Enjoy your trip! If you are short on time to drive the PCH, as I was, a Pacific Coast highway itinerary for 5 days is ideal. Luckily I thought to check if they had a Facebook page. Hi Dee, Sorry Im just getting around to approving article comments. What are must see spots. That includes missing the Devils Punchbowl and Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area in the southern part of the state; you would however get to drive through Oregons Redwoods on your way from Crater Lake to Crescent City. We planned to start in Seattle and drive to San Diego. Regarding I recommend an automatic car with a low center of gravity but skip the convertible! District: 05 - Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties. This information is great!!! I would love to take this vacation but not fall short on money. 1 and seeing Big Sur. 5 Day Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary: Big Sur and beyond! - Dotted Globe These are some of the places people talk about on Trippy: Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions Its really a cool and helpful piece of information. Thus I did not expect the AAAAAAA experience of having the sheer cliff dropoff to the ocean on the left and the mountains on the right. I can really tell that you love traveling, Valerie . I am planning a trip for next year, saving and researching. To book online and more information visit the website: www.hearstcastle.org. Port Angeles is the place for that one-night stop. That said, this part of California can be a year-round destination. Feel free to email me via my contact page and Subscribe to receive more Driving Time from San Jose, CA to Los Angeles, CA - Travelmath Plan on a minimum of 3 days and 2 nights. Whether you're heading south from San Francisco to Los Angeles or north from Los Angeles to San Francisco, the most beautiful route available is Highway 1 (also known as the Pacific Coast Highway). The . Known as one of the most scenic drives in the country, the PCHalso called Highway 1runs next to the ocean's crashing waves, from Leggett in Mendocino County all the way down to Dana Point in Orange County. Note: Due to heavy rainfall in California in January 2023, California Highway 1 is closed around Ragged Point; this means you will not be able to do a complete route down the Pacific Coast and will instead divert inland from Monterey to San Simeon (southbound). Its less than 10 minutes drive from Newport to Devils Punch Bowl. I did drive it alone and I still recommend heading southbound. 2. Go in the offseason. I dont know if there is a foggy time of the year but thats the only time Id really not want to go. 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). Thanks Valerie. As a writer and blogger I focus on writing what I love and hope that others will too. 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 am heading to Napa now and want to do the northern shore (1 North) is it as good as this one? Theres a nice public parking area near a lake that overlooks the Washington State Capital building. When you hit the California coast, its like driving in a postcard. Longer days give you plenty of time to see and do all the brilliant things this city has to offer, though be prepared for heavy air, busy crowds and expensive hotels. There is one possible drawback to the winter season winter is the rainy season. Do you have any tips? Weve got to head back there soon! We are thinking perhaps we should postpone the trip and go on september or novemeber, would it be better? They all offer budget rentals, run regular deals and specials, and have one-way rental options. I hope you can see it for yourself someday too. Your email address will not be published. Want to know more? The Ultimate Guide To Pacific Coast Highway Thanks for reading, Jan. Ending at a beach front hotel in Diego for 2-3 days to visit that college, unwind and settle a little bit before leaving. We have three days for this trip and are wondering where we should stop to stay the night for the 2 nights that we have? San Francisco to Los Angeles via Highway 101 - A Beautiful Drive I wouldnt advise doing this one in an RV, to be honest. Keep reading for the reasons why I recommend starting your Big Sur road trip from the north side in Carmel. I am going to mostly follow the path you outlined in your 10 day itinerary. Im pretty confident theyll be wowed by these sights. Nate, thanks for your comment. Oregon & California are both pretty vegan friendly states so Id expect lots of restaurants have at least an option thats animal-free. Nothing like it anywhere! Stargazing along the PCH depends a lot on the weather; since there arent a lot of roads that connect the PCH inland, you kinda have to make do with what happens out on the coast. You can definitely do that! One of the most famous sea stacks on the U.S. Pacific Coast, Haystack Rock is picture perfect while you stretch your legs. Thank you in advance! We are just looking to site sea on our way back home from Disneyland I was looking at Hearst Castle and the Elephant Seal Vista Point but dont see much reviews on them with kids. Got to save some $$$$$. Heres a great article from USA Today about whale watching on the California coast. This Coastal Route spans a distance of 400 miles but will take slightly longer, with a drive time of 8 hours and 30 minutes. Thanks so much for this comprehensive look at the PCH. Love all the comments ideas and suggestion, will try and make this trip happen in about 2-3 years . (27 answers), Maxime from Los Angeles asked:What's your favorite burger in L.A? Malissa, you know for sure, that till now you the USA-border are closed for Europeans. We are planning a trip in Sept 0f 2022, starting in Portland, ending in San Diego. Have a great drive! Briefly, here are some of the other must-see attractions in Seattle: If you want to spend a few days in Seattle, consider purchasing the Seattle CityPass. Here are some more hotels people talk about: Want to research more popular hotels in Los Angeles? Travelling from Spain where I live now. I have suggestions on dates earlier in the article to help you figure out how long to do the trip and where to stop. San Diego isnt a must but would love to see it. Now, back when E-Systems sent me to Stanford to attend an AI seminar for two weeks, I drove *south* from Palo Alto to the Monterey peninsula on Hwy 1, and it was beautiful. Many thanks, alex, Alex, unfortunately, this might not be the trip for you. It ends in San Jose, California. Winding its way along nearly 650 miles (1,040 km) of California coastline, Highway 1 is one of the world's greatest road trips. At this point you should take the exit to CA-1; this is now the Pacific Coast Highway. [] fresh food, and great museums. That gives you a lot more to do each day to wear the kids out and much more suitable for an RV. How many beaches, state parks, and national parks did you visit along your trip? The trip takes about five hours if driven at a leisurely pace. Any suggestions. Want to take the ultimate California road trip? Youll have a great time! The huge sweeping beach is admittedly not warm enough for a swim but its great for a stroll in the surf. Great weather almost 365 days a year, a laid-back attitude, and scenery that has inspired romantics, creatives, explorers, and adventurers for centuries any time of year is a great time to take the Ultimate California Road Trip. This is great information and very helpful! 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. Valerie I just came across this post. Great question So Crater Lake is pretty far inland. We are planning on a 7 days trip in Dec 2021. Well stop for happy hour and watch the surfers ride the waves. Just wondering about restrictions? Also, I will have 3 weeks to do this, I like small towns, Vegan food, and too out of shape for extended hikes. Theres a link to that at the end of the post. You can find the Cobain house at 1210 E 1st St, and right next door you can see a memorial to Cobain in Kurt Cobain Memorial Park (the house now a private residence, so dont disturb the owners!). Both have way more to explore once you stop or pull off the road. We were planning on a 7day road trip with our 8, 6 and 20 month olds in June. We want a mix of National/State Parks, cities, and coasts. I am saving this to research more of the places you mentioned !! Im glad it was helpful. Thinking approximately 250 miles a day. [] about five hours north of Los Angeles and two hours south of San Francisco on Californias Central Coast,the sublime scenery attracts artists, photographers, tourists, and locals, all of whom come for [], [] January, I packed the car and headed north to discover Californias Central Coast and drive iconic Highway 1 from Los Angeles to Monterey County, staying in Cambria, Big Sur, and [], [] boomers road-tripping in the Golden State, Penny Sadler offers Top Tips for Driving Highway 1: Ultimate California Road 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. Should we go down the coast only (plus say Portland & Crater Lk), or head inland given how much time we have? Taking your advice, flying into Seattle (from KC), and heading south. When driving the PCH south from Portland, how much of a detour would it be to see Crater Lake on the way? This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Im actually working on some new content for southern California. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); @2023 - Adventures of a Carry-On. I was wondering if you would recommend any wine tasting spots along the way? Thanks for reading and asking, Hunter! The falls used to drop into the ocean but due to a landslide several years ago now drop on the sandy cove. Love it. useful content like this, About twenty miles north of San Luis Obispo is San Simeon and Hearst Castle. The restaurant and surrounding land have been in the family for over 50 years. skip Santa Cruz, skip San Francisco Day 2 and just hit the highway) OR if you had a suggestion on swapping out one of the spots with a different one (ex. I think its going to be a tough year fro travel! I strongly recommend making reservations in advance, and also please be aware that hotels and other accommodation are not currently allowed to accept leisure travelers during the current mandates. We always wanted to do an RV trip, but maybe the PCH is not the one to do that on?? I hoped to get a look at some of the rooms but they were all booked. These animals are actually quite ugly, but interesting to watch. Unfortunately when I visited in August it was quite misty and the views werent as clear. I would like to travel highway #1 in July this year from San Francisco to LA. If youre considering a drive down (or up) the western coast of the U.S., look no further. Drive Time from San Francisco to Los Angeles: approximately 10 hours. Am interested in your upcoming 7 day itinerary of PCH. We are traveling this fall from Santa Barbara down to Newport Beach and would like to use your guide again. On your stop here, be sure to walk out along the pier and keep an eye out for surfers working the breaks along the beach. But you missed it and it was so incredible. So looking forward to the drive down the PCH isnt fully booked yet as trying to cram so much in. Read this trip report for ideas, Road trip ideas from Memphis down thru MS to New Orleans. I have one question where is the best place to fly into? 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. 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! Thank you for the pointers! Very glad to help, and I hope you have a great trip! A frequent Cali traveler warned me of smog in the late summer and recommended late Sept. early Oct. What are your thoughts? Fort Bragg is home to a beautiful glass beach, pictured above, where the entire beach is made of sea glass from past trash dumps. 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? March is a fine time to drive the PCH the weather on the Pacific Coast is pretty similar all year long! Make sure you have a great camera with you, and that you have a fully charged battery and plenty of memory on the card. Bakersfield (23 answers) Its definitely one of those places where renting a car makes full sense. A personal side note: I left a ring in the bathroom at the lighthouse and didnt realize it until I was back in my room several hours later. From there you can drive to Morro Bay and Cayuga, a beautiful stretch of highway. Thinking of maybe making this where we would b me somewhere different for 4th of July. Also wondering if you can tell me where I could get a printable version of your article. . Ive only done a few of the side trips elephant seals and the Monterey Aquarium and for the beauty alone its a drive worth repeating. This stylish hotel boasts comfortable rooms and an onsite restaurant, The Highway 99 Cafe, which doubles as an entertainment center with a billiards table and karaoke. to double check the weather. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 1:55 pmdrive for about 1 hour, 2:56 pm Mendota (California) Thanks for your comment, Shelly! I will be driving from Los Angeles to Monterey Bay so he can see the most beautiful aquarium and walk the beach, see Cannery Row. Thanks for your comment, Patty! I will be driving alone and he thought I would be able to enjoy the view better looking to my left than to my right while driving. Just a short drive from Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood, you'll be able to explore much of the city before parking your car back at the hotel's onsite parking and relaxing for the night in its modern, stylish and comfortable rooms, while dreaming and breathing of Hollywood. Its really up to you to decide where you want to end and figure out the closest rental car/airport option from there, but there are airports of all sizes throughout the region. Anyway, we are looking to do the very same drive. Heisler Park: Heisler Park is a beautiful oceanfront park with stunning coastal views, paved pedestrian paths, benches, and gardens. You probably wont have any snow its usually just rain in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon & Washington). The black-and-orange butterflies spend much of the fall and winter in the local Monterey Pine trees, roughly from Halloween until Valentines Day. Valerie, First off, congratulations on your recent wedding! Theres plenty of room for passengers if you dont fancy traveling solo. Also, its not exactly the most stimulating view its a bit better for older kids than younger ones. My question is, when is the best time of year to do this trip? We plan on doing the 7 day trip June/July. Sorry, but theres no way to do the drive to Seattle and back along the PCH in just 7 days. Penny, check out The Sandpiper w/Liz Taylor and Richard Burton for another Big Sur-locale film. 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. Now Im going to lay out step-by-step directions for a Pacific Coast Highway road trip based on all my tips so far. We have 4 days in San Francisco booked (Tues to Sat) then pick up hire car and move to Vallejo (six flags) for 2 days(Sat and Sun). Sort of a round trip Oregon adventure. I know there is a closure halfway around Big Sur area which is unfortunate but heard there is a detour so I can still . Also, niece is vegan and I am meat eater. I now will have to watch a Summer Place. Bay Area to LA | Chevy Bolt EV Forum Best wishes to you, [] Cambria, about 60 miles, youll come to the coastal area known as Big Sur this is the ultimate Highway 1 experience. Is this time of year realistic for an enjoyable adventure, or should we maybe plan to go somewhere else? There are so many wonderful places to visit along the way Hearst is definitely a must. maybe to get a car, which adds about 6 hours of driving time. 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. I recently discovered Mendocino on a weekend trip and fell in love with the small town. Do the drive during the day when you can be properly terrified! You could visit Santa Barbara and The Getty Villa (Malibu). I appreciate all the information! 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. Wow that is really interesting. Los Angeles to San Jose drive - plan a road trip Thanks so much. Thank you for sharing all this info of this wonderfull place! Heading southeast, drive through Cachuma Lake Recreation Area. Im sure you will love it. Either way, I will never forget the lighthouse. Scenic Drive: Your Highway 1 Road Trip - Highway 1 Road Trip What sets us apart? 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. I had a question regarding travel to California present time as in next week(August 14, 2021). . Thanks for reading, Sonia. We left LA around sunset. 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! Highlights include Santa Cruz, Malibu, Santa Monica, Fresno and Los Banos, plus Ventura, Big Sur, Pismo Beach, Monterey, Sequoia National Forests and Yosemite National Park.