Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary - Travel But, we need to go the opposite way; starting in San Diego and heading north. Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Thank you . 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). What you suggested (Anaheim > SLO/Madonna Inn > Half Moon Bay) is a great two-day itinerary. Have a great drive!! This was a 6 day trip. The weather should be okay but be prepared for coastal fog and chill (as you would experience pretty much all year long!). My question is: how to best use our time? Pacific Coast Highway (@thepacificcoasthighway) - Instagram I hope you can do at least part of the PCH someday soon . 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. Start with a stop for fresh pastries at Caf Aquatica in the tiny town of Jenner (population: less than 200), 11 miles from Bodega Bay. What a great and comprehensive post! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Carry on south on CA-1, the PCH. Thank you for your great ideas and itineraries! I have a question in regards to your amazing experiences and my hopes to travel the PCH with my older kids. In the Santa Barbara area of the article you mentioned that you had an article about Santa Barbara and what to do, I am not able to locate this article. Hope that helps you plan! 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. Got to save some $$$$$. But my priority for this trip is just going straight down the PCH so that should help me prioritize. 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. My problem is going to be deciding what not to do because Ill only have so much time (and money). Ive just started planning our trip for this autumn. Its easy to make a stop in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, so take the opportunity! Any ideas? 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. Start here. We will only have 7 days. Your website is very helpful. Unfortunately, you cant climb the lighthouse steps as it has been closed for restoration since 2001. 12 scenic stops on the Pacific Coast Highway My English is very very basic but if you write to me I can understand it. State Route 1 - AARoads - California Highways The Pacific Coast Highway traces the coast as closely as possible around the edge of Los Angeles, America's second largest city. Angie, thanks so much for your comment! This is great information and very helpful! I would love to do a Pacific Coast Highway drive at some point in my life. I hate cold! 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. Top ways to experience Pacific Coast Highway See all Recommended Tours & Sightseeing Walking & Biking Tours Multi-day & Extended Tours Outdoor Activities Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive - Full Day Tour from San Francisco 310 Bus Tours from $105.00 per adult Monterey & Carmel Explorer 22 Full-day Tours from $105.00 Any thoughts on this as it pertains to weather? If youve ever seen The Goonies, you know exactly what I mean. My overnight stop in Santa Barbara changed my mind. In this forest, youll find amazing old growth trees and is incredibly verdant. Would you recommend the 7 day to get 2-3 days in Diego? Thank you so much for passing on your wisdom and experience. These make perfect Instagram captions for dreamy sunsets or foggy mornings on the Pacific. PDF Moon Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip California O Pdf Our kids will be 15 & 10Im just afraid it will be a boring ride for them in the car. I think its going to be a tough year fro travel! Its really up to you to decide where you want to end and figure out the closest rental car/airport option from there, but there are airports of all sizes throughout the region. Also, niece is vegan and I am meat eater. Youll get access to five major attractions at a discounted price, so you can experience more of what Seattle has to offer for less. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: As you might have guessed continue following California Highway 1 south! Pacific Coast Highway (@thepacificcoasthighway) Instagram photos and videos 2,612 Followers, 118 Following, 94 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Pacific Coast Highway (@thepacificcoasthighway) I hope you can see it for yourself someday too. San Diego was the starting point of my Pacific Coast Highway road trip; for you, it may be the end. Also known as Big Sur, the route winds along the rugged California coastline (from Cape San Martin to Ragged . Pacific Coast Highway Directions: If you are doing a quick Pacific Coast Highway road trip, head south from Olympia along I-5 to Portland. We are from Ohio. We will be coming from Anaheim and want to drive the Pacific Coast Highway to Half Moon Bay. I didnt want to make all my reservations, but just go with it for one time in my life. Be sure to stop at Nicks Cove in Marshall, CA for a meal or Hog Island Oyster if you love oysters! But there's something extra special about driving the Pacific Coast Highway as it approaches its southern end. Again, thanks for great info and advice. Hi, and thanks for this terrific resource. Southern California has great weather year-round. We plan a trip to San Jos, California because of its diversity, beautiful scenery, and exceptionally high outputs. Those little beaches overlooking the water below is freaking amazing. Let me know how it goes! Sorry, I dont have any special suggestions for kids! Pacific Coast Highway Road-Trip Itinerary Has Hidden Gems - AARP Can you recommend where to spend time and in which cities to plan to spend the night? Im also a not-so-secret space nerd and speak fluent emoji! Lane closure lasting 5 hours on Conventional Hwy for Electrical Work affecting #3, R T Lane #1, Right Shoulder, Bike Lane, Sidewalk lane(s) in District: 12 From: MAIN ST (DOWN TOWN) Huntington Beach to Beach Blvd, Rte 39 Huntington Beach End 300ft going SB on Rte 1 after Beach Blvd intersection The Pacific Coast Highway is located in the U.S. states of Washington, Oregon, and California. We are going to go the middle of September 2022 and take a flight from Phx to somewhere around Crescent city. Pacific Coast Highway Attractions, those must-see sights along PCH, include Hearst Castle, Big Sur, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Golden Gate Bridge. Long Beach is and always will be one of my favorite destinations in Washington. "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. Pacific Coast Highway | The American Road Trip Company In this post, I promote travel across lands that are the traditional lands of many Indigenous groups. Thank you for the comprehensive narrative! Also, about how many miles a day are you traveling on your 10 day itinerary? Have a great drive! Im not sure there are many good airports to leave a rental car in the region youre suggesting you may end up driving into L.A. to do so and to fly home. Any additional thoughts? $23.99 $ 23. We can only do a quick trip. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: When youre ready to continue on your PCH road trip, make your way back to California Highway 1 and head south. Pacific Coast Highway - Wikipedia The only places you can fly would be Crescent City but itll require changing through San Francisco anyway. If you're starting your PCH drive from Seattle . I recommend checking out California resources for the pandemic before you book anything. Wondering about forest fires and how they affect the trip. 15 Best Stops On Your Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip - California Thanks again! Want to avoid the summer crowds, but still enjoy nice weather. Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) SR-1 CalTrans Lane Closures So nice to hear from you, Silvia! Whether you stop to take a few Instagram-worthy spots or ogle the animals, theres plenty of experiences to choose from in San Diego. Im nervous go excited. I was curious about which one you suggest if you were to slim down this itinerary by 1 day (ex. This was more expensive than a round-trip rental, but I didnt want to drive the Pacific Coast Highway both ways! Sounds like a great trip, Rudy! 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 had saved this resource to help me plan. Nice ride. 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 recommend researching/contacting each one individual to confirm theyll be open. Thanks for asking, Helen! 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. Thanks for your comment, Erin! Your email address will not be published. Glad to help, Bethany! Thanks for reading and asking, Hunter! I do you can sign up using the email forms in this post to receive a short version! To answer your questions: 1. Before launching into a bunch of details for where to stop along the Pacific Coast Highway, I need to define a few things: Now that you know the details, lets dig into the logistics of planning your own Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary! I can think off the top of my head that you could do the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Sort of the opposite of sea stacks like Haystack Rock,Devils Punchbowlis another beautiful natural rock formation along the Oregon Coast. Thank you in advance! Id be happy to save the money and just drive with the windows down when I want some fresh air. Here's an example PCH itinerary: Day 1: Seattle WA, to Forks, WA. Even an email answer is fine!! Thank you, Archimedes. Im glad you booked LA and Seattle, because those are the two you most need to have arranged! I had the chance to spend a weekend in Huntington Beach a few years ago and loved the vibe in this surf town. But you missed it and it was so incredible. A weekend of sea, sand, and sunscreen. Pacific Coast, region, western North America, possessing two unifying geologic and geographic propertiesthe Pacific Ocean, which constitutes a natural western border, and the coastal mountain ranges that form the eastern border of the region. Find and save ideas about pacific coast highway on Pinterest. Hi Valerie, we are planning a trip from Crescent city back home to Phoenix traveling along PCH. Carry on the fantastic work!|. Then flying back to Michigan. Top 10 pacific coast highway ideas and inspiration - Pinterest 4 Baths. The Pacific Coast Highway runs along two highways: In Washington and Oregon, the best weather of the year happens between June and September. Youre very welcome, and have a great road trip!! Its a great spot for a short hike to stretch your legs. (I used Roadtrippers Plus to create this route;you can get $5 off Plus byclicking this linkand using code BTR5QTP.). So it adds about 3 hours of driving time, but it also means youll miss out on basically all of the Oregon Coast. Thanks again. If I wanted to follow your trip but stop off a day at Yosemite what might the drive look like? 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 hope you have an epic time; Patrees such an amazing host! Thanks for your comment, Victoria! Are you hoping to do a one-way rental car for your PCH drive? Pigeon Point can be a fun rest stop along the Pacific Coast Highway or a quirky one-night stop depending on your itinerary. Does that sound reasonable or doable? Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. I am planning a trip in late July. P.S. Now that you have all the details you need to plan a PCH road trip, you need to know which destinations are worth a stop along the Pacific Coast Highway. I love small beaches and in less popular destinations like this! 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. 15+ Must-See Stops Along California's Pacific Coast Highway - Trips To Pacific coast highway road trip with kids. Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip: 7 Days Driving Along the California Enjoying the Unexpectedly Cool Pitchwood Ale House, All words and images 2013-2023 The Kolibro Group LLC. I hope this helps! 1. You can get a printable version by signing up on the forms in this post. We are coming from Pennsylvania. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: At this point in Northern California, the PCH is still U.S. 101. Thank you. We just booked Patrees room! Yes, Id recommend flying one-way to Seattle, and flying one-way home from San Diego. San Francisco has tons of cool neighborhoods, so its hard to choose which vacation rentals to recommend Check out this, Plan an overnight in Santa Barbara so you can soak in the charm. Yes, I do have San Francisco guides! 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. Pacific Coast Highway Map, Direction & Start/End Points. The skies are guaranteed to be blue, the weather begs for a convertible, and the passing sands are alive with . 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. Pacific Coast Highway stops include big city vacation destinations like Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, and smaller places like Monterey. Love it. We've driven sections of this coastline twice, between LA and San Francisco. San Jose is a creative and thriving high-tech culture epicenter. Especially watching the sun set over Morro Rock in the distance!