The Perfect Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary with 11 Tips to Guarantee the Best Trip Ever!
Looking for a fast-paced, 7-day & 1500 mile road trip itinerary down the Pacific Coast Highway from Seattle to San Diego?
An itinerary that hits the highlights with spectacular jaw-dropping views?
With suggestions on where to stay each night?
Well you’ve come to the right place!
Fantasy vs. Reality
First off, I used to have this fantasy of driving down US Highway 101 in a red convertible with the top down, wind blowing through my hair, oohing and ahhing over each new amazing view.
You know, just like in the movies.
How about cruising in a minivan with four farting, junk food snacking, Snapchat-obsessed teenagers?
Ever had that fantasy?
No?
Not so much?
Well me neither, but with these kids I take what I can get.
But I do have to say, our trip was one of the best road trips we’ve taken – even with this crazy, fast-paced itinerary. And believe me, we’ve taken quite a few road trips!
(So many that you’d think I would have my own personalized set of nose plugs by now. Why kids think farting is so entertaining I’ll never understand.)
Road trips are made better (or worse) by the people traveling with you…and heaven help me, I do love traveling with mine!
Check out this list of road trip essentials we don’t leave home without.
Can you really see the entire Pacific Coast Highway in just 7 days?
YES!
Honestly though, seven days is not NEARLY enough time to do the entire length of the Pacific Coast Highway justice.
But we were juggling work and school schedules and of course money so I was determined to get as much bang for our buck as possible!
If you find yourself in a similar predicament of trying to cram as much as you can of the Pacific Coast Highway in seven days…just know it IS possible.
So scroll on down and check out how we did it!
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Day 1: Seattle, WA to Seaside, OR
186 miles, 4.5 hours
We began our Pacific Coast Highway itinerary in Seattle. We flew into SeaTac and rented a car (or in our case a minivan for our lively, if smelly, group of seven).
Taking the Seattle to Bremerton ferry across Puget Sound, we then followed SR 3 to US-101.
We had reservations to spend the night at the Hi Tide Oceanfront Inn in Seaside, Oregon.
The Hi Tide is a little dated, but for the price and cleanliness of the rooms, the unobstructed view of the ocean and immediate access to the boardwalk, you can’t beat it.
Why take the Puget Sound ferry?
One, the kids had never been on a ferry, much less across Puget Sound.
Two, the views along the Sound are incredible and best viewed from the comfort of the top deck of the ship.
And three, we didn’t have time to take US-101 north up and around Olympic National Park then south along the Washington coast. (Seven days really isn’t enough to do everything).
If you do have the time though, I highly encourage you to add Olympic National Park to your itinerary. It is a truly incredible experience and the views along the coast are awe-inspiring.
Tip 1: Bring along a collapsible cooler (easily fits in a suitcase) and stop at a grocery store and load up on drinks and snacks to keep costs low and stops to a minimum.
Tip 2: Buy your ferry tickets online. Be sure to arrive at the ferry terminal at least 20 minutes before departure.
Day 2: Seaside,OR to Bandon, OR
240 miles, 5.5 hours
After waking up to the sound of the ocean waves right outside our balcony, we explored a bit down the boardwalk. We found a great little coffee place on the corner called Beach Day Coffee – amazing chai lattes and pastries!
For the history buffs (that would be me!) you can visit the Lewis and Clark Monument as you drink your coffee.
There’s a statue of the frontiersmen that marks the end of the Lewis and Clark Expedition right outside the coffee shop.
The next stop on our itinerary was just a ways down the highway at Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock. (Can we say, The Goonies?!)
From there we drove further on, stopping at the Tillamook Cheese Factory.
Did Someone Mention Ice Cream?
At Tillamook, you can take a tour of the factory, enjoy ice cream, cheeses, and more.
Grab a spot in their Farmhouse Café for a delicious lunch.
The Tillamook Factory is one of Oregon’s top tourist spots. They get over a million visitors a year, and after stopping here you can see why.
Our travels ended for the day at one of the cabins at Windermere On the Beach in Bandon, Oregon.
Tip 3: Take a few minutes and visit the second floor of the Tillamook Factory. You can see the cheese production in action and enjoy tasting samples at the end! Tillamook can get really busy with tourists, but who doesn’t enjoy ice cream? And they even have a souvenir store where you can also grab some ice cream and cheeses to go.
Day 3: Bandon, OR to Leggett, CA
282 miles, 5.5 hours
Continuing south on US-101, we came up on a pull-off area to the right just south of Pistol River State Park near Miner Creek.
During my planning, I found a brief mention online about a trail you could follow down to the ocean with breath-taking views.
This was our picnic destination.
Hoping I wasn’t leading us down a rabbit hole, we grabbed our small cooler and backpacks and headed down the dirt-packed trail.
About 10 minutes later, this was the view at the end…an incredible picnic spot that we all still talk about.
After lunch, we reached Humboldt State Park and the Avenue of the Giants. This a definite MUST SEE on your Pacific Coast Highway itinerary!
Redwoods River Resort and Campground in Leggett, CA was our destination.
The campground has themed cabins for rent. Ours was decorated as a fire station.
Bunk beds, a private bath and shower, and a well-equipped outdoor kitchen made our evening complete.
Take Advantage of the Experiences You Come Across…
Tip 4: Take the time to stop and get out of the car along the way. The memories made while doing some unplanned exploring have been some of our best times regardless of location.
Take the time for a picnic, to play on the beach, run from the surf, or collect some rocks. Enjoy the moment because it’s these experiences that make vacations memorable.
Tip 5: On our road trips I like to find different kinds of places to stay at each night.
I don’t tell the rest of the group…they enjoy being surprised. A hotel, a B&B, a cabin, a glamping camp site, a beach bungalow…I try for the fun or unusual. Inevitably each morning I get the excited question, “what kind of place are we staying tonight?”
It’s one of the things that the kids look forward to on our trips. They love the different places they get to stay in along the way.
Day 4: Leggett, CA to San Francisco, CA
220 miles, 6.5 hrs
Next stop on our Pacific Coast Highway itinerary? San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge!
It’s over six hours drive time from Leggett to the Golden Gate Bridge if you follow the coast and take Highway 1. This is by far the most scenic option.
You’ll find lots of good areas to pull over and take in the breath-taking views.
Try to get to the Golden Gate Bridge in time to see the sunset.
We crossed over the bridge well after dark but it was still a spectacular sight. Even the kids looked up from their phones long enough to join the rest of us in twisting our heads out the windows to try and get the best view.
I recommend staying at the Courtyard by Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf. Rates are not outrageous, and it’s only a five-minute walk to catch the cable car that takes you past Lombard Street.
Tips While in San Francisco…
Tip 6: If you want a good view of the Golden Gate Bridge, stop at the first bunker at the Marin Headlands just north of the bridge. Follow the path to the left of the bunker and about 100 yards further on you’ll find a great viewing and picture-taking spot (Spencer Battery).
Tip 7: You can prepay for the toll to cross the GGB online It saves time and gives you peace of mind from trying to figure out if and when the rental car company will send you a toll bill.
Tip 8: Get there early if you want to drive down Lombard Street. (And how can anyone NOT want to drive down the most crooked street in the world? Eight hairpin turns in one city block!) We passed by around 10am and there was already a line forming of cars waiting their turn.
Tip 9: You can download the Muni app and prepay for your cable car tickets. Trust me – it’s so much easier than trying to pay on the car or wait in line at one of the stops. It’s usually cheaper to get the unlimited/1 day ticket unless you don’t plan on riding the car back to where you began.
Day 5: San Francisco, CA to Cambria, CA
226 miles, 5.5 hours
After spending a couple of hours riding the cable car and exploring the city we continued our trek down the coast to our next destination – Cambria.
Stopping for dinner in Monterey, we found Scales Seafood and Steaks, one of the best seafood restaurants in the area.
Unfortunately they’re no longer in business but according to their website, they recommend trying the Old Fisherman’s Grotto or The Fish Hopper. Both look and sound equally delicious!
We enjoyed listening to the California sea lions talk to each other while we ate! Dinner and a show – how cool is that?!
From Monterey it’s a two and a half hour drive (without stopping) to Cambria. Unless it’s dark, you’re going to want to stop.
The coastline between Monterey through Carmel, Big Sur and down to Cambria has some of the most gorgeous views you’ll see in California.
This night, we stayed at Moonstone Beach in Cambria in a 1900 sq ft., two-bedroom house at Windrush Inn.
Great house, amazing location with the Pacific Ocean right out your front door…Check it out.
Tip 10: Do yourself a favor and don’t drive this stretch in the dark! You don’t want to miss out on the views. Be prepared to spend a couple of hours, as you will want to pull off the road and take in the views. Get out and enjoy the scenery and make some memories!
Day 6: Cambria, CA to Santa Monica, CA
231 miles, 4.5 hrs
Morro Bay is striking with its broad expanse of beach and large sea stacks.
As you wind your way down through Pismo Beach, Ventura you see why this section of California is photographed so much.
We ended the day at the Santa Monica Pier, staying at the Wyndham Santa Monica.
The area is very touristy with lots of shopping and dining options.
Don’t miss out on the pier though!
It’s especially beautiful at night all lit up with the sounds of the Ferris wheel in the background.
Day 7: Santa Monica, CA to San Diego, CA
135 miles, 2.5 hrs
Battling our way through the Santa Monica traffic we were able to catch sight of the Hollywood sign high up on Mount Lee which thrilled the kids to no end.
Staying on CA-1 wind your way down the coast through Laguna Beach, Oceanside, Encinitas and into San Diego.
Hopefully you’ll have more time than we did to stop along the way and enjoy the view. Unfortunately, though we were on a tight schedule to meet our flight. (Truthfully, I remember looking forward to getting home so I could relax from this trip!)
Final Thoughts…
Would I recommend this past-paced itinerary for the Pacific Coast Highway?
No way! Unless you don’t have a choice.
I feel we missed out on so much.
So many places I would have liked to stop and explore.
But I do feel that we made the most of the time we had. Although it was a lot of driving, we had a ton of fun and I’m glad we got the chance to see what we did.
I am definitely planning another road trip along US-101…this time with lots more stops and more time to explore.
Tip 11: You can hike up to the Hollywood sign by parking at the Griffith Park Observatory (where I am told parking is free before noon, otherwise $10/hr). It’s just a little over 3.5 miles each way. (Also- be prepared as there are no facilities or water along the route.)
If you’re not into hiking, you can get a great view of the Hollywood sign from Lake Hollywood Park. And it’s easy to access too!
What would you recommend seeing along the highway? Do you have a favorite place or view? Comment below – I would love to hear from you! Happy traveling and embrace that inner dragonfly!
If you’d like to read more about the Washington coast and Olympic National Park, check out 7 Places You Don’t Want to Miss in Olympic National Park.
