I'm sure this has been asked before, but how scary is this drive? I've been on it from Astoria to SF and I've also done the road to Hana in Maui. Both were pretty nerve wracking at times, but never especially super scary. I don't really like expressways... Are there any periods where we'd have to jump on, or is traffic pretty minimal the whole way? I'm also sketched out about like, heavy traffic in areas that are high and curvy, etc...

We are looking at taking like 4 days to do it though, so at least it would break things up.

My husband and I are planning on going to LA and Joshua Tree for a week. We were thinking about doing another week to drive up the PCH but if there’s road closures right at Big Sur right now would it even be worth it?

Hi everyone! My mom and I are roadtripping from Chico to the Humboldt National Park, Fort Bragg, San Francisco, Santa Monica etc. looking for fun things to check out and see along our trip!

My boyfriend and I (27) are driving from San Francisco to San Diego down the PCH from August 10-19th. We are set on spending time in the Big Sur area after SF then want to stay in either Santa Cruz or Santa Barbara before heading to LA then San Diego (not sure we have time for both as we’re stopping for more than a day in SF and LA to visit friends). We both enjoy hiking, beaches, nature, coffee, and good food. My boyfriend also likes to surf. Any suggestion as to which city would preferable to spend a night or two in? Thanks in advance!!

I’m relocating to Vegas from Seattle and I’m using this opportunity to check the pacific Coast highway drive off my bucket list!! Any recommendations on must-see stops on my travel? Food, hotels, weird stuff, cool sightings etc. PLEASE & THANK YOU:)

I am planning a trip to Washington and Oregon this fall. Primarily sticking to the coast but I'm afraid I'll get down the coast too quickly, is there a time line most take down the coast?

Hello - like a lot of people, I’m trying to plan a trip from SF to LA along the PCH. I was excited to learn that the section near Big Sur has reopened, and I read that the other blockage at Lucia “might be” open later this Summer.

Is the PCH completely closed at Lucia, or is there one lane open? Does anyone have any insider information about when it is expected to reopen beyond what I already shared?

And if the PCH is closed at Lucia, what kind of detour would it involve? (Where to get off the PCH and where to rejoin? That whole region doesn’t have much in the way of roads around the mountains).

Thanks in advance for any help with these questions!

Planning to drive PCH from San Francisco to LA at the end of July. Looking for a midway stop for possibly two nights. Since we will have my teenage boys I'm not looking for a sleepy romantic town but maybe a place with jet skis and a coastal location that might allow us to see other parts of CA. Love a good hotel pool where mama can get a drink and the boys will stay out of my hair!

Coming to SF from London,UK and planning on driving down to LA via PCH. Reading scattered posts about PCH being closed- can anyone confirm? Any tips for where to stay overnight along PCH would be appreciated 👍🏼

Any recommendation if it’s better to start from NorthCal? or SouthCal. No kids, just me and hubby!

Has anyone ever gotten a citation for parking along PCH? Escondido falls area to be specific. Got cited this weekend but the tickets not in the system so I cant pay it online, the copy I got has an X over the obey signs/ curve/ markings but the note says "posted- tow away no parking". The obey sign citation is $63 but no parking is $73, i dont wanna pay $73 bc they wont refund me the $10 but if i pay $10 less then I'm scared they'll charge me more. Called the MRCA and they didn't answer, anyone have a similar experience/ issue? Mind you all the citation info isnt in the area it was supposed to be written in which is why im hesitant about mailing in the $63 check even though that's clearly whats crossed

I’m not particularly concerned with level of fancy since it’s a place to just rest my head

But I wouldn’t mind something a little different than a La Quinta or Motel 6

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are coming to California from London on the 7th of March, arriving at 15:35. We will rent a car from LAX and plan to return it on the 16th of March at 22:20. We have made a plan and I will appreciate any help to determine if it's feasible.

• Beverly Hills
• Hollywood: Walk of Fame, Hollywood Sign Hike
• Griffith Park & Observatory
• The Getty Center & Museum (Admission is free, but tickets are required. Closed on Mondays. Open from 10 AM to 5:30 PM, and until 9 PM on Saturdays.)
• Venice & Venice Beach
• Santa Monica
• Malibu

Question 1: For the day of arrival after the airport, if we go sightseeing, what would you suggest at that time from our to-do list?

Question 2: If we start the day at 8 am, can we cover all these places in one day? Would you suggest we move to our next place to stay and start early in the morning, or should we stay in LA and start early the next day?

On the 10th of March, we can do:

• Option 1: Los Angeles → 2h drive → Palm Springs → 1h drive → Joshua Tree National Park → 4h drive → Santa Barbara
• Option 2: Los Angeles to San Diego and spend the following 2 days there
• Option 3: Los Angeles to Santa Barbara → Solvang → Pismo Beach → Morro Bay → Hearst Castle (needs 2 hours) → San Francisco (Highway 1 is closed, so we will take the 101)

Question 3: Which option should we take, and can each option fit in 1 day?

If we decide to take Option 3, then the next day, March 11th, will start in SF. In SF, we are planning to do in 3 days (11th-13th March):

• Mission District, Tartine Bakery, The Castro, Delores Street, Haight-Ashbury, Japanese Tea Garden, Masonic Avenue, The Painted Ladies, Haight Ashbury

• Dutch Windmill, Sutro Baths, Lands End Trail, Mile Rock Beach (1h sunset walk to see Golden Gate)

• Alcatraz, Marshall’s Beach, Fort Point National Historic Site, Presidio Tunnel Tops, Palace of Fine Arts, The Wave Organ, SF Maritime National Historical Museum, Ghirardelli Marketplace, Fisherman’s Wharf, PIER 39, Lombard Street

• Union Square, SF Museum of Modern Art, Chinatown, Telegraph Hill, Filbert Steps, Coit Tower, Rincon Park

• Muir Woods & NAPA Valley (?)

Question 4: Can Muir Woods and a Napa wine tour be done on the same day? Or can Muir Woods and Alcatraz be done on the same day?

On the 14th of March, we plan to start the day in Monterey → Carmel by the Sea → Big Sur. We might stay in Big Sur, or if it's realistic, we would like to drive directly to San Diego.
Question 5: Can San Diego fit into 1.5 days since our flight back to London is at 10 PM on the 16th of March, meaning we might leave San Diego around 6 PM?
We will visit fewer museums and focus more on restaurants, and city, and nature tours. It will be our first time in the US, but we are experienced travellers. We will be staying in Airbnb and hotels. We don't want to miss the must-see places, although we can move quickly from place to place. We can change the entire plan, even though the time is close; we are flexible. If anyone can help here, I would appreciate it.
Thank you in advance.

Planning a trip to drive the highway. Can anyone recommend best months to do so? Any other advice is welcomed and appreciated. Thanks

We are planning a road trip to drive from Seattle to San Diego. We want a fun car to drive. We own a corvette and wish we could rent something similar but can't find anything. We are thinking about having our car shipped out there and then picked up and shipped back. Have any of you done this?

Hi all, finally get to go on our Californian adventure after several postponements and as luck would have it the PCH is under repair.

So I looked for the cleverest way to get the most of our 8 days we have for the La to SF leg. This is where I came across that above mentioned road. Now most things I read describe it as what I call the romantic route. Not the fastest, not for shit drivers but lovely nevertheless. Any locals here who can shed some light on my observation Basically I wanna go as far up as possible the PCH, divert around the blocked bit and then tackle the rest from the north.

The Nascimiento Road would save us going back down to the junction with the 46 again, and while I've done plenty of romantic roads in Europe we have less bears etc

Or are the distances so insignificant that it's just easier to come down the PCH and detour via main roads.

Much appreciated for any insider knowledge

Hi all! Looking to make a trip on the PCH from LA to SF. Anyone have any suggestions on how many days and nights to spend, what to see, and what resources to use regarding road closures?

Recommendations?

I've taken the trip before but want us to take our time with overnight stops. It's an anniversary getaway for my wife and me (22 years).

Starting in Riverside County with a likely stop in Thousand Oaks on night one. By Thursday we want to be in Santa Cruz, staying with friends for a couple days.

Considering stops in the following. Accommodation recommendations would be appreciated, along with interesting side trips, perhaps parks, wineries, monuments, etc:

- Santa Barbara/Carpinteria

- SLO/Pismo/Morro Bay

- Cambria/San Simeon

- Big Sur

How is it? I remember driving from Jenner to Gualala and was terrified because PCH along that path has no rails and is just a steep cliff dive if you mess up. I could have been traumatized because my cousin was driving in his old tacoma so that added to the crazy. Love to hear your thoughts. thank yoU!

Headed to California (from the UK) in July/August for a two family road trip. For the last two days (three nights), we’d planned on taking in PCH1. Trying to plan places to visit and stay is proving a bit difficult due to the road closures (ragged point to big sur I think). Would be great if there was someone who could give a little advice based on what the likely situation will be around that time. Thank.