Heres a Pacific Coast Highway map and schedule for 5 days: If youre lucky to have a few more days for your PCH road trip, a week is a pretty fantastic amount of time to see all that the Pacific Coast Highway has to offer. Have a great trip! Im also a not-so-secret space nerd and speak fluent emoji! You have the same recommendations? (If you decide to fly to SF, heres a recent post I wrote: https://www.valisemag.com/california-coast-road-trip/). Drive Time: About 3.5 Hours. Im nervous go excited. Thanks for such a thorough rundown of what to do. I hope that helps! Portland? This will be tricky as there are no rental cars in Crescent City or anywhere near it. Stop 2: Santa Cruz and its boardwalk. We want a mix of National/State Parks, cities, and coasts. I am planning for this roadtrip this December- starting from Dec 25th. I hope this helps. Appreciate you sharing your experience and advice. 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 !! Thanks for your comment, Archimedes. Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary Options, How to Choose a Car for the Pacific Coast Highway, Step-by-Step Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Directions, this gorgeous 3-bedroom oceanfront property, plenty of experiences to choose from in San Diego, https://www.valisemag.com/california-coast-road-trip/, Wandering the Olympic Peninsula - Valerie & Valise, https://www.theoutbound.com/theoutbound/camping-along-the-pacific-10-seaside-campsites-for-your-west-coast-road-trip, https://www.valisemag.com/visit-san-juan-islands/, https://www.valisemag.com/3-days-seattle/, https://www.valisemag.com/3-days-san-francisco/, https://www.valisemag.com/portland-city-guide/, https://www.valisemag.com/pacific-coast-highway-guide/. Want to stop over a few nights, and hit some of the destinations you listed. You could see Canada and the river valley. Thank you in advance! lol. Great tips, Kathi! Pacific Coast Highway - Tripadvisor 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. Are people moving about freely or are things locked down with the covid? Drive safely! Thanks for the great ideas! Have you seen these two posts? There are a few restaurants in town and 17 miles of beautiful beach to explore. Whats your thought on late availability rooms at that time of year? My overnight stop in Santa Barbara changed my mind. 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. 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. One of the ultimate road trip destinations has to be the Pacific Coast Highway, or Highway One, which spans 600 miles of the California coastline from San Diego in the south to San Francisco in the north. And it's hard to miss: you'll be driving right through, so when you see roller coasters, it's time to stop. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south on CA-1, the Pacific Coast Highway. Thanks so much. To ensure accommodations, I was thinking to book all of the hotels in advance. That gives you a lot more to do each day to wear the kids out and much more suitable for an RV. I do too (ish Im in Oakland!). 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. Thanks again. Want to avoid the summer crowds, but still enjoy nice weather. I am planning a trip for next year, saving and researching. Credit: Bigstock.com Hi Valerie- What is the best time of year for this 10 day trip? Youd need to drive about 7-10 hours out of the way depending on the bridge, and miss major stretches of the road . ?? Is this possible?? 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?) 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! 1. Also, further north, you could fly to Portland and do the Oregon coast too. 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. 24 Best Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) Stops. Thanks for reading, Oleg. Making the drive in 2 days. Santa Cruz. 23 Instagram Captions For California Sunsets & Endless Beach Days Have a great trip! 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. San Luis Obispo with Paso Robles). Would there be a place where the rental could be left in those regions? Also, its not exactly the most stimulating view its a bit better for older kids than younger ones. My favorite place is Mendocino if the skies are clear! Its a very winding cliff-side road and doing it in an RV is going to be laboriously slow and probably make you a bit nervous at times. Thanks so much for this comprehensive look at the PCH. Theres a nice public parking area near a lake that overlooks the Washington State Capital building. Thank you for any other tips. Thank you for all this information. I recommend checking out California resources for the pandemic before you book anything. Making a Pacific Coast Highway road trip is a popular bucket list experiencefor good reason! Though I have visited a few cities in California over the years, I (we) are looking forward to that California coastal drive. Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most famous and beautiful road trips on earth. 1. Best Quotes about the West Coast There are many quotes that sing praises and are written as an ode to the beauty of the West Coast. Again, thanks for great info and advice. My husband, myself and our four kids always take adventurous vacations every summer. Sorry; I dont have any suggestions for that! Well be camping out at most stops except for SF. Thanks for reading, Heather! If not, spend your day exploring the Seattle waterfront to see all of the city from above. I can think off the top of my head that you could do the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Should we go down the coast only (plus say Portland & Crater Lk), or head inland given how much time we have? If youve just stayed overnight in Santa Barbara or started your road trip in San Diego, that may not make as much sense. My problem is going to be deciding what not to do because Ill only have so much time (and money). Thanks for your comment, Kathy! We figured booking hotel in Seattle for 1 or 2 days for arrival and checking the college. AI TRAFFIC - for Pacific Coast (0.95) 0.85. My husband are I are planning 20 days to do the PCH(starting in Seattle and ending in San Diego) We are using your the ultimate pacific coast road trip itinerary as a guide. 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. You will miss Seaside & Cannon Beach on this route, so your next stop will be Newport (#9). PDF Moon Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip California O Pdf This sounds like a great adventure. I had the chance to spend a weekend in Huntington Beach a few years ago and loved the vibe in this surf town. $2,785,000. Is it worth waiting to do this trip in summer? Were driving south-to-north. Love it. I lived for 15 years in Alaska, as well as four years each in California and Washington. This Here, waves are grand and harsh, and coastal cliffs are as breathtaking as it gets. It looks so cute! Great questions, Julie. Hope that helps you plan! In Northern California, the best weather of the year happens between September and October. The ocean is my happy place. Sort of a round trip Oregon adventure. 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. Lastly, Pismo is a great stop for a midday workout on the road, with a huge stretch of beach to walk/run on. I was born on the East Coast and currently live in the Midwest but my heart will always be out West. 50 Essential Pacific Coast Highway Stops: From San Diego to Seattle Great read! For flights, I recently heard theres a flight from the Bay Area to Crescent City check out Contour Airlines (they come up when I google OAK > CEC). We want to spend 5 days for PCH and not sure where to fly in or out of. I am going to plan for at least a 10 day trip, its once in a lifetime and truly dont want to rush it I cant wait to see his face when I announce at his local birthday party in July that I have saved for and planned this fantastic trip for September 2021!! Pacific Coast Hwy Road Trip | Travel Channel Your second choice is where to start your road trip. What do you think about making this drive in November? Planning for 5-6 days of Seattle to San Diego. Hello, my name is Sonia and I am from Puerto Rico. To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to exploreNative Land. Just give yourself more time and end n LA. The Essential Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary Glad to help, Nancy, and thanks for reading! I was a truck driver for 29 years and could not drive that road. Ruby Beach is only a short drive from Hoh Rainforest but its the most picturesque beach on Washingtons Pacific Coast. How Long is it? Portland has loads of great hotels, but my favorite is the, For vacation rental options, consider this. It was so helpful as I planned and traveled cross country this summer starting with the PCH. I am planning a 10 day trip the last two weeks in May down the entire PCH from Seattle to San Diego. Crater lake was amazing!! I appreciate all the information! 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! Congrats on finishing your Pacific Coast Highway road trip. With an RV, Id just give yourself a lot more time each day (probably 25% more driving time) since youll need to go a bit slower. Hi Valerie, Great job! I think once we hit Los Angeles we will just take the I10 home to Phoenix. Thank you! Thinking of maybe making this where we would b me somewhere different for 4th of July. The turn-out for Ruby Beach occurs right as the highway reaches the Pacific coast. I enjoyed it so much that I wrote a whole article about the experiences I recommend in Santa Barbara! It'll take you about three hours to reach Big Sur from San Francisco, and by then you'll be ready to stretch your legs. I have been to Europe, for 2 years, and nothing compares to this coastal trip. Looking to travel with your recommendations southbound! Have a wonderful trip! AND, I did it in November in a PT Cruiser with the top down.all bundled up with the heat on full..but man, what a view! When you hit the California coast, its like driving in a postcard. I was, for the most part, ambivalent about the cities along the PCH. Thank you, Archimedes. 14,685 Pacific Coast Highway Stock Photos, Images & Pictures Pacific Coast Highway Directions: At this point in Northern California, the PCH is still U.S. 101. Great info . What time of year would be best to do this. I hope you can make this trip someday (hopefully soon!). Is there any river rafting or boating along the way? Any other advise you could give us. I hope you can make it happen sooner! The 22 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops for Your West Coast Road Trip Enjoyed this 14 day article! You should have no problem finding vegan options! Thanks so much for any tips you can suggest on having adequate funds! Thanks! We are thinking of taking this drive during the week of Christmas. Southern California has great weather year-round. If you would like a customized itinerary, I offer that for a fee to help cover the time it takes me to put those tips together. AAA has no candle to this. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head south from Ruby Beach along U.S. 101. Free or royalty-free photos and images. 5 Beds. Thank you for sharing! I recommend researching/contacting each one individual to confirm theyll be open. We then headed to San Fran, our ending point. 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. 8. Hood. Tim and Janice. is booking hotels on the day or maybe the day before likely to be OK, or should we book well in advance? In this forest, youll find amazing old growth trees and is incredibly verdant. Youre all set to start filling in the gaps! We booked a flight to San Jose to explore the citys economic hub and cultural traditions. Have a great drive! One of the most famous sea stacks on the U.S. Pacific Coast, Haystack Rock is picture perfect while you stretch your legs. I think its going to be a tough year fro travel! Were staying just outside of Long Beach, in cute little Ilwaco, WA, at Salt Hotel & Pub. 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). Seattle is one of my favorite destinations in the world. Portland! Thanks for your comment, Terri! 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. A weekend of sea, sand, and sunscreen. 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. I would like to follow the route on the map. 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. 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! 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. We can only do a quick trip. Hi Valerie, Great tips! Ime hoping the trip will run about $10k. Both have way more to explore once you stop or pull off the road. 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. maybe to get a car, which adds about 6 hours of driving time. The worst that happens is you might end up in a slightly less nice place than you had planned. Here, California Highway 1 carves a sinuous path along steep cliffs; the road is beautiful at a price, since mudslides arent uncommon along this stretch of highway, and can close the highway for months. Were on day 2 of our 8-day PCH Tour.and its great to have your help! Awesome, Tim! Located in the heart of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, Hurricane Ridge is an iconic spot to stop and stretch your legs on a Pacific Coast Highway road trip. 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). Aretta, thanks for your comment! We both have a lot of vacation all the time, so 10 days or more would be fine. This 20-mile (one way) detour will take you out on Point Reyes, and has a stark and beautiful landscape because its so far out at sea. Additionally, youll get a sense of the magnitude of the San Andreas fault line, which comes inland along the northern part of Point Reyes. Thank you so much for sharing this informative article with all of us. Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! As I mentioned above, both are southbound itineraries. I share travel resources and stories based on my personal experience and knowledge. Thanks for reading, Brian. San Jose is a creative and thriving high-tech culture epicenter. Have a great trip! 14 Pacific Coast Highway Stops | Map + Route - Free Tours by Foot Thanks for sharing this! Pigeon Point can be a fun rest stop along the Pacific Coast Highway or a quirky one-night stop depending on your itinerary. Start here. This is exactly what I was looking for. Am interested in your upcoming 7 day itinerary of PCH. Any recommendations will be appreciated! I appreciate this guide. 0:42. Im planning a trip for end of this year most probably the California part only. Sounds like a great trip either way drive safe! It sounds like youll have an awesome trip, and happy early birthday to him! 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. Nate, thanks for your comment. 20602 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265 | MLS# SR22026851 | Redfin Ronald, I dont know for sure as I dont recommend people drive in an RV. Thanks for reading, Angel! The Pacific Coast Highway runs along two highways: In Washington and Oregon, the best weather of the year happens between June and September. So nice to hear from you, Silvia! Drive the Pacific Coast Highway in Southern California - TripSavvy Whether you just want to see the top highlights and sightseeing hotspots or want to dive into L.A.s booming food scene, you can find it all in Los Angeles. Taking my granddaughter on an epic journey. The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Guide Wed like to be flexible so, if we like somewhere we could stay an extra night, or if we need to push on, we could pull the itinerary forward. What are must see spots. Ending at a beach front hotel in Diego for 2-3 days to visit that college, unwind and settle a little bit before leaving. You also mentioned Suburbans are not great because they are so big, but I dont think we have much choice with the large family. Great name btw . Are you hoping to do a one-way rental car for your PCH drive? Theres a link to that at the end of the post. Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) SR-1 CalTrans Lane Closures You'll also pass by several unique beaches on the way, but one you should totally check out is Glass Beach. Many thanks, alex, Alex, unfortunately, this might not be the trip for you. I know we wont see everything, but its the only time frame we have. 20520 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265 - $540/sq ft larger lot 23 years older SOLD JUL 12, 2022 $1,830,000 F Sold Price 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,446 Sq. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Return west to U.S. 101 and turn south. The best way to enjoy southern California is by diving straight into the beachside culture. Let me know if you have any other questions while planning or on the road! The Oregon Coast Aquarium lets visitors explore the marine ecosystems around this part of the Pacific Ocean. Here are my twenty five favorite stops on PCH from south to north. Can you recommend where to spend time and in which cities to plan to spend the night? Be sure to stop at Nicks Cove in Marshall, CA for a meal or Hog Island Oyster if you love oysters! South of Seaside, be sure to stop in Cannon Beach to admire Haystack Rock. What a drive! Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary - Travel So the verb lament is correct in the present tense, and the tense of recommend earlier in the paragraph. These Pacific Coast Highway road trip stops really seem like true country California. I am starting from seattle 8/26 down to los angeles taking PCH. Pacific Coast Highway (@thepacificcoasthighway) - Instagram The Pacific Coast Highway is an ambitious road trip, but totally possible in as few as five days. Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip: 25 Breathtaking (& Bizarre!) Epic Stops We are so overwhelmed. First thank you for all the work you put into this! Hey Valerie great name yourself! Am planning to do a 10 day PCH drive in August. Regarding openings, Im sorry but I cant keep up with all of the places and changing restrictions in the various counties and states. Pacific Highway (United States) - Wikipedia 2. memory cards before you know it. Its a great spot for a short hike to stretch your legs. Which Direction to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway? Next time I have a few days off, Ill have to change that! 90 Famous West Coast Quotes and West Quotes Sayings I also downloaded the Roadtrippers app but I cant find it. I am saving this to research more of the places you mentioned !! Youre very welcome, Wilbert! The innovative sequencer work of his Tangerine Dream years has given way on this album to more predictable pop electronic orchestrations that . Stop 3: Monterey and its aquarium. 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. Valerie, cant thank you enough for this guide! Thanks Teena. Well, now we will have to wait to see how this Covid-19 progresses. The 9 best places to stop on the Pacific Coast Highway ), a Jeep Liberty, or most Subarus. If we have 10 days to do this and could skip San Francisco, because we just did that 2 years ago, could we drive from Seattle to either Los Angeles or San Diego in an RV? . If you make it out this way, let me know, as Im now in the Bay Area! I didnt spend a ton of time on the Central Coast, but be sure to stop at Pismo Beach and drive through Carmel. Thanks for asking, Helen! Thanks for your comment, Manny. 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. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: If you are on a quick PCH road trip, turn inland along the Columbia River and then south on I-5 to Portland.If your Pacific Coast Highway road trip includes the Oregon Coast, skip Portland below and drive south along U.S. 101 to Seaside & Cannon Beach (#8). By the end, youll be ready to plan your own Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary. Those little beaches overlooking the water below is freaking amazing. 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 I am beginning to plan a family trip and loved all the recommendations. Top 10 pacific coast highway ideas and inspiration - Pinterest We just did this trip in October 2019, We started in Portland to Cannons beach then headed south on HWY 101. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: As you might have guessed continue following California Highway 1 south! The 32 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops: California Towns, Landmarks For bigger cities, there are probably enough options that you can wait until you arrive to book, even during that time of year. Are we likely to hit snow in the northern stops? While driving southbound, youll approach Marshall first. Hi V& VDid you make hotel reservations in advance for your overnight stops? AI TRAFFIC - for Pacific Coast (0.95) | RaceDepartment The speed limit ranges from 55mph to 25mph theres really no helpful way to give an average! Crescent City is the first city youll enter when driving southbound into California along the Pacific Coast Highway (or last if youre headed northbound). Santa Barbara marks the threshold to the southern California section of the pacific coast. Pismo is a popular camping destination, so the most common amenities youll find if you decide to stay longer than a few hours are camping-oriented.