Rainier, plenty of coastlines, and Redwoods. 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 !! 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. The weather should be okay but be prepared for coastal fog and chill (as you would experience pretty much all year long!). Starting in San Francisco, you'll cruise south along the Pacific Coast of California, visiting vibrant cities, secluded beaches and stunning State Parks as you go. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Follow CA-1 south out of L.A. to avoid the citys notorious traffic as you make your way along the coast. Unfortunately, when I drove the PCH it was pretty foggy and cool most of the week. 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. Cant say enough how appreciative we are. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south along California Highway 1. One day, I would LOVE to make this road trip. 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. Whats your thought on late availability rooms at that time of year? Hurricane Ridge. 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. Im definitely going to try to do it sometime! You can stretch your legs with a short walk before getting back on the road. My car is a convertible (BMW 3 series) so I am not sure if it can take on the road during Dec end Seattle and portland area mainly ? Sorry about the delay, Scott. Those are my top recommendations! We can only do a quick trip. Great info . Awesome suggestions and itinerary! The best way to enjoy southern California is by diving straight into the beachside culture. You'll also pass by several unique beaches on the way, but one you should totally check out is Glass Beach. 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. Want to know more? I am planning for this roadtrip this December- starting from Dec 25th. This will be a great tool in planning. I stopped here to eat a to-go lunch I had purchased earlier in the drive, with my toes in the sand. Now I want to take a trip there from San Diego to the Canadian border while sitting on a Honda Goldwing trike. I have been to Europe, for 2 years, and nothing compares to this coastal trip. Free or royalty-free photos and images. Located on a beautiful crescent-shaped bay, Crescent City is along part of the PCH where California Highway 1 and U.S. Highway 101 overlap hence this guide refers to both Highway 1 and Highway 101 as the PCH in the different states. I would like to follow the route on the map. We just booked Patrees room! Thanks so much for sharing your experience for others to know its worth doing!! I will be driving from Dallas to Seattle. Great read! Hi Valerie. If not, spend your day exploring the Seattle waterfront to see all of the city from above. 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. We would be flying from GA, so I guess I go fling to Seattle, and the book one home for San Diego? For bigger cities, there are probably enough options that you can wait until you arrive to book, even during that time of year. If I can make a recommendation? PCH bucket list road trip done! There are a few restaurants in town and 17 miles of beautiful beach to explore. Its a great spot for a short hike to stretch your legs. I was born on the East Coast and currently live in the Midwest but my heart will always be out West. 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. This is exactly what I was looking for. and so much more! Sea the possibilities. We might consider staying a total of 12-15 days. At this point you should take the exit to CA-1; this is now the Pacific Coast Highway. LA's vast size may seem daunting, but if you plan what you want to see and do, it can be a really rewarding place to visit. The must-see sights definitely include places such as Hearst Castle and Big Sur. 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. Thanks for your comment, Rex! A weekend of sea, sand, and sunscreen. You can definitely do that! My stop in Fort Bragg was relatively short, but it was worth it! Thank you . My problem is going to be deciding what not to do because Ill only have so much time (and money). The Pacific Coast Highway runs along two highways: In Washington and Oregon, the best weather of the year happens between June and September. I am planning a 10 day trip the last two weeks in May down the entire PCH from Seattle to San Diego. Thanks for reading, Brianna! You might have even stopped to take a picture of the sunset from a beautiful lookout along the Pacific Coast Highway and can caption it with, "Just say the word and we'll go back." Every. The Oregon Coast Aquarium lets visitors explore the marine ecosystems around this part of the Pacific Ocean. NEW CONSTRUCTION. 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. 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. Were staying just outside of Long Beach, in cute little Ilwaco, WA, at Salt Hotel & Pub. Let me know if you have any other questions while planning or on the road! Thank you again. Glad to help, Ashley! 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! 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. Its a small detail, but totally uncalifornian to say the PCH. We are thinking of late September of 2022 doing a two week drive from north to south. Nope, headed northbound is not a bad way to go its actually the way I went on my first drive! 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!). You probably wont have any snow its usually just rain in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon & Washington). Should we go down the coast only (plus say Portland & Crater Lk), or head inland given how much time we have? Pacific Coast Highway Directions: As you might have guessed continue following California Highway 1 south! Download Pacific Coast Highway stock photos. Thank you again for all of your information. ENJOY the sightseeing trip of a lifetime. Hello, my name is Sonia and I am from Puerto Rico. I have a few questions. San Diego is known for its Zoo and was made Instagram famous for Potato Chip Rock. As the tallest lighthouse on the U.S. Pacific Coast, Pigeon Point Lighthouse is picturesque, and you can view it from several different angles along the nearby coastline. #addittothelist. Waves, waves, and more waves. Hello Valerie; my family and i are thinking about a trip from northern CA to San Diego along the coast. Thank you for any other tips. If youre considering a drive down (or up) the western coast of the U.S., look no further. You thinks thats safe or should I make some. 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. 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!! But the hills inland will go even steeper! We've driven sections of this coastline twice, between LA and San Francisco. For accommodation, try a small hotel like the. I have looked up the different uses of the word and grammatically correct samples, and I believe you needed to use it in past-tense. There are no reasonable alternatives for some of the routes like the one across Bixby Canyon Bridge (shown above). 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. Thanks for reading, Thomas. Also, niece is vegan and I am meat eater. Thank you for the comprehensive narrative! 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). I will be driving alone and he thought I would be able to enjoy the view better looking to my left than to my right while driving. I know we wont see everything, but its the only time frame we have. Thanks for reading, Laurie! My wife and I (with our dog) are driving from Pismo Beach to Cannon Beach and staying at a beach house there. 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. We are planning a trip in Sept 0f 2022, starting in Portland, ending in San Diego. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head west along U.S. 101 until it turns south along the west coast of the Olympic Peninsula. Yes, we intend to stay a couple of nights in Portland and 2 or 3 in San Francisco but well probably look for hotels on the outskirts and travel in to the cities by car or public transport each day. The Pacific Coast Highway has long been considered a "dream drive" and the ultimate road trip. Great question So Crater Lake is pretty far inland. Dont be in a hurry and be cautious so you can enjoy everything. I am planning to take this trip with my family of 5 as you have lined out for the 10 days this coming June. I hope you had a great drive, Mindy! Im at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone! The ocean is my happy place. haha. 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)? These make perfect Instagram captions for dreamy sunsets or foggy mornings on the Pacific. I dont have it I just want to make sure businesses are open? Have a great trip!! Also, further north, you could fly to Portland and do the Oregon coast too. Its less than 10 minutes drive from Newport to Devils Punch Bowl. I drove one and I hardly ever got to enjoy it!.why were you hardly ever able to enjoy driving a convertible???? 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 for reading, Lynda! Very nicely done thanks ever so much !! Have you seen these two posts? The longer you spend, the more youll get to see and enjoy. "Golden state of mind." 3. What is the average speed on the 101? It was actually quite a lot colder than I expected so I usually ended up too cold with the top down. That gives you a lot more to do each day to wear the kids out and much more suitable for an RV. Dont drive down to SD and back up to LA. We planned to start in Seattle and drive to San Diego. 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 . Raynard, when are you going? Im trying to connect with the guide I found on pinterest. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south along U.S. 101. The Pacific Coast Highway is up there with the most beautiful drives in the world. I am planning a road-trip with my husband along the Pacific coast. Thanks for reading, Jan. Here are my twenty five favorite stops on PCH from south to north. Youre very welcome, Wilbert! For the California portion, I recommend September & October! 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 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. of the PCH? How long is the Pacific Coast Highway? I am doing this trip with the boyfriend end of this month. Great trip! 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 was, for the most part, ambivalent about the cities along the PCH. Seattle is one of my favorite destinations in the world. The speed limit ranges from 55mph to 25mph theres really no helpful way to give an average! I can really tell that you love traveling, Valerie . AI TRAFFIC - for Pacific Coast (0.95) 0.85. Just wondering about restrictions? Thanks again. You can get a printable version by signing up on the forms in 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? Ending at a beach front hotel in Diego for 2-3 days to visit that college, unwind and settle a little bit before leaving. Just south of the Bay Area, Santa Cruz is a laid back, quirky hippie town. Theres a nice public parking area near a lake that overlooks the Washington State Capital building. Find and save ideas about pacific coast highway on Pinterest. There are loads of cool things to explore in/around this small PNW town, including Olympic National Park! We are just looking to site sea on our way back home from Disneyland I was looking at Hearst Castle and the Elephant Seal Vista Point but dont see much reviews on them with kids. Im assuiming youve read the whole post, as I do cover a 7-day suggested itinerary, and cover overnight stops along the Oregon coast. This was more expensive than a round-trip rental, but I didnt want to drive the Pacific Coast Highway both ways! A couple of reasons: 1. Long Beach is and always will be one of my favorite destinations in Washington. Or, do you think one could just take a chance and stop and book a room when in need??? I do not plan to do any shopping at stores, so our money would be spent on a rental vehicle, hotels, gas, and food. Pacific Coast Highway Map, Direction & Start/End Points. I appreciate all the information! Officially, only the short, sun-loving stretch of Hwy 1 through Orange and Los Angeles Counties can legally call itself Pacific Coast Highway. I havent been to Yellowstone so I cant say if its worth it, unfortunately. May 16, 2022 by Allison Green. I think its going to be a tough year fro travel! . 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 for all of this great information! 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). I recently discovered Mendocino on a weekend trip and fell in love with the small town. Also, we were thinking with the additional days to do a detour over to Yosemite. Day 4: Redwood State Park, CA to San Francisco, CA. "Someone told me there's a girl out there, with love in her eyes and flowers in her hair." Led Zeppelin, "Going to California" 2. I do not care to get into the Los Angeles areaHowever, the Sequoias are a must. 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. Thanks for sharing. The most commonly driven part of the . I havent been to some of those national parks, but they sound amazing! The ocean's energy is magical. Thanks for your comment, Victoria! What day of the week would you recommend starting from WA? Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most famous and beautiful road trips on earth. from Seattle to San Diego along this route . Did you drive it alone and what do you think about being able to see well driving north to south? On your stop here, be sure to walk out along the pier and keep an eye out for surfers working the breaks along the beach. Still figuring it out. Im going to publish a suggested 7-day PCH guide soon! This Hello Valerie & Valise, I love this trip information on, it is so amazingly helpful. We stay in San Diego on Pacific/Mission Beach a lot so no need to travel this far south for us. When driving the PCH south from Portland, how much of a detour would it be to see Crater Lake on the way? Reading through this your article is going to be a huge help as our family plans our two-week trip. Were renting an RV in Seattle (after few days in hotel) and have 30 days before we drop it off in San Fran (and hotel for a few days). The redwoods are a definite. Thank you! Our plan (2 people) would be to fly into Seattle, where family is. Hi there, I am thinking of taking a solo trip down the PCH from Long Beach, WA to LA? Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south along CA-1. ?? I am planning a trip for next year, saving and researching. Is Yellowstone worth the long detour? Whether you stop to take a few Instagram-worthy spots or ogle the animals, theres plenty of experiences to choose from in San Diego. Unfortunately, you cant climb the lighthouse steps as it has been closed for restoration since 2001. Thank you so much for creating this itinerary! These seem to be the hardest parts to figure out for this type of trip! 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! Now Im going to lay out step-by-step directions for a Pacific Coast Highway road trip based on all my tips so far. Would there be a place where the rental could be left in those regions? hi planing to do the PCH however we will be in Las Vegas and driving to San Francisco will be there for 2 or 3 days and dont know witch is better to do San Francisco to L A back to Vegas or go north San Francisco to Seattle and then drive to Vegas i will have a extra 3 to 4 days what is your thoughts, we are nature and wildlife lovers not to big into visiting towns. taking my 13 and 17 year old with my wife. 5 Beds. Once inPortland, its easy to spend a few days exploring; I have been to Portland repeatedly and there are so many experiences that can more than fill a stop on your road trip. Thanks for the great ideas! This is great information and very helpful! The only places you can fly would be Crescent City but itll require changing through San Francisco anyway. 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. 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. Great tips, Kathi! Ann, thanks so much for your comment. Briefly, here are some of the other must-see attractions in Seattle: If you want to spend a few days in Seattle, consider purchasing the Seattle CityPass. Especially watching the sun set over Morro Rock in the distance! Day 3: Bodega Bay to Point Arena (62 miles) The highway continues north, skimming the Pacific Ocean for the entire length of today's journey, with several diversions along the way. Be sure to check the California DOT website for more information. I am thinking 5 days from Portland to LA. A one-week Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary will allow you to see the highlights without feeling rushed. Hi, I love Portland and San Francisco. Hi, My wife and I are planning a 7-day drive from San Fran to Portland in late June of this year. First thank you for all the work you put into this! 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 . You could see Canada and the river valley. We are coming from Pennsylvania. Thank you. 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. Portland has loads of great hotels, but my favorite is the, For vacation rental options, consider this. Hi We have just 1-day and will be starting in Fortuna and heading to San Francisco. Thanks so much from a couple of Canucks! I love all the details and recommendations! Phoenix77. 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. Nate, thanks for your comment. Stretching from Washington to California, the Pacific Coast is picturesque, with cliffs, sea stacks, gorgeous urban spaces, and the raging ocean. 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? Eileen, thanks for your comment, and for reading! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Follow California Highway 1 south. I can't stop looking at that ocean. If youre a fan, make sure to stop in Aberdeen to see the house where he grew up. Is this doable in 7 days, with stops during the day and to spend the night? March is a fine time to drive the PCH the weather on the Pacific Coast is pretty similar all year long! Similar to Haystack Rock, your experience stopping at Devils Punchbowl will depend on the tides. We are going to go the middle of September 2022 and take a flight from Phx to somewhere around Crescent city. I enjoyed it so much that I wrote a whole article about the experiences I recommend in Santa Barbara! I hope you have a great trip whenever you can make it! If youve just stayed overnight in Santa Barbara or started your road trip in San Diego, that may not make as much sense. Its the best time for good weather on the whole coast! I share travel resources and stories based on my personal experience and knowledge. Lot of driving in 10 days, but I am excited. I do too (ish Im in Oakland!). 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. So heading east eventually to round out the 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! $2,785,000. If you dont have the time, plan an overnight stop and make a late start after brunch at one of Portlands many amazing restaurants. I am currently living in crescent city and plan to make the drive in a couple of weeks. 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. I plan to rent a car in Los Angeles in the summer and make a similar journey, Hello! What are must see spots. Pacific Highway Route information Existed 1913-1926 [a] Major junctions South end San Diego, CA North end Vancouver, BC Location Country United States States California, Oregon, Washington, (also Vancouver in British Columbia) Highway system Auto trails Pacific Highway is the name of several north-south highways in the Pacific Coast region of the Western United States, either by . Thanks for your comment, Terri! The first time, we (I) had it all planned out. Also, its not exactly the most stimulating view its a bit better for older kids than younger ones. We are planning to spend Thanksgiving in San Diego. Im glad to surpass the AAA level. Where is the Pacific Coast Highway? These stops are numbered to match my Roadtrippers map and trip above (click here to open the trip in a separate window). Driving south on the right-hand side of the road, youll have a great view of the ocean and coastline. What are the reasons you really never got to enjoy using a convertible car? 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). 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. Right, Mel? Thank you for the pointers! What time of year would be best to do this. Just one small thing, its not the PCH, its just PCH. 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. Ruby Beach is only a short drive from Hoh Rainforest but its the most picturesque beach on Washingtons Pacific Coast. We are thinking Crescent City to Santa Barbara? Thanks for reading, Angel! Any recommendations will be appreciated! 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. memory cards before you know it. Have a great trip! 4,329 Sq. To ensure accommodations, I was thinking to book all of the hotels in advance. We are planning our trip for the first half of April, SF to LA. We were planning on a 7day road trip with our 8, 6 and 20 month olds in June. We want to spend 5 days for PCH and not sure where to fly in or out of. 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. Travelling from Auckland to Napier, you'll experience lakes, wildlife, vineyards and a tranquil lagoon. lol. Silvia, not to minimize risks but I think the issue is not being represented realistically by the media. As this post is over 6,000 words long, I typically dont provide extra additional itinerary services for free. 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! 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.