I dont remember providing that advice but off the top of my head, I wouldnt go bigger than a Tesla Model X (swoon! 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. Sorry about the delay, Scott. Thanks so much for any tips you can suggest on having adequate funds! 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 Thanks for your comment, Shelly! Is this doable in 7 days, with stops during the day and to spend the night? Technically, Seattle is not on the Pacific Coast Highway, but you can fly into Seattle and drive one hour south to Olympia to start your PCH road trip. I started this site to share my travel stories and inspiration to help you complete bucket list trips. We planned to start in Seattle and drive to San Diego. Any additional thoughts? Many thanks, alex, Alex, unfortunately, this might not be the trip for you. This post was so helpful! Thanks for reading, Dave. Day 3: Bodega Bay to Point Arena (62 miles) The highway continues north, skimming the Pacific Ocean for the entire length of today's journey, with several diversions along the way. But there's something extra special about driving the Pacific Coast Highway as it approaches its southern end. Pacific Coast, region, western North America, possessing two unifying geologic and geographic propertiesthe Pacific Ocean, which constitutes a natural western border, and the coastal mountain ranges that form the eastern border of the region. Kim. The best time of year to do this will be in the summer (June/July/August), probably sooner in the year rather than later. For the California portion, I recommend September & October! We figured booking hotel in Seattle for 1 or 2 days for arrival and checking the college. But my priority for this trip is just going straight down the PCH so that should help me prioritize. Your second choice is where to start your road trip. Thank you so much for sharing this informative article with all of us. Angie, thanks so much for your comment! Flew into Seattle and drove back. Thank you for sharing. So we used really about a day off the coast but well worth it. Making a Pacific Coast Highway road trip is a popular bucket list experiencefor good reason! I do not care to get into the Los Angeles areaHowever, the Sequoias are a must. Click on the image to learn more about the stop. Can you share with me how long this should take us?? The most commonly driven part of the . 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! The Pacific Coast Highway is up there with the most beautiful drives in the world. Extremely informative. 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? This is such a great article. The reason I recommend doing your Pacific Coast Highway road trip north to south is that youll be on the coastal side of the road. Thanks for reading, Brian. Thanks for reading, Tony! Youve got so much time, thats awesome! Id recommend booking or at least searching every hotel you want to stay at, and the nights you want to stay, so you can get a sense of exactly how much its going to cost. I hope you have an amazing time! Victoria Beach. I mapped it here so you can see the option to add in Crater Lake and what youll miss: https://goo.gl/maps/2A4GYTKnBcADVdRw5. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: If you are on a shorter Pacific Coast Highway road trip, continue south along I-5 to Grants Pass, then turn southwest to Crescent City (#11).If you are taking a longer PCH drive, turn west out of Portland along Oregon Highways 99W and 18 to connect with U.S. 101 near Lincoln City. One of the longest state routes in California (after Interstate 5 and U.S. 101), California 1 sees some of the most . Or, do you think one could just take a chance and stop and book a room when in need??? What time of year would be best to do this. So it adds about 3 hours of driving time, but it also means youll miss out on basically all of the Oregon Coast. Great name btw . To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to exploreNative Land. Also, niece is vegan and I am meat eater. We just did this trip in October 2019, We started in Portland to Cannons beach then headed south on HWY 101. Just wondering about restrictions? 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). 1 question: weve booked hotels at both end (Seattle and LA) and would prefer not to book hotels until were on route and know how far were along and how long we want to stop in each place. 9. Would you recommend the 7 day to get 2-3 days in Diego? I would definitely do some research on inland options Im not as familiar with whats inland though. Thanks for your comment . 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) Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south along U.S. 101. Maybe Im AAAA ? First thank you for all the work you put into this! Ive never been to CA and I know the prices are high. For accommodation, try a small hotel like the. I recommend researching/contacting each one individual to confirm theyll be open. Any thoughts on this as it pertains to weather? Anyway, we are looking to do the very same drive. Seeing some nice beaches is also of interest. I do not plan to do any shopping at stores, so our money would be spent on a rental vehicle, hotels, gas, and food. What would be a good hopping on point? I love to do a Pacific Coast Highway drive at some point in my life. #addittothelist. The only places you can fly would be Crescent City but itll require changing through San Francisco anyway. This is great information and very helpful! But all of those are just ways to say "The 1.". Start in Seattle and end in San Diego. Is this going to be a big disappointment? I am traveling with my husband, brother and our 4 year old. A few years ago I started saving (unbeknownst to my husband) for his 50th birthday this summer. In a few weeks, we intend to start a 10-ish day loop from San Jose, drive up on the inland route to Seattle, and do a southbound coastal drive. 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. Thanks for your feedback, Alice, but I lived in California for several years and never heard anyone say Im going to drive PCH Ill be keeping the the if only because its proper English if Californians want to abandon that elsewhere, thats up to them . 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. Thanks Teena. This guide is great, do you have a Google map itinerary to download with the stops? Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Follow California Highway 1 south. Valerie, cant thank you enough for this guide! After reading your blog we are excited to visit San Jose. , Hi. What are must see spots. You should have no problem finding vegan options! to San Diego, CA. trees. Just give yourself more time and end n LA. Got to save some $$$$$. Santa Cruz. Thanks for such a thorough rundown of what to do. Thanks for your comment, Archimedes. Thank you, and your blog is fantastic! Okay, now youve got your car, youve got your basic itinerary. We are planning to spend Thanksgiving in San Diego. Amazing, Melanii! This was a 6 day trip. I love Portland and San Diego. The best way to enjoy southern California is by diving straight into the beachside culture. Credit: Bigstock.com Im also a not-so-secret space nerd and speak fluent emoji! I didnt spend a ton of time on the Central Coast, but be sure to stop at Pismo Beach and drive through Carmel. I hope you have a great trip! I dont plan to change any of my travel plans based on the Coronavirus unless there are required quarantines. Eileen, thanks for your comment, and for reading! Especially watching the sun set over Morro Rock in the distance! Do you have any recommendations or modifications while traveling with kids. Also how many days driving for this 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. Sort of a round trip Oregon adventure. Have a great trip! Thanks for reading, Oleg. 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. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Best rates and airports to use. Youre very welcome, Wilbert! 8. Great article. 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. If I am going to follow your 10 day itinerary from Washington State to San Diego, how many overnight stays can I have? Love it. Making the drive in 2 days. It was also formed by wave erosion, and now the huge hole is a beautiful vista or hiking spot. I hope you can make it happen sooner! I had saved this resource to help me plan. Doing this trip starting this weekend! Pacific coast highway road trip with kids. Hi Valerie, we are planning a trip from Crescent city back home to Phoenix traveling along PCH. If you know which car you want, I recommend renting from Fox Rent-A-Car or Sixt. Hope to rent a car there? 2. I can't stop looking at that ocean. 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. Thanks! I would rather guess on the high side than the low side so Im prepared. 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. Sorry; I dont have any suggestions for that! 3. Fort Bragg is home to a beautiful glass beach, pictured above, where the entire beach is made of sea glass from past trash dumps. Ime hoping the trip will run about $10k. Glad to help, Bethany! 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. Were on day 2 of our 8-day PCH Tour.and its great to have your help! I am going to mostly follow the path you outlined in your 10 day itinerary. Youd need to fly into. 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. Along the way we plan to stop at the Benbow Inn near Garberville, CA and in Newport. of the PCH? Thank you. Am planning to do a 10 day PCH drive in August. 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. Seaside is a picturesque coastal town, a western interpretation of the East Coast summer destinations along the Atlantic. Your help is appreciated. You live in SF! I want to fly out to the NW and drive to Crescent city, then go inland to see the redwoods, Bend, and Mt. Scott, I replied to your email, so you should be all set! Youll get access to five major attractions at a discounted price, so you can experience more of what Seattle has to offer for less. Pacific Coast Highway stops include big city vacation destinations like Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, and smaller places like Monterey. Homes similar to 20132 Pacific Coast Hwy are listed between $350K to $70M at an average of $2,795 per square foot. You thinks thats safe or should I make some. I agree, go north to south. Id like to include Olympic NP, Mt. Stretching from Washington to California, the Pacific Coast is picturesque, with cliffs, sea stacks, gorgeous urban spaces, and the raging ocean. If I can make a recommendation? Thank you for the comprehensive narrative! The ideia is to have a West Coast Beer Route drive. I love that the Pacific coast has those little hideaways! The majority of this California road trip will take place on Highway 1, AKA the Pacific Coast Highway, AKA the PCH, AKA Cabrillo Highway, AKA Shoreline Highway, AKA The Prettiest Highway in the World. As we will be married 40 years! Would be every much appriciate if you can provide tips and recomendattions where to stop, what to see/do and eat the drive on high 1 from San Diego to Santa Monica. Would you have any other suggestions since I am using 4 more days and not going south to Sa Diego and strarting in Vancouver? And thanks for confirming what I thought (hoped) that southbound is the best way to go. With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands. Our plan (2 people) would be to fly into Seattle, where family is. 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 !! 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. Pismo State Beach is another great stop during a day of driving from San Francisco to Santa Barbara (or reverse). Cant say enough how appreciative we are. Hi Valerie, Great job! What a great and comprehensive post! . Were staying just outside of Long Beach, in cute little Ilwaco, WA, at Salt Hotel & Pub. I am saving this to research more of the places you mentioned !! Yes, I do have San Francisco guides! Super excited. 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? Gavin Newsom and . I will definitely use all the info youve provided. I love small beaches and in less popular destinations like this! You can even stretch it out by spending a few extra days exploring some of the cities along the route if you want to. Both have way more to explore once you stop or pull off the road. Southern California has great weather year-round. I stopped here to eat a to-go lunch I had purchased earlier in the drive, with my toes in the sand. I am planning a road-trip with my husband along the Pacific coast. 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). I love all the details and recommendations! What a drive! As the title suggests, this music would make the perfect soundtrack for a drive up the California coast. Hi, I love Portland and San Francisco. These Pacific Coast Highway road trip stops really seem like true country California. (As of July 2018, the PCH reopened after a 2017 mudslide!). Did you try searching my site using the search in the sidebar? But, we need to go the opposite way; starting in San Diego and heading north. Also, we were thinking with the additional days to do a detour over to Yosemite. Stop 2: Santa Cruz and its boardwalk. Pinterest. Youre all set to start filling in the gaps! It sounds like youll have a great trip no matter what! Ann, thanks so much for your comment. Sep 26, 2017. ai traffic expansion highway 1 layout mod pacific coast pch. from Seattle to San Diego along this route . From there we are planning on 4 days drive/stop on high 1 (PCH) up to Santa Monica/Malibu then flight out LAX. 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. How do I do it? Thank you for the pointers! 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! 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. Most head to the Hollywood area and its movie-related attractions. We live in Colorado, so more interested in Ocean more than hiking, so 101 is ideal. Aberdeen has one main claim to fame: it was the hometown of Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain. I hope you can make this trip someday (hopefully soon!). Thank you! I travelled alone from San Francisco to LA while on a work trip years ago and havent stopped thinking about getting my husband out there. I am planning to start my road trip in Vancouver BC and ending in San Francisco. Learn more. Thank you again. Our partners offer one-way rentals from multiple locations in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Thank you. 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. I love road trips & he tolerates them so I am looking forward to all these sights to see! In particular, plan a long foray out to Point Reyes State Park and Lighthouse. San Luis Obispo with Paso Robles). If I were youI would do a leisurely drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles/San Diego. 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 Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. How Long is it? The redwoods are a definite. If you're starting your PCH drive from Seattle . Thanks for reading, Jennifer. What you suggested (Anaheim > SLO/Madonna Inn > Half Moon Bay) is a great two-day itinerary. Im definitely going to try to do it sometime! Thanks for reading, Lauren! Basically, you cant start/end in Crescent City if you want to rent a car. Feel free to comment back here if you have questions while planning your trip . 1-2 days in Portland to visit college and check out Portland. Great article! 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. 5 Beds. (Hours and dates for the attractions on the Seattle CityPass have been affected by the pandemic, so be sure to check those when you purchase!). Glad to help, Andrew I hope you have an amazing trip! We are so overwhelmed. Can you please give me a list of must sees in Santa Barbara (we could have two full days there). Start with a stop for fresh pastries at Caf Aquatica in the tiny town of Jenner (population: less than 200), 11 miles from Bodega Bay. 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. There are a few restaurants in town and 17 miles of beautiful beach to explore. Thank you for sharing your travels and still helping others along their journey! After making the trip myself in 2014 and exploring the PCH extensively while living in Washington and California, Ive put together this comprehensive guide to the great stops, breathtaking sights, and sense of unbelievable freedom you can find if you drive the Pacific Coast Highway. Thanks for your comment, Terri! I am currently planning a road trip from Phoenix to Vancouver, WA to visit family and weve decided to come back home via the PCH. Officially, only the short, sun-loving stretch of Hwy 1 through Orange and Los Angeles Counties can legally call itself Pacific Coast Highway. I was a truck driver for 29 years and could not drive that road. Thanks again! Sounds like a great trip, Rudy! My husband and I plan to do this trip in June. This will be a great resource for the trip that we are planning. Rainier, plenty of coastlines, and Redwoods. I was born on the East Coast and currently live in the Midwest but my heart will always be out West. I didnt want to make all my reservations, but just go with it for one time in my life. Very nicely done thanks ever so much !! Were driving south-to-north. Explore the route. The Pacific Coast Highway traces the coast as closely as possible around the edge of Los Angeles, America's second largest city. Or. Weve spent time in SF already so dont need to stay there. We might consider staying a total of 12-15 days. Is Pacific Coast Highway the same as Highway 1 or Highway 101? I enjoyed it so much that I wrote a whole article about the experiences I recommend in Santa Barbara! 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. Hello, my name is Sonia and I am from Puerto Rico. But the hills inland will go even steeper! We fly out of LA. I have 22 foot van camper are their any length height(9.5 ft) restrictions I am hoping their are amp sites along the way? We are thinking of late September of 2022 doing a two week drive from north to south. Read more in my Privacy Policy. I hope this helps! I dont think you can do Yosemite in a day its a four hour drive from the coast to Yosemite (one-way) and youll probably want a full day in the park at minimum. The longer you spend, the more youll get to see and enjoy. Please keep doing what youre doing. Aretta, thanks for your comment! Snaking all the way up the U.S.'s west coast, the Pacific Coast Highway stretches 1,675 miles from California to Washington, starting in San Diego, CA and ending in Olympia, WA (or vice versa). I have been to Europe, for 2 years, and nothing compares to this coastal trip. I havent stayed at any L.A. hotels, so I dont feel comfortable recommending any. I am doing this trip with the boyfriend end of this month. Thank you for the article. I appreciate all the information! Thank you . Let me know in the comments! Where would you start and end if it is reasonable to go in December, and what might we expect weather wise? Crescent City! Stay safe. Thanks for sharing. taking my 13 and 17 year old with my wife. Thanks again for this excellent resource. 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! LA's vast size may seem daunting, but if you plan what you want to see and do, it can be a really rewarding place to visit. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Follow CA-1 south out of L.A. to avoid the citys notorious traffic as you make your way along the coast. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: If you are doing a quick Pacific Coast Highway road trip, head south from Olympia along I-5 to Portland. There and back that is? Unfortunately, you cant climb the lighthouse steps as it has been closed for restoration since 2001. Hood. 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. Drive safely! 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. Great content here, thank you! While the glass is technically part of MacKerricher State Park and you cant take it home you can still spend time out of the car searching for different colors and shapes of beautiful sea glass that wash up from the Pacific Ocean. So the verb lament is correct in the present tense, and the tense of recommend earlier in the paragraph. We are thinking of taking this drive during the week of Christmas. Wondering about forest fires and how they affect the trip. There are loads of cool things to explore in/around this small PNW town, including Olympic National Park! The PCH is on my bucket list since my daughter did it with Teens Westward Bound over 10 years ago. We are from FL and east coast and know very little about west coast, so this is great!! You should have no problem making it down the road in December. The West Coast especially is fantastic. Hi V& VDid you make hotel reservations in advance for your overnight stops? Which Direction to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway? 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. Now I want to take a trip there from San Diego to the Canadian border while sitting on a Honda Goldwing trike. If you want to spend part of one day during your Pacific Coast Highway road trip beachcombing or hiking, Big Sur is the place to do it. September and October are definitely best for visiting NorCal, so I recommend that time of year too! Thanks for reading, Heather! Ronald, I dont know for sure as I dont recommend people drive in an RV. Required fields are marked *. I was wondering if you could suggest a place for stargazing. What do you think about making this drive in November? 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. The Pacific Coast Highway runs along two highways: In Washington and Oregon, the best weather of the year happens between June and September. Crescent City is a great spot for an overnight stop (or longer) depending on your itinerary. Starting at San Francisco ending San Diego. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head west along U.S. 101 until it turns south along the west coast of the Olympic Peninsula. This information is great!!! maybe to get a car, which adds about 6 hours of driving time. 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. Victoria Beach has the famous pirates tower of Laguna Beach, which is was built to allow the resident down from their home to beach below. We can only do a quick trip. Also, its not exactly the most stimulating view its a bit better for older kids than younger ones. Would there be a place where the rental could be left in those regions? So I am very, very thankful to have found THIS resource!! From Bixby Creek Bridge to Mcway Falls to the sea lions of San Simeon, there are so many epic places to see and photos to snap in Big Sur along the Pacific Coast Highway that you'll find yourself exhausting your camera battery and filling up your. I am thinking 5 days from Portland to LA. Also, for a map, I use the app Roadtrippers, which is linked in the post. Crater lake was amazing!! Are you hoping to do a one-way rental car for your PCH drive? We are from Ohio. Thanks, CJ! South of Seaside, be sure to stop in Cannon Beach to admire Haystack Rock. What type of car would you rent for 4 of us? Do you highly recommend the LONG route OR is thru Mendocino only enough? From the perspective of California Highway 1, it might seem like just a few buildings alongside the road. Dont be in a hurry and be cautious so you can enjoy everything. 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.

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