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? This information is great!!! 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] Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south along CA-1. Hi there, I am thinking of taking a solo trip down the PCH from Long Beach, WA to LA? Great article! This is a great itinerary! You can choose the spots you want to stop at that way . Hood, Crater Lake, the Redwoods in much greater depth than I advise above you could also spend some time at Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, or elsewhere in the Sierra Nevadas! Donna, thanks for your comment! Id like to make a 10 day trip with a couple days in San Francisco and San Diego. How Long is it? Driving south on the right-hand side of the road, youll have a great view of the ocean and coastline. May 16, 2022 by Allison Green. Flew into Seattle and drove back. Youre very welcome, and have a great road trip!! It was also formed by wave erosion, and now the huge hole is a beautiful vista or hiking spot. Silvia, not to minimize risks but I think the issue is not being represented realistically by the media. After Crater lake we headed back to 238 towards HWY 101, we took an off road to hit the coast right at Brookings. Crescent City is the first city youll enter when driving southbound into California along the Pacific Coast Highway (or last if youre headed northbound). We are just wondering if you have an estimate on how much it would be to travel the PCH! Should be pretty good it might be a bit rainy up in the Pacific Northwest, but the weather once you reach California should be great! Anyway, we are looking to do the very same drive. Valerie, cant thank you enough for this guide! The ocean is my happy place. We just did this trip in October 2019, We started in Portland to Cannons beach then headed south on HWY 101. 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. Though I have visited a few cities in California over the years, I (we) are looking forward to that California coastal drive. Similar to Haystack Rock, your experience stopping at Devils Punchbowl will depend on the tides. The jagged coastline, infinite blue water, sunny days, gorgeous sunsets these are just a few of the reasons California Highway 1 became a popular route in the first place! The must-see sights definitely include places such as Hearst Castle and Big Sur. Fort Bragg is home to a beautiful glass beach, pictured above, where the entire beach is made of sea glass from past trash dumps. There and back that is? I drove one and I hardly ever got to enjoy it! But you missed it and it was so incredible. Start in Seattle and end in San Diego. 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. Top ways to experience Pacific Coast Highway See all Recommended Tours & Sightseeing Walking & Biking Tours Multi-day & Extended Tours Outdoor Activities Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive - Full Day Tour from San Francisco 310 Bus Tours from $105.00 per adult Monterey & Carmel Explorer 22 Full-day Tours from $105.00 I was wondering if you would recommend any wine tasting spots along the way? For the California portion, I recommend September & October! Is Pacific Coast Highway the same as Highway 1 or Highway 101? This sounds like a great adventure. I do not plan to do any shopping at stores, so our money would be spent on a rental vehicle, hotels, gas, and food. Enjoying the Unexpectedly Cool Pitchwood Ale House, All words and images 2013-2023 The Kolibro Group LLC. Have other questions about driving the Pacific Coast Highway? I can really tell that you love traveling, Valerie . Sorry about the delay, Scott. Stop and admire the views in Big Sur, too! taking my 13 and 17 year old with my wife. The Point Reyes Lighthouse is only open to visitors from Fridays to Mondays (weekends) from 10am-4:30pm. 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. 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! I plan to rent a car in Los Angeles in the summer and make a similar journey, Hello! These are just ten of the many places off Highway 1 that you'll want to experience. Seattle is perfect for anywhere between one day and three days if you have the time. Homes similar to 20132 Pacific Coast Hwy are listed between $350K to $70M at an average of $2,795 per square foot. 99. Also, I love your pictures! Thanks, Larissa! I loved the harbor and wharf, was surprised by the food scene, and lightly dabbled in the historical significance of Santa Barbara enough for me to want to return. Those little beaches overlooking the water below is freaking amazing. This is such a great resource. I hope you have a great trip! 1. Great content here, thank you! Is this time of year realistic for an enjoyable adventure, or should we maybe plan to go somewhere else? The speed limit ranges from 55mph to 25mph theres really no helpful way to give an average! 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. 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). Hoping to do this mid Sept 2020. I love all the details that you are recommended here. To answer your questions: 1. The rest of time will hopefully be in small towns all along the coast. You might have even stopped to take a picture of the sunset from a beautiful lookout along the Pacific Coast Highway and can caption it with, "Just say the word and we'll go back." Every. Theres a link to that at the end of the post. Just one small thing, its not the PCH, its just PCH. Have a great trip! Glad to help, Ashley! Were using it to plan our itinerary for June/July this year, 3 weeks, Seattle to LA. Were driving south-to-north. The weather should be okay but be prepared for coastal fog and chill (as you would experience pretty much all year long!). If you know which car you want, I recommend renting from Fox Rent-A-Car or Sixt. We only wish to go South as far as Salinas (more family) or Santa Barbara the furthest. Am interested in your upcoming 7 day itinerary of PCH. Solvang I hope you can see it for yourself someday too. I mapped it here so you can see the option to add in Crater Lake and what youll miss: https://goo.gl/maps/2A4GYTKnBcADVdRw5. Are you planning to stay in bigger cities (Portland, SF, Santa Barbara), or smaller ones? Route 1 is fine its twisty turny but its the best route by far. I dont remember providing that advice but off the top of my head, I wouldnt go bigger than a Tesla Model X (swoon! I would love to take this vacation but not fall short on money. 24 Best Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) Stops. Im not sure how to prioritize the rest of our time. ), a Jeep Liberty, or most Subarus. 1. This will be tricky as there are no rental cars in Crescent City or anywhere near it. Pacific coast highway road trip with kids. Camp at Second Beach in Olympic NP Photo: Michael Matti Your second choice is where to start your road trip. This is such a great article. My husband and I plan to do this trip in June. Yes, I do have San Francisco guides! There are a few restaurants in town and 17 miles of beautiful beach to explore. 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. Did you try searching my site using the search in the sidebar? Southern California. I hope you have an epic time; Patrees such an amazing host! One of the most famous sea stacks on the U.S. Pacific Coast, Haystack Rock is picture perfect while you stretch your legs. My wife and I (with our dog) are driving from Pismo Beach to Cannon Beach and staying at a beach house there. Thanks for your comment, Pam, but Im a little confused its a 10-day itinerary, so its a 9-night trip. Am planning to do a 10 day PCH drive in August. Its the best time for good weather on the whole coast! You will miss Seaside & Cannon Beach on this route, so your next stop will be Newport (#9). "I'm California dreamin'." The. San Jose is a creative and thriving high-tech culture epicenter. Id find an interesting podcast for everyone in the car and have the kids keep an eye out for whales and wildlife. Im glad it was helpful. 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. Booking this trip for late Oct. Id like to fly in ( from East Coast) somewhere north of San Fran. 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 reading, Jennifer. https://www.valisemag.com/pacific-coast-highway-guide/ https://www.valisemag.com/california-coast-road-trip/ Both include info on the area between San Diego and Santa Monica. I also downloaded the Roadtrippers app but I cant find it. 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! And thanks for confirming what I thought (hoped) that southbound is the best way to go. Youll get access to five major attractions at a discounted price, so you can experience more of what Seattle has to offer for less. That gives you a lot more to do each day to wear the kids out and much more suitable for an RV. But the hills inland will go even steeper! We then took that to the end. Nate, thanks for your comment. We are thinking of taking this drive during the week of Christmas. Valerie I just came across this post. (As of July 2018, the PCH reopened after a 2017 mudslide!). My husband and I are planning a Spring Break trip with our girls March 2020. Pacific Coast Highway (1982)(Datasoft)(US)PlatformAtari 8-bitReleased1982Published byDatasoft,. 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. This time I plan to take a friend and start in Portland. 2. To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to exploreNative Land. To help you plan your road trip, here are two possible road trip itineraries you could take. Thank you. The turn-out for Ruby Beach occurs right as the highway reaches the Pacific coast. Looking to fly into Crescent City Ive tried to locate flight from Oakland to Crescent City but havent been able to, do you have any info on this flight? From here on south, it's miles-upon-miles of beautiful sand beaches, palm-lined streets, and thriving coastal cities. Best trip ever! Weve daydreamed about a lot of different trips we would take one day, and a flight from the southeast US to Seattle and PCH drive to San Diego was one of them. I had a question regarding travel to California present time as in next week(August 14, 2021). ?? Thank you for sharing. I had lots of recommendations from a friend, specific to Big Sur, but your article was so encompassing and complete. I used to use Google Maps to do this, but I find that the numbered stops and waypoints are much easier to understand, and this Roadtrippers map also has other points of interest (Extraordinary Places) you might want to stop at too. Thanks for such a thorough rundown of what to do. Thanks for all of this great information! This sounds like a great trip the PCH + inland Oregon! 01 of 04 Im saving this post to reference when I think about doing this trip, because that has to happen! A couple of reasons: 1. You absolutely nailed it. Long Beach is and always will be one of my favorite destinations in Washington. The Pacific Coast Highway is arguably one of the most famous drives in the entire world. Raynard, when are you going? We are planning our trip for the first half of April, SF to LA. 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) Portland? Hi Valerie- What is the best time of year for this 10 day trip? Cant say enough how appreciative we are. My wife and I were planning to fly to San Diego to start the trip, but your point about southbound visibility makes total sense. We always wanted to do an RV trip, but maybe the PCH is not the one to do that on?? Thanks for reading, Lynda! I have suggestions on dates earlier in the article to help you figure out how long to do the trip and where to stop. Want to know more? You have the same recommendations? State Route 1. Thanks for your points. So doing our 101 bucket list too, but want a 2-3 days near Ocean Beach, CA. When it comes to vacation rental options. Best of all, theres no cell service so theyll have to look around to see them . Its a small detail, but totally uncalifornian to say the PCH. I cant even imagine how incredible it must have been to experience all this in person. Any suggestions. I appreciate your asking for clarification! This will be a great resource for the trip that we are planning. The longer you spend, the more youll get to see and enjoy. Have a safe trip!! Any thoughts are greatly appreciated: Day 1: San Francisco (Arrive late in the evening) Day 2: San Francisco Day 3: Santa Cruz Day 4: Carmel-By-The-Sea Day 5: Big Sur Day 6: San Luis Obispo Day 7: Santa Barbara Day 8: Los Angeles Day 9: San Diego (leave early in the morning). November should be a good time, but you may experience some days where the Marine Layer rolls in be sure to pack layers in case its cooler/less sunny than expected! Carry on the fantastic work!|. The most easily accessible and breathtakingly stark part of the PCH is a short drive (about 3 hours) sound of San Francisco, so many people in the Bay Area do it as an overnight or weekend trip. 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. I do not care to get into the Los Angeles areaHowever, the Sequoias are a must. 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. There are plenty of things to do in Long Beach for more than an overnight stop! Related posts: Stop 1: San Francisco. If you make it out this way, let me know, as Im now in the Bay Area! Whether you stop to take a few Instagram-worthy spots or ogle the animals, theres plenty of experiences to choose from in San Diego. Thanks for sharing this! (If you decide to fly to SF, heres a recent post I wrote: https://www.valisemag.com/california-coast-road-trip/). In particular, plan a long foray out to Point Reyes State Park and Lighthouse. Hah, sounds like a good bonding experience, Angela! Im assuiming youve read the whole post, as I do cover a 7-day suggested itinerary, and cover overnight stops along the Oregon coast. Sorry; I dont have any suggestions for that! Our plan (2 people) would be to fly into Seattle, where family is. Explore the route. I love all the details and recommendations! We can skip Napa and SF. Start here. Sounds like youre well on the way to it . Can you recommend where to spend time and in which cities to plan to spend the night? The Pacific Coast Highway is an ambitious road trip, but totally possible in as few as five days. 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. Lot of driving in 10 days, but I am excited. One of the requests I get asked for is a Pacific Coast Highway map with all of the stops I suggest, so I used Roadtrippers to put together this one. 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