Road Trip Day 1: San Francisco to Eureka, California Finally we wrapped up our work and were on the road again. Be sure to read 5 Things to Love About Monterey which includes information about restaurants and tours in the area. Even though it's only 31 miles, the drive could take a few hours if you decide to get out of your car and ponder the trees. Residents of Pacific Grove help the butterflys habitat by planting purple and yellow flowers, such as lantana, yellow aster, Pride of Madera, and Mexican Sage, in what is called Butterfly Gardens. I stayed at the Big Sur River Inn but did not eat there. Its still a popular spot with locals and tourists alike. Post lunch, get some delicious Kulfi ice-cream at Frankies, Get on the Skunk train from Fort Bragg to Willits and back for a fun ride through the Redwoods, Spend some time on Glass beach or Noyo Beach. Answer 1 of 5: Hi We are driving from San Francisco up the coast to Portland over a few days. California law requires it for the driver and all passengers. Pacific Coast Highway Route About 460 miles, or 9 hours without a break. For the first part of the trip, the road passes the garages and back doors of coastal homes, but north of Pepperdine University it sometimes runs so near to the continent's edgethat it feels like you could reach out and dangle your fingers in the water. I highly recommend embarking on a road trip through the Redwoods in Spring (March-May). Stay for some time to take photos but remember to dress warmly, because it gets quite windy and chilly up there. Golden Gate Bridge, Marin, Sonoma, and Mendocino. Drive defensively. 24 miles of undeveloped shoreline that is only accessible via some serious hiking. What would be the best place to pick up a rental car so that driving out of SF to highway 1 wouldn't be too stressful? Thanks for the tips. Your affirmation means a lot. Best wishes to you, [] Cambria, about 60 miles, youll come to the coastal area known as Big Sur this is the ultimate Highway 1 experience. This drive follows the scenic Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), also called Highway 1. Do you think it would be worth it or should I just plan to pay as I go? Thanks for the additional point of interest. You will encounter a few more drive-thru tree attractions in Redwood country, but this one is hands down the best! If you wish, continue driving down the road to view the stunning Tomales Point Trailhead. Let this extremely detailed guide on all the best stops along the Redwood Highway help you plan the most magical road trip in California. drive for about 54 minutes 2:30 pm Healdsburg stay for about 1 hour and leave at 3:30 pm drive for about 1 hour 4:45 pm Willits stay overnight and leave the next day around 11:00 am day 1 driving 3 hours find more stops Day 2 11:00 am leave from Willits drive for about 53 minutes 11:53 am Drive-Thru Tree Park stay for about 1 hour On the return trip, you can take the faster route, Highway 101, and pass through Sonoma County, one of the best wine regions in the United States. c. Drive through tree/Chandelier Tree in Leggett: entry fee is $10 to drive through this 1800+ yr old Redwood hollowed out at the bottom. I loved the jellyfish! The stretch of 101 between Oxnard and Santa Barbara is especially scenic, with views of the Channel Islands offshore. San Diego isnt a must but would love to see it. d. Eternal Tree House: Quirky free roadside attraction with a gift shop on the other side of the road. I havent been on the PCH-1 in a long time. If youre not interested in exploring them, you could very well spend your time exploring the Redwoods south of Orick (19 miles north of Trinidad) or go on an epic hike to Fern Canyon, where scenes from Jurassic Park were shot. I am debating buying a California Explorer Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass ($195) and/or a National Parks & Federal Recreation Lands Annual Pass ($80). This is another good reason to go off-season, or a weekday. Note: Please remember to be a responsible traveler and pack up what you bring in, leaving no trace behind. Bring at least one jacket even in Summer or Fall cause the Redwood groves are much cooler than the rest of inland, b. Its beautiful no matter when! Also, it is actually on an island detached from the mainland. Crescent City is the largest town in Del Norte County and home to Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, which you should visit if you have time. Years later, Im on a big coach/bus for a comfortably reclined 7-hour ride from Santiago, Chile to the small coastal resort town of La Serena. It will take you back to a 60s vibe (which still exists in some ways in the area). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); @2023 - Adventures of a Carry-On. CA Hwy 1 is prone to closure due to landslides, especially during rainy winters. (read my article The Ultimate California Road Trip.) I told her we were coming up Hwy 1. You may have read one of my articles published on another site perhaps? Although the Redwood Groves never get hot (these giant trees need colder, foggier weather to survive), it might not be too pleasant driving up the Redwood Highway in summer since it is not a coastal route. Once in Ferndale, I highly recommend the following: After a few hours of exploring Ferndale, youll drive off to your next destination for the evening-which are the three towns of Eureka, Arcata and Trinidad-all within 25-30 minutes of driving distance to each other. We are so excited! Highway 1 (SF to Redwood National Park) - 6 hours 53 minutes (without traffic)/338 miles . Eureka-the second largest city in California between San Francisco and Oregon border. Hi Dee, Sorry Im just getting around to approving article comments. Shelter Cove (in south Humboldt County) is perched at the southern end of what is known as the Lost Coast, i.e. More information can be found here. 1 and seeing Big Sur. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. If for some reason you cannot drive be prepared with some non-drowsy Dramamine; you dont want to fall asleep and miss all the gorgeous scenery. You may skip to the juicy parts that interest you by using the table of contents above or skim through it (and bookmark for later, please). Napa, St. Helena, Calist. In this part of Humboldt county, youre right in the heart of the Redwood National and State Parks. Regards Rob and Kike. Ive also provided links to other websites that can provide more information to help you plan your trip. I am reading an excellent book about Steinbeck and Monterey by author Susan Shillinglaw, A Journey Into Steinbecks California. From Los Angeles take the 101 north all the way to the 156. it also has the beautiful rugget landscape. After you pass Big Sur its about thirty or forty minutes to Carmel by the Sea. 4:06 pm arrive in San Francisco. Im surprised that you didnt go to Point Lobos It is my favorite place to visit. It's 337 miles long and follows the US-101, which will take you around 6 hours to drive without considering bathroom, gas, and meal breaks. Remember to bookmark this post for all the dos, donts and everything else in between. South America is appealing because no time zone change! Although we stuck to the Redwood Highway during our return trip, you could get on Avenue of the Giants as well from the north entrance near Stafford. Take your time. Tip: 1 This sounds like a road trip best experienced from the passenger seat. Its southern end is at I-5 near Dana Point and its northern end is at US-101 near Leggett. Although the entire Redwood road trip can be covered in 6 hours or so, that is absolutely no fun because the Redwood Highway passes through some of the most beautiful towns, beaches, waterfalls, hikes and Redwood groves that you absolutely need to explore to make the most out of this road trip. Im not sure what guide you speak about though as I have several articles about traveling on Highway 1 from Cambria to Monterey, but they are not in a guide format. Another option is to fly directly into Arcata-Eureka Airport via select flights from San Francisco, Los Angeles and even Phoenix! Further off west is the Big trees Area with some of the tallest trees in the world, but that is quite a detour (plus you can always cover it on your return trip south). Although this means veering way off the Redwood Highway, I highly recommend going off the beaten path to experience the beauty and solitude of this pint sized town with an overnight stay. BEST STOPS ALONG THE AVENUE OF THE GIANTS, Avenue of the Giants ends somewhere between Pepperwood and Stafford, after which you get onto the singular highway 101, aka Redwood Highway. Our base camp was Trinidad and we called it a night with dinner from Lighthouse Grill on the tiny stretch of Main Street (truth be told, it is more of a congregation of stores rather than an actual street). I was there the first week of the year and it was chilly in the mornings but sunny, and warmed as the day went by. Highway 1 in southern Marin County is said to be more twisty than along the famously winding Big Sur Coast, so expect to maintain an average 20 to 25 miles per hour. Eureka is the largest Pacific coastal city between San Francisco and Portland, Oregon. HOW MANY DAYS WILL IT TAKE FOR THIS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIP? SR-162 East / West Pile Driving. If you suffer from carsickness its best if you drive because once you enter the Big Sur area the road is a bit of a roller coaster. As a writer and blogger I focus on writing what I love and hope that others will too. Opt for the Avenue of the Giants, a 31-mile drive through redwoods by the Eel River. Much of the Chilean Pacific coastline is very similar to scenery along the PCH-1. I also liked driving north to south best, because the ocean was on my right side and it was easier to pull off in the turn-outs to take pictures. drive for about 54 minutes. Fun facts about coastal Redwoods in California (Sequoia sempervirens)*. I highly recommend shopping by Humboldt Mercantile and, Explore the nearby Woodley Island-we had lunch at Cafe Marina & Woodleys bar. Youll also find there are more than 5! Allow plenty of time. He said he enjoyed it and that it was like the first-person videogames he has played. Plus, you have a slice of Lost Coast history in the form of a lighthouse guarding the shores. For those moments when a glimpse can be snatched while driving that road! I was traveling on my own so I just stopped where I wanted to really. Road Trip Conditions. This will be my third time going to Monterey Bay, and Ive already made my list of stops to see along route 1. My family used to drive from Texas to California often enough when I was a kid. US-101 North / South Bridge Work. Stop 2: Sonoma County: Bodega Bay, Jenner, and . So looking forward to the drive down the PCH isnt fully booked yet as trying to cram so much in. I am going to do a trip from San Diego to Oregon, so this will definitely come in handy for the northern part of our trip! Instead of continuing straight on the 101 North to reach Eureka, take the 31-mile alternative scenic route through the Avenue of the Giants. Just north of the Gaviota Tunnel (which is north of Santa Barbara), Hwy 101 turns inland, and you won't see the ocean again until you get to Pismo Beach, and then only briefly. Hubby drove this, including the Bixby Bridge (XOXOX), in the pitch blackness with no moon and other cars on the two-lane road coming the other way. Would it really be worth it I wondered. If you are planning to drive Highway 1 these are my top tips of the day! Monterey Bay Aquarium opened in 1984 and quickly became one of the most visited aquariums in the world, receiving over 2 million visitors per year. Hours of operation are Thursday Monday 1:00 4:00 pm. And what fantastic (and useful) tips thank you! The Pacific Coast Highway, also known as California State Route 1 or Highway 1, runs for almost 550 miles along the California coastline and is probably (OK, definitely) the most beautiful. Not only is everything lush and verdant, thanks to winter rains, you will also get to see waterfalls in their full force and spot migratory whales along the coast (January-April). It remains an unpaved road and is not suitable for standard passenger automobiles. Back near Garberville, you will drive northwards towards your next destinations, i.e. The route sometimes follows the coastline, but far more often it passes neighborhoods and mundane strip malls. Nice article and good shots! I highly recommend staying in Arcata-which is the cultural center of Humboldt County and has much better dining and lodging options. Off season will be less expensive. Ill also share some of the top attractions from Monterey to Cambria. These are literally sentinels of time: it is not uncommon to find trees older than 2000 years! A nice Time Lapse drive from San Francisco US1/I80 across the Bay Bridge, Hwy 80 to Hwy 29 and through the Napa Valley Wine Country. Piercy, California 95587. thanks for the compliment on the photo. It passes along some dramatic coastline, through scenic Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. I recommend finishing breakfast at either Eureka or Arcata and packing lunch for the road. I was happy I could pick up speed quickly, and I think thats an important consideration. California road trips are near and dear to my heart and the Central Coast is amazing. DETROIT -- Nissan is recalling more than 700,000 Rogue and Rogue Sport compact SUVs because they can be shut off accidentally while driving. Any suggestions? next booked in at Santa Cruz for a night (Mon)and next day booked in at Monterey(Tues). My sister and I are planning this drive from Seattle in March. 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It for the driver and all passengers this extremely detailed guide on all the best stops along PCH-1...