent City always stick to the coast! Pacific Coast Highway Attractions, those must-see sights along PCH, include Hearst Castle, Big Sur, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Golden Gate Bridge. Start in Seattle and end in San Diego. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south along U.S. 101. Would there be a place where the rental could be left in those regions? My wife and I were planning to fly to San Diego to start the trip, but your point about southbound visibility makes total sense. I am saving this to research more of the places you mentioned !! Ronald, I dont know for sure as I dont recommend people drive in an RV. Thanks so much, Lois and glad to help! $2,785,000. We will probably book Airbnb if cost effective. 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! The only places you can fly would be Crescent City but itll require changing through San Francisco anyway. Looking forward to follow your tips. Our plan (2 people) would be to fly into Seattle, where family is. Thank you again for all of your information. Stop 4: Bixby bridge. When I drove the PCH, I rented a car and drove it as a one-way rental (meaning I dropped it off in a different city than I picked it up). This sounds like a great adventure. OPEN SUN, 1PM TO 4PM. Though I have visited a few cities in California over the years, I (we) are looking forward to that California coastal drive. my best friends and I have talked about driving down from San Francisco to some of the Orange County, CA cities. The Pacific Coast Highway is arguably one of the most famous drives in the entire world. The Pacific Coast Highway runs along two highways: In Washington and Oregon, the best weather of the year happens between June and September. Also wondering if you can tell me where I could get a printable version of your article. 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. Making a Pacific Coast Highway road trip is a popular bucket list experiencefor good reason! Thanks again. Thanks so much for reading, Teresa! Youll have a great time! I dont feel we missed a lot of Oregon coast the views we seen before & after Crater lake were absolutely stunning. 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. Have a great trip!! (I used Roadtrippers Plus to create this route;you can get $5 off Plus byclicking this linkand using code BTR5QTP.). I love small beaches and in less popular destinations like this! One of the most famous sea stacks on the U.S. Pacific Coast, Haystack Rock is picture perfect while you stretch your legs. Have a safe trip!! I hope you have a great trip! I am planning a trip for next year, saving and researching. 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. What a great and comprehensive post! Again, thank you so much!! Thanks for your comment, Terri! The sweetest shade of blue. Thank you for great info This is exactly what I was looking for. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south along CA-1. Pacific Coast Highway Map, Direction & Start/End Points. If I wanted to follow your trip but stop off a day at Yosemite what might the drive look like? Im at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone! I havent stayed at any L.A. hotels, so I dont feel comfortable recommending any. Which Direction to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway? The 17-Mile Drive between Carmel, Pacific Grove, and Monterey Please drop the the. I wouldnt go all the way to Seattle, especially if you dont like big cities. Ive just started planning our trip for this autumn. But you missed it and it was so incredible. Any suggestions. Hi Valerie, Great job! I was curious about which one you suggest if you were to slim down this itinerary by 1 day (ex. Ive done Yosemite and Sequoia, so no need for inland stops. Its worth it! My favorite place is Mendocino if the skies are clear! Bonus- Rent A Car To Drive The Pacific Coast Highway. Still figuring it out. 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 . 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. Thank you so very much. We were thinking October, but after reading all the comments, I think we will make it September. Hi, I love Portland and San Francisco. We are planning to stay overnight at the Madonna Inn. Youre very welcome, and have a great road trip!! Hi Valerie. 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. Im nervous go excited. Sounds like youve got a great plan drive safe! Astoria, like Aberdeen in Washington, is a great destination for lovers of pop culture. Were using it to plan our itinerary for June/July this year, 3 weeks, Seattle to LA. Portland? We were planning on 10 days total for driving, site seeing and ending it with 2 days in Disneyland. Let me know how it goes! When in doubt, stay on the coast. Thoughts? ?? Kim. Thanks for sharing this! A one-week Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary will allow you to see the highlights without feeling rushed. Wonderful trip sharing you made. Three tips for the Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops Day 1: San Francisco to Santa Cruz Day 2: Santa Cruz to Carmel Day 3: Carmel to Big Sur Day 4: Big Sur to Paso Robles or Cambria Day 5: Paso Robles/Cambria to Santa Ynez Valley Day 6: Santa Ynez Valley to Los Angeles PCH Road Trip Planning Essentials Explore More of California Thanks for your comment, Erin! In smaller towns though, Id recommend committing to those earlier you may find you have nowhere to stay and have to drive on another 100+ miles at some parts! San Diego was the starting point of my Pacific Coast Highway road trip; for you, it may be the end. Although I live in San Francisco, Ive yet to visit several of these places on this list. Login or Register an account to download this content. Depending on whether you drive a Washington to California road trip or just drive portions in California, you can start/end your road trip at the various cities in this guide. 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. P.S. 3 days trip to Joshua Tree/stay at Twentynine Palms, then swing to San Diego. Southern California. Im going to publish a suggested 7-day PCH guide soon! How long is the Pacific Coast Highway? 3. 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! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south on U.S. Highway 101 along the Oregon Coast to Newport. We stay in San Diego on Pacific/Mission Beach a lot so no need to travel this far south for us. Life is made for the ocean. What do you think about making this drive in November? We are coming from Pennsylvania. Travelling from Australia and would like to spend 3 weeks driving around . We are planning to do Northboundfrom Ventura to Wine country but only have 5 days returning on the 5th day. I recommend researching/contacting each one individual to confirm theyll be open. Hello good morning my name is Cherie Carmona, Wealth to California a little over a year ago I love it I live in Dana Point California, my husband will be moving here in a few weeks and Im so excited my daughter lives in Seattle so we were considering a road trip to Seattle realistically how long do you think it would take thank you so much God-bless. I didnt spend a ton of time on the Central Coast, but be sure to stop at Pismo Beach and drive through Carmel. The Pacific Coast Highwayalso known as PCH or, more commonly, Highway 1runs north-south along most of the United States' West Coast. I drove one and I hardly ever got to enjoy it!.why were you hardly ever able to enjoy driving a convertible???? I am planning to take this trip with my family of 5 as you have lined out for the 10 days this coming June. Thank so much for putting together a wonderful and comprehensive itinerary of the PC scenic drive. Ft. 24615 Vista Cerritos, Calabasas, CA 91302 - $1182/sq ft larger lot 5 years newer View comparables on map Homeowner Tools Edit home facts Review property details and add renovations. We planned to start in Seattle and drive to San Diego. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head south from Ruby Beach along U.S. 101. I think its going to be a tough year fro travel! PCH bucket list road trip done! Located just off the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, this campsite is sandwiched between a gorgeous beach and a redwood forest. I was, for the most part, ambivalent about the cities along the PCH. Flew into Seattle and drove back. Thanks Teena. The Pacific Coast Highway is arguably one of the most famous drives in the entire world. You absolutely nailed it. I stopped here to eat a to-go lunch I had purchased earlier in the drive, with my toes in the sand. Best of all, theres no cell service so theyll have to look around to see them . 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? of the PCH? Enjoyed this 14 day article! We just did this trip in October 2019, We started in Portland to Cannons beach then headed south on HWY 101. Did you drive it alone and what do you think about being able to see well driving north to south?