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I have done the PCH several times from Seattle to LA, and its great in most places, but dives inland in a lot of places as well. Look closely at a map, and stay with 1, not 101 when you can.
I also recommend your first time, that you do it from North to South, so you are on the ocean side, with a better view. I did La to SF a couple years ago, and its interesting near LA, but much better from Morro Bay and north.
Check the CA highway info , I believe Hwy 1 is still closed at Big Sur with a bridge out. It was this summer when I was there.
Expect a lot of traffic, don't get in a hurry, passing is very difficult. enjoy the scenery, it's a great drive.
You can't go wrong either way. The southern stretch will be warmer and probably drier and have more traffic. Both offer tremendous views of the Pacific Ocean with rocky overlooks.
At the northern end you will have the Giant Redwoods just north from Leggett to Klamath, CA. On the southern end you have San Simeon and Hurst Castle to stop and visit.
At the center of both routes you will have Laguna Seca!
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10-'11-'12-'13 '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Originally Posted by 09Z06pj
The stretch from Monterey to Morro Bay is by far the best. It recently reopened (last week) so you're good to go. It is an awesome drive.
No it isn't, this is a cut and paste from the CA Rte 1 website as of today 19 Oct. 2017:
" [IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]
IS CLOSED FROM 4.6 MI NORTH OF RAGGED POINT TO 10.3 MI NORTH OF
RAGGED POINT /AT MUD CREEK/ (MONTEREY CO) 24 HRS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK THRU
6/1/18 - DUE TO MUDSLIDE REMOVAL - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE
ROUTE - MOTORISTS CAN ACCESS SR 1 FROM 10.3 MI NORTH OF RAGGED POINT
/AT MUD CREEK/ TO PFEIFFER CANYON BRIDGE /IN BIG SUR/ BY USING
NACIMIENTO-FERGUSON RD"
My bad. It was the bridge over Pfeiffer Creek that reopened last week. HWY 1 is still closed 37 miles south of this location. OP, drive down as far as you can until you hit the closure and then turn around and come back, Then pick up 101 in Salinas and head down to HWY 46 south of Paso Robles. That will take you back to HWY 1 just north of Morro Bay. Drive up 1 through Cambria until you hit the closure on the other side. It's all as scenic and beautiful as it gets if that's what you're after. Here's an excerpt from an article on the bridge reopening from the Mercury News:
Big Sur – After months of hiking a steep and winding access trail through the woods, Big Sur Postmaster Andrew Luersen walked across the newly completed Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge for the first time Friday.
“Take it from the mailman, it’s much easier to walk across the bridge than on the trail,” Luersen said.
Dignitaries along with local residents and business owners packed onto the bridge as Caltrans held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the reopening of the structure eight months after torrential winter rains caused a landslide that compromised its support columns.
“This route is important to not only California, it’s a California treasure, it’s a national treasure,” Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty said of Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast. “We all knew that, but we also came to a much greater level of respect for how important this bridge, this connection is to this community. Not only to residents and some of the children, but also to the businesses and the tourists.”
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10-'11-'12-'13 '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Originally Posted by 09Z06pj
My bad. It was the bridge over Pfeiffer Creek that reopened last week. HWY 1 is still closed 37 miles south of this location. OP, drive down as far as you can until you hit the closure and then turn around and come back, Then pick up 101 in Salinas and head down to HWY 46 south of Paso Robles. That will take you back to HWY 1 just north of Morro Bay. Drive up 1 through Cambria until you hit the closure on the other side. It's all as scenic and beautiful as it gets if that's what you're after. Here's an excerpt from an article on the bridge reopening from the Mercury News:
Big Sur – After months of hiking a steep and winding access trail through the woods, Big Sur Postmaster Andrew Luersen walked across the newly completed Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge for the first time Friday.
“Take it from the mailman, it’s much easier to walk across the bridge than on the trail,” Luersen said.
Dignitaries along with local residents and business owners packed onto the bridge as Caltrans held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the reopening of the structure eight months after torrential winter rains caused a landslide that compromised its support columns.
“This route is important to not only California, it’s a California treasure, it’s a national treasure,” Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty said of Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast. “We all knew that, but we also came to a much greater level of respect for how important this bridge, this connection is to this community. Not only to residents and some of the children, but also to the businesses and the tourists.”
They can do that but they miss a LOT of stunning scenery. It's to bad it is a beautiful coastline.
In past years I drove my new '70 Fiat 124 north from Moro Bay to Monterey, my '81 Mazda RX7 GSL from Marin County to Ft. Bragg, and my '83 Bronco from Marin County to Tamales Bay. The last trip was white knuckles all the way for my passengers We have also driven the '69 Mustang convertible on many cruises on the PCH from Huntington Beach to Newport Beach. My favorite is the portion that's closed between Moro Bay and Carmel. Great views of the rugged California coast. If you're coming south and you're in no hurry, take the drive from Monterey to the landslide and double back. The views are spectacular.
I like the stretch in my back yard, San Francisco to Santa Cruz. It be about 50 miles and with no Summer traffic it is a nice drive. Scenic all the way down.
My last three years behind the wheel of an 18 wheeler I drove this stretch up and back 3 times a day.
Not bad work if you can get it.
Also a must do is 17 mile drive through Pebble beach. This will be off Hwy 1 in Monterey. It has a gate fee but the drive is spectacular for many reasons.
I swore I would never drive the stretch from Monterey to Morrow Bay again, just to many rocks on the roadway from small sides.
I have driven the PCH from top to bottom several times, and the Northern section is a great drive, not fast as others have said as many, many motor homes and flat landers(read that as scared to death of the road being on the Ragged Edge of the Western World) also cruise it.
The best stretch is from Monterey to San Louis Obispo.
Some northern stuff (Crescent City) on the 1 and 101. Lots of coast line and dives into the Redwoods. This was last year in the C5...can't wait until next year in our C6.
I was in Reno at hot August nites with my Harley.Left Reno and went through Redding to Eureka and down the PCH to San Fran.Great ride and great scenary.Needed a jacket in August but just right for riding.If you go that way you can check out the bunkers along the coast that were there from WW11.Also some lighthouses.Have fun!
10-17-2017, 09:54 AM
What's the best stretch of the Pacific Coast Hwy.?
40 feet deep in places!
I have only driven a few sections from Monterey north, which I enjoyed.
We have also driven the '69 Mustang convertible on many cruises on the PCH from Huntington Beach to Newport Beach. My favorite is the portion that's closed between Moro Bay and Carmel. Great views of the rugged California coast. If you're coming south and you're in no hurry, take the drive from Monterey to the landslide and double back. The views are spectacular.
