If I start in Los Angeles, can I drive the Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1) to the Monterey area in one day?

Question

If I start in Los Angeles, can I drive the Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1) to the Monterey area in one day?

If we drive straight there without stopping to do anything other than eat, should I still plan to spend the night somewhere halfway?

What if we make 3 or 4 stops along the way to see some sights and eat some food?

Answer 1

Yes, but it's a long day. Personally, I prefer stopping in San Luis Obispo for the night. If you drive it in one day, it sort of takes the joy out of the journey. Here's a suggested itienerary:

From downtown, take I-10 until it ends at PCH (highway 1) in Santa Monica. Continue north through Malibu, where you can enjoy seeing the carports of the rich and famous. Sort of. Continue along PCH to Oxanard. At this point, PCH ends and you must go along 101 for awhile. Depending on traffic, this part takes about 1.5 to 3 hours (traffic is worst in the afternoons).

From oxnard, take 101 north through Santa Barbara. This is a good place to stop, eat, and see the sights. State Street is where all the shops and restaurants are. State Stree will also take you to the beach, as well. When in Santa Barbara, my favorite places to eat are the Acapulco Restaurant (in an alcove, just north of Figueroa), and Woody's. The Acapulco isn't "authentic" Mexican, but it's still pretty tasty. But it DOES have a very nice fountain out front, and you can eat al fresco in the sunshine next to a beautiful fountain. Apparantly, this used to be the courtyard to a monastary. When I must have BBQ, I go straight to Woody's, which is on Hollister Ave between Patterson and Turnpike. Voted best BBQ in SB for many years running. They should just retire the award. It's in a shopping center, and a rather eclectic place.
Oxnard to SB should take around 45-60 minutes, perhaps a bit more, depending on traffic.

From SB, you continue on 101 and have a beautiful view of the coast, and a choice to make: You can take a little side trip to the quaint little Danish town of Solvang, or keep going. Most of the pastry shops there have really decadent pastries, so beware: They are really good.

From there, it's on to San Luis Obispo. This part of 101 has beautiful rolling hills, with a quick view of the ocean at Pismo Beach. Pismo is another good place to stop and grab a bowl of Clam chowder. You can exit at Price, then continue until you see the pier on your left. There are several good restaurants here, take your pick.

SLO is about 12 miles past Pismo, where you should stop to spend the night. I like the Quality Inn on Monterey Ave: It is nice, has a nice breakfast, and is all suites. The Apple Farm is also a quaint place to eat dinner, or you could also choose to stay there. SLO is about 2 hours past SB.

From SLO, you can get back on highway 1. (Up here, they call it Highway 1, not PCH). About 40 miles up the road, you have cute little towns like Morro Bay and Cambria, either one worthy of a short stop. When y ou get to San Simeon, you really should stop and take the tour of Hearst Castle. It's worth seeing. SLO to San Simeon, about an hour.

From San Simeon, you continue on hwy 1 to Carmel and Monterey, but not without stopping at Big Sur. This is some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere. All the hippies from the 60's wound up here, and the gallery at Big Sur is nice to visit, along with dipping your feet in Big Sur Creek by the River Inn. If you have a Bush/Cheney bumper sticker, you might want to peel it off before stopping here. It's a very relaxing stop before the final 30 miles to Carmel. San Simeon to Big Sur is about 3 hours, due to the winding road.

From Big Sur to Carmel, it's just a short jaunt to Carmel, and Monterey, about 30 minutes.

Sure, you can make it in one day. But you'll miss a lot, and you'll be too tired to enjoy the views at the end of the drive. So, if you must do it in one day, you might as well just take I-5, then cut over to Paso Robles on hwy 46, then take 101 to Salinas, then over to Monterey.

Don't forget to visit the aquarium, Cannery Row, and 17-mile drive. If you have kids, be sure to see Dennis the Menace Playground at Estalli Park.

Have fun!

Answer 2

The other folks gave you good advice! But, I do know where you're coming from; if you're on a budget (or a strict time schedule), it's better to see the Central Coast in a hurry than not to see it at all. The Big Sur area is, IMHO, one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the entire USA.

Staying along the central coast is expensive, and in the summertime, it's hard to get a room anywhere at any price if you arrive without reservations! San Luis Obispo, as he mentioned above, is a good place to stay because it's the last area where you can get a reasonable motel room before you hit the central coast.

BUT...you DO have to watch the motel prices once you get to Monterey, too. Especially in the summertime, these motels can cost a pretty penny. I often like to drive without making advance reservations so that I can be free to explore interesting-but-unforseen stuff along the way. Not so with the central coast! I always pre-book reservations, 'cause that's one place where not planning ahead can really hit you in the wallet!

If you're going to make the trip in one day, be sure to leave greater LA in the morning. You'll want to reach Carmel by dark...not only to keep from missing the beautiful scenery, but also because the coast route is a winding, cliff-side road for much of the trip.

Answer 3

you can do it in a day, but it won't give you any time to relax and sightsee.
Consider at least one stop along the way.
some suggestions:
Santa Barbara
Solvang
San Simeon
Big Sur
San Luis Obispo area
Cambria
I'm sure there are oodles more ideas I don't know about.

Answer 4

Yes, and it is worth it. Done that several yrs ago. Even with 3-4 stops, less than 10 hrs. Non-stop about 6 hrs.

Answer 5

Yes

Answer 6

I did this drive recently...only stopped breifly to eat once, and use a restroom once and it took me about 6 1/2 hours.

Answer 7

That will take you about 13 hours.

Answer 8

Are you on vacation or are you do you drive a truck delivering perishables???
Listen to the above guys they know what they are talking about...