Photo: Tuxyso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

West Coast planning

West Coast Road Trip Itinerary: Seattle to San Diego on 101 and the PCH

This is the classic Pacific coast drive, roughly 1,300 miles from Seattle down to San Diego along Highway 101 and California's Highway 1. It strings together the Oregon coast, the redwoods, San Francisco, the cliffs of Big Sur, and the beaches of Southern California, and it rewards driving north to south so the ocean stays on your side of the road. Give it seven to ten days at a minimum, and check current road conditions before the Big Sur stretch.

The route, north to southHow many days you needBig Sur and road closures

Fast read

What matters first

Use this page as the practical filter before you open booking pages, maps, or official policy documents.

Next step

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Best fit

Road trippers who want the full Pacific coastline in one trip: rocky Oregon beaches, towering redwoods, the Golden Gate, Big Sur, and Southern California's surf towns. Best for travelers with a week or more who are comfortable on winding, cliff-edge two-lane roads.

Start here

Fly into Seattle, rent a car, and drive south. Going north to south keeps you in the right-hand lane on the ocean side, with easier pullouts for the views, and it finishes near San Diego's airport for the flight home.

Skip if

You are short on time or want a fast trip. The scenic coast roads are slow, and Big Sur can close after landslides. If you only have a few days, drive Interstate 5 between the cities instead and pick one coastal stretch to savor.

Decision system

The planning sequence

Use the sequence below to decide how this should shape the trip.

LegRouteWhat to see

Days 1-2Seattle to the Oregon coastSeattle, then US 101 to Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock

Day 3Oregon coast to the redwoodsHeadland stops down US 101 into Redwood National and State Parks

Day 4Redwoods to San FranciscoThe Avenue of the Giants, then south to the Golden Gate

Day 5San Francisco to Big SurOver the Golden Gate to Monterey, Carmel, and Bixby Bridge

Day 6Big Sur to Santa BarbaraHighway 1 cliffs, Hearst Castle, then the Santa Barbara coast

Day 7Santa Barbara to San DiegoLos Angeles beaches and south to San Diego

1Days 1-2, Seattle and the Oregon coast: Start in Seattle, then head south and west to pick up US Highway 101 on the Oregon coast. Cannon Beach and its Haystack Rock make a classic first stop, with more headlands and state parks strung down the shore.

2Day 3, into the redwoods: Follow US 101 south across the California line into Redwood National and State Parks, home to the tallest trees on earth. Walk a grove or two, and watch for elk in the meadows near the coast.

3Day 4, redwoods to San Francisco: Detour onto the Avenue of the Giants through old-growth redwoods, then continue south to San Francisco. Cross the Golden Gate Bridge in the late afternoon and spend the evening in the city.

4Day 5, the Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur: Drive south to Monterey and Carmel, then start Highway 1 through Big Sur, stopping at Bixby Creek Bridge and the cliffside pullouts. Confirm the road is open before you commit to the full stretch.

5Day 6, Big Sur to Santa Barbara: Continue down the coast past Hearst Castle at San Simeon and the elephant-seal beaches, then inland and back to the sea at Santa Barbara for the night.

6Day 7, Los Angeles to San Diego: Roll through the Los Angeles beach towns, then finish south in San Diego. Return the car near the airport, or add days for the Southern California beaches.

The Oregon coast

Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock, the Oregon highlight

The Oregon stretch of US 101 is many travelers' favorite part of the drive, and Cannon Beach is its poster town. Haystack Rock, a 235-foot sea stack, stands just offshore, ringed by tide pools you can explore at low tide. From the bluffs of nearby Ecola State Park, the view south takes in the rock, the surf, and a run of forested headlands. It is an easy detour off the highway and a natural place to break the first day.

The route and which way to drive

The signature West Coast road trip follows US Highway 101 and California's Highway 1 down the coast, roughly 1,300 miles from Seattle to San Diego. Drive north to south and you stay in the right lane on the ocean side, with the pullouts and views on your side of the road. Interstate 5 runs parallel and far faster inland, so use it to make up time between coastal stretches when you need to. Book lodging ahead in summer, when the coast towns fill up.

How many days you need

Seven days is the practical minimum for the full run, and it still moves quickly; ten days to two weeks lets you actually stop. The coast roads are slow and winding, so treat drive times, not distances, as the real limit. If your window is shorter, pick one or two headline stretches, such as the Oregon coast or Big Sur, and connect the rest on Interstate 5. Summer and early fall have the best weather, though mornings often start under coastal fog.

Big Sur, Highway 1, and road closures

Big Sur is the drama of the trip: Highway 1 clings to cliffs above the Pacific past Bixby Creek Bridge and a string of state parks. It is also the least predictable stretch, because landslides periodically close or narrow the road, sometimes for months. Check Caltrans QuickMap for the current status before you count on driving the whole thing, and keep an inland detour in mind. Go slowly, use the pullouts rather than stopping in the lane, and start early to beat the tour traffic.

Stops worth building in

Beyond the headliners, the coast is full of worthy detours. In Washington and Oregon, Olympic National Park and Cape Perpetua add rainforest and tide pools; in Northern California, the Avenue of the Giants runs through old-growth redwoods. Monterey and Carmel anchor the Big Sur gateway, Hearst Castle sits above San Simeon, and Santa Barbara brings red-tile charm before Los Angeles. Any of these can turn a fast drive into a fuller trip, so leave a little slack in the schedule.

Planning traps

Mistakes to avoid

These are the small decisions that quietly derail an otherwise good plan.

1. Trying to drive it too fast

On a map the coast looks doable in a few days, but Highway 1 and US 101 are slow, winding two-lane roads, and the views beg you to stop. Travelers who pack it into a long weekend spend the whole time behind the wheel. Give the full route a week at least, or shorten the plan and savor one stretch rather than rushing all of it.

2. Not checking Big Sur road status

Highway 1 through Big Sur closes or narrows after landslides, sometimes for long stretches, and travelers still arrive expecting a clean run. A closure can force a long inland detour. Check Caltrans QuickMap before that leg, build in a backup route, and do not count on driving the entire coast until you have confirmed it is open.

3. Driving south to north for the views

Going the other direction puts you in the inland lane, with the ocean and the pullouts across traffic. It makes the scenic stops harder and the cliff edges more nerve-wracking. Drive north to south so you hug the coast on your side of the road, with easy right-turn access to the overlooks and beaches.

Sources checked

Official and supporting references

These are the references checked while writing this page, so you can confirm live prices, dates, rules, and operating details before money changes hands.

Caltrans QuickMapCurrent California highway conditions and closures, including Big Sur's Highway 1.

Oregon Department of Transportation: US 101Coast highway conditions and travel information for the Oregon coast.

National Park Service: Redwood National and State ParksGroves, driving routes, and the Avenue of the Giants area.

Visit California and Travel OregonOfficial state travel guides for coastal routes and stops.

Wikimedia Commons image pagesCoastal imagery checked for exact subject, brightness, and licensing.

Staying over? Compare hotels in West Coast at Expedia.

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FAQ

Common planning questions

How many days do you need for a West Coast road trip?

Seven days is the practical minimum to drive the coast from Seattle to San Diego, and it moves fast. Ten days to two weeks is more comfortable and leaves time to actually stop at the redwoods, Big Sur, and the beach towns. If you have less time, drive one or two headline stretches and use Interstate 5 for the rest.

Should you drive the West Coast north to south or south to north?

North to south is the usual choice, because it keeps you in the right-hand lane on the ocean side of the road, with the pullouts and views on your side. It also tends to run from cooler, wetter weather in the north toward the sun of Southern California. Either direction works, but southbound makes the coastal stops easier.

What is the best route for a West Coast road trip?

The classic route follows US Highway 101 down Washington and Oregon, then California's Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway, through the redwoods, Big Sur, and Southern California. Interstate 5 runs inland and much faster, so many travelers mix the two: the scenic coast for the highlights and I-5 to make up time between them.

Is Highway 1 through Big Sur open?

It depends on the season and recent weather. Big Sur's stretch of Highway 1 periodically closes or narrows after landslides, sometimes for months at a time. Always check Caltrans QuickMap for the current status before you plan to drive it, and keep an inland detour by way of US 101 in mind as a backup.

When is the best time for a West Coast road trip?

Summer and early fall bring the most reliable weather and the widest access, though summer mornings often start under coastal fog and the popular towns get busy. Late spring and early fall trade a little more weather risk for thinner crowds. Winter storms can close coast and mountain roads, so it is the hardest season for the full route.

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