How many days does it take to drive the Pacific Coast Highway?

How long does it take to drive the Pacific Coast Highway? To drive the entire coastal CA Highway 1 takes 10-12 hours without stops. But this road trip is all about the stops! Plan on a minimum of 3 days and 2 nights.

What is the best time of year to drive the Pacific Coast Highway?

For us, the best times to drive the Pacific Coast Highway are from late spring, through summer, to early fall. In July and August you have the best chance of almost-perfect weather, but you also have the busiest crowds and high-season hotel prices.

Is Highway 101 the same as Highway 1?

Oxnard to San Luis Obispo North of Oxnard, CA Hwy 1 merges with US Hwy 101. The stretch of 101 between Oxnard and Santa Barbara is especially scenic, with views of the Channel Islands offshore. From Pismo Beach to San Luis Obispo, Highways 1 and 101 are the same.

What is the best road trip in California?

The 16 best California road trips

• Pacific Coast Highway. Our top pick for classic California dreamin’ snakes along the Pacific coast for more than 1000 miles.
• Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway.
• Route 66.
• Gold Country and California Highway 49.
• Avenue of the Giants.
• Trinity Scenic Byways.
• The Mission Trail.
• Napa Valley.

What is the prettiest part of the Pacific Coast Highway?

PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY: THE MOST SCENIC SPOTS

• The Golden Gate Bridge.
• Greyhound Rock Beach.
• Carmel by the Sea.
• Big Sur and Pfeiffer State Beach.
• Dana Point.
• Point Loma.
• How Gray Line San Francisco can help you explore:

Is it better to drive north or south on Pacific Coast Highway?

It’s best to travel from north to south as you’ll be on the right side of the road for uninterrupted views and to pull over to take photographs. Parking in cities can be expensive. It’s better to leave your rental vehicle and use public transport. Plan in plenty of stops along the way.

What is the best direction to drive the 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.

Is driving 101 Scary?

It’s very intense because there are no guard rails at the edge and there is little room for error if on coming traffic swerves in your direction. Also called Highway 1, it takes about five hours to drive the PCH. In the winter seasons, drivers must be aware of danger from mudslides as well.

What is the prettiest place in California?

The 15 Most Beautiful Places To Visit In California

• of 15. Lake Tahoe.
• of 15. Napa Valley.
• of 15. Santa Barbara.
• of 15. The Cypress “Tree Tunnel”
• of 15. Griffith Park.
• of 15. The “Glass Beach”
• of 15. Death Valley National Park.
• of 15. Big Sur.

What is the most scenic drive in California?

The Highway 1, aka Pacific Coast Highway, road trip that passes through Big Sur on California’s Central Coast is perhaps the most famous scenic drive in the Golden State. But it’s not the only scenic, unforgettable road trip in California—by far.

What is the speed limit on the Pacific Coast Highway?

usually 20 mph, but there are also stretches where you can get up to 60 mph. Once you reach Cayucos, the highway becomes a 4 lane highway (2 lanes in each direction) with some areas having a posted 65 mph speed limit.

What is the prettiest stretch of the PCH?

One Of The Most Beautiful Stretches Of Highway In The World. The Pacific Coast Highway (otherwise known as Highway 1 in California) is 656 miles long. But if you can’t drive the entire length of it, I recommend the short stretch between Monterey and Big Sur.

California Road Trip Itinerary 1. San Francisco – 3 Days 2. Pacific Coast Highway – 2 Days 3. Santa Monica, LA – 2 Days 4. Joshua Tree National Park – 1 Day 5. Death Valley National Park – 1 Day 6. Mammoth Lakes – 1 Day 7. Yosemite National Park – 3 Days

What is Highway 101 road trip?

Washington Highway 101 Road Trip. Highway 101—a twisty, mostly two-lane road that wends its way from the state capital to Washington’s western shores—is a picturesque backdrop for an epic road-trip experience. Buckle up for a highway adventure through the Olympic Peninsula and along the coast.

Where is Highway 101 in Southern California?

The south terminus of US 101 is in Los Angeles, about one mile (1.6 km) east of downtown Los Angeles at the East Los Angeles Interchange , also known as the “Commuters’ Complex”. This southernmost portion is named the Santa Ana Freeway , inheriting that title as the northerly extension of the roadway now known as I-5.

What does Highway 101 mean?

U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101 ( US 101) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States. It is also known as El Camino Real (The Royal Road) where its route along the southern and central California coast approximates…