I dont remember providing that advice but off the top of my head, I wouldnt go bigger than a Tesla Model X (swoon! ?? Just wondering about restrictions? My husband, myself and our four kids always take adventurous vacations every summer. I hope you can make this trip someday (hopefully soon!). Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head south from Ruby Beach along U.S. 101. 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 Should we go down the coast only (plus say Portland & Crater Lk), or head inland given how much time we have? The rest of time will hopefully be in small towns all along the coast. We will start in Portland, Or and drive to Las Angeles, CA. I think once we hit Los Angeles we will just take the I10 home to Phoenix. Weve spent time in SF already so dont need to stay there. Thanks again! My best advice is to take a look at the app Roadtrippers and start plugging in where you might want to go to get a sense of travel time then you can decide whats must-do, what extra you have time for, and what needs to be cut.I hope that helps! While staying in Cannon Beach we have planned day trips to Astoria and Long Beach and maybe an inland drive to McMinnvile, for some wine tasting. You did a fantastic job with this giude, everything is straight to the point but provided in a fun and educational way. After reading your blog we are excited to visit San Jose. 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! 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. Maybe worth checking another site thats more expert in RV travel! Pacific Coast Highway 1 (PCH) - California. 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. 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. Planning a trip on PCH last week of July 2020. Stop 2: Santa Cruz and its boardwalk. of the PCH? I love small beaches and in less popular destinations like this! The turn-out for Ruby Beach occurs right as the highway reaches the Pacific coast. Overwhelmed by the vastness of it all. Thank you, and your blog is fantastic! California Pacific Coast Highway reopens section after storm collapse We fly out of LA. This post was originally published in August 2014, and was updated regularly including most recently in May 2022. 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. We might consider staying a total of 12-15 days. Unfortunately, I dont have suggestions for Santa Barbara as I havent been there in nearly a decade. OPEN SUN, 1PM TO 4PM. Franke's first solo album is surprisingly melodic, highly accessible, and immaculately produced. I hate cold! 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. Raynard, when are you going? Thank you! So heading east eventually to round out the trip. Southern California. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange . Ending at a beach front hotel in Diego for 2-3 days to visit that college, unwind and settle a little bit before leaving. I was far more interested in the hundreds of miles of coastal roadways. Suggestions? Depending on whether you drive a Washington to California road trip or just drive portions in California, you can start/end your road trip at the various cities in this guide. Thank you very much for providing a road map! Bonus- Rent A Car To Drive The Pacific Coast Highway. Just give yourself more time and end n LA. Its hard to do the drive one way in just 5 days from San Diego to Seattle adding on the time driving from Arizona and the return trip, I think you need at least 10-12 days. Thanks so much, Lois and glad to help! There are loads of cool things to explore in/around this small PNW town, including Olympic National Park! Thanks for your comment, David! In this post, I promote travel across lands that are the traditional lands of many Indigenous groups. 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. 7 Stunning Viewpoints on the Pacific Coast Highway By Michael Hodson Updated on 06/03/19 At just over six hundred and fifty miles in length, and running along much of the coast of California, the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most popular road trip destinations in the United States. From the beach boardwalk to the lush redwoods, Santa Cruz is one of the best places to stop on the Pacific Coast Highway. Valerie, cant thank you enough for this 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. But there's something extra special about driving the Pacific Coast Highway as it approaches its southern end. 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] 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 do not care to get into the Los Angeles areaHowever, the Sequoias are a must. If youre planning a PCH trip and want to pass through San Francisco, you can either skim over along the side of the city as you drive down the coast, take a detour inland to visit Yosemite National Park or dive in for one night knowing it will only make you want to come back for more. We just booked Patrees room! 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. The Pacific Coast Highway is arguably one of the most famous drives in the entire world. haha. I didnt spend a ton of time on the Central Coast, but be sure to stop at Pismo Beach and drive through Carmel. Great post. It sounds like youll have an awesome trip, and happy early birthday to him! These Pacific Coast Highway road trip stops really seem like true country California. Moon Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip: California, Oregon & Washington (Travel Guide) by Ian Anderson | Dec 20, 2022. Its easy to make a stop in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, so take the opportunity! I wish I could remember the name of the mountain turnoff in Washington. 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. Lot of driving in 10 days, but I am excited. Crater lake was amazing!! 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. 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. Theres a nice public parking area near a lake that overlooks the Washington State Capital building. Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most famous and beautiful road trips on earth. Valerie, First off, congratulations on your recent wedding! 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). We are planning a west coast trip and are considering renting an RV one way from Portland or Seattle to San Francisco. If I can make a recommendation? The ideia is to have a West Coast Beer Route drive. Thank you in advance! Sort of the opposite of sea stacks like Haystack Rock,Devils Punchbowlis another beautiful natural rock formation along the Oregon Coast. Download Pacific Coast Highway stock photos. ), Valerie, My wife and I are planning this very trip you outlined. Christopher Franke - Pacific Coast Highway Album Reviews - AllMusic 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. From here on south, it's miles-upon-miles of beautiful sand beaches, palm-lined streets, and thriving coastal cities. Thank you for the pointers! lol. So it adds about 3 hours of driving time, but it also means youll miss out on basically all of the Oregon Coast. 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. When in doubt, stay on the coast. Where is 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 . We booked a flight to San Jose to explore the citys economic hub and cultural traditions. To access the map on Roadtrippers, you just need to click the map! I stopped here to eat a to-go lunch I had purchased earlier in the drive, with my toes in the sand. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Follow California Highway 1 south. Great tips, Kathi! Hope to rent a car there? What would be a good hopping on point? We were 70s teenagers all around! Thank you. 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 would love to take this vacation but not fall short on money. Hi, I love Portland and San Francisco. Point Reyes is arguably my favorite part of the Pacific Coast Highway and that is saying something as its really hard to choose favorites from over 650 miles of California coastline! The Oregon Coast Aquarium lets visitors explore the marine ecosystems around this part of the Pacific Ocean. Thank you for this wonderful review. This is a 23km section of real roads on California Highway 1, one of the great all-American roads on the scenic West Coast, and is widely considered among the best driving roads in the world. Thank you for sharing! I will be driving from Dallas to Seattle. Hi Valerie- What is the best time of year for this 10 day trip? Even an email answer is fine!! Here's an example PCH itinerary: Day 1: Seattle WA, to Forks, WA. #addittothelist. I havent been to Yellowstone so I cant say if its worth it, unfortunately. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Carry on south on CA-1, the PCH. Thanks for reading, Dale. I am not a family travel expert so I dont have advice there! Big Sur is defined as the stretch of coastline and adjacent state park between Carmel and San Simeon. Wonderful trip sharing you made. 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 know we wont see everything, but its the only time frame we have. Also wondering if you can tell me where I could get a printable version of your article. By the end, youll be ready to plan your own Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: None! Any suggestions. I recommend checking out California resources for the pandemic before you book anything. Sorry; I dont have any suggestions for that! Is Yellowstone worth the long detour? When driving the PCH south from Portland, how much of a detour would it be to see Crater Lake on the way? to San Diego, CA. The redwoods are a definite. Find and save ideas about pacific coast highway on Pinterest. My question is: how to best use our time? Solvang Thanks so much for reading, Teresa! Similar to Haystack Rock, your experience stopping at Devils Punchbowl will depend on the tides. 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). 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. 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. The PCH is Highway 1 in California, though sometimes Highway 1 and 101 overlap which is what causes the confusion! Login or Register an account to download this content. Stop 3: Monterey and its aquarium. Day 4: Redwood State Park, CA to San Francisco, CA. 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. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: If you are doing a quick Pacific Coast Highway road trip, head south from Olympia along I-5 to Portland. Its a great spot for a short hike to stretch your legs. It looks so cute! AI TRAFFIC - for Pacific Coast (0.95) | RaceDepartment This gorgeous building mostly survived the 1906 earthquake and captures Victorian glory with modern amenities. ), this post will give you all you need to know. Not sure it matters when you set out from Seattle; itll be great no matter when you go! I hope you have an epic time; Patrees such an amazing host! Amazingly great article. They all offer budget rentals, run regular deals and specials, and have one-way rental options. You could do this road-trip in as little as five days, but I recommend taking at least seven or maybe 10 if you have the time! Hurricane Ridge. We definitely want to visit the redwood forest, which is the main reason we want to go so far north. Thanks for reading, Jennifer. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Follow CA-1 south its a meandering route, but if you follow it all the way until Muir Beach you can make an optional stop at Muir Woods if you want. Our plan (2 people) would be to fly into Seattle, where family is. The best time of year to do this will be in the summer (June/July/August), probably sooner in the year rather than later. Next, youll pass through Point Reyes, which again seems underwhelming. That gives you a lot more to do each day to wear the kids out and much more suitable for an RV. San Luis Obispo with Paso Robles). This Pacific Coast Highway itinerary is 7 days and will let you take the whole route and return home with unforgettable memories: If you have more time to drive the PCH, this 10-day itinerary is perfect. We are planning a trip in Sept 0f 2022, starting in Portland, ending in San Diego. 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). Wondering about forest fires and how they affect the trip. This will be a great tool in planning. Any recommendations will be appreciated! Follow the highway south as it winds inland and along the coast. If I were going to recommend a route, Id do something like the National Parks in California or the Utah/Arizona/SoCal loop. The Outdoor Blueprint team pieces together an incredible guide featuring all the best coastal stops from Vancouver, B.C. Also, how many days should we take for the one-way trip back. We are planning to do Northboundfrom Ventura to Wine country but only have 5 days returning on the 5th day. 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). Sort of a round trip Oregon adventure. The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Guide 1. A one-week Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary will allow you to see the highlights without feeling rushed. Did you drive it alone and what do you think about being able to see well driving north to south? Also how many days driving for this trip. Valerie I just came across this post. The Point Reyes Lighthouse is only open to visitors from Fridays to Mondays (weekends) from 10am-4:30pm. Sea the possibilities. We are thinking of late September of 2022 doing a two week drive from north to south. Thanks for the great ideas! I havent stayed at any L.A. hotels, so I dont feel comfortable recommending any. Chinquel, nice to hear from you! If you do decide to spend an overnight in the area, I recommend stopping in the town of Mendocino first for late lunch, walking around the Mendocino Headlands, then continue driving south to spend the night at the beautiful Little River Inn for dinner at the Whale Watch Bar. Do you highly recommend the LONG route OR is thru Mendocino only enough? 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!! 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. Thank you for your great ideas and itineraries! I am planning a trip in late July. Driving California's Pacific Coast Highway | Audley Travel We just did this trip in October 2019, We started in Portland to Cannons beach then headed south on HWY 101.