We are planning a trip in Sept 0f 2022, starting in Portland, ending in San Diego. I would definitely do some research on inland options Im not as familiar with whats inland though. My question is: how to best use our time? 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! (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange . Thanks for your comment, David! 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. If you make it out this way, let me know, as Im now in the Bay Area! I have suggestions on dates earlier in the article to help you figure out how long to do the trip and where to stop. I was reading for the road trip from Seattle to San Diego. Now Im going to lay out step-by-step directions for a Pacific Coast Highway road trip based on all my tips so far. I have been reading your blog posts about the PCH and think I read where you mentioned a couple of crossover vehicles that would be good rental cars. Here's an example PCH itinerary: Day 1: Seattle WA, to Forks, WA. Where would you start and end if it is reasonable to go in December, and what might we expect weather wise? The Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip While many travelers begin in Los Angeles and head north, driving the Pacific Coast Highway from north to south keeps you in the lane closest to the ocean. Astoria, like Aberdeen in Washington, is a great destination for lovers of pop culture. I had the chance to spend a weekend in Huntington Beach a few years ago and loved the vibe in this surf town. Hurricane Ridge. We will probably book Airbnb if cost effective. We were thinking October, but after reading all the comments, I think we will make it September. 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). 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. of the PCH? Now my only problem is trying to figure out how many extra days were going to need! When driving the PCH south from Portland, how much of a detour would it be to see Crater Lake on the way? You can get a printable version by signing up on the forms in this post. Thank you again for all of your information. Angie, thanks so much for your comment! Thank you in advance! I dont have it I just want to make sure businesses are open? Pacific coast highway road trip with kids. When you drive on the Pacific Coast Highway, you will see sheer cliffs straight down to the water. Make sure you have enough guidance resources. It was just gorgeous with a 360 degree view. What do you think of Coos Bay/North Bend or better places for overnight, seemed a good split between Seattle and San Francisco? I appreciate this guide. You should have no problem finding vegan options! 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. Do you have any tips? 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. A weekend of sea, sand, and sunscreen. Hello Valerie & Valise, I love this trip information on, it is so amazingly helpful. Download Pacific Coast Highway stock photos. I hope this helps! Thanks for sharing. Thank you for the recommendation! I also agree that Point Reyes (and the lighthouse) is spectacular and my top place to go when in North Ca. 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. 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 memory cards before you know it. 9. Extremely informative. Thanks for reading, Sonia. We were planning on a 7day road trip with our 8, 6 and 20 month olds in June. Although I live in San Francisco, Ive yet to visit several of these places on this list. Rudy. Sounds like youve got a great itinerary planned! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head west along U.S. 101 until it turns south along the west coast of the Olympic Peninsula. In particular, plan a long foray out to Point Reyes State Park and Lighthouse. We booked a flight to San Jose to explore the citys economic hub and cultural traditions. Thanks for your comment, Archimedes. If you dont have the time, plan an overnight stop and make a late start after brunch at one of Portlands many amazing restaurants. Find and save ideas about pacific coast highway on Pinterest. This was a 6 day trip. I love small beaches and in less popular destinations like this! Hi Valerie, Great job! We are only going to be there once though and want to make the most of it. The West Coast especially is fantastic. I am traveling with my husband, brother and our 4 year old. Read more in my Privacy Policy. We want a mix of National/State Parks, cities, and coasts. Whats the best time of year to do this? We are coming from Pennsylvania. Its impossible to reduce all of the amazing things to do in San Francisco down to a small paragraph or overnight stop on a Pacific Coast Highway road trip. Youll see signs for Hoh Rainforest, a left turn that takes you inland to the forest. I hope you have a great trip whenever you can make it! Awesome suggestions and itinerary! Wondering about forest fires and how they affect the trip. Thoughts? Any recommendations will be appreciated! Hello, Thanks for sharing your trips and valuable tips. We are from FL and east coast and know very little about west coast, so this is great!! I want to fly out to the NW and drive to Crescent city, then go inland to see the redwoods, Bend, and Mt. Driving south on the right-hand side of the road, youll have a great view of the ocean and coastline. I was wondering if you could suggest a place for stargazing. If you know which car you want, I recommend renting from Fox Rent-A-Car or Sixt. Ronald, I dont know for sure as I dont recommend people drive in an RV. Thanks for reading, Heather! Your email address will not be published. Hi, I love Portland and San Francisco. 1. One of the most famous sea stacks on the U.S. Pacific Coast, Haystack Rock is picture perfect while you stretch your legs. Oregon & California are both pretty vegan friendly states so Id expect lots of restaurants have at least an option thats animal-free. Enjoyed this 14 day article! Thank you again. Start in Seattle and end in San Diego. Thanks for reading, Oleg. I am planning to start my road trip in Vancouver BC and ending in San Francisco. I want the most scenic route but RT 1 on the cliffs seem risky ? Karen, great question! Have a great trip! Again, thanks for great info and advice. Or, do you think one could just take a chance and stop and book a room when in need??? Id look at September as an ideal time to catch autumn colors in the Pacific Northwest but admittedly its hard to predict since this part of the country isnt known for the same leaf colors as New England. Cherie, thanks for your comment. When you hit the California coast, its like driving in a postcard. Can you recommend where to spend time and in which cities to plan to spend the night? If youre not sure (or not loyal to any particular car rental company), consider using a tool like Kayak or TripAdvisor to compare a bunch of options (yes, TripAdvisor does rental cars!). September and October are definitely best for visiting NorCal, so I recommend that time of year too! Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Guide - Brian Eagen 2016-09-23 A stunning visual guide for a road trip along the entire United States pacific coast. The best time of year to do this will be in the summer (June/July/August), probably sooner in the year rather than later. Again, thank you so much!! 8. trees. Have a great trip! Whether youre planning a San Diego to San Francisco, Seattle to San Francisco, San Francisco to San Diego, Seattle to San Diego road trip, or somewhere in between (Los Angeles! Kavinsky - Pacific Coast Highway (Official Audio) - YouTube 0:00 / 6:18 Kavinsky - Pacific Coast Highway (Official Audio) Record Makers 225K subscribers Share 12M views 11 years ago #Kavinsky After reading your blog we are excited to visit San Jose. Im saving this post to reference when I think about doing this trip, because that has to happen! So heading east eventually to round out the trip. These seem to be the hardest parts to figure out for this type of trip! Hi there, I am thinking of taking a solo trip down the PCH from Long Beach, WA to LA? Thanks for your comment, Jorge! I dont remember providing that advice but off the top of my head, I wouldnt go bigger than a Tesla Model X (swoon! Both have way more to explore once you stop or pull off the road. My husband and I are planning a Spring Break trip with our girls March 2020. The Pacific Coast Highway is located in the U.S. states of Washington, Oregon, and California. After all, I liked it so much when I first visited in 2012 that I moved there in 2013! 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. I did a quick search and heres how it breaks down: Newport > Crescent City (what I originally suggest) = about 5 hours of driving Newport > Crater Lake > Crescent City = about 8 hours of driving (and none of it is on the coast), If you chose to go from Portland > Crater Lake > Crescent City instead = 7.5 hours of driving. 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. These are just ten of the many places off Highway 1 that you'll want to experience. You can look out over beautiful sea stacks that dot the northern part of the Pacific Coast and stroll along the sand covered with huge driftwood formations and seafoam. I am going to mostly follow the path you outlined in your 10 day itinerary. Glad to help, Nancy, and thanks for reading! From there we are planning on 4 days drive/stop on high 1 (PCH) up to Santa Monica/Malibu then flight out LAX. Ive just started planning our trip for this autumn. Just starting to think about a 1st time road trip from Az to Washington and back among the PCH!!?? Thank you very much for providing a road map! The most commonly driven part of the . 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] Hope to rent a car there? You'll also pass by several unique beaches on the way, but one you should totally check out is Glass Beach. 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. Great trip! 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. 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 stayed in Seattle and drove south to Olympia, to pick up the beginning of the 101. Mike, great to hear from you and thanks for reading! We fly out of LA. There and back that is? Pismo State Beach is another great stop during a day of driving from San Francisco to Santa Barbara (or reverse). I do have the same recommendations youll see A LOT of fellow bikers/trikers out on the PCH; its a great ride on 2-3 wheels as well as 4 wheels . The most important thing you need to decide first when driving the Pacific Coast Highway is which direction you prefer to travel the Pacific Coast Highway (northbound or southbound). To answer your questions: 1. Have a great drive! Have a wonderful trip! 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. Thank you for your great ideas and itineraries! Is this time of year realistic for an enjoyable adventure, or should we maybe plan to go somewhere else? How do I do it? 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. I hope you can see it for yourself someday too. One day, I would LOVE to make this road trip. Next, youll pass through Point Reyes, which again seems underwhelming. 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. Mendocino Your Pacific Coast Highway road trip begins at Leggett, so naturally, the first stop is the wonderful Mendocino. I recommend researching/contacting each one individual to confirm theyll be open. There are no reasonable alternatives for some of the routes like the one across Bixby Canyon Bridge (shown above). This blog has been incredibly helpful. 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). Yes, Id recommend flying one-way to Seattle, and flying one-way home from San Diego. 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. The Point Reyes Lighthouse is only open to visitors from Fridays to Mondays (weekends) from 10am-4:30pm. My husband and I plan to do this trip in June. Be sure to check the California DOT website for more information. Seattle is one of my favorite destinations in the world. It sounds like youll have a great trip no matter what! 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 . Seeing some nice beaches is also of interest. 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 . Great questions, Julie. Youre very welcome, and have a great road trip!! Awesome, Tim! We are just wondering if you have an estimate on how much it would be to travel the PCH! Ive done Yosemite and Sequoia, so no need for inland stops. I also downloaded the Roadtrippers app but I cant find it. Thank you. Hope that helps you plan! Is Pacific Coast Highway the same as Highway 1 or Highway 101? Theres a link to that at the end of the post. Drive safely! Im planning a trip for end of this year most probably the California part only. Follow the highway south as it winds inland and along the coast. Crescent City is the first city youll enter when driving southbound into California along the Pacific Coast Highway (or last if youre headed northbound). I am planning a trip for next year, saving and researching. 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. lol. These Pacific Coast Highway road trip stops really seem like true country California. my best friends and I have talked about driving down from San Francisco to some of the Orange County, CA cities. The only places you can fly would be Crescent City but itll require changing through San Francisco anyway. Super excited. Thanks for your comment, Kathy! I would love to do a Pacific Coast Highway drive at some point in my life. You did a fantastic job with this giude, everything is straight to the point but provided in a fun and educational way. Wonderful trip sharing you made. Great name btw . Im definitely going to try to do it sometime! 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 . Flew into Seattle and drove back. Congrats on the trip, Michael! Thinking approximately 250 miles a day. 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. Be sure to plan your trip on a day the lighthouse is open for tours, so you can climb the steps down to the lighthouse and lookout beneath the clouds across the sea. 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 stay in San Diego on Pacific/Mission Beach a lot so no need to travel this far south for us. Raynard, when are you going? Rainier, plenty of coastlines, and Redwoods. Bonus- Rent A Car To Drive The Pacific Coast Highway. Thanks for your comment, Pam, but Im a little confused its a 10-day itinerary, so its a 9-night trip. Doing this trip starting this weekend! Taking my granddaughter on an epic journey. I share travel resources and stories based on my personal experience and knowledge. Let me know in the comments! Love it. But never mind those technicalities, because equally bewitching ribbons of Hwy 1 and Hwy 101 await all along this route. Day 2: Forks, WA to Cape Kiwanda, OR. Would you recommend the 7 day to get 2-3 days in Diego? I love all the details and recommendations! The best time of year to do this will be in the summer (June/July/August), probably sooner in the year rather than later. When it comes to vacation rental options. Southern California has great weather year-round. Dont be in a hurry and be cautious so you can enjoy everything. Ime hoping the trip will run about $10k. Our Pacific Coast Highway road trip is 575 miles of stunning coastal driving that's simply not to be missed. Its easy to make a stop in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, so take the opportunity! I wouldnt go all the way to Seattle, especially if you dont like big cities. This Thanks for reading, Dale. A few years ago I started saving (unbeknownst to my husband) for his 50th birthday this summer. I stopped here to eat a to-go lunch I had purchased earlier in the drive, with my toes in the sand. Other cool attractions include Hurricane Ridge (a popular hiking spot), Elwha River Valley, and Olympic Hot Springs. Just wondering about restrictions? Pacific Coast Highway Map, Direction & Start/End Points. 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 hope you can make this trip someday (hopefully soon!). Thank you so much for this information! I am beginning to plan a family trip and loved all the recommendations. 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. Sonja, glad to help! 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. Pigeon Point can be a fun rest stop along the Pacific Coast Highway or a quirky one-night stop depending on your itinerary. Hello, my name is Sonia and I am from Puerto Rico. Im driving with our 5 kids (ages 1 -13) and my wife. As I mentioned above, both are southbound itineraries. Blow your budget and stay the night at Fairmont San Francisco, one of the nicest hotels in town. I do too (ish Im in Oakland!). Scott, I replied to your email, so you should be all set! Can you share with me how long this should take us?? This information is great!!! Thank you for all this information. Thank you! AAA has no candle to this. Therefore, its an amazing place to start your Pacific Coast Highway trip! Even an email answer is fine!! Also, you can probably get away with booking hotels/vacation rentals in the smaller towns only a few days in advance but if you want to stay in any of the big cities, I would book those 2-3 weeks in advance at the latest! Thanks for reading, Angel! Thanks for asking! The Pacific Coast Highwayalso known as PCH or, more commonly, Highway 1runs north-south along most of the United States' West Coast. You can choose the spots you want to stop at that way . Glad to help, Bethany! The little set of communities on the Long Beach peninsula is at the lower-left corner of the state and is home to cozy accommodations and surprisingly delicious restaurants. Also wondering if you can tell me where I could get a printable version of your article. , Hi. Such a thorough guide! I havent been to Monterey but its high on my list! 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! Homes similar to 20132 Pacific Coast Hwy are listed between $350K to $70M at an average of $2,795 per square foot. 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). When I drove the PCH in 2014, I drove a northbound San Diego to Seattle road trip, and lament that I wasnt on the outer side of the road. As we will be married 40 years! 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. 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. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: When youre ready to continue on your PCH road trip, make your way back to California Highway 1 and head south. Just south of the Bay Area, Santa Cruz is a laid back, quirky hippie town. These make perfect Instagram captions for dreamy sunsets or foggy mornings on the Pacific. Thank you for the article. In Northern California, the best weather of the year happens between September and October. Phoenix77. Which Direction to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway? I appreciate you taking the time to answer everyones questions. Though hard to believe, you have to find out that on the Pacific Coast Highway the phone signal will be almost inexistent most of the time. 24 Best Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) Stops. We live in Colorado, so more interested in Ocean more than hiking, so 101 is ideal. Your second choice is where to start your road trip. My stop in Fort Bragg was relatively short, but it was worth it! Best trip ever! This is great information and very helpful! 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. Valerie I just came across this post. Have a great trip and drive safely! (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!). 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. Thanks for all of this great information! My wife and I were planning to fly to San Diego to start the trip, but your point about southbound visibility makes total sense. You probably wont have any snow its usually just rain in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon & Washington). Thank so much for putting together a wonderful and comprehensive itinerary of the PC scenic drive. Thanks for reading, Brianna! Sorry, I dont have any special suggestions for kids! Ending at a beach front hotel in Diego for 2-3 days to visit that college, unwind and settle a little bit before leaving. Enjoying the Unexpectedly Cool Pitchwood Ale House, All words and images 2013-2023 The Kolibro Group LLC. Do you think we could do it in 7 days?? To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to exploreNative Land. Its less than 10 minutes drive from Newport to Devils Punch Bowl. 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? Thanks so much for reading, Teresa! Taking your advice, flying into Seattle (from KC), and heading south. We are from Ohio. We then took that to the end. Is this doable in 7 days, with stops during the day and to spend the night? Take a road trip along California's Pacific Coast Highway for a look at some of America's most dramatic coastal vistas.