NoriRoll

My husband and I are on a mission to deliver our friend's car to him in LA. We're driving from Providence, RI along a northern route and will be entering CA at the very top to spend our first evening in Klamath. We will wake up in Klamath on the 22nd and we are flying home from LAX the evening of the 25th. It is my goal to make it to San Francisco for the evening of the 22nd and to get to LA no later than noon on the 24th. We're planning on spending the night of the 22nd in SF with friends.

Neither of us has been to California nor seen the Pacific, two life-long dreams, and we want to make the most of our limited time. It was my original intent to drive the entire coastline of CA, but it's just going to take too long to do so, so now we're planning to drive sections of the coast and sections of 5. I'd really like to pass through some of the coastal cities like Santa Monica, and I know we must drive through Big Sur, but the rest of it is a wide-open, delicious mystery. What sections of the coast should we try our best to drive along, and what sections are best to take inland? We'll be traveling from San Francisco to LA on my birthday as well, so I would love to see something spectacularly special-- as if just being there isn't enough.

logandog

I would take the 101 to Salinas and cut over to Monterey .
From Pebble Beach, south to Cambria is the most beautiful section on 1.
Back inland over to the 101 at Morro Bay, you will have seen the best.

NoriRoll

Thanks!

logandog

Pick up some sandwiches at Molinari's on Columbus in San Francisco and have lunch at Point Lobos Reserve near Pebble Beach.
The Cypress Grove Trail in the reserve offers some of the finest views of The Pacific.

jamie99

Shame you cannot spend two nights along Highway 1, you'll have to pick and choose your sights carefully. Have fun.

SAB

I would take 101 South and then cut over to the Monterey Penninsula on 156 to I so that you can get your first glimpses of the Pacific and Monterey Bay from 1. No need to go to Salinas. Be sure to exit 1 in Carmel or else you will the drive around the actual penninsula.

FYI Point Lobos is a very beautiful place to visit but it is not near Pebble Beach --it is south of Carmel.

logandog

I do know that you can see The Pebble Beach Golf Course from Point Lobos.
I think that counts as near.
I suggested the Salinas route because it is faster.

Tomsd

If you really want to see a lot of the beautiful California coastline - head out very early - south from SF on the 101 - and take 92 over the hill from San Mateo to Half Moon Bay and on down Hiway 1/PCH from there. (If you are closer to route 280 - take that down to the 92) http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=San%...on%20Bay&2s=CA

That part of the Coast hiway also has a lot of beautiful scenery before you reach Monterrey - but it will take more time.

No problem really as you could still easily make Monterrey/Carmel/Big Sur to spend your first night and then on down from there.

If you get to SF in time - love Molinari - and you pick out your own roll and then they custom make your sandwich. Sadly - the only on of the old Italian delis left in North Beach.

Tomsd

Just double checked your post. You could still do what I suggested if you left the Carmel/Big Sur area early - and make it into LA by noon - maybe a little later.

Tomsd

Fooey - thought this was posted. http://www.distancesfrom.com/us/dist...y/2728447.aspx

wekewoody

I am going to assume that you will be on 101 coming south from Klamath.

Just south of Klamath on 101 are the different sections of Redwood National Park. It would be a shame to miss that on your way south to San Francisco.

I think of all the coastal areas in California, Point Reyes National Park and the area around it is a real gem not worth missing. If you are on 101 coming south, exit in Petaluma on 116 west and take that to Tomales Road to Tomales and then south to Tomales Bay, Point Reyes, and all the way into the city. This is iconic landscape. It would be a detour and it would be a long day, but in my opinion it is not be missed.

I always take the route SAB mentions when we are traveling from the S.F. Bay Area to Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur.

Tomsd

Agg - that map is not that good. Anyhow - to make the 2nd day shorter - you could finish up your first day driving south from SF at Cambria - and treat yourself to a night on Moonstone Beach.

From there - it's very manageable to get to LA by noonish is you left by 7 AM or so. http://www.pacificahotels.com/firesi...140811214903:S

wekewoody

I live in San Mateo County and frequently go over to the beaches to the north and the south of Half Moon Bay and that part of the coast that tomsd mentions and love it, however I would not count it as a "most beautful and unmissable" part of the California coastline and would give it a pass for your purposes on this trip.

SAB

"I do know that you can see The Pebble Beach Golf Course from Point Lobos. I think that counts as near."

If you are someone from Northern California or have visited the Penninsula a lot, this is probably a safe statement to make. However there are quite a few miles between Highway 1 exit for Pebble Beach and the entrance to Point Lobos--which I think can be misleading to someone not familiar with the area. And hopefully we are attempting to give good advice to someone who has never been to California before.

Again , my personal opinion would be to skip 1 north of Carmel. There are some lovely stretches north between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz--and certainly if OP had more time, they would be worth a visit. Highway 1 between Santa Cruz and just north of Monterey is mostly freeway and flat farmland.

MichelleY

The most beautiful, not to be missed part is from Monterey, down Hwy. 1 thru Big Sur to San Luis Obispo. From there, take US 101 to LA.

Patty

I suggested the Salinas route because it is faster.

156 to 1 is actually the shorter and generally quicker route. Plus you'll see water sooner.

Bostonblondie226

I'm not a local, but I recommend a stop at Nepenthe if you can fit it in. Incredible views and pretty decent food!

janisj

This is going to be a VERY rushed drive -- but you know that.

Klamath to SF will take about 8 hours w/o any ocean views at all after just south of Eureka.

Then you have less than 1.5 days from SF to LA since you need to be there before noon. You will have time for Big Sur and some other scenic bits along the mid coast. But you definitely won't have time to cross over to Half Moon Bay.

Where in LA is you final destination at noon? That could drake a big difference - and the general LA area is larger them some east coast states.

Kal

wekewoody, MichelleY, janisj and others pretty much nail it.
As for the old geezer who probably traveled that same route with Father Junipero Serra, not so much.

NewbE

LOL, Kal!!!!