Chasing waves and redwoods: The ultimate West Coast road trip
Adventure awaits along America’s legendary Coastline
From sun-kissed Southern California beaches to misty Northern cliffs, this PCH and Highway 101 adventure blends iconic sights, hidden gems, and fairytale forests along America’s legendary coastline.
A West Coast road trip isn’t just a drive—it’s a journey through some of the most jaw-dropping scenery in the country. From sun-soaked SoCal beaches to the towering redwoods of Northern California, the rugged Oregon coast, and Washington’s wild Olympic Peninsula, this route showcases the beauty, charm, and hidden treasures of the West Coast.
Whether you’re seeking secluded tide pools, cliffside hikes, cozy cafés, or scenic overlooks, this route offers a mix of well-known attractions and off-the-beaten-path gems. Each segment is planned to allow comfortable drives with plenty of opportunities to stop, explore, and soak in the views.
Highlights: La Jolla Cove • Torrey Pines State Reserve • Carlsbad Village • Malibu Coast • Funk Zone
Kick off your PCH road trip in San Diego, where playful sea lions lounge at La Jolla Cove and the cliffs of Torrey Pines State Reserve make for epic hikes. Cruise north through Carlsbad Village's boutiques, then continue along the Malibu coastline, stopping at El Matador Beach for a sunset stroll. End your day in Santa Barbara, strolling through the historic Old Mission Santa Barbara and the artsy Funk Zone.
Local favorites:
Unique experience: Pick up a bottle of wine in Santa Ynez Valley and savor it atop a bluff overlooking the Pacific at sunset.
Highlights: Pismo Beach • Point Lobos State Reserve • Garrapata Beach • Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Follow the Pacific Coast Highway north, stopping at Pismo Beach for pier strolls and clam chowder. Wander Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, home to playful sea otters and tide pools. Continue into Big Sur, where Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park’s towering redwoods create a magical fairytale forest experience.
Local favorites:
Unique experience: Hike the Big Sur River Gorge trail and wade in the river beneath the redwoods.
Highlights: Carmel-by-the-Sea • Monterey Bay • 17-Mile Drive • Half Moon Bay • Golden Gate Bridge
Leave Big Sur and roll into Carmel-by-the-Sea for storybook cottages and white-sand beaches. Continue through Monterey Bay, where sea otters often float just offshore. Drive the scenic 17-Mile Drive for dramatic coastal overlooks, then follow Highway 1 past Half Moon Bay’s rugged bluffs. Arrive in San Francisco just in time to watch fog roll over the Golden Gate Bridge from Crissy Field.
Local favorite:
Unique experience: Walk Lands End Trail at sunset for sweeping views of the Pacific and the Golden Gate.
Highlights: Point Reyes National Seashore • Tomales Bay • Mendocino Headlands • Russian Gulch State Park
Head north across the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County. Detour to Point Reyes for windswept beaches and dramatic cliffs, then continue past oyster farmsalong Tomales Bay. Mendocino’s blufftop trails, wildflower-filled headlands, and historic village feel worlds away from city life.
Local favorite:
Unique experience: Grab takeout and picnic on the Mendocino Headlands as waves crash below.
Highlights: Avenue of the Giants • Humboldt Redwoods • Fern Canyon • Gold Bluffs Beach
Travel deeper into Northern California as towering redwoods begin to line the road. Cruise the Avenue of the Giants, then wander beneath ancient trees in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. End the day exploring Fern Canyon, where lush walls of greenery meet a secluded beach.
Local favorite:
Unique experience: Walk among redwoods at golden hour when sunlight filters through the canopy.
Highlights: Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor • Natural Bridges • Haystack Rock • Ecola State Park
Cross into Oregon and follow one of the most scenic coastal drives in the country. Stop often along the Samuel H. Boardman corridor for hidden viewpoints and sea arches. Arrive in Cannon Beach to see Haystack Rock rising from the shore, best explored at low tide.
Local favorite:
Unique experience: Tide-pooling around Haystack Rock with puffins overhead in late spring and summer.
Highlights: Oswald West State Park • Columbia River Gorge • Multnomah Falls • Washington Park
Turn inland toward Portland, stopping in Oswald West State Park for forest-meets-ocean hikes. Spend an afternoon exploring the Columbia River Gorge, where waterfalls spill down mossy cliffs. Wrap up the day wandering Portland’s neighborhoods and food-cart pods.
Local favorite:
Unique experience: Browse Powell’s City of Books—an entire city block of books.
Highlights: Long Beach Peninsula • Cape Disappointment • Seabrook • Pacific Beach • Moclips Beach
Leave Portland and head northwest toward Washington’s wild Pacific shoreline. Begin on the Long Beach Peninsula, where wide, windswept sands stretch for miles. Stop at Cape Disappointment State Park to explore historic lighthouses and dramatic cliffs overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River. Continue north past Pacific Beach before arriving in Moclips, a quiet coastal town known for moody skies, crashing waves, and uncrowded beaches.
Local favorite:
Unique experience: Walk Moclips Beach at sunset, when sea mist rolls in and the coastline feels completely untouched.
Highlights: Ruby Beach • Kalaloch • Hoh Rain Forest • Rialto Beach
Leave Moclips and follow the coast north, where Highway 101 hugs the Pacific and forests press close to the road. Stop at Ruby Beach to wander among dramatic sea stacks, then continue to Kalaloch for driftwood-lined shores and ocean views. Head inland to the Hoh Rain Forest, where towering spruce trees and thick moss create an otherworldly landscape. End the day at Rialto Beach, known for its rugged shoreline and crashing waves.
Local favorite:
Unique experience: Early morning in the Hoh Rain Forest, when mist hangs low and the trails are nearly silent.
Highlights: Lake Crescent • Port Angeles • Bainbridge Island Ferry • Pike Place Market
Continue east through Olympic National Park, stopping at Lake Crescent for crystal-clear water and mountain reflections. Drive through Port Angeles and make your way along the water, trading forested roads for sweeping Puget Sound views. Wander Pike Place Market, stroll along the waterfront, or take a ferry to Bainbridge Island for skyline views from the water. End your journey at Kerry Park, where the city skyline, Mount Rainier, and Puget Sound align in one unforgettable view.
Local favorite:
Unique experience: The the ferry at golden hour for a postcard-perfect finale to your West Coast road trip.
The Pacific Coast Highway (otherwise known as Highway 1 or PCH) is not the same as Highway 101. Although they meet briefly in Central California, Highway 101 and PCH combine for good in Northern California and continue up through Oregon and Washington as Highway 101.
It depends on how many stops you’ll be making, and what adventures you’ll get up to. If you were to drive non-stop, the total time it would take to drive Highway 101 is 30 hours, or about 1,600 miles. When planning a road trip up Highway 101, budget at least five days to get from one end to another (though a week or more is better for sightseeing and exploring).
If you’re driving for speed, not scenery, it’s better to stick to I-5.
