Where To Stop On Pacific Coast Highway?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  • Crescent City Pebble . 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.

Where should I stop between Big Sur and Santa Barbara?

The top cities between Big Sur and Santa Barbara are

Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Cambria, Solvang, Pismo Beach, and Morro Bay

. Paso Robles is the most popular city on the route — it's 2 hours from Big Sur and 2 hours from Santa Barbara.

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 is the best place to start the Pacific Coast Highway?

Road Trip USA's Pacific Coast route begins at the northwest tip of the United States at

Port Townsend near Olympic National Park

, and remains within sight of the ocean almost all the way south to the Mexican border.

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.

Where should I stop on Highway 1 north of San Francisco?

You'll find gas stations, food, and lodging in

Gualala, Point Arena, Mendocino, and Fort Bragg

. Lots of cute little bed and breakfast inns and small hotels cluster along the highway, which means you'll have plenty of opportunities to rest for the night.

Where should I stop between LA and Monterey?

  • Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park. Theme park. …
  • National Steinbeck Center. Museum. …
  • Mission San Juan Bautista. Catholic church. …
  • Garland Ranch Regional Park. Park. …
  • Pfeiffer Beach. Beach. …
  • Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. State park. …
  • Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. State park. …
  • Limekiln State Park.

Where does Big Sur begin and end?

But if there's a first among equals on Highway 1, it's Big Sur. The 90-mile stretch of mountainous coast, which

starts around San Simeon and ends near Carmel Highlands just south of Monterey

, is packed with plenty of adventures worthy of a pit stop.

How far is Monterey from Big Sur?

How long is the drive from Big Sur to Monterey? The direct drive from Big Sur to Monterey is

28.0 mi (45 km)

, and should have a drive time of 45 mins in normal traffic.

Where can I sleep on Highway 1?

  • San Elijo State Beach — San Diego. …
  • Crystal Cove Campground — Orange County. …
  • Point Mugu Beach Park — Malibu. …
  • Refugio State Beach and El Capitan State Beach — Santa Barbara. …
  • Los Padres National Forest — Big Sur. …
  • Manresa State Beach, Santa Cruz. …
  • Half Moon Bay State Park, Half Moon Bay.

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.

Where should I stop between San Francisco and Santa Barbara?

The top cities between San Francisco and Santa Barbara are

Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Paso Robles, Big Sur, Carmel, San Luis Obispo, Cambria, Solvang, and Half Moon Bay

. Monterey is the most popular city on the route — it's 2 hours from San Francisco and 4 hours from Santa Barbara.

Where does Pacific Coast Highway start 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 scary?


The drive to Big Sur can be scary for those with a fear of heights

. Some parts of the scenic drive follow the edge of the cliff. That said, drive cautiously and stop at turnouts and you'll avoid any dangers.

Where does highway start and end?

U.S. Route 1 or U.S. Highway 1 (US 1) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs 2,370 miles (3,810 km), from

Key West, Florida north to Fort Kent, Maine

, at the Canadian border, making it the longest north–south road in the United States.

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.

What is the most scenic part of Highway 1?

  • Santa Barbara Mission. …
  • Pismo Beach. …
  • Wildlife Watching In San Luis Obispo County. …
  • Hearst Castle. …
  • Cambria. …
  • Limekiln State Park. …
  • Nepenthe. …
  • Bixby Bridge.

What is Big Sur known for?

Big Sur has been called the “

longest and most scenic stretch of undeveloped coastline in the contiguous United States

“, a sublime “national treasure that demands extraordinary procedures to protect it from development”, and “one of the most beautiful coastlines anywhere in the world, an isolated stretch of road, mythic …

Where should I stop between Fort Bragg and San Francisco?

The top cities between San Francisco and Fort Bragg are

Napa, Calistoga, Mill Valley, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Mendocino, Berkeley, St. Helena, Sausalito, and Santa Rosa

. Napa is the most popular city on the route — it's less than an hour from San Francisco and 3 hours from Fort Bragg.

Where do you stop between San Francisco and Crescent City?

The towns from Fort Bragg south to San Francisco, including

Mendocino, Bodega Bay, Point Reyes, and Stinson Beach

, are popular getaways for city-dwellers; expect the charm and prices to rise accordingly. It's just over 350 miles from Crescent City to San Francisco.

Is the Pacific Coast Highway curvy?

While

curvy in many places

, road conditions along the Pacific Coast Highway are generally good. However, if you have any concerns, you can check general road conditions for Highway 1 here and Big Sur specific road conditions here.

Where can I stop Big Sur in Los Angeles?

  1. Malibu. The first stop on this amazing road trip isn't too far from Los Angeles proper, and that is Malibu! …
  2. Oxnard. Next up on the Big Sur drive from Los Angeles comes the lovely city of Oxnard. …
  3. Ventura. …
  4. Ojai. …
  5. Santa Barbara. …
  6. Solvang. …
  7. Pismo Beach. …
  8. Hearst Castle.

Is Highway 1 worth the drive?


It's rightfully rated as one of the top road trips in the world

. This is a particularly breathtaking drive, especially through Big Sur where the Santa Lucia mountains plunge into the sea, and the surf and wind relentlessly pound the rocks and shore below and bend the native cypress trees into otherworldly shapes.

Is there a train that runs from LA to San Diego?

Frequent Trains with Easy Connections


The Pacific Surfliner route offers 13 daily round-trip services between San Diego and Los Angeles

, and five between Santa Barbara and San Diego. Many stations are within walking distance to top attractions.

What cities are near Big Sur?
  • Monterey, CA.
  • Seaside, CA.
  • Pacific Grove, CA.
  • Gonzales, CA.
  • Marina, CA.
  • Soledad, CA.
  • Salinas, CA.
  • Greenfield, CA.

What city is near Big Sur?

Towns in the north include Carmel, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Seaside, Marina and Salinas. In the south, the closest towns are

Cambria, San Simeon, Paso Robles and Morro Bay

.

Is Big Sur open now?


Highway 1 is fully open

to travelers who may now travel without interruption from Monterey/Carmel area to Cambria/Morro Bay along the Big Sur Coast.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.