After recently embarking on a 12-day journey up California’s coastline, our Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary narrows down some of the best routes and cities to stop in. Regardless of what kind of traveler you are, California has something for everyone.<\/p>\n
Thousands of travelers both foreign and domestic come to California each year in an effort to experience one of the world’s most epic road trips: California’s Pacific Coast Highway. Arguably one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, this breathtaking highway offers road trippers expansive landscapes and vistas, delicious food, complex and refined fine wine, endless coastal activities, and a relaxed Californian vibe.<\/p>\n
But where to start? We’ve done our best to detail the most affordable and worthwhile methods for navigating the Pacific Coast Highway, in addition to including a wide variety of activities and travel strategies that afford flexibility to you and or your family.<\/p>\n
Feel free to substitute activities and timelines to suit your own personal situation. We opted for roughly 2 nights in each city, but the length of time at each stop is entirely up to you.<\/p>\n
Also known as Highway 1, California State Route 1 and the “PCH”, the Pacific Coast Highway runs for more than 650 miles up most of California’s coastline. Travelers can opt to go South to North or North to South. This itinerary will cover a South to North route, beginning in San Diego and ending in San Francisco \/ Napa Valley, but if you’d rather do it in the reverse we’ll mention the two airports we recommend flying into below.<\/p>\n
Once you\u2019ve arrived, you\u2019ll want to rent a car. Consider signing up for the right car rental loyalty programs<\/a> in order to save both money and time, in addition to acquiring upgrades on arrival.<\/p>\n Note that the Pacific Coast Highway is well paved for the majority of the stretch, so there\u2019s really no need to rent a gas-guzzling vehicle. The only exception to this is if you\u2019re planning on heading more inland and exploring some of the national parks and\/or remote winery roads.<\/p>\n