My husband and i are planning our first trip to california in july 16th23rd. Planning a california pacific coast highway road trip. Jun 10, 2019 planning a california pacific coast highway road trip. When i drove the pch in 2014, i did a northbound san. Pacific coast highway road trip itinerary road trips forum. Its hard to know what to pick when planning your perfect california road trip itinerary. The essential pacific coast highway road trip itinerary. Planning a pacific coast highway road trip from san francisco to. Californias pacific coast highway is a classic american road trip that should be on everyones bucket list. Nov 11, 2015 heres a travesty i had never done a road trip up californias pacific coast highway aka highway 1, but locals call it pch. Lucky for us, this is the kind of work we live for, and it was fun, inspiring, and most of all helpful. Start in portland, oregon and ride the famed pacific coast highway all the way to the golden gate bridge at san francisco.
See the best of the usa with our ultimate pacific coast highway road trip itinerary. Heres a travesty i had never done a road trip up californias pacific coast highway aka highway 1, but locals call it pch. I want to spend the first day just getting to northern california. Well, the pacific coast highway, formally known as california state route 1, is the ultimate road trip route. Work on highway 1 started in 1912 but really got rolling in the 1920s. May 05, 2017 a road trip down the california coast on the pacific coast highway highway 1 is an unforgettable way to see so much of what the state has to offer. So, when a recent trip back to my hometown left me with three days of free time i decided to take what is widely touted as one of americas best road trips and to drive up the pacific. West coast road trip itinerary the pacific coast highway is a road to explore at your own pace, without planning a lot and just stop along the way in every place that catches your attention. If you ever get the opportunity to take a pacific coast highway road trip i hope our itinerary gives you some great ideas and helps you plan your own memorable road trip with your family. Driving south on the righthand side of the road, youll.
Make the most out of your adventure with this stepbystep pacific coast highway road trip itinerary. The pacific coast highway in 1 week in california frommers. If you love cheese, you must make time for this stop on your oregon road trip itinerary. Note, its more popular to go from north to south on this route because youll be in the lane directly next to the coast and have better views. After years of dreaming about it, i finally checked this off my bucket list. Some say that the west coast is the best coast, and after a road trip down the california coast on the pacific coast highway, youll have to agree. As i mentioned above, both are southbound itineraries. The trip from san francisco south to monterey is just under two hours, and, in this case, the journey is just as incredible as the destination. This guide will provide you with the perfect route for a sevenday road trip through californiaso pack your bags, fill the car, and get driving. Ive lived along bits of it for most of my adulthood and as a young child, but never actually drove it up to san francisco. So for the purpose of this pacific coast highway road trip itinerary, im going to focus on that stretch of road.
Oct 27, 2016 last spring, my boyfriend and i flew out to san francisco to embark on a road trip down the pacific coast highway. Check out this california pacific coast highway travel guide. Road trip usas pacific coast route begins at the northwest tip of the united. Let me help you plan the perfect 8 day pacific coast highway road trip itinerary down californias coast from san. Dont miss my 10 day california coast road trip itinerary. The pacific coast highway on the west coast of the united states is known for being an absolutely stunning scenic driveperfect for road trips. Nov 19, 2016 travel tips for a pacific coast highway road trip. Here are my twenty five favorite stops on pch from south to north. Superlatives dont do justice to the views youll see while twisting and turning, climbing and descending along pacific coast highway hwy. Road trip republic visit california visit california road. Named as one of the most scenic drives in america, californias state highway 1 or the pacific coast highway road trip is well worth the hype. Cruising along north countys scenic stretch of pacific coast highway is a great way to spend any day. How to plan a road trip on the pacific coast highway valerie.
Endless sunshine, worldclass theme parks, incredible outdoor experiencesdiscover why california is the ultimate road trip destination. The perfect itinerary for a 10 day us west coast road trip. A usa road trip tops a whole lot of bucket lists if youre serious about ticking it off check out the pacific coast highway route from san francisco to san diego. Our priorities and how we planned our pacific coast highway road trip itinerary. Planning a pacific coast highway road trip from san. If you love marine life, this is a must stop on your oregon coast road trip. The whole purpose of a road trip is to take it slow and the pch will give you plenty of reasons to stop along the way. Pacific coast highway itinerary california forum tripadvisor. Our initial destination is san francisco, but now were thinking about traveling the coast however im so overwhelmed i dont know where to start.
There are two directions to do a pacific coast road trip, driving south or driving north. We think the usa is the perfect country for road tripping in, and weve already done a number of road trips here, including iconic route 66, the pacific coast highway, and the oregon trail the deep south was a part of the usa that neither of us had fully explored, so we decided to spend five weeks. The pacific coast highway, part of californias state route 1, may be the. Our initial destination is san francisco, but now were thinking about traveling the coast however im so overwhelmed i dont know where to start were in our early 40s.
Its designated an allamerican road for its scenic views, and it packs one heck of a path that takes you past some pretty rad attractions and places. California offers a dazzling array of places to visit, from national parks to beaches to some of the most famous cities on earth. Let me help you plan the perfect 8 day pacific coast highway road trip itinerary down californias coast from san francisco to san diego. Oct 04, 2016 the perfect itinerary for a 10 day west coast road trip in destinations, north america, usa the 10day trip to the us west coast was a unique experience that i would repeat it with great pleasure. Driving along the california pacific coast highway is perhaps one of the greatest road trips in the world. Pacific coast highway road trip itinerary the ultimate guide. Jul 12, 2018 if a road trip down californias coast isnt on your bucket list, you should probably drop whatever youre doing and go ahead and plan a trip. Your epic 8 day pacific coast highway road trip itinerary. Here, a guide to one of the most scenic drives youll ever take. This 2,000 mile allpaved pacific coast highway motorcycle tour is a dream motorcycle trip along the west coast of the united states. And once my daughter was old enough for it to be a pleasure rather than a punishment for us, i started planning our route for a california road trip with kids. The best stops for a road trip on the pacific coast highway afar.
After seeing san francisco, drive south along the sr1 or pacific coast highway. With so many miles to cover, considering all the potential pacific coast highway stops can seem dauntingbut we found the best road trip sights along the way, so relax and make the most of every minute. Obviously i was very lenient with that on this trip, but i wasnt focused on eating my way through california. Road trip republic visit california visit california. Pacific coast highway road trip itinerary life tastes good. If you like traveling slow and exploring the us region by region, taking a long road trip along the west coast can be an adventure of a lifetime. In this itinerary blog post, we will talk about all. What should i do in advance of driving the pacific coast. The ultimate pacific coast highway 4 day itinerary small. California road trip with kids a 10day pacific coast. Essential stops on the pacific coast highway 2 day itinerary. We had to give henry miller library, mcway cove and andrew molera state park a miss due to several reasons library was closed for a private event, we could not locate the trail to the cove and we.
Ive wanted to do a road trip along californias pacific coast highway aka highway 1 for years. I wouldnt say were active, but when were on vacation we love doing different things hiking, bike riding on flat terrain, kayak, wine tours. Get ready for adrenaline, lots of nature and cute animal interactions. The perfect oregon coast road trip itinerary and exactly. The ultimate pacific coast highway road trip itinerary. From waterfalls and castles yes, really, to spectacular beaches and theme parks, theres absolutely. Finally, here is the big sur road trip map highlighting all the pacific coast highway stops mentioned in the post and a few others that we visited.
Drive the pacific coast highway in southern california. Creating this pacific coast road trip itinerary was quite the workload. Use these exclusive itineraries to visit bucketlist landmarks like yosemite, top theme parks, secret beaches, and city findstheyre all here in easytofollow road trips that visit every corner of the state. Heading south, after the roughandtumble logging and fishing communities of. Three days along the pacific coast highway wheretraveler. The pacific coast highway, also called california state route 1, coast highway, or shortened by locals to be pch, is 650 miles of road. From waterfalls and castles yes, really, to spectacular beaches and theme parks, theres absolutely no shortage of things to do on the california coast. You dont need to go far to enjoy a relaxing getaway.
Oct 04, 2019 designing your best pacific coast highway road trip itinerary. After a while of being the trip, we realised we were going to be driving highway 101 the entire way. Enjoy one of the worlds most scenic drives, at your own pace, with the ultimate pacific coast highway road trip itinerary featured in this blog. Dec 10, 2019 the pacific coast highway is an ambitious road trip, but totally possible in as few as five days. Driving up the pacific coast highway and highway 1 on a west coast usa road trip is an experience to remember its one that i. Mom and i decided to change that this summer when i came back for a visit. Road trips and weekend getaways are always fun, but im always reminded of how lucky we are to live in a vacation destination. Its an incredible way to see so much of what california has to offer, and a trip down california highway 1 is one of the most scenic drives in the world. You can either start in seattle and finish in san diego or go in reverse, only dependent on your preference.
In washington, oregon, and at the northern end of california, the pacific coast route follows us highway 101. We hope this helps in your own pacific coast highway trip and makes planning a little bit easier for you. Heres where to sleep, what to eat, and what to see en route from san francisco to. How to plan a road trip on the pacific coast highway. The scenic big sur region starts just south of carmel and is home to many state parks, nature trails, and wilderness areas. Planning a road trip along the pacific coast highway for myself and two friends ladies road trip. The perfect sydney south coast road trip to maximise your 1 week in new south wales. So, when a recent trip back to my hometown left me with three days of free time i decided to take what is widely touted as one of americas best road trips and to drive up the pacific coast highway through santa barbara, big sur and carmel. Planning a pacific coast highway road trip from san francisco. There are many places worth visiting on the west coast and the itinerary will depend on two things. The classic pacific coast highway road trip road trip usa. Road trip itinerary from san francisco to monterey san. A road trip down the california coast on the pacific coast highway highway 1 is an unforgettable way to see so much of what the state has to offer. The perfect usa deep south road trip itinerary finding the.
Highway 101 road trip an epic pacific coast highway road. Nov 19, 2016 check out this california pacific coast highway travel guide. Our family road trip on the pacific coast highway was a memorable one, and im so grateful to have had this time with my two favorite people in the world. From the epic rock formations of washington s cape flattery to natural bridges in southern oregon to the winding roads of big sur, california, there is always something new to see.
It connects the beautiful harbor town of dana point in southern californias orange county to leggett, california, in mendocino county, home to some of the largest trees in. It connects the beautiful harbor town of dana point in southern californias orange county to leggett, california, in mendocino county, home to some of the largest trees in the world. If a road trip down californias coast isnt on your bucket list, you should probably drop whatever youre doing and go ahead and plan a trip. Saying that the pacific coast highway is one of the most scenic drives in the world wouldnt be an overstatement. Over the past five years, i was very lucky to have the opportunity to visit many of the towns and citys along the golden coast. Pacific coast highway road trip itinerary road trips. The perfect pacific coast highway road trip itinerary. A west coast usa road trip is one of the classic american road trips. If you plan your trip to avoid the congestion, you can cruise at 55 miles per hour from town to town with the top down and your spirits up. Heres a guide to the mustsee spots while road tripping the pch.
A dreamy drive down the pacific coast highway one week. Depending on whether you do only california or all three states, you can startend your road trip at the various cities in this guide. Hit the road with this pacific coast highway road trip itinerary from. Im always thrilled to get a chance to be back home stateside and to explore the golden state even more. We think the usa is the perfect country for road tripping in, and weve already done a number of road trips here, including iconic route 66, the pacific coast highway, and the oregon trail. Pacific coast highway 4 day itinerary day 2 san francisco to monterey. Driving up the pacific coast highway and highway 1 on a west coast usa road trip is an experience to remember its one that i certainly do. Further south, just outside of santa barbara, nosh on fish tacos, bao buns, and fried cauliflower. Quotes from his books perfectly illustrate the quintessential california road trip. There are several different routes you can take but the bulk of your journey will exist on some legendary roads such as us route 101, known as the 101 and different portions of the pacific coast highway such as highway 1 in california. The southern end of the pch starts around the i5 at dana point.
Note, its more popular to go from north to south on this route. This itinerary will take you from san francisco to l. The first stop on this road trip is the city of monterey, which boast rich history, including the wharf area that was made famous by novelist john steinbeck. With only a long weekend off of work, we wanted to see as much as possible on the coast within just a short fiveday time span. Jan 11, 2020 one of the trips in the us that we had always wanted to do was a deep south road trip. If you live in socal like i do, then this direction is great, too. To help you plan your road trip, here are two possible road trip itineraries you could take. Designing your best pacific coast highway road trip itinerary. The pacific coast highway is an ambitious road trip, but totally possible in as few as five days. On to the next part of the 10 day road trip in california.
One of the trips in the us that we had always wanted to do was a deep south road trip. The perfect usa deep south road trip itinerary finding. Sep 17, 2017 west coast road trip itinerary the pacific coast highway is a road to explore at your own pace, without planning a lot and just stop along the way in every place that catches your attention. The pacific coast highway is considered to be one of the most famous road trip routes in the world. There are miles of oceanview trails to hike, endless. Take in stunning coastal views, seaside villages, untouched forest and places youve only ever seen on screen. If youve ever wondered why its outrageously expensive to buy a home in california, this seaside journey by car will resolve the mystery.
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