The Best Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary (West Coast Stops in CA, OR, WA)

Ever dream of completing a US West Coast road trip? Then don’t miss out on adding the famous Pacific Coast Highway road trip to your bucket list! I’ve done it a few times and recommend reading this guide to help make the most of it.

The PCH is a classic West Coast road trip that takes you across more than 1675 miles with views of the coastline almost the entire way. You’ll travel from the mountains and rainforests of Washington to the beaches and sand dunes of Southern California!

Some people debate the length of the PCH. Traditionally, it was a coastal California road trip, from Leggett in the north to San Diego in the south. However, most people today agree that the PCH covers everything from Seattle, Washington to San Diego, California.

This route runs along US 101 in Washington and Oregon. At that point, it turns into California’s Highway 1, or CA-1, for the length of the state. 

No matter what route you choose for your Pacific Coast Highway road trip, you’re in for a treat:

• Travel along some of the oldest and most influential roadways in the United States.
• Visit deserts, mountains, and rainforests.
• Drive through Redwood preserves and along roads cut into mountainsides.
• And enjoy all the quirks and fun finds along the way!

If you’re inspired to start your PCH road trip adventure, keep reading for my suggested itinerary.

Lucky for you, I’ve actually done a PCH road trip multiple times in both directions. You can take this route in either direction, and you can shorten it, or add to it.

I’ll share a few optional detours, as well as some of my favorite attractions. So, enjoy my PCH road trip itinerary:

Seattle, Washington (1-2 Days)

Start your journey in the port city of Seattle, just off US 101 (also a great departure port for Alaska cruises from Seattle). Set on the Puget Sound, Seattle gives you access to tons of water activities and delicious seafood. There’s also a thriving art scene in film, music, visual arts, and more.

Learn about the history of the first peoples of the land where Seattle sits today, the Coast Salish peoples. Attend one of the Native American cultural heritage events that are held throughout the summer. Or enjoy art exhibits by modern native artists through public installations or the city’s many art museums.

Explore one of over 485 parks inside Seattle’s city limits. You can find all kinds of things to do there, like canoeing, hiking, visiting the Seattle Space Needle, going on a food tour, and more! Or stock up on food for your trip at Pike Place Market, the longest-running farmers market in the country.

• Cool hotel to stay at in Seattle: if you are staying a night, The State Hotel (which is right across from Pike Place Market and has a delicious restaurant on the first floor called Ben Paris)

Olympic National Park (2+ Days)

I highly recommend taking your time and visiting Olympic National Park before you leave the Seattle area. The park has RV, tent, and cabin campsites, as well as lodges and resorts, and you can get there by car, shuttle or ferry.

• Tip: If you don’t know how to secure one of their in-park campgrounds, I have a tutorial on how to book national park campsites in this Outdoor 101 tutorial (see the camping section).

When planning your Pacific Coast Highway road trip stop at Olympic, try to schedule at least 2 nights here, because there’s a lot of space to cover (trust me I made the mistake of thinking I could cover it all and it was way bigger than anticipated).

With almost 1 million acres, Olympic National Park features mountain glaciers, verdant rainforests, rocky coastlines, and even beaches. Stretch your legs from your travels and do some day hiking or go on an overnight hike into the backcountry. Bring a pair of binoculars and keep an eye out for marmots, elk, and black bears!

Portland, Oregon (1 Day)

A scenic 3 to 4 hours south of the Olympic National Park is Portland, Oregon. At this point, you notice that the PCH is a simple 2-lane road taking you through the piney forests and small towns of the Pacific Northwest. Enjoy the journey!

Portland is an urban metropolis where something is always going on — especially around food, drink, and music. If you take your PCH road trip in the spring, the city hosts the Portland Rose Festival. Or in July there’s the popular Portland Waterfront Blues Festival! You can also take a wine tour in the countryside. Or take a walk in Washington Park and rent bikes to explore the waterfront.

Redwoods National Park (2 Days)

Next on my Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary, Redwoods National Park is a must-see. Leaving Oregon behind for California, it’s about 6 hours south of Portland without traffic. You’ll get to see some of the tallest and oldest trees in the world, and so much more!

The Redwoods National Park is a day-use park. There are plenty of walking trails, hiking trails, and biking trails for all levels of experience, as well as scenic drives. I loved hiking Fern Canyon, a fascinating small canyon with rock walls covered in ferns! You might even see huge Roosevelt elk that live in the area.

• Because of the distance, I recommend staying a night here to ensure good rest. But note, this park has little to no lodging options so here are some within reasonable driving distance:
  • Emerald Forest Cabins for cabin lodge
  • Pinc Lady Mansion for Bed & Breakfast
  • The Historic Requa Inn for Bed & Breakfast

San Francisco (2-3 Days)

About 8 hours south of the Redwoods, now on CA-1, you’ll cross the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco! Make sure to spend time in Golden Gate Park, Muir Woods, walk through Chinatown, and grab a cable car for a scenic view of Market Street.

If you have at least 2 nights in the area, also check out Napa and Sonoma – two of many easy road trips from SF. Both are known for their vineyards, but also their wellness scene and outdoor activities! Or take a detour to visit Wahpepah’s Kitchen in Oakland. Support a Native-woman-owned business with a larger goal to educate her community on healthy Native food practices.

Carmel-By-The-Sea & Monterey (Day Trip)

For a romantic destination along your Pacific Coast Highway road trip, head to Carmel-by-the-Sea. This beachside town established by artists and bohemians has a mix of Mission Colonial-style architecture and fairytale cottages. Walk down cobblestone streets and pop into boutiques and artisan bakeries.

Nearby, the rugged beach town of Monterey has a different charm. This chill bay town has amazing seafood, the historical Cannery Row, and many opportunities to observe sea life. Just south of the Monterey Peninsula is Point Lobos, a nature reserve with excellent coastal hiking trails. It’s a great place to spot whales or resident elephant seals!

Big Sur (Day Trip)

After Carmel-by-the-Sea, keep winding south into central California. There’s a long stretch of the PCH that includes the village of Big Sur and the expansive Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Take in miles of mountainous coastlines, evergreen trees, wildflowers, and dry grasses. Enjoy a drive with breathtaking views and stop at viewpoints to take a picture.

There are great hikes inside the state park with trailheads along Highway 1. I also suggest going for a swim at Pfeiffer Beach. This isolated step beach has cool geological rock formations and purple sand!

Hearst Castle (Day Trip)

Overlooking the village of San Simeon on CA-1 is the famed Hearst Castle. This extravagant mansion in the sky was built by publishing tycoon, William Randolph Hearst. It took almost 30 years to complete the 42-bedroom castle.

At the height of the Roaring 20s, Hearst hosted the biggest names in Hollywood in his home. Today you can visit and take a variety of different kinds of tours of the grounds, including Hollywood tours and accessible tours. While it’s pretty pricey to book, it’s a lot of fun if you like to get a peek at the glitz and glam of the super-rich! If you’re tight on tight I’d skip this.

San Luis Obispo (1 Day)

San Luis Obispo is the last central California stop in my Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary. Once a Spanish mission, this small town is full of Spanish Mission architecture and historical landmarks. Enjoy an amazing farm-to-table food scene or visit a local vineyard.

You’re in the high desert and surrounded by Santa Lucia Mountains, which means excellent hiking and biking opportunities. You’re not far from the beach (try Pismo Beach), or the Avila Hot Springs. Consider a night at the Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort and Spa for a quality wellness retreat (this is mentioned in my hot springs guide FYI).

Solvang (Day Trip)

One of the most unique stops on my Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary is the small village of Solvang in the Santa Ynez Valley. There are about a dozen vineyards scattered all around the town. But the draw to Solvang is that it was started in 1911 as a Danish community.

Called the “Danish Capital of America,” the town was purposefully made to look like a village straight out of Denmark, complete with a windmill! Stroll down cobblestone streets and enjoy the storybook architecture. Attend a wine tasting at a winery or go shopping at boutiques, Danish bakeries, and gift shops.

Santa Barbara (Day Trip)

Heading into the southern part of California, there are some great viewpoints and beaches you could stop at on the drive to Santa Barbara. Once in the city, the sky’s the limit!

Started as a mission over 300 years ago, the town is full of history to explore. Take in the white stucco buildings with red tile roofs or enjoy some luxury shopping at La Cumbre Plaza. Do some hiking in the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains or enjoy watersports in the channel.

Los Angeles (1-2 Days)

At this point the PCH curves along the Santa Monica Mountain range, past Malibu, and alongside the Getty Villa. Then, California Highway 1 will take you right up to the famous Santa Monica Pier and on into Los Angeles!

Visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Chinese Theater in Hollywood or go hiking in Griffith Park with breathtaking views of all of Los Angeles. You can also head downtown to the rows of art museums and music halls on Grand Avenue. If you have time, book a hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour and take it all in. 

If you plan on taking a couple of days in LA, a great detour is the Joshua Tree National Park. Try adding this highway stop to your PCH road trip itinerary if you’re here during the shoulder seasons. During peak times, be prepared for the heat! It can be exhausting, but it’s worth a visit with the fascinating Joshua trees and cool rock formations.

San Diego (1 Day)

Now, technically, CA-1 merges with Interstate 5 a bit further north in Orange County. But San Diego makes for a great end to any Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip and is usually included. 

Walk the boardwalk in Mission Bay or go snorkeling or sailing in the waters of San Diego. You can hike the Mission Trails or explore one of the city’s many natural areas. Another excellent walk is in downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter.

Make the Most of Your Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip!

Soak up the cool coastal rainforests of Washington state and end on the warm bays of San Diego! A Pacific Coast Highway road trip is an excellent way to spend a few weeks and see some of the best of the West Coast. While it can definitely be something to mark off your bucket list, you might end up like me and keep going back for more.

Oh, and if you have an extra couple of days and a passport, try wine tasting in Mexico! It’s just a short 2-hour trip from San Diego to the Valle de Guadalupe. The cuisine here is divine and you’ll love the relaxed vibe.

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