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The must-see sights definitely include places such as Hearst Castle and Big Sur. We are from FL and east coast and know very little about west coast, so this is great!! Travelling from Auckland to Napier, you'll experience lakes, wildlife, vineyards and a tranquil lagoon. But the hills inland will go even steeper! So, don't just rely on Google Maps, instead download an offline map in advance, so there's no chance of getting lost. Old Highway 101 is now called the Avenue of the Giants, and I highly recommend slowing down to enjoy this 31-mile stretch through some of Californias oldest living and tallest! Officially, only the short, sun-loving stretch of Hwy 1 through Orange and Los Angeles Counties can legally call itself Pacific Coast Highway. I love all the details and recommendations! One day, I would LOVE to make this road trip. So I am very, very thankful to have found THIS resource!! Heres a Pacific Coast Highway map and schedule for 5 days: If youre lucky to have a few more days for your PCH road trip, a week is a pretty fantastic amount of time to see all that the Pacific Coast Highway has to offer. Karen, great question! Day 2: Forks, WA to Cape Kiwanda, OR. Long Beach is and always will be one of my favorite destinations in Washington. and so much more! anything you can suggest extra the girls would be wowed by would be great. Thanks, CJ! Now Im going to lay out step-by-step directions for a Pacific Coast Highway road trip based on all my tips so far. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Follow California Highway 1 south. Would you have any other suggestions since I am using 4 more days and not going south to Sa Diego and strarting in Vancouver? In smaller towns though, Id recommend committing to those earlier you may find you have nowhere to stay and have to drive on another 100+ miles at some parts! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Head west along U.S. 101 until it turns south along the west coast of the Olympic Peninsula. The PCH is on my bucket list since my daughter did it with Teens Westward Bound over 10 years ago. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south along CA-1. Technically, Seattle is not on the Pacific Coast Highway, but you can fly into Seattle and drive one hour south to Olympia to start your PCH road trip. Located in the heart of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, Hurricane Ridge is an iconic spot to stop and stretch your legs on a Pacific Coast Highway road trip. We took this trip several years ago. We want a mix of National/State Parks, cities, and coasts. Thanks for your amazing feedback, and Im so glad to help! Kim. Still figuring it out. The most important thing you need to decide first when driving the Pacific Coast Highway is which direction you prefer to travel the Pacific Coast Highway (northbound or southbound). What would be a good hopping on point? Seattle is one of my favorite destinations in the world. It may have been in a reply to someone elses comment, but I cant seem to find it now. Do you have any tips? Should be pretty good it might be a bit rainy up in the Pacific Northwest, but the weather once you reach California should be great! Just wondering about restrictions? If you know which car you want, I recommend renting from Fox Rent-A-Car or Sixt. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: South of Humboldt Redwoods, theres a junction where California Highway 1 (CA-1) begins. Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. Thank you for your great ideas and itineraries! I hope you have a great trip whenever you can make it! My husband and I plan to do this trip in June. Newport is a great destination to stretch your legs for a few hours once you arrive back on the Pacific Coast (you can also drive straight down Highway 101 from Cannon Beach if you decide to skip a stop in Portland). Once inPortland, its easy to spend a few days exploring; I have been to Portland repeatedly and there are so many experiences that can more than fill a stop on your road trip. I would hate to plan a trip only to find out that things are shut down or there are big restrictions placed on free movement. I hope you can do at least part of the PCH someday soon . Im planning on doing the PCH from Seattle to SF next Sept. (We did SF to SD in 2019). Thanks so much for any tips you can suggest on having adequate funds! I am planning for this roadtrip this December- starting from Dec 25th. If you are planning to cruise along that part of the Californian coastline, then here's our magnificent seven! I stopped here to eat a to-go lunch I had purchased earlier in the drive, with my toes in the sand. If you see an error, please contact me. Want to stop over a few nights, and hit some of the destinations you listed. Thanks for your comment, Victoria! Were driving south-to-north. We stay in San Diego on Pacific/Mission Beach a lot so no need to travel this far south for us. At low tide, you can hike down into the hole or go tide pooling; at other times you can have a picnic while trying to spot whales off the coast. We were planning on 10 days total for driving, site seeing and ending it with 2 days in Disneyland. My wife and I were planning to fly to San Diego to start the trip, but your point about southbound visibility makes total sense. Especially watching the sun set over Morro Rock in the distance! Astoria, like Aberdeen in Washington, is a great destination for lovers of pop culture. More Buying Choices $18.53 (15 used & new offers) Kindle. Do you happen to know or can you suggest a source with info about the road conditoin in the light of recent terrible weather in California. Unfortunately, I dont have suggestions for Santa Barbara as I havent been there in nearly a decade. Is there any river rafting or boating along the way? We will probably book Airbnb if cost effective. Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary Options, How to Choose a Car for the Pacific Coast Highway, Step-by-Step Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Directions, this gorgeous 3-bedroom oceanfront property, plenty of experiences to choose from in San Diego, https://www.valisemag.com/california-coast-road-trip/, Wandering the Olympic Peninsula - Valerie & Valise, https://www.theoutbound.com/theoutbound/camping-along-the-pacific-10-seaside-campsites-for-your-west-coast-road-trip, https://www.valisemag.com/visit-san-juan-islands/, https://www.valisemag.com/3-days-seattle/, https://www.valisemag.com/3-days-san-francisco/, https://www.valisemag.com/portland-city-guide/, https://www.valisemag.com/pacific-coast-highway-guide/. Let me know in the comments! Thanks for your comment, Terri! Have you heard any issues with the Covid and being able to rent places on the way down? Your email address will not be published. hi planing to do the PCH however we will be in Las Vegas and driving to San Francisco will be there for 2 or 3 days and dont know witch is better to do San Francisco to L A back to Vegas or go north San Francisco to Seattle and then drive to Vegas i will have a extra 3 to 4 days what is your thoughts, we are nature and wildlife lovers not to big into visiting towns. What are the reasons you really never got to enjoy using a convertible car? My stop in Fort Bragg was relatively short, but it was worth it! Making a Pacific Coast Highway road trip is a popular bucket list experiencefor good reason! do you have a printable version of this? Thank you again for all of your information. This gorgeous building mostly survived the 1906 earthquake and captures Victorian glory with modern amenities. Pacific Coast Highway (@thepacificcoasthighway) Instagram photos and videos 2,612 Followers, 118 Following, 94 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Pacific Coast Highway (@thepacificcoasthighway) Pacific Coast, region, western North America, possessing two unifying geologic and geographic propertiesthe Pacific Ocean, which constitutes a natural western border, and the coastal mountain ranges that form the eastern border of the region. 2. Let me know how it goes! Thank you . Other cool attractions include Hurricane Ridge (a popular hiking spot), Elwha River Valley, and Olympic Hot Springs. Stretching from Washington to California, the Pacific Coast is picturesque, with cliffs, sea stacks, gorgeous urban spaces, and the raging ocean. We plan a trip to San Jos, California because of its diversity, beautiful scenery, and exceptionally high outputs. "Someone told me there's a girl out there, with love in her eyes and flowers in her hair." Led Zeppelin, "Going to California" 2. We are planning a west coast trip and are considering renting an RV one way from Portland or Seattle to San Francisco. I already have the vista points where we will stop for photos and eating. Hi, My wife and I are planning a 7-day drive from San Fran to Portland in late June of this year. I hate cold! Now let me break down a few itineraries to choose from, based on how much time you have to do your Pacific Coast Highway road trip. Hi, I love Portland and San Francisco. Thanks so much, Lois and glad to help! Great name btw . The Oregon Coast Aquarium lets visitors explore the marine ecosystems around this part of the Pacific Ocean. The views of the colors changing in the trees were surreal. Thanks for reading, Laurie! Yes, Id recommend flying one-way to Seattle, and flying one-way home from San Diego. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: As you might have guessed continue following California Highway 1 south! Depending on the timing of your itinerary, you may want to do an overnight here. If I were youI would do a leisurely drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles/San Diego. , Hi. Thank you very much for providing a road map! Thank you so much for sharing this informative article with all of us. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Follow CA-1 south out of L.A. to avoid the citys notorious traffic as you make your way along the coast. Im thinking of doing this trip from Seattle to San Diego. Its a small detail, but totally uncalifornian to say the PCH. Hi! Sounds like a great trip, Rudy! Pacific Coast Highway Directions: If you are on a quick PCH road trip, turn inland along the Columbia River and then south on I-5 to Portland.If your Pacific Coast Highway road trip includes the Oregon Coast, skip Portland below and drive south along U.S. 101 to Seaside & Cannon Beach (#8). If you go to the Big Sur Crater, you will be a full one mile (1.6 km) above sea level while remaining only three miles (5 km) inland from the ocean. You probably wont have any snow its usually just rain in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon & Washington). Well be camping out at most stops except for SF. I dont feel we missed a lot of Oregon coast the views we seen before & after Crater lake were absolutely stunning. We live in Colorado, so more interested in Ocean more than hiking, so 101 is ideal. Also, we were thinking with the additional days to do a detour over to Yosemite. Make sure you have enough guidance resources. Next, youll pass through Point Reyes, which again seems underwhelming. Ft. 1553 S Monte Viento St, Malibu, CA 90265. Unfortunately, you cant climb the lighthouse steps as it has been closed for restoration since 2001. Those are my top recommendations! Sonja, glad to help! They all offer budget rentals, run regular deals and specials, and have one-way rental options. But there's something extra special about driving the Pacific Coast Highway as it approaches its southern end. You'll also pass by several unique beaches on the way, but one you should totally check out is Glass Beach. I travelled alone from San Francisco to LA while on a work trip years ago and havent stopped thinking about getting my husband out there. First thank you for all the work you put into this! Thanks so much for reading, Teresa! Also, I love your pictures! Hi Valerie, Great tips! Hi Valerie, we are planning a trip from Crescent city back home to Phoenix traveling along PCH. When driving the PCH south from Portland, how much of a detour would it be to see Crater Lake on the way? Any additional thoughts? Im nervous go excited. My question is: how to best use our time? Awesome suggestions and itinerary! Thank you again. Your email address will not be published. Thanks so much for sharing your experience for others to know its worth doing!! Where does the Pacific Coast Highway start and end? Any thoughts on this as it pertains to weather? I am flying into Portland to meet my niece and we will rent a car and drive down the coast to LA to meet another nephew. Valerie, I am so glad I found your guide to the PCH! Any thoughts are greatly appreciated: Day 1: San Francisco (Arrive late in the evening) Day 2: San Francisco Day 3: Santa Cruz Day 4: Carmel-By-The-Sea Day 5: Big Sur Day 6: San Luis Obispo Day 7: Santa Barbara Day 8: Los Angeles Day 9: San Diego (leave early in the morning). Pacific Coast Highway Directions: Continue south on U.S. Highway 101 along the Oregon Coast to Newport. There and back that is? This sounds like a great adventure. . Regarding I recommend an automatic car with a low center of gravity but skip the convertible! Wifey and I did the PCH trip a while ago, shortly after we got married. I didnt spend a ton of time on the Central Coast, but be sure to stop at Pismo Beach and drive through Carmel. On your stop here, be sure to walk out along the pier and keep an eye out for surfers working the breaks along the beach. Located on a beautiful crescent-shaped bay, Crescent City is along part of the PCH where California Highway 1 and U.S. Highway 101 overlap hence this guide refers to both Highway 1 and Highway 101 as the PCH in the different states. Southern California has great weather year-round. Is this going to be a big disappointment? I did a bit of research into this seems like its a Los Angeles thing to drop the the but as I lived up in Northern California, we use the the. Since my post is referring to a much larger area than just SoCal, Im still going to keep the the. Thanks for providing me this opportunity to learn about a quirky bit of California lingo! I can really tell that you love traveling, Valerie . I am going to plan for at least a 10 day trip, its once in a lifetime and truly dont want to rush it I cant wait to see his face when I announce at his local birthday party in July that I have saved for and planned this fantastic trip for September 2021!! Pacific coast highway road trip with kids. The traditional definition of the Pacific Coast Highway is to drive California Highway 1 from San Diego to Leggett (or vice versa); you can extend by adding on U.S. Highway 101 through Northern California and Oregon and Washington coasts. Thanks for reading, Angel! I think its going to be a tough year fro travel! Pacific coast highway road trip with kids. Am interested in your upcoming 7 day itinerary of PCH. We are just looking to site sea on our way back home from Disneyland I was looking at Hearst Castle and the Elephant Seal Vista Point but dont see much reviews on them with kids. While driving southbound, youll approach Marshall first. We are planning to stay overnight at the Madonna Inn. Thank you. Okay, now youve got your car, youve got your basic itinerary. What you suggested (Anaheim > SLO/Madonna Inn > Half Moon Bay) is a great two-day itinerary. 1. The Pacific Coast Highwayalso known as PCH or, more commonly, Highway 1runs north-south along most of the United States' West Coast. I didnt want to make all my reservations, but just go with it for one time in my life. I am currently living in crescent city and plan to make the drive in a couple of weeks. Wonderful trip sharing you made. Thanks for the great ideas! I am thinking 5 days from Portland to LA. I was reading for the road trip from Seattle to San Diego. As soon as you hit the section of the Pacific Coast Highway connecting. Sort of the opposite of sea stacks like Haystack Rock,Devils Punchbowlis another beautiful natural rock formation along the Oregon Coast. With colorful historic seaside homes and great hiking trails and other outdoor activities, Mendocino is good for at least an overnight stop dont be surprised if you want to spend even longer here once you arrive! Amazing! I am going to drive PCH 1 this summer and was going to drive from North to South but my son has driven it and suggested going South to North. 01 of 04 Thanks for your comment, David! Your article was just what I needed!! Did you drive it alone and what do you think about being able to see well driving north to south? Were renting an RV in Seattle (after few days in hotel) and have 30 days before we drop it off in San Fran (and hotel for a few days). Explore the route. Its impossible to reduce all of the amazing things to do in San Francisco down to a small paragraph or overnight stop on a Pacific Coast Highway road trip. 24 Best Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) Stops. 8. Pacific Coast Highway Directions: At this point in Northern California, the PCH is still U.S. 101. Im looking forward to have the same experience with my wife and my son. Thank you for sharing your travels and still helping others along their journey! When in doubt, stay on the coast. Im also a not-so-secret space nerd and speak fluent emoji! Thank you. Nice ride. Thanks for your comment . I love to do a Pacific Coast Highway drive at some point in my life. You may encounter some rain up north near Portland and Seattle, but you shouldnt experience any snow! The speed limit ranges from 55mph to 25mph theres really no helpful way to give an average! Is this doable in 7 days, with stops during the day and to spend the night? To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to exploreNative Land. Now that Ive moved to this part of California, I know this is true. I have looked up the different uses of the word and grammatically correct samples, and I believe you needed to use it in past-tense. Read more in my Privacy Policy. It is best known for the stretch along the Californian coast, with spectacular ocean views and awesome attractions as you travel. How do I do it? I am traveling with my husband, brother and our 4 year old. My best advice is to take a look at the app Roadtrippers and start plugging in where you might want to go to get a sense of travel time then you can decide whats must-do, what extra you have time for, and what needs to be cut.I hope that helps! The PCH heads inland near Lompoc but is the main road you can take to Santa Barbara. Want to know more? We are planning to spend Thanksgiving in San Diego. Also being from Colorado, we would love to camp oceanside, do you have any recommendations on campsites? You can definitely do that! I hope that helps! Lane closure lasting 5 hours on Conventional Hwy for Electrical Work affecting #3, R T Lane #1, Right Shoulder, Bike Lane, Sidewalk lane(s) in District: 12 From: MAIN ST (DOWN TOWN) Huntington Beach to Beach Blvd, Rte 39 Huntington Beach End 300ft going SB on Rte 1 after Beach Blvd intersection Or. Planning a trip on PCH last week of July 2020. Can you please give me a list of must sees in Santa Barbara (we could have two full days there). We are only going to be there once though and want to make the most of it. Lastly, Pismo is a great stop for a midday workout on the road, with a huge stretch of beach to walk/run on. Sireesha, thanks for reading. I appreciate all the information! Youre all set to start filling in the gaps! Thank you for sharing! (If you decide to fly to SF, heres a recent post I wrote: https://www.valisemag.com/california-coast-road-trip/). Crater lake was amazing!! Sorry about the delay, Scott. San Luis Obispo with Paso Robles). We are just wondering if you have an estimate on how much it would be to travel the PCH! I love road trips & he tolerates them so I am looking forward to all these sights to see! What is the average speed on the 101? I wouldnt go all the way to Seattle, especially if you dont like big cities. Hello Valerie; my family and i are thinking about a trip from northern CA to San Diego along the coast. Pacific Coast Highway Map, Direction & Start/End Points. If your PCH road trip includes the Olympic Peninsula, follow U.S. 101 west and then north along the eastern side of the Olympic Peninsula toward Port Angeles. Rainier, plenty of coastlines, and Redwoods. To access the map on Roadtrippers, you just need to click the map! Youre very welcome, and have a great road trip!! It sounds like youll have an awesome trip, and happy early birthday to him! The rest of time will hopefully be in small towns all along the coast. Great article. Glad to help, Ashley! What day of the week would you recommend starting from WA? Looking to travel with your recommendations southbound! We are coming from Pennsylvania. The drive travels 655 miles along the coast of California and along the wa. Seattle is perfect for anywhere between one day and three days if you have the time. This time I plan to take a friend and start in Portland. For flights, I recently heard theres a flight from the Bay Area to Crescent City check out Contour Airlines (they come up when I google OAK > CEC). Pacific Coast Highway Directions: None! Thanks for your comment, Kathy! Hello, Thanks for sharing your trips and valuable tips. We continued on until we picked up the beginning of CA Hwy 1. We are from Ohio. Similar to Haystack Rock, your experience stopping at Devils Punchbowl will depend on the tides. Thanks for such a thorough rundown of what to do. We are doing the PCH this July and August coming from Yellowstone, Glacier and Teddy Roosevelt NP it has been on our Bucket list for quite some time after this trip we only have Alaska to visit and we will have visited all the States !! is booking hotels on the day or maybe the day before likely to be OK, or should we book well in advance? We will be coming from Anaheim and want to drive the Pacific Coast Highway to Half Moon Bay. From Ventura. Thanks for sharing. Im definitely going to try to do it sometime! I have been to Europe, for 2 years, and nothing compares to this coastal trip. Ann, thanks so much for your comment. Manage photos If I were going to recommend a route, Id do something like the National Parks in California or the Utah/Arizona/SoCal loop. Yes, I do have San Francisco guides! This So nice to hear from you, Silvia! Do you recommend any of your overnights for golf fireworks for 4th of July? If you decide to drive the PCH, Im happy to give you any tips! Day 3: Cape Kiwanda, OR to Redwood State Park, CA. I hope you have an epic time; Patrees such an amazing host! Glad to help, Dan! If you want to spend part of one day during your Pacific Coast Highway road trip beachcombing or hiking, Big Sur is the place to do it. Thanks so much for this comprehensive look at the PCH. Thanks for your comment, Manny. Hah, sounds like a good bonding experience, Angela! The Outdoor Blueprint team pieces together an incredible guide featuring all the best coastal stops from Vancouver, B.C. But never mind those technicalities, because equally bewitching ribbons of Hwy 1 and Hwy 101 await all along this route. What time of year would be best to do this. Ive just started planning our trip for this autumn. Thanks again! Extremely informative. When I drove the PCH in 2014, I drove a northbound San Diego to Seattle road trip, and lament that I wasnt on the outer side of the road. The skies are guaranteed to be blue, the weather begs for a convertible, and the passing sands are alive with . You can stretch your legs with a short walk before getting back on the road. Id go with a mid-size car for your rental. ), Valerie, My wife and I are planning this very trip you outlined. September and October are definitely best for visiting NorCal, so I recommend that time of year too! I was, for the most part, ambivalent about the cities along the PCH. Thanks for sharing this! I agree, go north to south. We just booked Patrees room! I would love to receive the PDF version of this, please. I will be driving alone and he thought I would be able to enjoy the view better looking to my left than to my right while driving. Pismo State Beach is another great stop during a day of driving from San Francisco to Santa Barbara (or reverse). You have the same recommendations? No matter which you choose, youll enter SF by driving across the Golden Gate Bridge; you can either stay along the coast and drive down Ocean Beach or head east into the city. It connects the beautiful harbor town of Dana Point in southern California's Orange County to Leggett, California, in Mendocino County, home to some of the largest trees in the world. This is a great itinerary! I lived for 15 years in Alaska, as well as four years each in California and Washington. Click on the image to learn more about the stop. You should have no problem finding vegan options! Thanks for reading, Oleg. Explore the beach then hit the trails to find waterfalls, massive redwoods, and an abandoned limekiln. But all of those are just ways to say "The 1.". While the glass is technically part of MacKerricher State Park and you cant take it home you can still spend time out of the car searching for different colors and shapes of beautiful sea glass that wash up from the Pacific Ocean. Mendocino Your Pacific Coast Highway road trip begins at Leggett, so naturally, the first stop is the wonderful Mendocino. The only places you can fly would be Crescent City but itll require changing through San Francisco anyway. We are thinking Crescent City to Santa Barbara? Downtown is a series of taffy-colored storefronts filled with beach gear, kitschy coastal crafts, and the Funland Seaside Arcade, which harkens back to the heydays of coastal vacations. to San Diego, CA. Portland! Let me know if you need any extra tips whenever you start planning! Travelling from Australia and would like to spend 3 weeks driving around . Prior to retiring I have done the San Francisco to LA 3 times but always by myself. If youve just stayed overnight in Santa Barbara or started your road trip in San Diego, that may not make as much sense. Rudy. I havent been to some of those national parks, but they sound amazing! In this post, I promote travel across lands that are the traditional lands of many Indigenous groups. We were thinking October, but after reading all the comments, I think we will make it September. We are thinking of taking this drive during the week of Christmas. Lot of driving in 10 days, but I am excited. Hey there! Also, about how many miles a day are you traveling on your 10 day itinerary? Thanks for reading, Jan. Required fields are marked *. Have a great drive! While staying in Cannon Beach we have planned day trips to Astoria and Long Beach and maybe an inland drive to McMinnvile, for some wine tasting. Do you highly recommend the LONG route OR is thru Mendocino only enough? One of the requests I get asked for is a Pacific Coast Highway map with all of the stops I suggest, so I used Roadtrippers to put together this one. We were 70s teenagers all around! 7 Stunning Viewpoints on the Pacific Coast Highway By Michael Hodson Updated on 06/03/19 At just over six hundred and fifty miles in length, and running along much of the coast of California, the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most popular road trip destinations in the United States. Im planning a trip for end of this year most probably the California part only. 21500 Pacific Coast Highway Huntington Beach, California, United States, 92648 Phone +1 714 698 1234 Email HyattHBFrontOffice@hyatt.com View Details Rooms Featuring a coastal chic aesthetic, our rooms and suites each feature terraces overlooking Huntington Beach, pools and lavishly landscaped courtyards. Thanks for your comment, Pam, but Im a little confused its a 10-day itinerary, so its a 9-night trip. Stop 3: Monterey and its aquarium. I did drive it alone and I still recommend heading southbound. My problem is going to be deciding what not to do because Ill only have so much time (and money). As this post is over 6,000 words long, I typically dont provide extra additional itinerary services for free. Were making a shortlist of 3 or 4 likely hotels for each expected stopover. Or, do you think one could just take a chance and stop and book a room when in need??? Have a great drive! Login or Register an account to download this content. I had a question regarding travel to California present time as in next week(August 14, 2021). Youd need to fly into. Next time I have a few days off, Ill have to change that! The ideia is to have a West Coast Beer Route drive. Is Yellowstone worth the long detour? It was so helpful as I planned and traveled cross country this summer starting with the PCH. Thank you! Just give yourself more time and end n LA. My wife and I are planning an 18 day trip in the coming months to fly into San Diego and then make the drive up to Seattle. Hi We have just 1-day and will be starting in Fortuna and heading to San Francisco. Thanks for asking! The huge sweeping beach is admittedly not warm enough for a swim but its great for a stroll in the surf. I drove one and I hardly ever got to enjoy it! 8. Again, thanks for great info and advice. I am doing this trip with the boyfriend end of this month. For accommodation, try a small hotel like the. It looks so cute! My car is a convertible (BMW 3 series) so I am not sure if it can take on the road during Dec end Seattle and portland area mainly ? Wondering about forest fires and how they affect the trip. Ending at a beach front hotel in Diego for 2-3 days to visit that college, unwind and settle a little bit before leaving. my best friends and I have talked about driving down from San Francisco to some of the Orange County, CA cities. I hope this helps! Starting in San Francisco, you'll cruise south along the Pacific Coast of California, visiting vibrant cities, secluded beaches and stunning State Parks as you go.