Things to do / Travel Guide
Our Tourist Attractions Expert Says:
The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), or California Highway 1, as it is more often referred to by, is on just about everyone's itinerary when visiting California. This beautiful coastal road winds its way along the California coast, paralleling steep ocean cliffs, inland mountains, world-class surfing beaches, affluent towns and movie star homes (and re-hab centers).
The classic American road trip starts in Southern California just south of San Juan Capistrano and heads north to the urban areas surrounding Los Angeles. The southernmost 30 miles of Highway 1 passes by the beach and resort communities of Dana Point, Laguna Beach and Newport Beach, and then hits the urban sprawl and traffic of Los Angeles, north of Huntington Beach. Finally, north of Santa Monica, Highway 1 earns its world-class status, as it passes by the movie stars homes and the beautiful coast of Malibu. Continuing north, after some short inland detours, through the stretch of coast known as the "American Riviera" around Santa Barbara, passengers will see the coast and world-famous surfing spots to one side and 4000 foot mountains to the other. Drivers will see lots of other cars as well. The road continues on through the Central California Coast beyond San Francisco to the northern reaches of California, a journey of 550 miles north of Malibu.
Practically speaking, travelers heading between the major cities of the Southern California Coast region, such as Los Angeles to San Diego or Santa Barbara or further north, to the San Francisco Bay Area will make better time on the inland Interstate Highways. Vacationers, interested in one of the most popular scenic routes in the world rather then just getting to their destination, will usually choose Highway 1. Expect to make several short stops to admire the stunning vistas along the way, and a few longer ones to visit some of the attractions. Many of the popular tourist attractions, including beaches, mountains, and popular towns are accessed from Highway 1.
The road is well maintained, but is quite winding and crowded in parts. Drivers heading south will have a protected, but sheer drop-off to the right of their car. The going may be slow – do not attempt getting from Los Angeles to San Francisco in one day on this route. Choose a less ambitious destination such as Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, or Monterey.
The road goes through Pismo Beach, and further north through Morro Bay, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and continues well beyond Marin County to Mendocino and beyond. It takes a few hours longer than the inland I-5 route, but passes many popular points of interest including Hearst Castle, Big Sur, Monterey, Carmel and Santa Cruz.