Driving from San Francisco to San Diego via Highway 1 (PCH)

I have done LA to SF and SD to LA, so basically the whole thing but at different times. Oh God, it would suck so badly if it weren't for the scenery. That is one windy road.

If you are going to be with someone special it could be awesome but if you are alone it might just be so-so. Take it all in

Carmel to Morro Bay is prime and would be the priority. Once you get as far south as San Luis Obispo, you might want to stick with 101. Although you could continue on the PCH thru Malibu to Santa Monica if you really wanted.

Also check the weather forecast. No sense doing it if you're going to be socked in with fog or low clouds.

SF to San Diego via Rt. 1 and the PCH was my introduction to California. On a bicycle.

it takes forever. make sure you budget a LOT of time.

google maps says 6 hours difference - 7:44 on I-5 vs 13:40 on CA-1

I've gone between LA and SF countless time, mostly on I-5 and Hwy 101, but also via Hwy 1. I wouldn't stick to Hwy 1, but I would definitely do 1 between Carmel and San Luis Obispo, this is Big Sur and should not be missed (as long as you don't get vertigo and are patient, it is long and winding on a narrow road just above the ocean.)

In addition to Big Sur I would definitely hit Santa Cruz, Monterrey/Carmel/San Luis Obispo, Santa Barabra, but if you haven't been to LA I would likely skip hwy 1 through Malibu and check out some of LA, an underrated place to visit as long as you stay away from the tourist spots and hit the interesting locals. Also, south of LA Hwy 1 combines with 101 in places and where it doesn't it goes through beach town and such, I don't think I'd stay on hwy 1 through all this area.

Anyone know what the views on the Pacific Surfliner (AMTRAK) are like? It only goes as far North as SLO, but it might be an option, too.

I agree with everything above, but also wanted to add that if you or anyone traveling with you gets motion sick, then this could be a terrible idea. Windy is a huge understatement when it comes to describing PCH.

K8 wrote:

I agree with everything above, but also wanted to add that if you or anyone traveling with you gets motion sick, then this could be a terrible idea. Windy is a huge understatement when it comes to describing PCH.

I was thinking about renting a convertible for the drive, but I guess that wouldn't be such a good idea if it is that windy.

I believe that K8 means curvy, as in hwy 1 through Big Sur is extremely curvy.

Bump

Done LA to SF.

After around an hour of windy road with a sea view, the novelty begins to slip away.... and the travel sickness kicks in big time. Took around 11 hours with a few stops.

never again.

WindING rather than windY.

Not An Expert wrote:

Anyone know what the views on the Pacific Surfliner (AMTRAK) are like? It only goes as far North as SLO, but it might be an option, too.

I did that from LA to SD, then back up to SB, I think. It was beautiful. Going south, everyone sat on the second floor, on the right side. Much less stressful than driving a car.

There are many sights, but the way to see them is not to stay on the PCH the whole way (such as in LA). Sometimes it is a true coastal road. Other times, it's a red light, traffic backup road through town, a half mile from the good views. Look on AAA's website, or a Rand McNally atlas for the scenic routes. They go on and off PCH. Here's my top 5 memories from the trip: 1) Monterey area, including coastal golf courses around Pebble Beach, 2)Santa Barbara area, 3) Getty Museum hills (on foot) 4)Malibu area, 5) La Jolla area. Each of those five is filled with "wows" so long as you are not traveling at the height of a tourist season. Of course, there's many other places, without attractions or familiar names, just bends in the road overlooking the ocean that are stunning as well. California has an abundance of undeveloped coastal land. You could stop 500 times from San Francisco to San Diego in a location nice enough to pull over for the view, or for a picnic, or to feel the sea breeze, watch the waves, etc. Few people stop, so you often are alone, or have a lot of privacy.

Tip: older fairly run down restaurant or motels with restaurants on the ocean can have amazing places to stop for a meal. Modern zoning or environmental laws would never let them build there, but you can get an ocean front table at an older place, overlooking the surf, and even get an occasional small spash from the waves hitting the rocks. Stopping in between common meal times is ideal. You get the table of your choice. I'll go in a 50-75 year old place in a heartbeat over a newer fancier building, as the older place got the best site when it was still available.

Thanks for all the info so far.

Visit the Danish Town of Solvang.

San Simeon also

I drove from Santa Barbara to Coos Bay Oregon alternating between the 101 and the 1 about a month ago. Yeah, it was long as hell, but it was worth it. I was by myself, sometimes which I had someone with me, but doing it solo holds it's own rewards, which is almost always how I've traveled. Don't know that I'd do the whole thing again but... The southern Oregon coast is breathtaking in it's stark ruggedness...took the 101 north of SF and loved the redwoods and the avenue of the giants...car camped the night in Barnesville or something like that, just before the start of the avenue...met some cool people after checking out the single screen theater in town (only movie playing was Twighlight...yes it sucked but I needed something to do and I have a thing for pale high school girls who are really played by much older actors) and heading to a blue collar locals bar next door to the theater....first time I'd been to SF so that was pretty cool...great places to run through the redwoods and the sandhills north of Coos Bay...views near Big Sur were amazing like previous posters have said. Didn't expect the elephant seals just north of San Luis Obispo, that was pretty cool....101 was definitely necessary in places.

Only advice I'd give you is to not drive through Big Sur too early in the morning after it's been raining all night. It washes off a lot of debris off of the cliffs above the PCH and it's real hard to see in the pre-dawn hours and has a tendency to rip open gas tanks, oil pans and pop tires among other damages...wait until the cleaning crews come around 8am.

It's a trip that is worth as much time as you can spend on it. Carmel is a tourist haven, but there are nice restaurants, shops, and scenic drives. You can pay for the 17 mile drive through Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay, etc. There are other public roads that are probably as beautiful. Monterrey aquarium is worth a visit, too. Big Sur, however, is my favorite. There are a couple of state parks named after Pfeiffers. One has Big Sur Lodge in it, which was a reasonable and nice place to stay when we were there. Great trails. The southern most one is called Julia Pfieffer Burns. There is one trail (Canyon) that goes about a mile in to a waterfall nestled in the redwoods. A gorgeous spot.

Enjoy!