It probably means deviating from PCH for a bit and were ok with that. Explore the route. To answer your questions: 1. The journey down Highway 1 is the iconic California road trip, and this coastal route is a great choice whether you're in Northern California, the central coast, or in SoCal. These make perfect Instagram captions for dreamy sunsets or foggy mornings on the Pacific. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: From Seattle, head south along US Highway 101 to Olympia. We want to spend 5 days for PCH and not sure where to fly in or out of. If youve ever seen The Goonies, you know exactly what I mean. Let me know if you have any other questions while planning or on the road! Its hard to do the drive one way in just 5 days from San Diego to Seattle adding on the time driving from Arizona and the return trip, I think you need at least 10-12 days. I can think off the top of my head that you could do the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Also known as California Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway is the longest state route in California at just over 656 miles. Thank you for sharing! Seattle is perfect for anywhere between one day and three days if you have the time. Even an email answer is fine!! The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip - Valerie & Valise A weekend of sea, sand, and sunscreen. Were staying just outside of Long Beach, in cute little Ilwaco, WA, at Salt Hotel & Pub. As I mentioned above, both are southbound itineraries. It includes so many things each person in my family wants to see and do! Thanks so much, Lois and glad to help! Both have way more to explore once you stop or pull off the road. Also, its not exactly the most stimulating view its a bit better for older kids than younger ones. I didnt want to make all my reservations, but just go with it for one time in my life. Sorry, I could not get past it, and I may not even be correct, but I truly loved this page. I hope you have a great trip! We want to make the best out of drive there. I am going to mostly follow the path you outlined in your 10 day itinerary. Just give yourself more time and end n LA. The turn-out for Ruby Beach occurs right as the highway reaches the Pacific coast. I would love to do a Pacific Coast Highway drive at some point in my life. My husband and I plan to do this trip in June. 7 Most Scenic Spots on the Pacific Coast Highway Unfortunately, when I drove the PCH it was pretty foggy and cool most of the week. Thanks for reading though , Thanks so much for an in depth post. I hope you can make this trip someday (hopefully soon!). 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. For accommodation, try a small hotel like the. By the end, youll be ready to plan your own Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary. You live in SF! The PCH begins south of Dana Point in Orange County and ends at US 101 in Mendocino County. We want a mix of National/State Parks, cities, and coasts. 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). Cherie, thanks for your comment. I also downloaded the Roadtrippers app but I cant find it. Thank you. Id like to make a 10 day trip with a couple days in San Francisco and San Diego. Pacific coast highway road trip with kids. A few years ago I started saving (unbeknownst to my husband) for his 50th birthday this summer. The ocean is my happy place. What day of the week would you recommend starting from WA? Thanks for reading, Lynda! Hi Valerie, I am doing the PCH drive southbound from Seattle and as far as we can go for 5 days. Silvia, not to minimize risks but I think the issue is not being represented realistically by the media. Crescent City is the first city youll enter when driving southbound into California along the Pacific Coast Highway (or last if youre headed northbound). Tim & Janice, what kind words! Is it worth waiting to do this trip in summer? Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head south from Ruby Beach along U.S. 101. Along the way we plan to stop at the Benbow Inn near Garberville, CA and in Newport. I drove one and I hardly ever got to enjoy it!.why were you hardly ever able to enjoy driving a convertible???? If you decide to drive the PCH, Im happy to give you any tips! 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 . 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. Similar to Haystack Rock, your experience stopping at Devils Punchbowl will depend on the tides. I love all the details that you are recommended here. Thanks, Larissa! Karen, great question! The total distance is about 1,500 miles! Ive just started planning our trip for this autumn. Day 4: Redwood State Park, CA to San Francisco, CA. We can skip Napa and SF. After Crater lake we headed back to 238 towards HWY 101, we took an off road to hit the coast right at Brookings. 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. The ideia is to have a West Coast Beer Route drive. 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. 75 Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Stops Off-the-Beaten-Path But never mind those technicalities, because equally bewitching ribbons of Hwy 1 and Hwy 101 await all along this route. More Buying Choices $18.53 (15 used & new offers) Kindle. Also how many days driving for this trip. Maps of the Pacific Coast Highway The Pacific Coast Highway traces the coast as closely as possible around the edge of Los Angeles, America's second largest city. About Us - Pepperdine University Malibu Campus The Pacific Coast Highway is arguably one of the most famous drives in the entire world. Thanks for reading, Teena! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Carry on south on CA-1, the PCH. The longer you spend, the more youll get to see and enjoy. It sounds like youll have a great trip no matter what! Awesome suggestions and itinerary! Thinking of Seattle to San Diego on US 1 in late September or early October, is the weather still good for a 10 day driving trip? These Pacific Coast Highway road trip stops really seem like true country California. Therefore, its an amazing place to start your Pacific Coast Highway trip! One of the requests I get asked for is a Pacific Coast Highway map with all of the stops I suggest, so I used Roadtrippers to put together this one. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Return west to U.S. 101 and turn south. 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. 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. Ime hoping the trip will run about $10k. Booking this trip for late Oct. Id like to fly in ( from East Coast) somewhere north of San Fran. If you see an error, please contact me. Thank you for the recommendation! Thank you so much for passing on your wisdom and experience. Thanks for your comment, Manny. 4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars (1) Paperback. Or. San Luis Obispo with Paso Robles). 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! Great post. Youre all set to start filling in the gaps! Stargazing along the PCH depends a lot on the weather; since there arent a lot of roads that connect the PCH inland, you kinda have to make do with what happens out on the coast. Gov. With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands. Thinking of maybe making this where we would b me somewhere different for 4th of July. We were thinking October, but after reading all the comments, I think we will make it September. But my priority for this trip is just going straight down the PCH so that should help me prioritize. This sounds like a great trip the PCH + inland Oregon! Thanks for such a thorough rundown of what to do. 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! 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. maybe to get a car, which adds about 6 hours of driving time. 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. Thank you for the article. I am planning for this roadtrip this December- starting from Dec 25th. 3. 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. The skies are guaranteed to be blue, the weather begs for a convertible, and the passing sands are alive with . Do you have a version that is just typed up not with pictures? Plan accordingly when you design your PCH itinerary. 10 Must See Places on Pacific Coast Highway - California Beaches Such a thorough guide! Thanks for your comment, Erin! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south on CA-1, the Pacific Coast Highway. Unsurprisingly, a private car is the absolute best way to make the most of a trip along the legendary PCH. This sounds like a great adventure. Hello Valerie; my family and i are thinking about a trip from northern CA to San Diego along the coast.