I had saved this resource to help me plan. 50 Essential Pacific Coast Highway Stops: From San Diego to Seattle Hi there, I am thinking of taking a solo trip down the PCH from Long Beach, WA to LA? Great question, Sharon! The total distance is about 1,500 miles! Thanks for all of this great information! Glad to help, Nancy, and thanks for reading! Im glad to surpass the AAA level. 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. We planned to start in Seattle and drive to San Diego. 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. 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. The Pacific Coast Highwayalso known as PCH or, more commonly, Highway 1runs north-south along most of the United States' West Coast. Sorry; I dont have any suggestions for that! (Hours and dates for the attractions on the Seattle CityPass have been affected by the pandemic, so be sure to check those when you purchase!). anything you can suggest extra the girls would be wowed by would be great. To be honest, Id opt for the long route you only have one day, and Point Reyes is one of my favorite parts of California. Best of all, theres no cell service so theyll have to look around to see them . Life is made for the ocean. I did a quick search and heres how it breaks down: Newport > Crescent City (what I originally suggest) = about 5 hours of driving Newport > Crater Lake > Crescent City = about 8 hours of driving (and none of it is on the coast), If you chose to go from Portland > Crater Lake > Crescent City instead = 7.5 hours of driving. I havent been to Monterey but its high on my list! Any additional thoughts? Im thinking I might end my trip at Santa Barbara. Day 2: Forks, WA to Cape Kiwanda, OR. Are people moving about freely or are things locked down with the covid? I am planning a trip in late July. You may encounter some rain up north near Portland and Seattle, but you shouldnt experience any snow! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south along U.S. 101. Stop 4: Bixby bridge. Thanks for reading, Brianna! Its not a long drive from Seattle to Olympia, so I recommend just making a waypoint stop here to stretch your legs before the rest of your driving today whether thats to Port Angeles or Portland. Homes similar to 20132 Pacific Coast Hwy are listed between $350K to $70M at an average of $2,795 per square foot. I wouldnt go all the way to Seattle, especially if you dont like big cities. Im driving with our 5 kids (ages 1 -13) and my wife. I dont think you can do Yosemite in a day its a four hour drive from the coast to Yosemite (one-way) and youll probably want a full day in the park at minimum. Nate, thanks for your comment. 1. Drive safely! Doing this trip starting this weekend! Does that sound reasonable or doable? Thinking of maybe making this where we would b me somewhere different for 4th of July. 12 scenic stops on the Pacific Coast Highway Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. Id like to make a 10 day trip with a couple days in San Francisco and 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). Oregon & California are both pretty vegan friendly states so Id expect lots of restaurants have at least an option thats animal-free. That includes missing the Devils Punchbowl and Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area in the southern part of the state; you would however get to drive through Oregons Redwoods on your way from Crater Lake to Crescent City. I had the chance to spend a weekend in Huntington Beach a few years ago and loved the vibe in this surf town. If I am going to follow your 10 day itinerary from Washington State to San Diego, how many overnight stays can I have? Stop and admire the views in Big Sur, too! 10 Must See Places on Pacific Coast Highway - California Beaches 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? Los Angeles to San Diego Drive: Distance, Best Route and Stops Would you recommend the 7 day to get 2-3 days in Diego? That gives you a lot more to do each day to wear the kids out and much more suitable for an RV. The drive travels 655 miles along the coast of California and along the wa. 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. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head west along U.S. 101 until it turns south along the west coast of the Olympic Peninsula. Depending on the timing of your itinerary, you may want to do an overnight here. 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! 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. When driving the PCH south from Portland, how much of a detour would it be to see Crater Lake on the way? Pacific Coast Highway Road-Trip Itinerary Has Hidden Gems - AARP 35 Captions For Throwback Road Trip Pictures With Your Ride Or Dies Your second choice is where to start your road trip. Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip: 25 Breathtaking (& Bizarre!) Epic Stops The skies are guaranteed to be blue, the weather begs for a convertible, and the passing sands are alive with . Thanks for reading, Angel! 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? I am thinking 5 days from Portland to LA. My overnight stop in Santa Barbara changed my mind. Valerie, First off, congratulations on your recent wedding! 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. Do you think we could do it in 7 days?? Thanks for your comment, Shelly! Valerie-thanks for the great overview. Carry on the fantastic work!|. This 20-mile (one way) detour will take you out on Point Reyes, and has a stark and beautiful landscape because its so far out at sea. Additionally, youll get a sense of the magnitude of the San Andreas fault line, which comes inland along the northern part of Point Reyes. Amazon.com: pacific coast highway map We will go from Seattle to San Diego using your itinerary as our planning guide. Also, its not exactly the most stimulating view its a bit better for older kids than younger ones. Also, how many days should we take for the one-way trip back. The jagged coastline, infinite blue water, sunny days, gorgeous sunsets these are just a few of the reasons California Highway 1 became a popular route in the first place! I hope you can do at least part of the PCH someday soon . Which Direction to Drive the Pacific Coast Highway? It was so helpful as I planned and traveled cross country this summer starting with the PCH. Congrats on finishing your Pacific Coast Highway road trip. ), Valerie, My wife and I are planning this very trip you outlined. If you are connecting to Highway 1 from the Sacramento area, take I-80 West for about 50 miles, connect to US-101 S from there, and then connect US-101 North. Kavinsky - Pacific Coast Highway (Official Audio) - YouTube Awesome suggestions and itinerary! Its the best time for good weather on the whole coast! Hello good morning my name is Cherie Carmona, Wealth to California a little over a year ago I love it I live in Dana Point California, my husband will be moving here in a few weeks and Im so excited my daughter lives in Seattle so we were considering a road trip to Seattle realistically how long do you think it would take thank you so much God-bless. I was curious about which one you suggest if you were to slim down this itinerary by 1 day (ex. Credit: Bigstock.com 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!! 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. Hi, we are flying into Seattle 7/27 and out from San Diego 8/7, we are visiting colleges in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and San Diego for my daughter. Adrian, great to hear from you! Is Yellowstone worth the long detour? I have suggestions on dates earlier in the article to help you figure out how long to do the trip and where to stop. Well, now we will have to wait to see how this Covid-19 progresses. The 32 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops: California Towns, Landmarks Do you highly recommend the LONG route OR is thru Mendocino only enough? I enjoyed it so much that I wrote a whole article about the experiences I recommend in Santa Barbara! I recommend researching/contacting each one individual to confirm theyll be open. Id look at September as an ideal time to catch autumn colors in the Pacific Northwest but admittedly its hard to predict since this part of the country isnt known for the same leaf colors as New England. If we have 10 days to do this and could skip San Francisco, because we just did that 2 years ago, could we drive from Seattle to either Los Angeles or San Diego in an RV? Tim & Janice, what kind words! Thanks for reading, Dale. If you happen to do your PCH road trip in the winter, Pismo State Beach is also home to the largest colony of migrating monarch butterflies during the winter months. 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. Amazing, Melanii! do you have a printable version of this? Hi We have just 1-day and will be starting in Fortuna and heading to San Francisco. Also being from Colorado, we would love to camp oceanside, do you have any recommendations on campsites? Camp at Second Beach in Olympic NP Photo: Michael Matti Thanks for your comment, Manny. Technically, it starts in Washington State, but it's best known for the stretch through California from the stunning redwood forests and wild, rugged coast down to the sun-drenched beaches of San Diego. I would rather guess on the high side than the low side so Im prepared. Great content here, thank you! Am planning to do a 10 day PCH drive in August. staying at decent places 3-4 star properties. Technically, Seattle is not on the Pacific Coast Highway, but you can fly into Seattle and drive one hour south to Olympia to start your PCH road trip. California 1 is the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and Cabrillo Highway, following the coastline from San Juan Capistrano in Orange County in Southern California to Leggett in Mendocino County in Northern California. Now I want to take a trip there from San Diego to the Canadian border while sitting on a Honda Goldwing trike. Love it. My wife and I (with our dog) are driving from Pismo Beach to Cannon Beach and staying at a beach house there. Is there any river rafting or boating along the way? Camping Along The Pacific: 10 Seaside Campsites For Your West Coast This post was so helpful! The most easily accessible and breathtakingly stark part of the PCH is a short drive (about 3 hours) sound of San Francisco, so many people in the Bay Area do it as an overnight or weekend trip. Travelling from Australia and would like to spend 3 weeks driving around . Thanks for your comment, Archimedes. I especially appreciate your links to stays and dine. Great name btw . 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). Im thinking of doing this trip from Seattle to San Diego. The Ultimate 10-Day California Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary These make perfect Instagram captions for dreamy sunsets or foggy mornings on the Pacific. You can choose the spots you want to stop at that way . At this point you should take the exit to CA-1; this is now the Pacific Coast Highway. of the PCH? Wonderful trip sharing you made. We can only do a quick trip. Thanks so much from a couple of Canucks! Were making a shortlist of 3 or 4 likely hotels for each expected stopover. 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. I havent been to some of those national parks, but they sound amazing! Thanks for asking! 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 . For accommodation, try a small hotel like the. Im definitely going to try to do it sometime! Ive just started planning our trip for this autumn. Is this time of year realistic for an enjoyable adventure, or should we maybe plan to go somewhere else? One day, I would LOVE to make this road trip. I was, for the most part, ambivalent about the cities along the PCH. Best trip ever! Portland is the only city on this list thatisnton the coast, and its definitely a trip extender if you want to visit Portland while driving the Pacific Coast Highway. Hi Valerie, Great tips! Here's an example PCH itinerary: Day 1: Seattle WA, to Forks, WA. 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. Route 1 is fine its twisty turny but its the best route by far. If you decide to drive the PCH, Im happy to give you any tips! Also, further north, you could fly to Portland and do the Oregon coast too. Thanks for reading, Sonia. Sonja, glad to help! With an RV, Id just give yourself a lot more time each day (probably 25% more driving time) since youll need to go a bit slower. This was a 6 day trip. Read more in my Privacy Policy. Manage photos Southern California. I recently discovered Mendocino on a weekend trip and fell in love with the small town. 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. 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! 4,329 Sq. 1. The ideia is to have a West Coast Beer Route drive. What you suggested (Anaheim > SLO/Madonna Inn > Half Moon Bay) is a great two-day itinerary. I can't stop looking at that ocean. I wish I could remember the name of the mountain turnoff in Washington. Have a safe trip!! Thanks for your comment . Now that Ive moved to this part of California, I know this is true. Taking your advice, flying into Seattle (from KC), and heading south. Youll get access to five major attractions at a discounted price, so you can experience more of what Seattle has to offer for less. 24 Best Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) Stops. We will probably book Airbnb if cost effective. In the city, the San Francisco CityPass is a good option its super helpful for getting around and seeing the citys top sights. And it's hard to miss: you'll be driving right through, so when you see roller coasters, it's time to stop. However I actively lament that I was on the wrong side of the road in the present tense (as in, if you ask me today, I still lament it); I didnt really realize I was on the wrong side until after my trip was over and its not like you can change your route once you start! I think its going to be a tough year fro travel! 9. Thanks for reading, Teena! I was far more interested in the hundreds of miles of coastal roadways. Im planning on doing the PCH from Seattle to SF next Sept. (We did SF to SD in 2019). Stop 5: Hearst castle. I have a few questions. Extremely informative. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: South of Humboldt Redwoods, theres a junction where California Highway 1 (CA-1) begins. Lastly, Pismo is a great stop for a midday workout on the road, with a huge stretch of beach to walk/run on. Awesome, you can sign up using the forms in this post to get the PDF! Im also a not-so-secret space nerd and speak fluent emoji! Unfortunately, I dont have suggestions for Santa Barbara as I havent been there in nearly a decade. The huge sweeping beach is admittedly not warm enough for a swim but its great for a stroll in the surf. I can think off the top of my head that you could do the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. First thank you for all the work you put into this! The Pacific Coast Highway is arguably one of the most famous drives in the entire world. Follow the highway south as it winds inland and along the coast. Thanks again for this excellent resource. 10 things to consider before road tripping the Pacific Coast Highway Also known as Big Sur, the route winds along the rugged California coastline (from Cape San Martin to Ragged . Find and save ideas about pacific coast highway on Pinterest. my best friends and I have talked about driving down from San Francisco to some of the Orange County, CA cities. The 22 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops for Your West Coast Road Trip Or, do you think one could just take a chance and stop and book a room when in need??? Pacific Coast Highway | 100% Pure New Zealand I love small beaches and in less popular destinations like this! I am flying into Portland to meet my niece and we will rent a car and drive down the coast to LA to meet another nephew. I would love to take this vacation but not fall short on money. Thank you . Stay safe. Silvia, not to minimize risks but I think the issue is not being represented realistically by the media. Driving south on the right-hand side of the road, youll have a great view of the ocean and coastline. Explore seaside scenery along the east coast, taking you off the beaten track to some of the most beautiful beaches including Mount Maunganui - voted as New Zealand's best beach. Stretching from Washington to California, the Pacific Coast is picturesque, with cliffs, sea stacks, gorgeous urban spaces, and the raging ocean. Donna, thanks for your comment! A weekend of sea, sand, and sunscreen. The most commonly driven part of the . 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. Making a Pacific Coast Highway road trip is a popular bucket list experience - for good reason! Are we likely to hit snow in the northern stops? What a great and comprehensive post! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Carry on south on CA-1, the PCH. This is great information and very helpful! Thanks for reading, Thomas. I hope that helps! 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. 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. These are just ten of the many places off Highway 1 that you'll want to experience. Have you seen these two posts? 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 Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south on U.S. Highway 101 along the Oregon Coast to Newport. They all offer budget rentals, run regular deals and specials, and have one-way rental options. We plan a trip to San Jos, California because of its diversity, beautiful scenery, and exceptionally high outputs. 1-2 days in Portland to visit college and check out Portland. Im going to publish a suggested 7-day PCH guide soon! I am saving this to research more of the places you mentioned !! If you're starting your PCH drive from Seattle . For each spot, I share whether I consider it an Overnight stop (where you should spend a night) or a Waypoint stop (where you should stop to stretch your legs and/or see the sights). Congrats on the trip, Michael! The Pacific Coast Highway traces the coast as closely as possible around the edge of Los Angeles, America's second largest city. Download Pacific Coast Highway stock photos. A couple of reasons: 1. Also known as California Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway is the longest state route in California at just over 656 miles. Plan accordingly when you design your PCH itinerary. Youd need to fly into. It is best known for the stretch along the Californian coast, with spectacular ocean views and awesome attractions as you travel. We can skip Napa and SF. We then headed to San Fran, our ending point. Hood. Three tips for the Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops Day 1: San Francisco to Santa Cruz Day 2: Santa Cruz to Carmel Day 3: Carmel to Big Sur Day 4: Big Sur to Paso Robles or Cambria Day 5: Paso Robles/Cambria to Santa Ynez Valley Day 6: Santa Ynez Valley to Los Angeles PCH Road Trip Planning Essentials Explore More of California Pacific Coast Highway Map, Direction & Start/End Points. 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. This Im nervous go excited. It sounds like youll have an awesome trip, and happy early birthday to him! Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip | Pacific Coast Highway Map - Visit SLO If I wanted to follow your trip but stop off a day at Yosemite what might the drive look like? After all, I liked it so much when I first visited in 2012 that I moved there in 2013! 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. 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. Explore the beach then hit the trails to find waterfalls, massive redwoods, and an abandoned limekiln. Valerie I just came across this post. Im looking forward to have the same experience with my wife and my son. I hope you can see it for yourself someday too. , Hi. Would love to do the northern parts of PCH though I loved Portland and Seattle, but would like to see more of the coastal regions! (I used Roadtrippers Plus to create this route;you can get $5 off Plus byclicking this linkand using code BTR5QTP.). Pacific Coast Highway Directions: If you are doing a quick Pacific Coast Highway road trip, head south from Olympia along I-5 to Portland.