MSG C5

Hi. I have a business trip in CA next month and like previous years, I was looking forward to the drive down PCH from S.F. to L.A. I understand that due to the wet winter and mudslides, that parts of PCH near Big Sur have been shut down due to damage and the reconstruction of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge.

I've been checking the various CA transportation boards, etc. to get a feel for the areas impacted and was curious if any Forum members could offer up advice on the best alternative route leaving S.F. that would bypass this closed, construction section of PCH, yet get me back to the scenic PCH view as soon as possible.

I know that the fastest route between the two cities is I5, however it's the most boring and I have a full day to make the trip. The second fastest option is Highway 101 which runs parallel to PCH and actually connects back into PCH at some point.

Can I take PCH out of S.F. down to Carmel or Monterey and then head over to Highway 101? If so, where is the best place to pick PCH (Highway 1) back up for the remainder of the drive? Basically, I'm trying to bypass the road closures/construction area, and then get back on PCH as soon as I can.

I appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

napacruzerc5

Hi MSG C5,

Whew! PCH S.F. to L.A. is a looooong haul. There will be lots of places were you will be stuck behind a slow moving RV or tourist in an unfamiliar rental car.

Anyway, when n PCH yes you can take 152 East just past Capitola (just past Santa Cruz) and hook up with 101. You can stay on 101 until it hooks back up with PCH or take 46 West to hook up with PCH just south of Cambria. Check out Hearst Castle north of Cambria. Depending on where you are heading to in So Cal/L.A. you're probably looking at a 12 hr drive.

Warning: South of Gilroy on 101 is King City. Garanteed you'll see multiple CHP before and after King City. Sucks because 101 opens up a bit with lots of uphill and downhill (where you'll pick up speed). I believe there is a CHP substation/training center in King City.

Be careful out there. Suggest taking two days instead of one looooong day.

MSG C5

^^^ Thanks for the reply and advise. Yes, it's a long drive, but due to the beautiful scenery, it doesn't feel like it. Last year I left S.F. around 6AM and I arrived at my Malibu destination around 4PM. That was after stopping to take various pictures along the route as well as a lunch and fuel stop around noon. I did get stuck behind a few slower moving vans and cycle groups at some points, but it was still fun and I really enjoyed it. The rental Camaro helped as well. Below are a few pics.

Based on your recommendation, how many miles of PCH will I be bypassing and how many miles will I be on Highway 1 out of S.F. before I need to make the bypass?





















BTW - The seals looked better than they smelled!

napacruzerc5

Can't tell you miles. I would say the "detour" from PCH to 101 and back should take about an hour and a half. I looked at the map again and saw a PCH/101 connector further south from 152. I do know it takes us about 5 hours to get from Napa to Morro Bay; taking the 46 West turnoff to PCH.

Happy trails

p.s. Smelly fish breath

PKI

You are going to miss some of the best views of HW1. However, unless you want to make it a two day trip and back track a lot, that's the way it is until they get the damaged sections replaced.

The connectors are not bad scenery and the wine vineyards make up for a bit of the lost coast line. Travel safe. Pat

MSG C5

Thanks. Based on previous trips, I know I'm going to miss some nice scenery between Monterey and San Simeon, especially Big Sur.

Basically, I have the trip mapped into four stages that will allow me to drive PCH as much as possible, however route over to Highway 101 north of Monterey and then back over to PCH north of Harmony and south of Cambria.

Stage 1: SFO Airport area to El Granada to pick up PCH (26 miles)

Stage 2: El Granada to Salinas/Highway 101 (88 miles)

Stage 3: Salinas to Harmony - Highway 101 to 46 West to PCH (125 miles)

Stage 4: Harmony to Dana Point/Destination (289 Miles)

If anyone has any other tips or recommendations on how to get back to PCH (Highway 1) further north of Harmony past the road closings without going too far out of my way, I appreciate it.

PKI

If it was my trip, I'd likely grab 101 at earliest opportunity and head south to Cambria. The Northern section is not so much from a view perspective considering the hassle to get there and back to 101. However, we have done the trip this year, so I'm likely a little less excited about the area than others. The exception to that thought is if you plan to visit Monterey and Carmel with a pass through 17 mile drive. Always worth the time if you have it.

Good luck and travel safe. Pat

Boomer111

SF to Santa Cruz is scenic for sure, Santa cruz to Castroville/Salinas not so much so. At least not to you get closer to the farmlands south of Sant cruz area.

But having said this.

Hwy 17 from Santa Cruz over the hill into San Jose area, hwy 101, can be slow depending on time of day. Lots of roads are still down causing hwy 17 to be crowded. Plus lots of accidents lately.

If it where me knowing what I know living in this area all my life and commercially driving it for 35 years I would come down the coast to Santa Cruz and stay south on hwy 1 to Castroville picking up hwy 156 east to hwy 101 South down to hwy 46 West. It will be a short drive maybe 25 miles before you hook up with 101 again. Morrow Bay would be a nice rest spot maybe even for an overnighter. Try and get close to downtown and the marina.

It would be faster to stay on 101 all the way down by passing 46.

Morro Bay is a nice area though, not like say Pebble Beach but nevertheless a very nice town.

The Bay Area traffic is insane nowadays, hence why I recommended staying along the coast from SF to Castroville.

MSG C5

Thanks, I see that staying on 101 would be faster than shooting west on I46, however will I miss any good scenery on PCH Highway 1 between Cambria and San Luis Obispo where it reconnects to 101?

MSG C5

Thanks. If I decide to take PCH further south through Monterey and Carmel, what's the best eastbound route to take to Highway 101 to avoid the construction and road closures further south? Per Mapquest, they have a road G16 or Carmel Valley Road that looks like it carves through the hills east to Highway 101.

Navy Blue 210

Born and raised in SF Bay Area and currently living on San Mateo
Coast I can confirm and recommend Boomer's route & advice as The Best
To get as much of PCH as possible.

Boomer111

Morro Bay.

I guess if time is a issue stay on 101 if not then take the 46 over to 1.

Like I said Morro Bay would be a good layover spot or at least a break.

Boomer111

Carmel Valley road is a interesting drive and worth the side trip I feel.

Plus this way you get to se some of Monterey Bay.

And since you are this far West and if you have not been on 17 mile drive I would take an hour and do the 17 mile drive. It might be the most spectacular scenery you will see on the whole trip, from the ocean views to the out of this world homes with views.

If time is an concern I would recommended this side trip over the 46 route to the coast. Especially if you haven't experienced the Pebble Beach drive.

Boomer111

Just noticed I have been adding a w at the end of Morro.

Freaking getting old.

benspruce

I live in the Monterey area and I am sure you realize that the section of Highway 1 that you will have to miss because of closures is some of the most beautiful and spectacular coastline in the U.S.A. If you plan to come to this area again you might want to skip Highway 1 this trip and catch it next time. It pains me to say this, but the rest of Highway 1 is not nearly as sensational as what you will have to miss. However, if you are determined, I suggest you take 1 and exit at Castroville to 156. It's about 5 miles on 156 to 101 S. You will miss Monterey and Carmel but taking Carmel Valley Road is a long journey to 101 - at least an hour and maybe more. Take 101 to Paso Robles and exit on 46 W. That will take you another hour to get to 1. You could stay on 101 to San Luis Obispo. That is where 101 and 1 merge. It is about 20 miles until they split again and you can take 1 from there. I hate to sound like a downer but the best part of the trip just isn't available right now. Whatever you choose please enjoy it and stay safe.

Boomer111

Hwy 46 west is a little more than half and hour to get to hwy 1, at least when I drive it.

Also 101 is nothing special south of Salinas for an hour or so. Carmel Valley Rd while not the coast at least is scenic.

Just depends on the OP's time and what he wants out of the drive.

True about the closure portion for sure.

This trip from SF to Morro Bay can be done in a day and even with throwing in 17 mile Scenic Drive and Carmel Vally Rd.

It would be the whole day granted but mush better than driving down 101 or 5, if time isn't of the essence.

This would be my recommendation and plan on staying in Morro Bay or San Luis Obispo which is where hwy 1 meets back up with the 101. Just another 20 minute drive from Morro.

I have traveled all these roads extensively over the 35 years as a commercial driver. Even 17 mile drive and Carmel Valley Rd.

We supplied a pool company with their Gunite sand as well as the golf courses with soil and sand material and would be everywhere in Central California.

In the last few years I ran up and down hwy 1 from Santa Cruz to SF three times a day for most of the week.

Doesn't get much more scenic than this while working.

Erik Zinn

I agree with Boomer's assessment. SF to Santa Cruz on Highway 1 for sure.

Carmel Valley Road does take some time to dump you out at King City, but I personally think that transect across the coast range is beautiful. The Carmel River gorge, the giant oak trees in rolling meadows, the steep mountain range - all make for a great drive. The road itself is crappy in places, but worth the views in my opinion.

I agree with Boomer on making Morro Bay a stopover point. You could get a room, grab a bite to eat and then hit any of the beaches in that area in the evening.

MSG C5

Thanks for all the tips. Based on my previous trips, I know I'm going to miss some of the best scenery, however I'm going to try to make the best of it. Based on the feedback, and since I do have some time, I plan to stick on PCH 1 from SF down through Monterey and Carmel and I plan to check out 17 Mile Drive. I will then shoot over to Highway 101 via Carmel Valley Road. I will then stay on Highway 101 down until it merges back with PCH 1 at San Louis Obispo and forgo the Rt. 46 route west to PCH 1 as it doesn't look like I will miss much scenery and I will make up some of the time from the 17 Mile Drive and Carmel Valley Road route.

A few questions...

Where is the best place off of PCH 1 to pick up the 17 Mile Drive detour and once I've completed the 17 Mile Drive tour, where is the best place to pick up Carmel Valley Road (G16) to Highway 101?

Also, once I get back on Highway 101 am I missing anything between San Luis Obispo and Las Cruces if I stay on Highway 101 vs. PCH 1?

Lastly, I don't want to miss Malibu and Santa Monica on PCH 1, so should I take the PCH 1 exit off Highway 101 south of Ventura down to Oxnard?

Erik Zinn

Re: 17 Mile Drive - you could continue to hug the coastline for a little bit instead of looping back inland. That route would be: 17 Mile Drive - Right on Carmel Way - Transition to North San Antonio Avenue - Right on San Antonio Avenue - Left on Ocean Avenue - Right on Highway One - Left on Carmel Valley Road.

If you find yourself at the end of 17 Mile Drive around lunch, you could look for a place in Carmel-By-The-Sea, or drive a little further inland to Carmel Valley and go for greasy spoon local diner fare at the Running Iron.

Carmel-By-The-Sea is a quaint town filled with very rich people and those who come to gawk at where the very rich people live and shop. You can have fun and find a decent bite to eat downtown depending upon your tastes, but you will drop more money for food there because of the setting. You could grab a sandwich to go somewhere and then head to their beach at the end of Ocean Avenue and just relax and take in the sights on the beach, the rocks or a nearby bench.

The Running Iron in Carmel Valley is roadhouse fare - rustic, big portions, no frills dining. Nothing special about it, but you will come away full after you dine there.

MSG C5

Thanks again for all the replies. I took the trip last Tuesday when I had all day to make it down from San Francisco to the L.A./Dana Point area.

I drove PCH down from S.F. through Monterey and Carmel. I did the 17 Mile, Pebble Beach tour (saw a nice C7Z) and then headed east on Carmel Valley Road to Highway 101. I drove Highway 101 to avoid the road closures and bridge repairs on PCH and then caught back up with PCH near Santa Barbara and Ventura and took it all the way into Dana Point. Beautiful drive. Probably not as spectacular as it was last year due to the PCH road closures, but still a lot of fun. I left S.F. later than I wanted to so by the time I arrived in the Malibu area, the sun was going down so I missed some nice scenery the last 2 hours or so.

Carmel Valley Road was especially interesting as it was very remote and wasn't what I expected as there were some areas that were a level above a gravel road. It was a nice detour, but I would never drive that road at night.

Some pics from the trip:

PCH (S.F. - Monterey/Carmel)













Pebble Beach (17 Mile Tour):



















Carmel Valley Road (G16):















Santa Barbara and Malibu