I am planning to take my three boys (18, 15 and 12) on a 7-8 day road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway in June. I am looking for opinions on two routes. Either Seattle-San Francisco or San Francisco-San Diego. I’m sure both are great, but would love to hear real-world experiences. Thanks!
0 voters
One thing to be aware of is Highway 1 has been closed at Big Sur for the last month due to a landslide. It is scheduled to open sometime this summer, but there’s no guarantee the work will be done by the time of your trip.
I have driven every mile of the Pacific Coast from the Canadian border to Ensenada Mexico by whatever road is closest to the ocean (in WA that involves some dirt roads on tribal lands but hey, it was fun) and hands down the most reliably gorgeous stretch is the northern part. South of SF you have Big Sur and that’s really sweet but after that it gets pretty meh, to my mind. The Oregon coast especially is absolutely majestic, with plenty of cool lighthouses to go see. That would be my recommendation. Especially if you figure out some way to include a ferry trip while around Puget Sound and don’t forget a side trip to the Hoh rainforest on the Olympic peninsula. Just wow.
Thanks, good to know.
Yes, if we start in Seattle we will definitely check out the rain forest and the peninsula.
Agree with all. The Hoh rainforest is phenomenal and under-appreciated. Just be advised that the drive on CA-1 north of San Francisco up to Stewart’s Point and south from Carmel to Ragged Point are twisty and perilous for those fearful of heights or who suffer from severe motion sickness. And as @markn_1 notes, there is currently a closure in Big Sur, and those can occur without much warning so check highway closures before you get on a remote section.
My recommendation of the two options of the o.p. would be the Seattle to San Francisco route because outside of the tourist traps it is likely to be less congested and the Oregon coast is phenomena, but I’d actually recommend doing that trip in the late fall or winter when it will be clearer and there is almost nobody on the road between Astoria, OR and Crescent City, CA. You can also cut across from Arcata, CA to Redding on CA-299 Weaverville, see the Joss House (oldest Taoist temple in use in the US built by Chinese mine workers) and then head back up I-5 past Mt. Shasta or over to Lassen Volcanic National Park and up to Crater Lake National Park in Oregon.
Stranger
I have nothing useful to add, but felt compelled to open this thread because I’d never heard of a Publisher’s Clearing House road trip… 
Sure you have: you win the Clearinghouse sweepstakes, you have enough money to take a long road trip along the west coast.
My only question is how much your boys are into pretty scenery? I’m not a young boy and have never been a young boy, but my experience with them is they tend to be more into doing than seeing.
Also, the San Francisco to San Diego route can include a side trip to Santa Cruz (and its boardwalk) which I think would be fun for the boys … unless they had bad reactions to either Lost Boys or Us.
That’s a valid point. But I think there will be enough to do (rainforest, Portland, San Fran) to keep their attention on the northern option.
I agree with above posters. My favorite section is SF to northern CA on Highway 1. I would drive it two or three times rather than the entire thing.
A thought. 7-8 days is not enough to do it and do anything but drive. I would make it multiple trips. One to Olympic park and one to Oregon and a separate CA trip.
Don’t know where you live or what your expectations about weather and temperature are.
From LA south to San Diego it’ll be sunny and reasonably warm in June, with highs in the 70s. From LA north to Canada during the days it’ll be temps in the 50’s, gray, and windy. Plus even cooler at night.
Many a California vacation has been ruined by people expecting warm tropical beaches, bikinis, and mai-tais in the sun. Who are then surprised to want long pants, heavy socks, two layers of shirts, and a windbreaker or heavier jacket on the Coast. In July
We will be traveling out from North Carolina. Not expecting a beach-weather trip. Mostly interested in the coastal scenery and some time in the cities.
“One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach, all the damn vampires.”
That’s a good point. Even on the southern legs it can get windy and cool; up north of Arcata and all along the Oregon coast you can expect strong winds and cloudy or hazy skies. That’s was why I recommend the Oregon coast in the winter where you are actually more likely to get clear skies, albeit intermittently. Plan clothing and activities accordingly. Also be aware that along the coast there are some remote locations with few options for meals. I’d take snacks and even pack a cooler for on-the-go meals rather than rely on finding food en route.
Stranger
Taking I-40 across? Stop in Flagstaff and go to Diablo Burger, then either drive up through Las Vegas from Kingman and across Death Valley and up Hwy 395 up to Hwy 120 across Yosemite NP and then to San Francisco (or up around North Bay if you want to avoid the city), or down through Barstow and into Los Angeles (or through San Fernando Valley and Hwy 126 “The Old Road” to Ventura if you want to avoid the city) and thence up through Santa Barbara and Gaviota if you want “The Graduate” experience. Just…don’t…stop…in…Solvang. Trust me on this.
Stranger
No, we are flying into Seattle. Originally had an Alaskan cruise planned, but Covid killed that. So we still have the air tickets. I can change them, but the idea of driving the PCH occurred to me.
I have ridden a bicycle along the coast from Astoria, OR to Santa Barbara, CA, and most of it really is spectacular (even from a car). I will agree with the other posters about the summer weather in that it can be grey and cold for days on-end. Not only is it cold, but the views can be compromised by low clouds and fog. And it can also be cold. A better time to visit is spring or fall, but if you are locked into June you gotta make the best of it.
Additionally, the route you are considering from Seattle to SF by way of the Olympic peninsula and staying along the coast is about 1,100 miles, so you can calculate how much driving you will be doing each day. TBH, that is a lot of miles in 7-8 days and not a lot of time to explore or do very much other than driving and settling into wherever you are staying for the night. As mentioned, there are sections of the route that are very narrow and winding, as well as some longer sections that are well away from the coast (Avenue of the Giants) that will require some time to see.
I like the suggestion of maybe going as far as the OR/CA border (Brookings/Crescent City) and then heading back north and visiting some inland attractions along the way. This may be a better use of your time and could provide some flexibility to stop for a while here and there, rather than feeling pressured to stay on schedule.
Amplifying the note about the closure in Big Sur, and I would assume that section is not going to be ready by this June. It could be, but I would not count on it.
Also, PCH, Pacific Coast Highway, only exists in parts of California, as Hwy 1 is also known as Shoreline Highway, Cabrillo Highway, and any other number of names of the streets and roads it shares. In Oregon and Washington, it is all US 101 - I do not think anyone there calls it PCH.
Yeah, they don’t call it “June Gloom” for nothin’.
You’re my hero. That sounds great! But also takes / took some serious dedication and conditioning. Certainly more of either than I’ll ever muster.
Well, maybe not in Santa Barbara. But I get that that’s LA to many people.
Anyway, I misclicked my vote, especially with the recent road closure. I’d vote for the Oregon coast portion.