From there we are planning on 4 days drive/stop on high 1 (PCH) up to Santa Monica/Malibu then flight out LAX. Have a great trip and drive safely! Seattle is perfect for anywhere between one day and three days if you have the time. 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). The longer you spend, the more youll get to see and enjoy. Pacific Coast Highway or PCH, segments of California State Route 1 Pacific Coast Highway, parts of New Zealand State Highway 2 and all of New Zealand State Highway 25 and New Zealand State Highway 35. I had the chance to spend a weekend in Huntington Beach a few years ago and loved the vibe in this surf town. My problem is going to be deciding what not to do because Ill only have so much time (and money). Even an email answer is fine!! 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. Im driving with our 5 kids (ages 1 -13) and my wife. You thinks thats safe or should I make some. And other than his military time at Ft Lewis many years ago, we have never lived nor toured the west coast at all. The redwoods are a definite. Download Pacific Coast Highway stock photos. Awesome, Tim! Amazon.com: pacific coast highway map There are a number of epic hiking trails in the area, ranging from a 0.5-mile loop to 16-mile out-and-back trails. Stop 4: Bixby bridge. 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. If youve just stayed overnight in Santa Barbara or started your road trip in San Diego, that may not make as much sense. 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. Do you have a version that is just typed up not with pictures? As this post is over 6,000 words long, I typically dont provide extra additional itinerary services for free. Bonus- Rent A Car To Drive The Pacific Coast Highway. Thanks for your comment, Shelly! Pacific Coast Highway - Tripadvisor Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary: Day 3 Take in the majestic sights of the Central Coast while cruising across the famous Bixby Bridge in Big Sur. I am planning for this roadtrip this December- starting from Dec 25th. 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. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange . It includes so many things each person in my family wants to see and do! Santa Barbara was the biggest surprise I had on my PCH road trip in 2014. Sounds like a great trip, Rudy! 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! Again, thanks for great info and advice. We were planning on 10 days total for driving, site seeing and ending it with 2 days in Disneyland. Valerie, I am so glad I found your guide to the PCH! 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? 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) What day of the week would you recommend starting from WA? I havent been to Yellowstone so I cant say if its worth it, unfortunately. I am planning a road-trip with my husband along the Pacific coast. I didnt spend a ton of time on the Central Coast, but be sure to stop at Pismo Beach and drive through Carmel. Congrats on finishing your Pacific Coast Highway road trip. Long Beach is and always will be one of my favorite destinations in Washington. 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. 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. Huntington Beach Resort Hotels | Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach From here on south, it's miles-upon-miles of beautiful sand beaches, palm-lined streets, and thriving coastal cities. Im planning on doing the PCH from Seattle to SF next Sept. (We did SF to SD in 2019). This blog has been incredibly helpful. Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip {25 Stops - California Through My Lens After about 15 miles, you will reach Highway 1. So I am very, very thankful to have found THIS resource!! 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 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. of the PCH? Located just off the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, this campsite is sandwiched between a gorgeous beach and a redwood forest. My husband and I plan to do this trip in June. Thanks for asking, Helen! Learn more. We are planning to do Northboundfrom Ventura to Wine country but only have 5 days returning on the 5th day. Such a thorough guide! 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. Thanks for reading, Oleg. 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? Also, its not exactly the most stimulating view its a bit better for older kids than younger ones. Wifey and I did the PCH trip a while ago, shortly after we got married. If you make it out this way, let me know, as Im now in the Bay Area! Ive put together some tips on how to choose the right car for the PCH, but in short, I recommend an automatic car with a low center of gravity but skip the convertible! Im sure someone else has asked this but..When is the best time to travel PCH (traveling Southbound through California to San Diego in hopes of warm days and cool(ish) nights)? Did you try searching my site using the search in the sidebar? Reading through this your article is going to be a huge help as our family plans our two-week trip. 23 Instagram Captions For California Sunsets & Endless Beach Days 4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars (1) Paperback. Sireesha, thanks for reading. Youre very welcome, and have a great road trip!! Loved your trip adventure and recommendations !! is booking hotels on the day or maybe the day before likely to be OK, or should we book well in advance? Mendocino Your Pacific Coast Highway road trip begins at Leggett, so naturally, the first stop is the wonderful Mendocino. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south along California Highway 1. I am doing this trip with the boyfriend end of this month. A one-week Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary will allow you to see the highlights without feeling rushed. I was wondering if you could suggest a place for stargazing. Pacific Coast Highway : Datasoft : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming Did you drive it alone and what do you think about being able to see well driving north to south? Follow the highway south as it winds inland and along the coast. Thank you for the recommendation! Question, if we were to add a stop, possible one night stay at Crater Lake, where would you suggest doing this from without missing much, (or any?) 3. 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! 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. Your help is appreciated. Which Direction to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway? 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 . I am traveling with my husband, brother and our 4 year old. 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. My English is very very basic but if you write to me I can understand it. Carry on the fantastic work!|. trees. We then headed to San Fran, our ending point. 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. Sounds like youre well on the way to it . Tickets & Tours - Highway 1, California - Viator We will be stopping to see the sights along the way but not for strenuous hikes. We are planning our trip for the first half of April, SF to LA. Let me know if you need any extra tips whenever you start planning! I was reading for the road trip from Seattle to San Diego. Whats the best time of year to do this? Any additional thoughts? I will be driving from Dallas to Seattle. Thanks for reading, Tony! This post was originally published in August 2014, and was updated regularly including most recently in May 2022. California Pacific Coast Highway reopens section after storm collapse Also, I love your pictures! Sort of a round trip Oregon adventure. I hope this helps. ?? You can choose the spots you want to stop at that way . Thank you for this wonderful review. The Pacific Coast Highway is arguably one of the most famous drives in the entire world. This is such a great article. Take a road trip along California's Pacific Coast Highway for a look at some of America's most dramatic coastal vistas. Also, how many days should we take for the one-way trip back. Next, youll pass through Point Reyes, which again seems underwhelming. Valerie I just came across this post. 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? Newport is a great destination to stretch your legs for a few hours once you arrive back on the Pacific Coast (you can also drive straight down Highway 101 from Cannon Beach if you decide to skip a stop in Portland). Free or royalty-free photos and images. May 16, 2022 by Allison Green. There are loads of cool things to explore in/around this small PNW town, including Olympic National Park! Am interested in your upcoming 7 day itinerary of PCH. San Jose is a creative and thriving high-tech culture epicenter. The traditional definition of the Pacific Coast Highway is to drive California Highway 1 from San Diego to Leggett (or vice versa); you can extend by adding on U.S. Highway 101 through Northern California and Oregon and Washington coasts. Okay, now youve got your car, youve got your basic itinerary. I have a few questions. 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! Starting at San Francisco ending San Diego. I hope this helps! You may encounter some rain up north near Portland and Seattle, but you shouldnt experience any snow! I hope that helps! 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. I am planning a 10 day trip the last two weeks in May down the entire PCH from Seattle to San Diego. Great questions, Julie. We want to make the best out of drive there. I hope you have an epic time; Patrees such an amazing host! Here's an example PCH itinerary: Day 1: Seattle WA, to Forks, WA. Looking forward to follow your tips. BEST PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY STOPS Sun, sand, and surf. Explore the route. In the Santa Barbara area of the article you mentioned that you had an article about Santa Barbara and what to do, I am not able to locate this article. The 32 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops: California Towns, Landmarks Thanks so much for reading, Teresa! If you're in need of California trip ideas, consider driving up the iconic Pacific Coast Highway. I havent been to some of those national parks, but they sound amazing! I share travel resources and stories based on my personal experience and knowledge. We are so overwhelmed. Thank you for the pointers! If I were going to recommend a route, Id do something like the National Parks in California or the Utah/Arizona/SoCal loop. ENJOY the sightseeing trip of a lifetime. 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. Booking this trip for late Oct. Id like to fly in ( from East Coast) somewhere north of San Fran. Im assuiming youve read the whole post, as I do cover a 7-day suggested itinerary, and cover overnight stops along the Oregon coast. Crater lake was amazing!! My wife and I were planning to fly to San Diego to start the trip, but your point about southbound visibility makes total sense. Im planning a trip for end of this year most probably the California part only. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: As you might have guessed continue following California Highway 1 south! Thanks for reading, Heather! Its the best time for good weather on the whole coast! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! anything you can suggest extra the girls would be wowed by would be great.