The Pacific Coast Highway, known to many as California's Highway 1, runs along the state's western edge and follows the coastline for a long stretch between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It is a road that is as much a destination as a way of getting somewhere, and it suits visitors who want to travel slowly and look out at the ocean.
What the drive offers
- Ocean views for much of the route, with the Pacific often close beside the road.
- Redwood forests in the northern stretches, where tall trees come down nearly to the shore.
- Seaside communities along the way, small towns where you can stop, walk, eat and rest.
Because the road bends and climbs along steep and dramatic coastline, progress is slower than the distance on a map suggests. Plan for stops at viewpoints and pull-offs, and allow more time than you think you will need.
Planning your visit
The highway is a good choice for a self-guided road trip, whether you drive a short section for a day or make the full journey between the two cities. Its character changes from one stretch to the next, so the experience of an afternoon near the redwoods differs from that of a morning on open cliffs. Whichever part you choose, the coast itself is the main attraction, and the towns along it make natural places to break the journey.