Hurricane Ridge. 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. We just booked Patrees room! Hi V& VDid you make hotel reservations in advance for your overnight stops? Hey Valerie great name yourself! Hoping to do this mid Sept 2020. I love to do a Pacific Coast Highway drive at some point in my life. Also, I love your pictures! You can stretch your legs with a short walk before getting back on the road. Am interested in your upcoming 7 day itinerary of PCH. 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 Thank so much for putting together a wonderful and comprehensive itinerary of the PC scenic drive. Pacific Coast Highway 1 (PCH) - California. Taking my granddaughter on an epic journey. 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. Thanks again! It is best known for the stretch along the Californian coast, with spectacular ocean views and awesome attractions as you travel. We definitely want to visit the redwood forest, which is the main reason we want to go so far north. To answer your questions: 1. Also, further north, you could fly to Portland and do the Oregon coast too. Again, thank you so much!! Drive Time: About 3.5 Hours. 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. 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. staying at decent places 3-4 star properties. 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. Thanks for reading, Jan. It connects the beautiful harbor town of Dana Point in southern California's Orange County to Leggett, California, in Mendocino County, home to some of the largest trees in the world. I do not care to get into the Los Angeles areaHowever, the Sequoias are a must. Id go with a mid-size car for your rental. Download Pacific Coast Highway stock photos. Does that sound reasonable or doable? Nice ride. I would love to do a Pacific Coast Highway drive at some point in my life. 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 !! Getting excited. If I were going to recommend a route, Id do something like the National Parks in California or the Utah/Arizona/SoCal loop. Im glad it was helpful. 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. We are thinking of taking this drive during the week of Christmas. Even an email answer is fine!! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Its a short drive south and a little east along U.S. 101 from Long Beach to cross the Astoria into Oregon. 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. Youve got so much time, thats awesome! Unfortunately, when I drove the PCH it was pretty foggy and cool most of the week. The views of the colors changing in the trees were surreal. I lived for 15 years in Alaska, as well as four years each in California and Washington. Pacific coast highway road trip with kids. Read more in my Privacy Policy. Regarding I recommend an automatic car with a low center of gravity but skip the convertible! Still figuring it out. So doing our 101 bucket list too, but want a 2-3 days near Ocean Beach, CA. San Diego was the starting point of my Pacific Coast Highway road trip; for you, it may be the end. If youre considering a drive down (or up) the western coast of the U.S., look no further. That gives you a lot more to do each day to wear the kids out and much more suitable for an RV. I can think off the top of my head that you could do the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Our plan (2 people) would be to fly into Seattle, where family is. We are planning our trip for the first half of April, SF to LA. In Northern California, the best weather of the year happens between September and October. Thank you for sharing. Hood. 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. Im driving with our 5 kids (ages 1 -13) and my wife. After Crater lake we headed back to 238 towards HWY 101, we took an off road to hit the coast right at Brookings. Or, do you think one could just take a chance and stop and book a room when in need??? 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. Maybe worth checking another site thats more expert in RV travel! Most head to the Hollywood area and its movie-related attractions. The Outdoor Blueprint team pieces together an incredible guide featuring all the best coastal stops from Vancouver, B.C. Thanks for reading, Brian. 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. Appreciate you sharing your experience and advice. To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to exploreNative Land. We then headed to San Fran, our ending point. Required fields are marked *. We only wish to go South as far as Salinas (more family) or Santa Barbara the furthest. And other than his military time at Ft Lewis many years ago, we have never lived nor toured the west coast at all. 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. I havent been to Yellowstone so I cant say if its worth it, unfortunately. If I were youI would do a leisurely drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles/San Diego. Id be happy to save the money and just drive with the windows down when I want some fresh air. Thanks for your comment, David! The Pacific Coast Highway traces the coast as closely as possible around the edge of Los Angeles, America's second largest city. Now my only problem is trying to figure out how many extra days were going to need! Hi Valerie, we are planning a trip from Crescent city back home to Phoenix traveling along PCH. So I am very, very thankful to have found THIS resource!! I love all the details that you are recommended here. Now that Ive moved to this part of California, I know this is true. Thanks for reading, Jennifer. I also downloaded the Roadtrippers app but I cant find it. 1. 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. But, we need to go the opposite way; starting in San Diego and heading north. Also being from Colorado, we would love to camp oceanside, do you have any recommendations on campsites? Maybe Im AAAA ? 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. Drive safely! The worst that happens is you might end up in a slightly less nice place than you had planned. Day 4: Redwood State Park, CA to San Francisco, CA. The best time of year to do this will be in the summer (June/July/August), probably sooner in the year rather than later. With colorful historic seaside homes and great hiking trails and other outdoor activities, Mendocino is good for at least an overnight stop dont be surprised if you want to spend even longer here once you arrive! Where is the Pacific Coast Highway? Youre very welcome, and have a great road trip!! In this forest, youll find amazing old growth trees and is incredibly verdant. The turn-out for Ruby Beach occurs right as the highway reaches the Pacific coast. Big Sur is defined as the stretch of coastline and adjacent state park between Carmel and San Simeon. As the title suggests, this music would make the perfect soundtrack for a drive up the California coast. The Oregon Coast Aquarium lets visitors explore the marine ecosystems around this part of the Pacific Ocean. 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. Thank you so much for this information! Have a great trip and drive safely! It probably means deviating from PCH for a bit and were ok with that. 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. This blog has been incredibly helpful. At this point you should take the exit to CA-1; this is now the Pacific Coast Highway. I appreciate your asking for clarification! We always wanted to do an RV trip, but maybe the PCH is not the one to do that on?? Heather, you saw the rest of the post, right? I am saving this to research more of the places you mentioned !! We are only going to be there once though and want to make the most of it. It depends a lot on how long you plan to make the drive do you know how many days youll be driving? I have been to Europe, for 2 years, and nothing compares to this coastal trip. Id find an interesting podcast for everyone in the car and have the kids keep an eye out for whales and wildlife. 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. I was wondering if you could suggest a place for stargazing. Best of all, theres no cell service so theyll have to look around to see them . 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. 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 am planning a 10 day trip the last two weeks in May down the entire PCH from Seattle to San Diego. Sorry, but theres no way to do the drive to Seattle and back along the PCH in just 7 days. trees. San Jose is a creative and thriving high-tech culture epicenter. Although I live in San Francisco, Ive yet to visit several of these places on this list. Were taking the 5 to Seattle with a few stops on the way then PCH from Port Angeles to SD. Best trip ever! If youve just stayed overnight in Santa Barbara or started your road trip in San Diego, that may not make as much sense. I appreciate all the information! 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. Portland? For campsites, Im not super sure as Im not a big camper, but this might help: https://www.theoutbound.com/theoutbound/camping-along-the-pacific-10-seaside-campsites-for-your-west-coast-road-trip. The Pacific Coast Highway is an ambitious road trip, but totally possible in as few as five days. lol. Thank you for all this information. Our partners offer one-way rentals from multiple locations in San Francisco and Los Angeles. I am planning to take this trip with my family of 5 as you have lined out for the 10 days this coming June. What would be a good hopping on point? Thank you, and your blog is fantastic! Sort of a round trip Oregon adventure. 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. #addittothelist. It was actually quite a lot colder than I expected so I usually ended up too cold with the top down. 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. Enjoyed this 14 day article! As soon as you hit the section of the Pacific Coast Highway connecting. Valerie, valuable tips ! Im looking forward to have the same experience with my wife and my son. Im thinking of doing this trip from Seattle to San Diego. Thanks so much. 1. 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. Thanks again. Let me know how it goes! From the beach boardwalk to the lush redwoods, Santa Cruz is one of the best places to stop on the Pacific Coast Highway. This is such a great resource. Drive safe in between those beer stops! This was a 6 day trip. do you have a printable version of this? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Planning a trip on PCH last week of July 2020. https://www.valisemag.com/pacific-coast-highway-guide/ https://www.valisemag.com/california-coast-road-trip/ Both include info on the area between San Diego and Santa Monica. 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. For bigger cities, there are probably enough options that you can wait until you arrive to book, even during that time of year. Thanks for reading though , Thanks so much for an in depth post. At low tide, you can hike down into the hole or go tide pooling; at other times you can have a picnic while trying to spot whales off the coast. I am planning a trip for next year, saving and researching. I drove one and I hardly ever got to enjoy it! The Pacific Coast Highway is up there with the most beautiful drives in the world. After Crescent City, the Pacific Coast Highway starts to navigate in and away from the coast at times, which includes chances to experience one of Californias natural wonders: the Redwoods. The route between Los Angeles and San Diego is not as popular as the classic long road trip between Los Angeles and San Francisco on Highway 1.San Francisco is one of the most important cities in the United States and, thanks to its charm and favorable location on the way to visit the national parks, is often preferred over San Diego, which shares the Pacific Ocean with San Francisco and Los . Thanks for your comment, Shelly! Thanks! My favorite place is Mendocino if the skies are clear! Hi Valerie, I am doing the PCH drive southbound from Seattle and as far as we can go for 5 days. Youd need to fly into. 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. Ive been to Napa, Sonoma and Russian River Valley but curious if there are any great places you are aware of. Nope, headed northbound is not a bad way to go its actually the way I went on my first drive! The Pacific Coast Highway has long been considered a "dream drive" and the ultimate road trip. Thanks for all of this great information! Please drop the the. Flew into Seattle and drove back. Great article! I recommend researching/contacting each one individual to confirm theyll be open. I would love to take this vacation but not fall short on money. Im assuiming youve read the whole post, as I do cover a 7-day suggested itinerary, and cover overnight stops along the Oregon coast. The weather also wasnt great for most of the route; after moving up out of SoCal, youre much more likely to experience clouds and/or the marine layer on the PCH. Thanks! If you see an error, please contact me. Are we likely to hit snow in the northern stops? Theres a nice public parking area near a lake that overlooks the Washington State Capital building. We are so overwhelmed. Also how many days driving for this trip. Thanks for reading, Lauren! Want to know more? 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! 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. I am currently living in crescent city and plan to make the drive in a couple of weeks. 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! This is great information and very helpful! It sounds like youll have a great trip no matter what! In fact, we serve over 15 000 different locations worldwide. 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. Also known as Big Sur, the route winds along the rugged California coastline (from Cape San Martin to Ragged . Very nicely done thanks ever so much !! Making a Pacific Coast Highway road trip is a popular bucket list experiencefor good reason! Lot of driving in 10 days, but I am excited. Have a great trip!! For accommodation, try a small hotel like the. Thanks for your help in advance!!!! Just starting to think about a 1st time road trip from Az to Washington and back among the PCH!!?? Thank you so much for passing on your wisdom and experience. Also, I will have 3 weeks to do this, I like small towns, Vegan food, and too out of shape for extended hikes. Planning a mother/son trip after my son graduates HS next year. 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 . I have tendency to suffer from analysis paralysis therefore navigating all the ins and outs what to do where to stay etc would be overwhelming to say the least. Reading through this your article is going to be a huge help as our family plans our two-week trip. Can you share with me how long this should take us?? These seem to be the hardest parts to figure out for this type of trip! Day 2: Forks, WA to Cape Kiwanda, OR. 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? Both have way more to explore once you stop or pull off the road. I am going to mostly follow the path you outlined in your 10 day itinerary. When you hit the California coast, its like driving in a postcard. Youll have less distance (just the car and shoulder) instead of an entire lane of the road plus the shoulder. 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? Wifey and I did the PCH trip a while ago, shortly after we got married. 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. September and October are definitely best for visiting NorCal, so I recommend that time of year too! The ideia is to have a West Coast Beer Route drive. WOW! I love all the details and recommendations! Just one small thing, its not the PCH, its just PCH. Driving south on the right-hand side of the road, youll have a great view of the ocean and coastline. It was a great help! Sounds like youve got a great plan drive safe! 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. We are coming from Pennsylvania. Thank you. Glad to help, Andrew I hope you have an amazing trip! I share travel resources and stories based on my personal experience and knowledge. Thanks for asking, Helen! Its really up to you to decide where you want to end and figure out the closest rental car/airport option from there, but there are airports of all sizes throughout the region. The PCH heads inland near Lompoc but is the main road you can take to Santa Barbara. Very glad to help, and I hope you have a great trip! I love road trips & he tolerates them so I am looking forward to all these sights to see! Have a safe trip!! AI TRAFFIC - for Pacific Coast (0.95) 0.85. 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. Mike, great to hear from you and thanks for reading! Pacific coast highway road trip with kids. Sonja, glad to help! Thanks for reading, Angel! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head south from Ruby Beach along U.S. 101. If you're starting your PCH drive from Seattle . My husband, myself and our four kids always take adventurous vacations every summer. I had saved this resource to help me plan. Thanks for reading, Brianna! Thanks for your comment, Jorge! AAA has no candle to this. I am planning a road-trip with my husband along the Pacific coast. 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? By the end, youll be ready to plan your own Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary. The best way to enjoy southern California is by diving straight into the beachside culture. Have a great trip! Amy, take a look at the Santa Maria Valley I stopped in Lompoc on a trip recently and they have some fun and interesting wineries there. Explore the route. Im at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone!