Many travelers question, Is it better to drive up or down the California coast? We think
the best route on California State Route 1 is from north to south
– which is why we recommend the drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles via the Pacific Coast Highway.
How many days does it take to drive the coast of California?
How long does it take to drive the Pacific Coast Highway? To drive the entire coastal CA Highway 1 takes 10-12 hours without stops. But this road trip is all about the stops! Plan on a minimum of
3 days and 2 nights
.
Where should you stop when driving on the coast of California?
- Crescent City Pebble Beach. Lighthouse. …
- Giant trees and lush forest in the Humboldt Redwoods State Park. …
- Golden Gate Bridge. …
- Devil’s Slide at Half Moon Bay. …
- Surfers at Sunrise in Santa Cruz. …
- Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf. …
- Bixby Bridge. …
- Elephant Seals resting on the beach.
What is the prettiest part of the Pacific Coast Highway?
- The Golden Gate Bridge. …
- Greyhound Rock Beach. …
- Carmel by the Sea. …
- Big Sur and Pfeiffer State Beach. …
- Dana Point. …
- Point Loma. …
- How Gray Line San Francisco can help you explore:
Is the Pacific Coast Highway worth it?
But
it’s completely worth it
. In our opinion, it’s one of the most pristinely beautiful and inspiring places on earth. Anywhere – literally, anywhere. Try to time your trip for early morning or late afternoon, while the sun is still out, giving yourself ample time to make it back onto main roads before dark.
What is the prettiest part of Highway 1?
- Stop one: Carmel-by-the-Sea. …
- Stop two: Calla Lily Valley. …
- Stop three: Bixby Creek Bridge. …
- Stop four: Point Sur Lighthouse. …
- Stop five: Big Sur River Inn. …
- Stop six: Pfeiffer Beach. …
- Stop seven: McWay Falls. …
- Stop eight: Limekiln State Park.
Is it safe to drive the Pacific Coast Highway?
It’s kind of dangerous
because while the views get better and better, the road takes sharper and sharper turns with it. And travelers who are driving slowly or have stopped entirely, directly on the highway, to admire the view can pose hazards to other drivers. It’s a road to avoid if heights are an issue.
What highway goes up the California coast?
Known as the
Pacific Coast Highway
, California U.S. Route 101 (or 1 in some stretches) runs directly along the Pacific Ocean for 790 miles, from San Diego all the way to the Oregon border. In San Diego, 70 miles of Highway 101 features some of the coolest beach towns and most beautiful scenery anywhere in California.
Which part of California is best?
- Fremont. Fremont is one of the most popular places to call home in the San Francisco Bay Area – and we can certainly see why. …
- Irvine. …
- Los Angeles. …
- Mill Valley. …
- Palo Alto. …
- San Diego. …
- San Francisco. …
- San Jose.
Is it better to drive north or south on Highway 1?
It’s best to travel from north to south
as you’ll be on the right side of the road for uninterrupted views and to pull over to take photographs. Parking in cities can be expensive. It’s better to leave your rental vehicle and use public transport. Plan in plenty of stops along the way.
What is the most visited place in California?
- San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. …
- Yosemite National Park. …
- Disneyland. …
- Death Valley National Park. …
- Big Sur. …
- Lake Tahoe. …
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. …
- Redwood National and State Parks.
Can you drive the coast of California?
If you feel the need to drive the ENTIRE Pacific Coast Highway, feel free to tack on those extra hours on your first day and start your trip in San Diego instead of Los Angeles – but be wary of traffic through Los Angeles. We personally prefer to skip the bottom bit through LA because it’s not very scenic.
Where does Pacific Coast Highway start?
Starting at
Capistrano Beach in Dana Point
, the Pacific Coast Highway snakes up the coast through Los Angeles and Ventura counties, providing incredible front-row ocean views along the way.
How can I spend 10 days in California?
- Day 1: Explore San Francisco.
- Day 2: San Francisco to Yosemite National Park.
- Day 3: Yosemite to Sequoias National Park.
- Day 4: Sequoias to Death Valley National Park.
- Day 5: Death Valley to Joshua Tree National Park.
- Day 6: Joshua Tree to Los Angeles.
- Day 7: Explore Los Angeles’ Famous Sights.
What is the most beautiful part of the California coast?
Zabriskie Point
is the most popular place to view the wonder from a distance. The Pacific Coast Highway provides some of the most scenic views of the jagged cliffs and stunning ocean along this 90-mile stretch of land.
What should you not miss on Hwy 1?
- Activities. 11 Iconic Stops Not to Miss Along the Pacific Coast Highway. …
- McWay Falls. …
- Santa Monica Pier. …
- Solvang Restaurant. …
- Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove. …
- Santa Margarita KOA. …
- Hearst Castle. …
- Golden Gate Bridge.
Can you see the ocean from Pacific Coast Highway?
Driving the Pacific Coast Highway from north to south provides
unobstructed ocean views
.
Is Bixby Bridge scary?
The Bixby bridge is iconic but
the parking area and photo pop areas around it felt a little scary for parking and walking – big drop offs and no guardrails
. Just made for a bit of anxiety with kids.
Is it better to drive north or south on Pacific Coast Highway?
Driving the route from
north to south is ideal
, as you’ll be on the ocean side of the road the entire way, allowing unobstructed views of the jagged coastline below. Three days is a minimum, and if time allows you could easily spend more.
Does Pacific Coast Highway have tolls?
The famous 17 mile drive road runs between Pacific Grove and Carmel.
It’s a toll road
running through a private community and takes you on a scenic route past a number of top golf courses, Pebble Beach and the famous Lone Cypress tree.
Where should I stay when driving on the Pacific Coast Highway?
- The Brewery Gulch Inn (Mendocino)
- Nick’s Cove (Marshall)
- Pelican Inn (Muir Beach)
- Stanyan Park Hotel (San Francisco)
- Bella Notte Inn (Santa Cruz)
- Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa (Monterey)
- Candle Light Inn (Carmel-by-the-Sea)
- Fernwood Resort (Big Sur)
Where should I start on Highway 1?
Highway One begins in the town of
Capistrano Beach in Orange County
. From there, to Santa Monica and through Malibu, it’s a city street. It takes on several street names but is most often called Pacific Coast Highway (which locals shorten to PCH).
Where does Highway 1 in California begin and end?
The PCH begins in Southern California at
Interstate 5 south of San Juan Capistrano, and it ends at U.S. 101 in Leggett in Mendocino County
.
Is driving Big Sur safe?
California Highway 1 in the Big Sur region is
one of the state’s most dangerous highways
, even in good weather. It is narrow (almost entirely one lane in each direction), and travelers who are driving slowly or have stopped entirely, directly on the highway, to admire the view can pose hazards to other drivers.
Can you drive the PCH from LA to San Francisco?
Drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway. California offers countless amazing road trip opportunities, but
the drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco is one of the best you’ll find anywhere in the Golden State
. This drive follows the scenic Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), also called Highway 1 …
Has the Pacific Coast Highway reopened?
Take a Behind the Scenes Look at Caltrans Pacific Coast Highway Repairs. MONTEREY COUNTY — On April 23, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom joined Caltrans to announce the reopening of a washed-out section of Highway 1 near the heart of Big Sur ― after only 86 days!
