How long pch

Of course, if you can spare two years you might just get to see everything. We turned the advice above into a fun little YouTube video:. If you've got your own wheels it's kind-of nice to think of starting at either the Canadian or Mexican border, and driving all the way to the other end.

It's a nice notion but it's not always practical. If you're flying into Seattle why drive almost to Vancouver only to turn round and come back again? Likewise if you arrive in San Diego , don't feel you need to drive to Mexico before you can begin your journey.

By all means do it if you want to, if that's your personal goal, but don't feel guilty if you can't make it. You get extra time to enjoy the real fun bits, and that's more important to our way of thinking. Sure, no problem. Fly into San Diego or Seattle, pick up a rental car and hit the road for two-three weeks. It would be cheaper to drive back the fast Interstate route, which can be done in days, and return your car to the same place. Or there's another alternative: take the train.

If you can get a good return flight deal flying in and out of the same airport, why not drive one way and catch the Amtrak back again? Or do the train journey first, pick up a car, and drive slowly back? Pacific Coast Highway Travel's advice on driving the Pacific Coast Highway in two days, including the best places to stay, and the best things to do and see. Pacific Coast Highway Travel's advice on driving the Pacific Coast Highway in three days, including the best places to stay, and the best things to do and see.

Pacific Coast Highway Travel's advice on driving the Pacific Coast Highway in four days, including the best places to stay, and the best things to do and see. Pacific Coast Highway Travel's advice on driving the Pacific Coast Highway in five days, including the best places to stay over, and the best things to do and see.

The Pacific Coast Highway in California book shows in historic photos the building of the Pacific Coast Highway from its earliest beginnings in Read More. United Airlines just made a lot of friends among cycling enthusiasts.

I have looked up the different uses of the word and grammatically correct samples, and I believe you needed to use it in past-tense. Sorry, I could not get past it, and I may not even be correct, but I truly loved this page.

Thank you, Archimedes. Thanks for your comment, Archimedes. I appreciate your asking for clarification! Hoping to do this mid Sept Our plan 2 people would be to fly into Seattle, where family is.

Hope to rent a car there? We only wish to go South as far as Salinas more family or Santa Barbara the furthest. I do not care to get into the Los Angeles area…However, the Sequoias are a must. So heading east eventually to round out the trip. Would there be a place where the rental could be left in those regions? Then flying back to Michigan. These seem to be the hardest parts to figure out for this type of trip! Best rates and airports to use. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Even an email answer is fine!! Great questions, Julie. Hey there! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the fantastic work!

I was wondering if you could suggest a place for stargazing. Thanks for asking, Helen! My favorite place is Mendocino if the skies are clear! I was a truck driver for 29 years and could not drive that road. You have the same recommendations?

Congrats on the trip, Michael! Looking forward to follow your tips. My wife and I with our dog are driving from Pismo Beach to Cannon Beach and staying at a beach house there. While staying in Cannon Beach we have planned day trips to Astoria and Long Beach and maybe an inland drive to McMinnvile, for some wine tasting. Hi Valerie, Great tips! Thanks for such a thorough rundown of what to do.

Have you heard any issues with the Covid and being able to rent places on the way down? Just wondering about restrictions? Also how many days driving for this trip. I was planning days? Thanks for reading, Jan. I have suggestions on dates earlier in the article to help you figure out how long to do the trip and where to stop.

Valerie, First off, congratulations on your recent wedding! Your article was just what I needed!! I had lots of recommendations from a friend, specific to Big Sur, but your article was so encompassing and complete. Thank you for your great ideas and itineraries! I hope you had a great drive, Mindy! A few years ago I started saving unbeknownst to my husband for his 50th birthday this summer. And other than his military time at Ft Lewis many years ago, we have never lived nor toured the west coast at all.

Again, thank you so much!! Thanks so much for reading, Teresa! Taking my granddaughter on an epic journey. Thanks for reading, Kay. I strongly recommend making reservations in advance, and also please be aware that hotels and other accommodation are not currently allowed to accept leisure travelers during the current mandates. I recommend checking out California resources for the pandemic before you book anything. We are just wondering if you have an estimate on how much it would be to travel the PCH!

Thanks for reading, Brianna! We took this trip several years ago. Flew into Seattle and drove back. We stayed in Seattle and drove south to Olympia, to pick up the beginning of the I wish I could remember the name of the mountain turnoff in Washington. But you missed it and it was so incredible. You could see Canada and the river valley. It was just gorgeous with a degree view. We continued on until we picked up the beginning of CA Hwy 1. We then took that to the end.

It is a time consuming drive but the most worthwhile time you will ever spend traveling. I have been to Europe, for 2 years, and nothing compares to this coastal trip. I agree, go north to south. ENJOY the sightseeing trip of a lifetime. Awesome, Tim! I have 22 foot van camper are their any length height 9. We are coming from Pennsylvania. First thank you for all the work you put into this! Thinking of maybe making this where we would b me somewhere different for 4th of July.

Do you recommend any of your overnights for golf fireworks for 4th of July? Thanks so much for an in depth post. We were planning on a 7day road trip with our 8, 6 and 20 month olds in June. Do you have any recommendations or modifications while traveling with kids. Sireesha, thanks for reading.

This is such a great article. Thank you for sharing! I am beginning to plan a family trip and loved all the recommendations. We are from FL and east coast and know very little about west coast, so this is great!! It includes so many things each person in my family wants to see and do! Thanks for sharing this great itinerary. Thanks for all of this great information! I had a question regarding travel to California present time as in next week August 14, Are people moving about freely or are things locked down with the covid?

I would hate to plan a trip only to find out that things are shut down or there are big restrictions placed on free movement. I appreciate any help you can provide. I am doing this trip with the boyfriend end of this month. San Jose is a creative and thriving high-tech culture epicenter.

After reading your blog we are excited to visit San Jose. We are planning on a 7 days trip in Dec Thanks for reading, Tony! Have you seen these two posts? Great article. We are thinking of late September of doing a two week drive from north to south. Wondering about forest fires and how they affect the trip.

Also wondering if you can tell me where I could get a printable version of your article. Thanks for reading, Dave. You can get a printable version by signing up on the forms in this post. I have no idea what the case will be for forest fires next year, unfortunately! Your email address will not be published. My blog posts likely contain affiliate links, including for the Amazon Associates program.

If you click, book, or buy from one of these links, I may earn a commission. Read more in my Privacy Policy. Table of Contents.

Joel October 24, at pm Reply. Pingback: January 20, at am. Pingback: May 16, at am. Pingback: September 14, at am. La Shell October 30, at pm Reply. Valerie November 5, at pm Reply. Lauren Falardeau Pariseau October 30, at pm Reply. Thanks for reading, Lauren! I hope you can make this trip someday hopefully soon! Larissa Joassaint October 30, at pm Reply.

Cait October 31, at am Reply. Jennifer July 2, at pm Reply. Valerie July 3, at am Reply. Kathi Kamleitner November 5, at am Reply. Kathi Kamleitner November 15, at am Reply. Vicky Entsminger Saunders January 8, at pm Reply. Valerie January 8, at pm Reply. Valerie January 18, at pm Reply. Valerie December 10, at am Reply. Catherine Ouahada January 12, at pm Reply. Valerie January 12, at pm Reply. Cherie Carmona December 16, at am Reply.

Valerie December 30, at pm Reply. Valerie February 9, at pm Reply. Mel December 19, at am Reply. Right, Mel? I love that the Pacific coast has those little hideaways! Adrian Jacobs January 15, at am Reply. Valerie January 15, at am Reply. Adrian January 17, at am Reply. Valerie January 17, at am Reply. Sonja L. Marshall January 18, at am Reply. Valerie January 19, at am Reply.

Sonja, glad to help! Mike Siegfried January 22, at am Reply. Valerie January 23, at am Reply. Happy driving! Samantha Greenwell December 31, at pm Reply. Alex Rental February 15, at am Reply. Great trip! I plan to rent a car in Los Angeles in the summer and make a similar journey. Valerie February 16, at am Reply. Donna February 16, at pm Reply. Valerie February 17, at pm Reply. Valerie February 28, at am Reply. Adam March 1, at am Reply.

Valerie March 2, at am Reply. Wilbert March 3, at am Reply. Valerie March 3, at am Reply. I hope you have a great trip whenever you can make it! Angie Redmon March 11, at am Reply. Valerie March 16, at pm Reply. Ann March 16, at am Reply. Nate Webb March 18, at pm Reply. Valerie March 19, at am Reply.

Nate, thanks for your comment. Very glad to help, and I hope you have a great trip! Laurie Baxter March 23, at am Reply. Valerie March 25, at am Reply. Valerie April 9, at am Reply. Sounds like a great trip, Rudy! Drive safe in between those beer stops! Midwest Retired Guy at 56 March 30, at am Reply. Scott Bush April 7, at pm Reply. Thank you, Scott. Eileen April 14, at pm Reply. Valerie April 15, at pm Reply. Lynda Mailhot April 22, at am Reply.

Hi Valerie- What is the best time of year for this 10 day trip? Thanks, Lynda. Valerie April 22, at pm Reply. Rex May 22, at pm Reply. Valerie May 23, at pm Reply. Victoria May 28, at pm Reply. Hello Valerie, Looking to travel with your recommendations southbound! Thank you for sharing your travels and still helping others along their journey!

Valerie May 31, at pm Reply. Kathy May 29, at pm Reply. CJ June 4, at am Reply. Valerie June 4, at am Reply. Karen Wells June 4, at pm Reply. Valerie June 7, at am Reply. Shelly July 8, at am Reply. Valerie July 8, at pm Reply. John Finders July 8, at pm Reply. Thanks for your comment, John! Kim Taylor July 10, at am Reply. Valerie July 13, at am Reply. Anthony July 10, at am Reply. Valerie July 22, at pm Reply. Raynard Richards July 22, at pm Reply. Hi Valerie, I am traveling with my husband, brother and our 4 year old.

Cyndy Hokana August 4, at pm Reply. Am interested in your upcoming 7 day itinerary of PCH. Enjoyed this 14 day article! Alexandra Faux August 16, at pm Reply. Valerie August 21, at am Reply. Patty York September 19, at pm Reply. What are the reasons you really never got to enjoy using a convertible car?

Valerie September 28, at am Reply. Jorge Alcala August 26, at am Reply. Valerie August 26, at pm Reply. Angela August 26, at pm Reply. Hah, sounds like a good bonding experience, Angela! Have a wonderful trip! Sharon September 14, at am Reply. Valerie September 14, at pm Reply. Pam September 28, at pm Reply. Valerie October 1, at pm Reply. Erin Huelsman October 1, at am Reply. Catherine Jackson October 12, at pm Reply.

Valerie October 13, at pm Reply. Jennifer October 22, at am Reply. Valerie October 28, at pm Reply. DAN October 28, at am Reply. Hi Valerie, Thank so much for putting together a wonderful and comprehensive itinerary of the PC scenic drive. Thanks again and best wishes, Dan. Amy Delacluyse1 November 5, at am Reply.

Valerie November 9, at am Reply. Melissa Goodwin November 18, at pm Reply. Valerie November 18, at pm Reply. Awesome, you can sign up using the forms in this post to get the PDF! Teena Maher November 24, at am Reply. Valerie November 25, at am Reply. Chinquel Wiley December 10, at am Reply. Valerie December 13, at am Reply.

Most of the Pacific Coast is in the public domain, accessible, and protected from development within national, state, and local parks, which provide habitat for such rare creatures as mountain lions, condors, and gray whales. Heading south, after the rough-and-tumble logging and fishing communities of Washington State, you cross the mouth of the Columbia River and follow the comparatively peaceful and quiet Oregon coastline, where recreation has by and large replaced industry, and where dozens of quaint and not-so-quaint communities line the ever-changing shoreline.

At the midway point, you pass through the great redwood forests of Northern California, where the tallest and most majestic living things on earth line the Avenue of the Giants, home also to some of the best meaning gloriously kitsch remnants of the golden age of car-borne tourism: drive-through trees, drive-on trees, houses carved out of trees, and much more.

The phenomenally beautiful coast-line of Northern California is rivaled only by the incredible coast of Big Sur farther south, beyond which stretches the beachfronts of Southern California.

The land of palm trees, beach boys, and surfer girls of popular lore really does exist, though only in the southernmost quarter of the state.